tsugumi

Open Self-Injury

I'm 27, and I've been a self-injurer for the past 6 or 7 years. I didn't start SI until my early 20s. I went through a really rough time in my life when SI was my only way of coping. Although I still get triggered, I've come a long way, and I've been able to go without SI for months at a time. It's an uphill battle, but it's not impossible to beat.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

I had to sign a contract with my counselor not to cause harm to myself, and through talking with my counselor and feeling obligated to keep my contract, I've been able to cope in other ways.

Talking Somewhat Helpful

Talking does help, but only if you're willing to talk about it. Sometimes I didn't talk about it until after the fact. So talking only helps if you're willing to talk beforehand.

Writing Working / Worked

Writing down my feelings has helped me through a lot. I try to journal whenever I can because it helps get the feelings out of me which protects me from them overflowing and becoming unbearable.

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

I've always suffered from severe mood swings with depression being one of the biggest problems. Ever since I can remember I've dealt with depression--since I was a little girl, probably. I have very treatment resistent depression, so it's been difficult to find treatment that works.

Treatments

Adderall Working / Worked

It works wonderfully to keep my depression at bay. Ive been on it for over a year now and I havent had a serious bout of depression in just as long. The only thing that it caused was suppression of appetite but that went away with time. Its been the only medication that I can take that works that doesnt make me horribly ill.

Cymbalta Not Working

I tried it for a short time, but it gave me horrible side effects. All ADs that I've taken have given me horrible side effects, so I just opt not to take them.

Effexor Not Working

Took it a long time ago, but it didn't help me any.

Elavil Not Working

I took the generic of this medication a long time ago. I don't remember much about it, but I do know it didn't do anything for me.

Geodon Working / Worked

I'm currently on this medication for BP, and it's been a huge help along with the other medications that I'm taking.

Paxil Not Working

Again, took this one a long time ago but nothing came of it, just some serious side effects.

Positive Thinking Somewhat Helpful

It helps to an extent, but hey, when you feel so low that nothing matters, even the happiest of thoughts aren't going to get you out of your funk.

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

It helps to talk about things and get them off my chest, so to speak. I look forward to going because I know that I can talk about it and not be judged.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

Of course this helps when you have it, and fortunately I have it.

Trazodone Not Working

Took it to help me sleep. That's all it did was make me sleep.

Wellbutrin Not Working

Again, took this one a long time ago. I don't remember what side effects it gave me, but it didn't help me one bit.

Writing Working / Worked

I love to write, writing has always been a major help for me. It doesn't solve my problems, but it helps keep me sane.

Zoloft Not Working

I just can't take ADs. It didn't do a thing for me.

Open Anxiety

I've always been shy, but in my early 20s it got really bad. I was afraid of everything, especially public places with a lot of people. It got so bad that I couldn't even walk to the mail box. I'm much better now, but still deal with extreme shyness, and some general anxiety. It is bearable, though.

Treatments

Klonopin Working / Worked

I've been taking Klonopin for a long time. I take it as needed, and it's been extremely helpful to ease off my anxiety. And it helps me sleep as well. That's about the only side effect I've dealt with is drowsiness. It's a good medication for extreme anxiety.

Paxil Not Working

I took this a long time ago due to social anxiety disorder. It didn't help me at all, and I had some not-so-good side effects from it.

Positive Thinking Somewhat Helpful

When in an anxious situation, this might not be as helpful as other things. In recent years it's become more helpful than it was in the past, though. Still, when I get anxious, I find it hard to think positively about much of anything.

Trazodone Not Working

Took this med a long time ago, too. All it did was make me sleep.

Zoloft Not Working

Tried it a long time ago. I don't remember much about it, but it didn't help me at all.

Writing Working / Worked

I love to write and writing has helped me through some rough times. It helps relieve anxiety as well as depression although its not a cureall. I try to write my thoughts out most days so as to help me deal with daily stresses and anxieties.

Open Shyness

I've been shy and insecure for as long as I can remember--ever since I was a little girl. I have never been the popular, outspoken girl. I've always been the girl that everyone thought was a snob or was just plain anti-social because I didn't talk. I still don't talk unless someone speaks to me (or I have to talk). God I don't know how I made it through public speaking!!

Treatments

DailyStrength Working / Worked

I think this is a great place. I can come here for support and to meet new and interesting people. It really hasn't helped me to become a more secure and outspoken person, though.

Pets Working / Worked

I LOVE my animals. They don't help me become more outspoken or whatnot, but they help ease the pressure and depression caused by being so shy.

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

It's been somewhat helpful. I haven't like come out of my shell or anything, but it helps.

Self-help Working / Worked

For me this has been the biggest helper in overcoming my shyness. I've had to overcome a lot by entering into college and going through all of that. Taking public speaking was the biggest challenge of my life!!

Open Natural Disasters
Type: Hurricanes

I'm from SE Texas near the Gulf of Mexico in the city of Beaumont, Texas. In my area we deal mostly with hurricanes, and the most recent one being Hurricane Ike, which has been catastrophic to so many areas. The last hurricane that really did enormous damage to Beaumont was Hurricane Rita. Apparently Ike caused more damage than did Rita. It's been really rough here lately.

Open College Stress

I'm in my second year of college and feeling pretty good about it. I'm 27 years old, so I'm kind of a late starter, but I feel that by starting later in life I can appreciate it more, focus more, and take it more seriously. I managed to make it on the Dean's List my Freshmen year, so that was a great accomplishment, AND I made it through public speaking--with an A!! That's a major accomplishment for me, LOL!!

Treatments

Sleep Working / Worked

OMG, without sleep and little naps, I'd never make it!!

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

Withouth the support of my loveds ones, especially my BF, I don't think I'd have ever made it this far.

Physical Exercise Working / Worked

I do try to exercise each day but have been failing miserably at it for a while now!! It most definitely helps ease the stress away of college life. Now just to get back into my exercise routines!!

Open Pet Bereavement

Well, we all lose our beloved pets over time, and I'm not new to this, but I haven't lost one in so long that it took me by surprise when I lost two of my wonderful pets on December 11, 2008. Two of my bunnies were killed by dogs that morning, and unfortunately there was nothing that we could do because we were too late...

Open Healthy Relationships

I met the love of my life this year in February. I'm Texas and he is from the UK (England). I came to be with him in April and will stay until October. It's been rough at times, but one thing is for certain and that is how much we love each other...

Treatments

Patience Working / Worked

He's the one with the patience~!! I have issues that have spilled over from the ill treatment of past relationships, and it's been really difficult for me to let go of the past which can make it very difficult to get me to just be myself and let myself actually be happy...he's a wonderful man and shows great patience with me...

Talking Working / Worked

Talking always helps, but I find it very difficult to express myself verbally, though he's always wanting to know what I have on my mind and how I am feeling...

Writing Working / Worked

I write quite a bit. It helps me to sort through my emotions, so I journal as much as I can.

Open Loneliness

I tend to self-isolate but mainly because I find it difficult to relate to most people. Most times it's bearable, but sometimes feeling completely alone in the world makes me feel so empty inside...

Treatments

Music Working / Worked

Music is my drug of choice. It keeps me sane in an otherwise very insane world...

Pets Working / Worked

I have three kitties of my own. They give me comfort and joy during all aspects of my life...and they are always there when I am feeling my loneliest....