Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
My name is Melissa and I want to be happy again.
I have suffered with depression and anxiety for my entire life. I have been in counseling for 14 years, been on many different types of medications, been hospitalized multiple times, and have been a part of many different groups for mental illness. I have come to terms with the fact that I will always suffer from depression and anxiety and that the symptoms can be controllable but they will never be cured.
I am very high functioning so I tend to be doing great, get overwhelmed, and shut down completely other than the things that absolutely need to get done (such as work). Well after being off of work on a medical leave for 3 months to deal with my mental illness, I have pretty much shut down again and I'm trying to get myself back to better functioning and control my symptoms. One of my goals was to join a support group, so here I am.
I know that coping skills are extremely important and I have some of them already. However, I feel like I take a coping skill and over-utilize it. Use it as an excuse to isolate. Lately it has been crocheting, knitting, and watching TV. I can do them for hours and they generally ease my anxiety, but it does not help my depression. My issue is either my anxiety is controlled and my depression is out of control or my depression is controlled and my anxiety is out of control. I am on medication for both. Does anyone have any suggestions for me to try that may help control the symptoms of both?
(Disclaimer: I have tried meditation but I have panic attacks.)
Thanks in advance!
-Mel
-
Does anyone follow her? She's really got some good tips.
-
Just to get this out there, you can be happy again!!
I find that happiness comes with being busy and keeping your mind occupied. Think about it.. You sit around, it gives your mind the freedom to overthink and stress over the little things. Obvious, yes, but sometimes we need reminding.
I have anxiety and depression myself and find it difficult to balance the both, however there are ways! I have started the gym recently and although that may seem like the least thing you want to do right now, it really does help balance both emotions out. For one, I am keeping my mind focuses on something other than anxiety/stress related feelings. Also, exercise releases positive endorphins and gives you back that 'feel good' feeling that most of us anxiety sufferers have gone without for such a long time.
I'm on the way to doing another activity in the week, something that I've always been interested in is being on stage. I think it's key in life to find something that you enjoy and go full steam ahead as afterall that particular interest is what makes us individual. I have had people tell me this for so long and I have ignored it. Why? Because I have been scared. And that is completely normal but without change, there will be no change.
I hope my comment can help in some way. If you ever need somebody to talk to, please feel free to message me at any time! :)
I have been thinking about incorporating exercise into my routine. I've wanted to join a gym but I would probably only be able to get there 2 days a week. I have a 5 year old and his father and myself work opposite shifts - with only one vehicle so that is definitely a challenge. During the summer months will be a little bit easier since i could do simple things like go for walks or bike rides with my son. I've heard that it's really helpful from many people so I really want to try it.
I am on Prozac. I think that's for both. Ask your doctor if there are any options like that for you to try.
I am on celexa that is supposed to work for both and I'm on hydroxyzine for anxiety. It works most of the time when I actually take my meds when I am supposed to - which is something that I am really working on.
I honestly have absolutely no idea how I manage. When I'm at my lowest, I can go to work but I can't focus. I honestly think that my anxiety about money (not being able to eat, not being able to afford to live, not being able to afford my vehicle, etc) is what keeps me going when it comes to work. I have a 5 year old little boy to support so that definitely helps.
I honestly think that it depends on the person, but work (although stressful) is somewhat of an escape for me. That is literally the only time that I am child free and although I love my son, he drives me up a wall. It is also an opportunity for me to be around other people that somewhat understand what I am going through (our lead rep has anxiety and is a recovering heroin addict).
Home is where I tend to fail. I come home from work and I'm so mentally exhausted that I just plop on my bed and do nothing. My boyfriend has been doing all the cleaning and everything for quite some time now, so that is helpful but I feel super guilty about it.
sorry to hear you are having a rough time. Just an FYI, I used to take meds for depression/insomnia.
I was depressed because I wasn't sleeping and the meds did nothing positive. I tried them all, and interestingly after I tapered off, I didn't have any more panic attacks. But please see my post in the OCD group titled "getting better w/o ssri". My nine year old daughter suffered from severe OCD and after being treated for six weeks she is much much better. Her doctor specializes in OCD, ADHD, ADD, depression, anxiety and tourrettes. If you can find this type of doctor in your area or even 1-2 hrs away, it may be well worth it since you have had problems for so long. I hope this helps.
I have been on and off meds for my entire life.
I have noticed that when I am on meds, I'm usually better functioning and I'm not having as difficult of a time. I've been off of my meds for a few months and I'm currently getting back on them (they take a while to kick in).
Different things work for different people, and for me meds work. They do not work for everyone because everyone's body chemistry is different. I'm glad that you are able to control your symptoms without medication, because not everyone can. Thanks for sharing!
I'm thinking if you've had anxiety etc all your life, you should have been tested for the MTHFR gene mutation? It can interfere with absorption of the Vitamin B group of vitamins.
Very worth checking out.
I've never heard of the MTHFR gene mutation. Could you possibly message me some information regarding that?
I was vitamin B12 deficient for a while when I was a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for 8 years and finally decided to give it up because of it. I did have blood work and ultrasounds of my thyroid done before I was given my diagnosis, but I'm not sure if that is something that they generally test for.