Beastie,
I'm sorry to hear you are feeling this way right now. Hope we can help as you always help everyone else here.
I would have to say that sometimes I worry about other people and their problems when I'm down. I feel I shouldn't complain or be down myself because there are people with far worse problems out there. That makes me feel worse.
Then there are times when I'm really depressed and anxious and I can't think of anyone other than myself and my world.
Hope this helps!
Sending you hugs and smiles hun!!!!!

Yes it certainly do, because my mind automatically feels what they must be feeling

Thank you everyone.. I love you all.. Many blessings to all of you and ofcourse to myself... We all can use them...

Thank God for DS... You guys are awesome.. ruv you rong tieeeeeeeeee

I would have to say yes to that, I worry more about others than I do myself. Sometimes I worry more that they worry about their themselves. It makes my anxiety show it's ugly head and i am a mess. I hope tis is the answer to what you wanted.

When you are depressed and anxious,do you worry about yourself and others and their problems?

It depends on the severity of the episode. Most of my episodes in the last few years have been fairly mild. There have been few times that have been debilitating to the point of not being able to get out of bed. In those times I can only think about myself getting better. During the mild episodes it's usually a swirl of worrying about everyone and everything.

Do their problems make your depression worse?

Many times, it's the problems of my kids that depress me--worrying about their future especially.

Even strangers? Do you put yourself in their shoes and it makes you more depressed or anxious???????????????

I'm one of those people that has a hard time seeing other people suffer. I easily become overwhelmed when I hear other people crying and feel their hurt too. I can only take so much before I have to shut off the news and recoup.

Does this even make sense?

Yes it does. :)

I tend to take on others problems and pain and often to my detriment as it can get to me and trigger off a whole dive in to deeper depression.

At the moment I have a dear friend who is in a bad way and I seeing her like that has set me off again. I feel so ashamed that I have got so depressed when she is being so brave. I am terrified that my depression will affect her and make her worse. I just don't know what to do, should I stay away or keep the contact given the risk.

I totally get what you are saying Beast.

Hugs to you and hope you feel better soon

Zipper

I don't do this when I get anxious..I just sorta freak out and blow my own problems way out of proportions but when I get sad i start thinking about all the bad things in my life to make myself sadder and then I think about all the people who have worse lives and that I have no right to these tears and onwards with the downward spiral. I have worked really hard to stop doing this and when I start to feel really sad I let myself have a good cry and then after I have gotten some of the sadness out think about any and all of the positives in my life.