Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
I can now see that Maslow was pretty spot on, at least for me.
I've ditched friends and family. Ultimately, it all boiled down to how they treated me. It felt like they thought very little of me. This was displayed in various thefts, lies, manipulation, attacks, and ignoring my efforts to resolve the problems. I'm not here to cover that though.
I am here to find some suggestions. I cannot get to a stable place without finding a way to fulfill the need for family, friends, and connection. My only problem is that the anxieties I've developed present a huge hurdle in developing relationships. It's personally embarrassing for me to have no family and very little friends. I'm effectively alone, and I'm about to embark on a career that depends on relationships.
To complicate things, I'm depressed, have no job, and self-medicate a LOT.
I'm ready to try honestly to turn it around, but I know my brain chemistry will make it very difficult. I'm looking for tips from someone with similar experiences with any level of success turning it around plus can suggest ways to help regulate my brain chemistry.
Anything helps.
Glad you are here. I have experienced depression for four years. It has been a rough ride. You have made it to a safe place, to be yourself. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the lover of our souls, and can heal any person with any suffering. Do you attend church or pray? Have you accepted Jesus Christ?
I know very well the feelings of isolation, embarrassment, and suffering. I am praying for you.
Life is complicated.
I went running for the first time in a while. I guess I'm just trying to encourage you to keep fighting. There is always hope, I promise. Brain chemistry is a tricky thing, my best suggestion is exercise, if you're not taking medication. Even if you, are. Exercising the mind, more than just typing on a computer, is great for coping with mental illness.
I like to write in my journal. Read a lot. Eat food. Worship God. You have to train your soul and your spirit. The Lord has you, and all you need to do is follow.
I will pray for your depression. What is the career you are pursuing?
Thank you
Blessings,
Carina
This isn't the place to push your religion.
I'm atheist, and HAPPY.
Would you like it if you had a child that was in crisis and someone told her to dump her religion and become atheist? Probably not. So don't do that to someone else.
Actively look for other ways to cope. Lots of them.
Reading, cooking, going for a walk, painting, drawing (even if you draw stick figures like me), skating, jumping rope, reading, learning a language, a book club, a Bible study, knitting class.
As much as possible get out and among other people.
Volunteer at the library, blood drive, food bank, reading to kids at the school.
@help_me_jesus: I'm actually atheist due to my own beliefs (existentialist by philosophy), but thank-you if you commit your time to pray for me.
@patti22: I guess I need to try more, but I have so many anxieties about going out publicly. I get such anxiety about getting along with others. Any suggestions on how to relax? I've tried breathing and other techniques, but they don't work. The same thing that triggered me in the first place always lingers with me somehow.
@rjw: I'm with a therapist now. We just kind of discovered that I'm missing that one level of the hierarchy. I just need more than the 1 he a week I see her though. Thanks!