Depression/Anxiety

[azubuikefan]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this or if anyone can even answer the questions I have. I am finally going to a doctor about going on anti-depressants/anxiety medicine. I have been dealing with terrible anxiety/depression my entire life and it's negatively affecting my friendships, work, relationships, pretty much everything. I'm 34 now and looking back, I wonder what would have been different if I had taken this on sooner. Do any of you all have any experience with being on medicine for it? Any response helps. I appreciate you all! You've been a constant since 2003 for me.

Kyle

 

[TortElvisII]

Yes but moved on.

Exercise is the best pill in the world.

Not sure what worked for me will work for you.
Haven't been anxious in years. Still depressed at times

 

[kywildcatsfan#1]

I take mirtazapine for chronic insomnia. It is an anti-depressant. I have PTSD and haven't had a natural night of sleep without it since 2012. Would say it helps with sleep for sure.

 

[JLoad22]

Nothing in this world is worth getting tore up over. Get a Labrador and laugh in the face of darkness.

 

[vhcat70]

Yes but moved on.

Exercise is the best pill in the world.

Not sure what worked for me will work for you.
Haven't been anxious in years. Still depressed at times

I've exercised forever & don't have these things. No idea if that's why. Best to those having issues.

 

[Kingseve1]

it takes disciplined work to overcome, but some silver bullets are:

30 minutes meditation a day

Eat fairly clean

No caffeine

Get to bed before 10

Pray

Read the bible

Moderate exercise

Stretch

Reframe negative thoughts into a positive one.

No alcohol or drugs

Counselor

Relax- a stressed out body takes time to recover. Yes, the overthinking of the mind on the negative will release stress hormones that will stress you out And take away your:

-sleep
-digestion
-energy


Eat fresh fruit and steamed cruciferous vegetables with olive oil and lemon. Eggs, burgers, fish, bone broth. Among other clean options

No:

-soda
-chips
-candy
-fried food
-salt is an anxiety trigger as is sugar

 

[RunninRichie]

have bad health anxiety. My medicine is talking to family and abstaining from googling. I have many health websites blocked. The first step to getting better is admitting you need help and second is getting that help. Looks like you are taking your first two steps. God bless.

 

[rbs]

There is much that could be said … though this message board probably is not the place, but there is hope and peace to be had even in the midst of it all.. Peace of mind is perhaps the most pleasant of emotions, but at times can be the most difficult to obtain … but it can be obtained.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I have panic attacks, and they suck. I exercise and am on anxiety meds.

Hang in there, brother.

 

[azubuikefan]

I have panic attacks, and they suck. I exercise and am on anxiety meds.

Hang in there, brother.

Thanks Captain Booger Buns

 

[JimmyWa11]

The mind body and soul are all interconnected. Low doses of medicine can certainly help but there’s no cure all in a pill.

As others have mentioned, diet and exercise play a huge role in overall mood.

Also, spiritual well being must be accounted for. God has designed our beings to alert us when something is wrong. Let those struggles be a reminder that we are finite sinners apart from a relationship with Christ. However, for those who repent of sin and trust in the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Christ, there is always hope.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

An old gf struggled with it forever. Still friends with her. The worst thing you can do is just tell someone to "get over it" or whatever. Ppl don't understand its a disease in your head you cant just turn on or off.

Anyway, they did therapy forever, and it would get better, but they just started taking some new med called auvelity or something like that...expensive AF so insurance will prob try to put you on something else. But it's fast acting. Seems to work well for her.

Which is another thing...you have to take most of those meds for a bit before they start to work.

I remember she had to try different things...one basically made her a zombie. She wasn't sad, but she was numb to the world.

 

[Bigtyrone]

While it's dismissive for people to say some of the above will cure it (read the bible? lol), some of the suggestions can help at least a little, maybe a lot. Particularly exercise. It sounds like you are suffering quite a bit. Medication helps most people, and therapy is just as important. I strongly suggesting getting in with a therapist / counselor. Working through issues can help quite a bit, and some people can go off meds after a while.

If the first therapist doesn't seem to be helping, try another. If the first medication doesn't help, try another. I strongly suggest staying off of benzos (such as Xanax) as they're habit forming and can cause a whole new set of problems. Lexapro is an SSRI and commonly prescribed to help both depression and anxiety.

Good luck!

 

[JLoad22]

While it's dismissive for people to say some of the above will cure it (read the bible? lol), some of the suggestions can help at least a little, maybe a lot. Particularly exercise. It sounds like you are suffering quite a bit. Medication helps most people, and therapy is just as important. I strongly suggesting getting in with a therapist / counselor. Working through issues can help quite a bit, and some people can go off meds after a while.

If the first therapist doesn't seem to be helping, try another. If the first medication doesn't help, try another. I strongly suggest staying off of benzos (such as Xanax) as they're habit forming and can cause a whole new set of problems. Lexapro is an SSRI and commonly prescribed to help both depression and anxiety.

Good luck!

If you don’t think the Bible/prayer hasn’t helped millions of struggling or depressed people, you’re just as dismissive as you suggest. smfh. I mean you see athletes on a daily basis say they struggled with depression and then found God and are beyond happy now.

Finding God or taking a bunch of pills and listening to another flawed human tell you how to manage it. Hmmmm, let me think about this. smh

On a side note. I do think sugar is a drug and can ruin your life in large doses.

 

[Beatle Bum]

An old gf struggled with it forever. Still friends with her. The worst thing you can do is just tell someone to "get over it" or whatever. Ppl don't understand its a disease in your head you cant just turn on or off.

Anyway, they did therapy forever, and it would get better, but they just started taking some new med called auvelity or something like that...expensive AF so insurance will prob try to put you on something else. But it's fast acting. Seems to work well for her.

Which is another thing...you have to take most of those meds for a bit before they start to work.

I remember she had to try different things...one basically made her a zombie. She wasn't sad, but she was numb to the world.

There may be some genetic testing that can be done to help discern the best med for the individual to avoid so much trial and error. Giving the meds a sustained try is important. Also, discussing drug side effects is important.

 

[Beatle Bum]

While it's dismissive for people to say some of the above will cure it (read the bible? lol), some of the suggestions can help at least a little, maybe a lot. Particularly exercise. It sounds like you are suffering quite a bit. Medication helps most people, and therapy is just as important. I strongly suggesting getting in with a therapist / counselor. Working through issues can help quite a bit, and some people can go off meds after a while.

If the first therapist doesn't seem to be helping, try another. If the first medication doesn't help, try another. I strongly suggest staying off of benzos (such as Xanax) as they're habit forming and can cause a whole new set of problems. Lexapro is an SSRI and commonly prescribed to help both depression and anxiety.

Good luck!

There is some research that supports faith, Bible reading and consistent attendance at church services as helpful for anxiety and other issues. Finding a loving community and being a part seems to be a healthy choice. There has also been some research about sabbath and life expectancy. When people are suffering, dismissing remedies is probably not the right approach.

 

[SDC888]

I had random panic attacks briefly in my early 20s, probably was resultant of lifestyle: too much caffeine all nighters studying, stress, drinking/partying etc.

IN addition to what was mentioned, which is more important and effective, try to train your mind to stop thinking. By that I mean, once you start thinking about something, don't dwell on it and continue down the path: like say for example, when you get angry at something, then the more you think about whatever it was the angrier you get, accomplishing nothnig bet getting angrier which has physiological consequence, just stop as soon as the anxiety starts...think or do something else, like something challenging that requires your full attention and is intereisting, recognizing that it takes time and practice to get better. Before you know it maybe you'll be in full control of your mind, instead of your mind controlling you.

Your anxiety also might be telling you something is wrong, that there is something knowingly or uknowingly you need to be wroking on or fixing. One time I was boarded on a plane and my heart just started racing, prolly 180 bpm out of nowhere, then I noticed a wierd smell, calmed myself down thinking,"surely that's just in my mind, my anxiety!" so I stopped thinking about it and instead the miracle of aviation and how safe it is. A fe minutes later the captain came on the intercom that we were going to deboard the plane due to the strange smell.

 

[JimmyWa11]

BigTyrone’s opinion or Jesus?

Gonna stick with Jesus.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

It's important that you recognized the issue, and are taking steps to address it. I think far too many just suffer through it. Seeking professional help with anxiety or other mental health used to be widely considered a weakness. I see it as a positive step. Hope all goes well for you. Please check back later and let us know how you're doing?

Best of luck to you, Kyle

 

[MadaboutBlue]

Yes but moved on.

Exercise is the best pill in the world.

Not sure what worked for me will work for you.
Haven't been anxious in years. Still depressed at times

I believe exercise is the best antidote, and I suspect one of the key reasons depression and anxiety are so prevalent in todays world is the sedentary work that most of us do. Even when we're not working, we're watching sports, or social media. One of my jobs as a independent contractor requires me to sit at a computer three or four hours a day and I know for a fact that weighs on one's physical and mental health.

 

[roguemocha]

I’m always going to be joked on for this, but have them check your testosterone levels/panel. They usually would rather give you pills but T has helped me out immensely with depression and those things.

Get it done either way whatever works. Don’t live like that.

 

[DreadLox]

Suitable medication, exercise, Cognitive Behavior Therapy. a humane counsellor, and an honest desire to get better.

And luck.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy also goes by the name Rational Behavior Therapy. Both involve slowly breaking your mental habits that reinforce depression. There are techniques involved that might seem amenable to skipping. Don't. Do the menial tasks involved. Carefully doing those tasks is part of breaking the habits of depression.

Good luck to all in this thread.

 

[azubuikefan]

Thanks for all of your input everyone! I am getting back into exercising daily and staying busy. I've signed up for therapy and I'm excited to try that out. I'll keep you all posted!

 

[roguemocha]

Suitable medication, exercise, Cognitive Behavior Therapy. a humane counsellor, and an honest desire to get better.

And luck.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy also goes by the name Rational Behavior Therapy. Both involve slowly breaking your mental habits that reinforce depression. There are techniques involved that might seem amenable to skipping. Don't. Do the menial tasks involved. Carefully doing those tasks is part of breaking the habits of depression.

Good luck to all in this thread.

I like all this but I think for “most” people don’t go drugs first.

 

[DreadLox]

I like all this but I think for “most” people don’t go drugs first.

I was thinking of acute depression over chronic depression. If someone has reached the stage that they're a risk to themselves, I think a therapist will go Full Court Press.

 

[AIChatGPT]

I was visited by an angel and it cured my depression and anxiety.

 

[BC_Wader]

Obviously not a doc, but misery truly does love company. We usually wind up how our inner circle of friends and family are.

 

[WayneDougan_rivals170043]

Suppose you lived back in the days of Ghenghis Khan and you saw some of his sentries roll up on your village. You had heard when this happens that your tribe leader either accepts the terms of the Khan or your entire village will be wiped out in a couple of weeks. You and your sons will be beheaded, and your daughters and wives will be raped and turned into sex slaves for the Mongols until they are no longer needed - then they will be killed too. Your leader hears them out, thinks about it, and then tells them to f off. I would assume this would make you very anxious, right? And you should be.

My point of that story is this: are you anxious for a real reason where you need to be hyper aware and do something drastic to get out of the situation? For example, if you're in that village you probably should pick up and head for the hills - and your anxiety would be a driving force to push your body to make that happen.

My point is, if it's a real existential risk you're facing there's nothing wrong with being anxious or depressed about it. But you may need a Xanax or something to manage the fear so that you can at least perform at work and at home.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

I was visited by an angel and it cured my depression and anxiety.

But now you obviously have schizophrenia.

Good luck with that.

 

[roguemocha]

Suppose you lived back in the days of Ghenghis Khan and you saw some of his sentries roll up on your village. You had heard when this happens that your tribe leader either accepts the terms of the Khan or your entire village will be wiped out in a couple of weeks. You and your sons will be beheaded, and your daughters and wives will be raped and turned into sex slaves for the Mongols until they are no longer needed - then they will be killed too. Your leader hears them out, thinks about it, and then tells them to f off. I would assume this would make you very anxious, right? And you should be.

My point of that story is this: are you anxious for a real reason where you need to be hyper aware and do something drastic to get out of the situation? For example, if you're in that village you probably should pick up and head for the hills - and your anxiety would be a driving force to push your body to make that happen.

My point is, if it's a real existential risk you're facing there's nothing wrong with being anxious or depressed about it. But you may need a Xanax or something to manage the fear so that you can at least perform at work and at home.

Spin off coming

 

[ZenCatFan73]

A combination of the right anxiety meds, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exercise helps. Good luck OP.

 

[DreadLox]

Suppose you lived back in the days of Ghenghis Khan and you saw some of his sentries roll up on your village. You had heard when this happens that your tribe leader either accepts the terms of the Khan or your entire village will be wiped out in a couple of weeks. You and your sons will be beheaded, and your daughters and wives will be raped and turned into sex slaves for the Mongols until they are no longer needed - then they will be killed too. Your leader hears them out, thinks about it, and then tells them to f off. I would assume this would make you very anxious, right? And you should be.

My point of that story is this: are you anxious for a real reason where you need to be hyper aware and do something drastic to get out of the situation? For example, if you're in that village you probably should pick up and head for the hills - and your anxiety would be a driving force to push your body to make that happen.

My point is, if it's a real existential risk you're facing there's nothing wrong with being anxious or depressed about it. But you may need a Xanax or something to manage the fear so that you can at least perform at work and at home.

Depression used to be called melancholy, and it's ancient. Sadness and melancholy are kin, but they're not the same thing. Grief and melancholy are kins but aren't the same thing. The crushing weight of external conditions isn't depression either. (I just asked my doctor is SSRIs were effective in blotting out the sadness of watching the world beat itself to flinders. No, they aren't.)

If you don't have depression, good for you. But millions do. They're not faking.

 

[Laparkafan]

Suppose you lived back in the days of Ghenghis Khan and you saw some of his sentries roll up on your village. You had heard when this happens that your tribe leader either accepts the terms of the Khan or your entire village will be wiped out in a couple of weeks. You and your sons will be beheaded, and your daughters and wives will be raped and turned into sex slaves for the Mongols until they are no longer needed - then they will be killed too. Your leader hears them out, thinks about it, and then tells them to f off. I would assume this would make you very anxious, right? And you should be.

My point of that story is this: are you anxious for a real reason where you need to be hyper aware and do something drastic to get out of the situation? For example, if you're in that village you probably should pick up and head for the hills - and your anxiety would be a driving force to push your body to make that happen.

My point is, if it's a real existential risk you're facing there's nothing wrong with being anxious or depressed about it. But you may need a Xanax or something to manage the fear so that you can at least perform at work and at home.

Sometimes it’s temporary snd sometimes it’s permanent there’s a number of reasons

PTSD
Financial stress
Marriage stress
Children stress
Work/life balance
Lack of friends/social life
Addictions

 

[WayneDougan_rivals170043]

Depression used to be called melancholy, and it's ancient. Sadness and melancholy are kin, but they're not the same thing. Grief and melancholy are kins but aren't the same thing. The crushing weight of external conditions isn't depression either. (I just asked my doctor is SSRIs were effective in blotting out the sadness of watching the world beat itself to flinders. No, they aren't.)

If you don't have depression, good for you. But millions do. They're not faking.

I was not accusing anyone from faking depression. I was referring to my belief that there are certain things where people should be anxious - and telling them they shouldn't be is wrong. But even if that's the situation you're in - you still need to figure out how to live your life on a day to day basis. Sometimes there is no escape.

 

[MGGA]

No depression, but I have diagnosed general anxiety. Meds did the trick for me. It was quite amazing how much they helped. I smile more, don’t get overly mad at infuriating things, I even driver better. I used to be grabbing the wheel like a vice, sitting completely up it even leaning forward. It was about a month or so after I started meds that I recognized how that had changed. I still get the bad thoughts/fears from time to time but my brain now tells me to chill the eff out.

The one I’m on supposedly makes sex, ummmm, ‘more difficult to complete’, but I haven’t seen that. In fact, it feels like a double every time. TMI, I know.

Obviously exercise, eating right, being around positive people and all that helps, but sometime the old gray matter just needs a little reset. You’d do whatever it took to get your heart or lungs working correctly, so why not let a professional dig around up there and let them help you out?

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

it takes disciplined work to overcome, but some silver bullets are:

30 minutes meditation a day

Eat fairly clean

No caffeine

Get to bed before 10

Pray

Read the bible

Moderate exercise

Stretch

Reframe negative thoughts into a positive one.

No alcohol or drugs

Counselor

Relax- a stressed out body takes time to recover. Yes, the overthinking of the mind on the negative will release stress hormones that will stress you out And take away your:

-sleep
-digestion
-energy


Eat fresh fruit and steamed cruciferous vegetables with olive oil and lemon. Eggs, burgers, fish, bone broth. Among other clean options

No:

-soda
-chips
-candy
-fried food
-salt is an anxiety trigger as is sugar

OP...

This ^^^^ is great advice. All of it. Some have mocked the praying/Bible aspect but I wouldn’t overlook it. If that’s not your thing, stick to the meditation part.

You are definitely on the right track by seeking help. Don’t worry about “if things would have been different if you had seeked help earlier”. Focus on the right now & the future. Both are bright.

Hang in there, brother.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Suppose you lived back in the days of Ghenghis Khan and you saw some of his sentries roll up on your village. You had heard when this happens that your tribe leader either accepts the terms of the Khan or your entire village will be wiped out in a couple of weeks. You and your sons will be beheaded, and your daughters and wives will be raped and turned into sex slaves for the Mongols until they are no longer needed - then they will be killed too. Your leader hears them out, thinks about it, and then tells them to f off. I would assume this would make you very anxious, right? And you should be.

My point of that story is this: are you anxious for a real reason where you need to be hyper aware and do something drastic to get out of the situation? For example, if you're in that village you probably should pick up and head for the hills - and your anxiety would be a driving force to push your body to make that happen.

My point is, if it's a real existential risk you're facing there's nothing wrong with being anxious or depressed about it. But you may need a Xanax or something to manage the fear so that you can at least perform at work and at home.

WTF??

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

Depression is all too often a chemical imbalance. It’s neurological and as real as a broken leg. It requires medication—and there’s no other way around that in order to fit into these boxes in real life.

I had a church person once tell me it’s because of sin that someone has it. I asked him how he got so arrogant to believe he was going to heaven—when he’d likely be taking the spot from someone more deserving. That didn’t sit well with him

 

[80 Proof]

While it's dismissive for people to say some of the above will cure it (read the bible? lol),

Reading the Bible has helped me a lot with anxiety.

 

[chroix]

Sorry to hear you’re suffering through that OP. My two cents are whatever route you choose you need to be painfully honest with your therapist, yourself or your God to make progress and overcome the challenge you face. Dig in deep enough and you can can overcome anything.