When Anxiety is no longer Chemical but Situational..

[Interstellar2017]

When things go wrong you can't prevent you tend to throw yourself in a downward spiral of anxious and depressive thoughts.. It's proven that the world is very unstable and unpredictable which induces all of our disorders in our brains. Probably from all the dis-order in the world.. go figure. So with that I believe in the power of changing our thoughts to positive ones in order to overcome our situations in a more natural way. Eating good and making sure we know what our bodies can digest is a good start along with exercise to help fuel the mind and body. We are subjected to threatening situations every day so we are left to fend for ourselves seeking support through whatever outer extremities we can get our hands or minds on.. Medications are proven to help and escalate things so it's all biased and a practice that is very dangerous in my opinion. We have to change our perspective on life and change our habits to suit a more practical way of living or else it's just a matter of time before it all collapses. Be well and think well even in the face of adversity or complications. It's all in our minds what we shall meditate on and feed our souls. If medication works well for you than by all means do what you feel works but the overwhelming amount of dissatisfactory from people is devastating. We need better practices. Just a rant from a fellow anxious person with natural doubts in an unsure world.

[Kobojunkie]

I used to believe that too until I realized that there is in fact such a thing as a chemical imbalance in the brain and all the healthy food in the world, good thinking, and clean living will not help you overcome that.

for the first 35 years, I worked hard at managing my symptoms and ate well,took supplements daily and exercised everyday. But instead symptoms got worse, even though my self esteem had been significantly improved, and I eventually got to a point that I could no longer manage on my own. Imagine loving your life but still struggling with suicidal ideations on a regular basis. That is what also happened to me.

I went off my meds after just 3 years on them thinking I was cured but slowly the problems came back and I eventually started having suicidal ideations more than 5 times a day and would find myself sobbing sorrowfully for no apparent reason too. I checked myself into the behavioural center for a week this past February and I am back on my meds again.

[gogogirl in reply to Kobojunkie]

Is there a blood or other physical test for brain inbalance? Also do you have a great support system?

[Windy101 in reply to Kobojunkie]

I'm so glad you're back on track. People tend to go off meds because they think they no longer need them, but they feel that way because the meds are working! You sound like you've got a great self-care plan and know what's right for you.

[Hidden]

Hi there is some merit in what you say but it's more complex than that. Research has shown time and again that it is often those with mental health issues who don't have adequate coping strategies. So where anyone would feel deeply sad and unhappy when dealing with some of life's awful problems, most 'normal' people can deal with it a lot better coz they have a better self worth and image.

And I do agree to some extent with Kobojunkie that you don't have to lead a horrible life to suffer from depression and/or suicidal ideation. Even doing the 'healthy' things in life often doesn't really help when suffering from depression.

Meds can help you feel better and once you do it is easier to tackle your problems. I am a great believer in counselling as long as it's the right kind for you. There is nothing wrong in taking the self help route but I don't believe that would sort anything out unless you were only suffering from mild depression.

There is a lot of evidence to show that mental health problems can be hereditary. Ok some may be learned behaviour and this is the core of the nature/nurture debate. Wiser people than me can sort that one out!

[gogogirl]

I agree, and sometimes isolation is a HUGE cause. We need more groups- not just advice from MD> Been looking for a group that addresses these issues for almost a decade. However, I found that volunteering ( besides working ) is also a big reward. Also any financial anxiety or guilt is terrible. Only try to control or fix what you can.

[gogogirl]

I saw a piece online that basically stated that sometimes ( at least in the US) people try to avoid unpleasant feelings instead of sitting with them That sometimes sitting with them can help growth, and change if needed. I believe it also cited resiliency. I know that one size does not fit all. Sometimes isolation is a great contributor probably the greatest as well as guilt and shame. Serious regrets ( believe me I know) can also contribute. I also read that when someone exercises at least three hours per week this can raise serotonin levels. Sometimes having an academic problem like a LD or LDD can also contribute. We humans are complicated.

[Kobojunkie in reply to gogogirl]

why sit with an unpleasant feeling when you can do without it? As Dr Oz would say " there is. No need to suffer needlessly".

if it causes me irritation or frustration, why should I sit and try to endure it when I can walk away and keep my peace instead?

[gogogirl in reply to Kobojunkie]

I do have guilt and regret about something from the past, but I try to deal with it the best way I can. Can I fix it in a time machine? No, I cannot . If you are talking about frustration or irritation , I think everyone deals with something differently. If that is the way you cope, then that is fine. However, frustration can also be a sense of growth for others. Sometimes it is hard to imagine what others are going through or if they have more of a major disorder . I am new to this site, and am glad that I came in contact with others.

Sometimes I wonder if the sense of irritability or anxiety is also built into our current society fraught with messages of individualism verses community ( although some people have both).

I have never done psych meds, but I do take vitamins and 5htp ( which is herbal).

I read an article on psych central which is very interesting. The doctor who wrote the article said that some more common mental conditions were more based on psychosocial conditions. That seems to make sense - it may not "cure" everybody but it sounds interesting. I have also heard that being isolated and living far from family and roots can also have an effect. Many people in the US now live far from where their roots are. I am one.

[Interstellar2017]

I agree that some conditions are worse than others but I am a strong believer in self preservation and I feel that exercise and eating correctly is just the base for more growth when you progress. Things like self awareness, meditation, religion, positive support from peers and healthy relationships all contribute to a natural way of living a healthy life. I also believe in sever depression but I really think depression is a degenerative disease that's starts from one point and then snowballs into something bigger when your lifestyle choices are not met which include the things I stated. Eating and exercise are definitely not the cure all but a good foundation to start.. I really dislike medications and they make things worse because of your then dependency on the chemicals provided to you.

[gogogirl in reply to Interstellar2017]

I have heard that depression usually results in not having some basic needs met( for a long time). I am not a MD so I do not know if depression is a degenerative disease or a learned response, however I find this interesting. I do not know who did the study ( since the Amish societies are generally closed), but it was found that Amish people have a low rate of depression. I imagine they have a hard life, but also share a common purpose, and they are busy!

[gogogirl]

I hear you. I just got done reading a book called Tribe that addresses a lot of the situations that you talk about including the political and financial upheavals. Plus it seems not all people experience this but there is a certain amount of detribalization in our society.

[Windy101]

Well, I certainly agree that the world is uncertain right now. Horrifying things are happening. I still have very deep feelings about the last USA election. But keeping politics out of it, I also know I can't control these events, other than activism and prayer. And I see plenty of people who care about what's happening, but who aren't depressed. I don't think the negative environment causes us to feel worthelss, incapable of anything good, or as if we have no place in this world. The illness of depression makes us feel that way, with physical sysmptoms too like changes in appetite , sleep, and anxiety. Some depression may be situational; I've seen that with friends in a bad marriage, who snap out of it once divorced. And I do think our actions can have a big impact -healthy diet, exercise, being around caring people, etc. Depression descended on me out of the blue when I was 20. I thought I was going insane, because there wasn't much talk about it then. Later I learned it is caused by neurotansmitters in the brain. I'm sure you mean well, Interstellar, and that what you're saying is right for you and I'm sure others as well. But some people benefit greatly from their meds and are then able to function and have happier lives. We're all different. I don't think there's a blanket solution for everyone.