How to control emotions? Even if take your meds?

[Carly87]

Hi, I've been on meds for over a year now. And depression keeps kicking me down along with severe anxiety. Does anyone know how to stop your brain from saying you are worthless?

[heathermf316]

I've always been told cognitive behavior therapy with a counselor or therapist in conjunction with medication is the best way to approach depression. I have done this and it honestly takes the time to find a counselor or therapist that fits your needs. It's ok to see different ones until you find one that you prefer.

[Carly87 in reply to heathermf316]

I've been with a therapist for 2 years now. I recently changed it as I moved, and I loved her. Unfortunately she left the practice and now I don't want to come back. The anxiety to change doctors again and start over... it's too much. I'm almost run off meds as I haven't gone to the clinic as I don't want to face the fact that my doctor is not there anymore.

[Hidden in reply to Carly87]

Hi well it's not going to help you if you run out of meds is it? Pluck up your courage (or get someone else to) and get some more.

It sounds like you need more therapy. Who knows you might find a new one to be even better than the old one! Be positive about the change and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Distraction can help you. When the worthless thoughts come such as 'I'm a lazy cow for not getting out of bed sooner' add on the end a positive thought such as 'Well done for getting out of bed at all feeling like I do'. In time this will become a good habit.

Interupt the thoughts and deliberately start thinking about something else or get up and do somthing eg wash the dishes. This will give your mind a short break from slagging yourself off. Keep doing this as it will help.

One thing I do is when I am feeling maudlin is to set myself a time limit on my 'pity party' and when that limit is up forbid myself from thinking about them again. Again with practise this becomes easier.

I hope these tips have helped a bit.

[Carly87 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. Your words really mean a lot. I'll sure be on doctor's office on Monday and see what may come with it. That is the perfect expression of what I do "pitty party" and I can't help but to compare myself to others and see I'm nobody. But hey, those thoughts eventually are gone. It's all about: this too shall pass.

I have been dealing with lots of changes and the fact of me not looking back and avoid people to avoid social awkwardness... is not really helping at all. But again! Thank you. Is nice to see that there's people out there who are willing to give you a kind word.

[Hidden in reply to Carly87]

You are very welcome. Never compare yourself to others as that's a mugs game. You only see their lives from the outside and have no idea what hell they might be going through internally do you? There will always be someone younger, smarter, prettier than you and all you can do is be the best version of yourself you can be. That is more than enough.

You are as much a somebody as we all are and you are important. Remember that.

[Carly87 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. You made a difference in my life today.

[Hidden in reply to Carly87]

Oh good. This makes me feel useful and boosts my ego. Thank you very much xx

[Robert176]

Carly, all I can say is that you are not alone. Anybody that saw me from the outside would say I have everything, but they do not know the anxiety, guilt and depression that I feel inside. What I want to communicate to you is that what you are feeling affects many of us seemingly "successful" people and you have much company. Start one day at a time and release yourself from self judgeement and guilt. It is ok to spend a day doing absolutely nothing but watching netflix. Think more about what you have and not what you feel you are lacking. Lower the bar, you don't need to be the best to be happy. I was the best in the world once in chess as a junior, but it didn't make me happy. Happiness is found within yourself. Good luck, Robert Ledonne

[Carly87 in reply to Robert176]

Thank you Robert for your words. Right now, I feel sooo overwhelmed. I got an excellent advise yesterday. And it helped me go through the day. But right now, I feel that empty and whole inside again. I did take my meds, and I follow my action plan once I started to feel this way. But no... I didn't help at all. I'm not only have depression, but anxiety and OCD. My OCD kills me every time that it cans. My idea of "competition" is actually beat myself everyday. But that obsession is making me crazy. I have to be the best daughter, the best wife, the best friend, the best employee and the best manager, and the best human being. An every time I feel that I have failed in any of those areas, I feel like I'm useless and all people around me will be better without me. It's crazy how those chemicals in your brain play with you everyday and you are in a battle where it seems it's really difficult to come out of it victorious.

[CaptainCrunch in reply to Carly87]

I have OCD as well. I have to be perfect else I am a complete failure. My ritual or compulsion is to ruminate. I have been having some success lately but it is a horrific battle.