Anxiety and Depression for the Past 5 Years, possible?

[t_nguyen701]

Hey Everyone,

I'm new to the site. Although I've never been professionally diagnosed with anxiety, depression, anxiety/ panic attacks, I'm almost positive I struggle with these based on the symptoms I've seen online. I think I've always had this uneasiness feeling in my chest stemming from childhood but I never knew what to call it so I always thought it was a feeling of me just being nervous and it'll go away...until it comes back later down the road. However, I think the issues got worse after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2013 and I was going through a really tough breakup, while being unemployed for about a year after graduating from Grad school. I remember getting feelings like I was about to get a heart attack, like a REALLY uncomfortable feeling in my chest and never really knew what it was- I didnt think much of it then and didnt bother to research the symptoms and I hadnt gone to see the Doctor much. Anyway, fast forward to 2018 and I've been unable to be romantically involved with anyone and stayed at a job that I didn't enjoy and I think I've been suffering from chronic depression since 2013 and never was aware of it. Is this possible to be depressed for so long and never have been aware? What sparked me to become more in touch with how I feel was when I just broke up with my girlfriend a few months ago and forced me to really looked inward at why I wasn't truly happy when I should have been. Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know I don't want to play the victim any longer and am making every effort to combat this bc I can't let it to continue running my life- I am seeing a psychologist tomorrow to see if he'll be able to help me. Thanks for reading.

[Agora1]

t_nguyen701, I am happy that you will be seeing a psychologist tomorrow. As I was reading your post, I kept wondering why you hadn't addressed the situation sooner. Of course, Anxiety and or Depression can go on for 5 years or longer especially if it isn't taken care of. As you are seeing, mental health issues do have a way of having a life of their own and having you lose control.

There are many ways this can be addressed. You took the first important step forward by making the appointment with the psychologist. You have been stuck too long and now it's your time to regain your life back and start living again. We will support you through your steps in going forward. You are never alone. We care. x

[t_nguyen701 in reply to Agora1]

HI Agora1,

Thank you for replying. I can't believe I've waited so long to address this as well. Perhaps I was worried of what others might think if I had to go seek professional help? Or perhaps I was complacent in my every day life and routine where I didn't stop to think about how I truly felt inside. Whatever it is, I'm trying not to lament on it any longer as you know people who struggle with anxiety tend to do so. I'm learning to be more gentle with myself and practice more self-awareness and self-love. Thanks for taking the time to reply

[Agora1 in reply to t_nguyen701]

Good Luck tomorrow with your appointment. Let us know how it went. This is your time now to work on yourself. x

[Hidden]

Good job taking that first step!

[t_nguyen701 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you lynnalice!

[Olinick]

Well if it makes you feel any better I lived with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and ADD from the time I was a child until I was finally officially diagnosed about 22 years later. I always had anxiety and always felt that something was wrong with me. When I was about 16 years old I had my first panic attack. I didn't know what was happening but wasn't in a family situation where I could have gone to my parents or someone else to find out what was happening. As luck would have it, a few months after my first attack I was flipping through one of my mother's women magazines and there was an article on panic attacks. I at least knew I wouldn't die if it happened again and it did, many times. Each time I just dealt with it alone. This was before computers so I had to look at books or magazines to piece it all together. When I was in my 30s, I finally told my sister only to find out that anxiety and depression runs in the family on both sides. I eventually learned to control my panic attacks when they happened but I couldn't stop them from happening, only lessen the effects. When 9/11 happened I knew someone who died. That is when all of my tricks for controlling all of these issues stopped working. That is when I was put on medication. I feel good that I learned to persevere and function despite my disabilities but on the other hand because I waited so long to get help, the results of treatment aren't always great and the issues continued to get worse. I wish you good luck tomorrow and hope you are able to get the help you deserve.

[t_nguyen701 in reply to Olinick]

Hi Olinick,

Thank you for reading and replying. It doesn’t make me feel better at all. I thought I was the only one who couldn’t figure out what was going on with me bc up until 2013, my life had been great and I hadn’t really experienced anything as hard as my mom getting sick. So after that happened, was when i started to feel uncomfortable with myself and I wasn’t really sure what was going on with me- It was new territory for me... i am now 29 and I hope i am able to overcome this. It really means alot that you responded. This is the first time I’ve shared my story bc I feel like it’s so hard to for me with my friends and family. It means alot that you would take the time out to read my story and respond. Thank you!