Multiple Diagnosis

[Racingthoughts1969]

Hi everyone, i'm new to this. I suffer from Major depression, GAD, Panic Disorder PTSD with delayed expression and Agoraphobia with Panic. Just wondering if anyone else suffers from a mixture like this and how they cope.

[bridder01]

Howdy Racing! Welcome to the forum! I absolutely sympathize with what you're going through. I suffer from depression with leanings towards agoraphobia and generalized social anxiety. I guess how I cope is I don't try to rush things. You can't fix everything overnight. Some things take a long time before they start to get better. Patience and perseverance are two things one needs to fight this struggle. Another way I cope is to indulge in a hobby or interest that I love to get involved in. Distraction can be a good way to minimize some of the symptoms and make life a little more bearable. Some thing I do that I would recommend would be meditation (with soothing music in the background) and utilizing this website. There are some absolutely wonderful people here and we are all at the ready if you feel like you need help coping with an episode. Just remember, you're not alone in this fight and we're all here to support you!

A friend,

Brian

[Racingthoughts1969 in reply to bridder01]

Thank you Brian for your response, I go to group therapy 4 mornings a week and unless I desperately need to go anywhere else, that is my only time leaving my house. If I do leave I need my Mom, Husband or Daughter to go with me. The thought of leaving the house makes me feel physically sick and my anxiety sky rockets. I did have severe panic attacks also but my medication has switched of all emotion so they have stopped for now. On bad days with depression I am unable to talk myself into leaving the bedroom as that is my safe place.

[bridder01 in reply to Racingthoughts1969]

I sympathize completely Racing. Many days, I have the same troubles. I can't get out of bed or get moving and even getting out of my apartment. The thing I've learned is sometimes you can't force things. When you feel able to do it, then take advantage of it. But if my anxiety is bad, then going out or even trying to move becomes almost impossible. But, believe it or not, something I've started doing is challenging myself to leave my comfort zone. For me, too, it's my bedroom. But I've begun to slide into agoraphobia and that is not how I want to live. Despite how I feel and how much I want to pull the sheets over my head and wish that the world would go away, I have to fight those feelings. For the longest time, I felt the need to isolate and not to bother with even the most basic social interactions. For me, it stems from extreme bashfulness and years of verbal/emotional abuse I endured during my childhood and adolescent years. It's only been recently that I have begun to make small strides in breaking the cycle of isolation that I used to shield myself with for so many years. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is fight. But if you really want to get better and to live a more positive life, then you need to fight those negative thoughts and the need to stay in your comfort zone. Now, I'm not saying to try to break out of it all at once lol. But, if you take baby steps, doing little things to stretch your comfort zone, then things won't seem nearly so bad when you do want to go out. On top of that, use your support system when you feel stuck or you feel like the depression is getting bad. Never be afraid to talk to someone about what you're going through. Coming to this forum is a good place to do that! You're not alone in this fight Racing! We're all here to support ya and talk to you if you ever need to talk

A friend,

Brian

[Hidden]

I was agoraphobic for 14 years. Don’t give up hope. Things get better. It takes time.

[MelissaC13]

I do and it is now summed up to the diagnosis of Complex- PTSD. I did not even know there was such a thing until I found my amazingly awesome therapist.... Now I have options! I use meditation, CBT, good diet, light exercise (Tai Chi and restorative yoga) and healthy relationships to support me through my healing. We are all on a journey. May yours be filled with Peace and Love. 😄

Regards,

Melissa

[dukenu]

I agree with others, divide your challenges into smaller parts that you can work on a little bit at a time; if you hate being around people, challenge yourself to first call someone--a family member--even though you might not 'feel' like it. Don't try to leave your home and go to a store where there are a ton of people, instead get out of the house but maybe go to a park....today I've been ill with a head cold but due to my being in bed I was feeling anxious...I challenged my self to leave the house by just driving down a canyon road near me to listen to music I like...while i was driving my sinus opened up and I was breathing easier. I've been laying in bed sick, but I challenged myself to take a hot shower...it takes energy, but I did it and the feeling of accomplishment lifts my mood a little. Little by little, accomplishing little tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment and confidence...increase what you do everyday if you can, if not its ok; its ok to take a day off.