Looking for support

[ReardenSt33l]

Hello everyone. I’m new to this group and I’m really just looking for support. I’m 22 years old (male) and a senior in college. The last few weeks I’ve been going through severe anxiety and depression. It’ll come and go (one hour I’ll be fine then the next I’ll be in a hole).

I have a loving family and group of friends but I still feel lonely seeing that none of them have experienced what I’m going through. I don’t know how this app works but I’d love to talk to someone in a similar situation as me

Thank you all in advance

[Hidden]

Hi I'm new to this app as well

[Hidden]

I do have loving family, and boyfriend and some friend as well, but I have this fear and anxiety... maybe our situation is a lil bit different but do you want to talk about it with me ..?

[ReardenSt33l in reply to Hidden]

Hi Ninadesu, id like to talk to you about it

[Hidden]

Welcome ReardenSt331,

You have come to the right place.

When you say family and friends just don't really get it, I can relate.

[ReardenSt33l in reply to Hidden]

Some of my friends say they get anxious and I believe them but at the same time they don’t experience debilitating anxiety like I do. Where I will be forced to leave social situations and go home. And after I have bad anxiety the next day will be filled with depression. It’s a vicious cycle.

[Hidden in reply to ReardenSt33l]

Yeeess. My family and co-workers don't understand that sometimes anxiety can cripple me. I can hardly speak, move, think. They just want me to snap out of it. It's not that simple.

[ReardenSt33l in reply to Hidden]

Do you ever have trouble eating?

[Hidden in reply to ReardenSt33l]

Uh yeah! Can't eat and if I do it's almost to the point I need Imodium shortly after eating lol.

[Hidden in reply to ReardenSt33l]

I must add that medication has helped with my many symptoms. I have only been taking meds for a few months and I must admit that I noticed a difference. I was totally against it but now I'm a believer.

[ReardenSt33l in reply to Hidden]

Today is my first day on Prozac. It’s been a bit weird but I’ve been on Prozac once before and it helped me out of my rut and then I stopped taking it.

[Hidden in reply to ReardenSt33l]

My first couple of days on meds were really weird. Meds seemed to have a soothing effect on my brain. I thought I would become an addict very quickly. I guess my brain was fried 😄. My psychiatrist said the average patient takes 400 mgs. Well, I said I'm not going to be the average patient. I dont think I could handle more than what Im taking now. I started at 50 mg. It helps me manage anxiety better. I can actually think now rather than shut down and avoid social interactions. I can deal with board meeting presentations, conference calls, and email without totally freaking out on the inside.

It's good that you don't depend on meds so much. Have you ever seen a therapist to help you manage anxiety? Does anxiety ever interfere with school?

[ReardenSt33l in reply to Hidden]

I have never taken more than 10mg of Prozac before. And even now I’m cutting the pills in half. I know it’s such a low dosage and I’m trying to keep it on the low side so I can ease off of it quickly.

I am going to a therapist now and I don’t know if it’s totally helping. I’ve had 2 meetings and they are good but sometimes it feels like we’re just talking about top-level things and not diving deep. During the next session we’re supposed to go more in depth which I’m looking forward to. The place I go to is at my church and it’s very cheap (I can’t afford to go to some of the more expensive places).

Anxiety has affected school but I’m really trying not to let it. If I focus on my school work I’m able to trick my brain into not being so anxious. I’ve done really well in my summer classes so far which I’m proud of myself for.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to me

[Hidden in reply to ReardenSt33l]

I'm always here.

[Hidden in reply to ReardenSt33l]

Don't be a stranger. I'm sure you have a lot going on, but it would be great if you could take a few minutes to let me know how you are doing. PM me anytime.

Blessings and peace!

[Delora]

You're always welcome to chat 😊

[nicolada421]

Well you’ve come to the right place. I went through horrible depression and anxiety while in college. It sucks. I totally get it. While I have a loving family and fiancé, and MD and GAD run in my family, no one talks about, because only a couple of my cousins as well as myself have ever sought professional help. Counseling has provided me ways to talk about it with my family. And I would highly encourage it. If there’s anything you want to know feel free to reach out!

[Hidden]

It’s great that you’re recognizing you have a problem now, so good job. I’ve been dealing with similar problems that kinda spiraled out of control for a few years now. Hang in there and maybe find a good therapist, it’s made a difference in my life (even though I’m struggling real bad rn).

[Lostandbroken]

We're all here to listen! I'm 21 fighting anxiety and depression as well, the One minute you're okay and the next you're not I can relate too. I'm open to talk if you would like maybe we could help each other through this?! Stay postive as much as you can!

[Rpan]

Anxiety certainly is no fun, but it’s a natural reaction to a threat, only the threat is often imagined, so we respond. The problem is that often our responses make us feel guilty,ashamed and various other unwanted feelings. When this happens we get depressed which is just a viscous cycle. The medication will help to lesson the anxiety, so you can than work on these fears, constructively. With this support and a therapist things will become understandable. Be gentle with yourself, be compassionate towards your feelings, it’s ok to feel uncomfortable, you will learn how to manage this. It’s perfectly normal to have anxiety, you can find comfort, you will find peace..