Is it really just a rough patch

[Sweetmango85]

Why is it taking so long to feel like myself again? Will I ever feel like myself again? I think my thyroid is healing as many of the physical symptoms have improved but the mental health issues won’t let up.

The internal tug of war still won’t let me rest. I’m unmotivated and still experiencing brain fog. Even if I get some sleep I still wake feeling tired. I honestly feel so sad. How could my body turn against me like this?

Does anyone ever truly “recover “ from depression and anxiety? I feel like my mind and body have been irreparable changed.

[Broken1971]

Sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately I've found that depression and anxiety never really go away. With that being said, I have had long periods of my life where it has been in control enough so I was able to work, have relationships and even travel and have fun. If you haven't yet, find some professional help. It might take some time to get a good treatment plan going but I promise it will be worth it in the long run.

[Hidden]

You will recover be patient and let time pass. The more you think about it and focus your awareness on it the longer it will take. When I had anxiety the brain fog was the scariest thing for me because I thought the same that it was permanent. I felt like I had dementia or Alzheimer's and even tunnel vision. I would recommend getting Ken Goodman's book Break Free from Anxiety.

[Casper22337281919]

I feel you if you need to talk feel free to messae me

[mommala in reply to Casper22337281919]

This is not the person you replies to but I am curious how I could message you. Is it an option on this platform?

[mommala]

The thyroid definitely plays a major role. I am feeling like you are but I have had many good periods and hope to again. You are in my thoughts. Mommala

[kvolm2016]

I want to encourage you that yes, our bodies and brains have tremendous recovery abilities, so you can and do have the opportunity to feel good again! Time and intentional effort certainly go a long way toward seeing the recovery that you are hoping to find. What kind of medical care providers are you working with? Do you invest in learning about how to maximize your self-care?

[Sweetmango85 in reply to kvolm2016]

Thanks for your reply. I recently started seeing a therapist and naturopath. I don’t have a self care routine which I feel is partially why I’m where I am.

I have 3 little kids 6, 4, 2 all of my energy goes into taking care of them and preparing food, cleaning etc. By the end of the day I’m beat and as the saying goes you can’t pour from an empty cup.

I’ve often felt selfish in the past when I took time for myself so over time I stopped thinking about myself and focused on caring for my family. I didn’t realize that not making time for myself would contribute to a breakdown like this.

To answer you question, I don’t know how to maximize self care .

[kvolm2016 in reply to Sweetmango85]

Well your therapist and naturopath will be huge steps forward in your self-care practices so that is great to hear! And it is definitely easy for us mommas to lose ourselves in the busyness of daily life with little ones to care for. Do you have any support network (extended family/friends) that can help provide you with some bits of free time on a regular basis? For example I have a group of 5 moms who get together for 2 hours each Wednesday and we leave our kids at home with sitters so we can have time for ourselves. Just having this to look forward to and having that time away is huge for my sanity. Or even having someone watch the kids every few weeks so I can go run errands/shopping by myself LOL.

[Sweetmango85 in reply to kvolm2016]

I really hope that the services will help. Unfortunately, help with the children is quite limited. But I also have a difficult time asking for help. I’ve been burnt out for a long time. It was easier when they were in daycare but that changed when Covid started. I hope to find more resources once all the lockdowns are over.

[kvolm2016 in reply to Sweetmango85]

Yep, I also had to learn to ask for help instead of trying to be "self-sufficient" all the time. It's not a contest to see who can be superwoman, right!

[Hidden]

I am so sorry. My sister has thyroid issues/anxiety/depression. You are not alone. ❤️

[Sweetmango85 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. This experience has felt really lonely at times because no one I know has Graves’ disease. Also, in the community where I’m from people either don’t speak about mental illness or they see it as something you can “shake off”. Blessings to you and your sister.

[Hidden in reply to Sweetmango85]

I wish there wasn't such a stigma with mental illness. It really saddens me. I am happy to have you on this forum, so you can speak out! Thank you so much for the blessings. Blessing to you, too. ❤️