Feeling lost

[Thunder84]

Hey Everyone! I'm new here. This is my first time trying to find a support group. Iv struggled alot with depression and anxiety. Lately I just have this overwhelming pain inside and at times I feel suffocated. I dont have support system at home, or friends I can count on. Im lost... I dont even recognize myself in the mirror anymore. Has anyone else experienced this?

[endofheartache1290]

Hi, you are definitely not alone. I have a similar situation to yours. I have been dealing with anxiety and depression for awhile and don't have a good support network either. I also have moments where it's hard to recognize who I am because it seems like anxiety and depression have taken over and that is all that is left of me. It is hard to go about things on your own but you can start to make small changes that can help you. First and foremost do some self care. Set some time out of your week to just be there for you. Treat yourself to a movie or a warm cup or tea. Listen to your favorite music. Eat your favorite food. Do some drawing anything that you love to do for yourself so that you can help take some of the pressure off. Journaling is also a big help because when you are alone you tend to ruminate and get bogged down in your own thoughts, I know I do. So it helps sometimes to get those thoughts out on paper so they are outside us. Also, spend some time outdoors. Take walks and be in nature. That can have a big impact on mood and mental health. Right now focus on you and do your best for yourself. It's not about being as successful as everyone else. It's about being successful to you and that will look different for each individual person. That is okay. Just take things as they come. You are not alone.

[Thunder84 in reply to endofheartache1290]

Thank you! It's hard to do things for myself when I have two kids who depend on me more. I just recently had major knee surgery and are limited on certain activities. I seem to find myself lately just always inside away from people. I try to put myself out there like my counselor said. Everytime I do I get knocked back down. Is it too much to ask for someone to stay by my side for once?

[endofheartache1290 in reply to Thunder84]

I understand that. It is hard to make connections and to trust others when you have been let down so much. But there are good people out there. The unfortunate part is the only way to meet them is to put yourself out there. You wont find them at home. These things also take time to cultivate so be patient and try to let things happen naturally. I know it's hard but you are worthy of care and love.

[endofheartache1290 in reply to Thunder84]

Also, I wanted to validate that I know things are made even harder when we have to take care of others. But do try, for at least one hour a week, to just be there for you as you deserve a rest and some relaxation as as well. And I also understand being limited by medical conditions. It's unfortunate but that is what we have to work with. It doesn't mean we can't have fun or do things it just means that we have to find different things to do.

[natureowl1]

Hi, I'm also new to this support group and actually, my first overall. I'm not sure how to help but just wanted to say that you're not alone and I resonated with everything in your post. If you ever need someone to talk with, please feel free to message me!

[robbylynnofnm]

Hi Thunder84, Back in 2012 I couldn't seem to recognize myself either. I was a mess. A crying heap of insecurities, a failure in every way and wanted to sleep 24x7. I couldn't even shower or do my basic grooming. I hid from the world and existed in this small space in my bedroom and kept things afloat with a lot of help. My grown daughter's were talking about what was going on with me and how I used to be so strong. I felt like nothing. A failure. And absolutely alone. Even though I was surrounded by my family I was isolated. I sat in my room and felt like the s******** person to have lived.

I went to my psychiatrist and he hospitalized me and told me if I didn't go to the hospital he would make me go by calling the authorities. I was shocked and embarrassed, mortified to tell my family and so tremendously ashamed. I stayed in the hospital for around ten days. I got rest and spoke to others and shared how I had gotten there. I learned not to be feeling ashamed. I learned that just as I wouldn't judge a person in a wheelchair or someone doing chemotherapy for needing a little help that I could give myself some empathy and forgiveness for falling apart.

My psychiatrist told me it would take a year to get over my nervous breakdown. He was absolutely right. It took time for me to get better and stable and I used my support system and became strong again. I've lost my father, mother, beloved niece and brother all since 2012. I've done hospice with my mother and brother. I saw both pass. My niece overdosed. I never got to say goodbye. My father died a month after I had to put him in round the clock care. When I look back I forgive myself for my breakdown. It had been a long time coming.

Now I take my medication like clockwork, get therapy every month and my psychiatrist is patient and understanding. My family is still supporting me and I know I will be okay. I still have days of suicidal ideation, repetitive thoughts, anxiety and depression but I get through it. It's nice to have a plan and to manage my illness rather than it managing me.

[charlie5114 in reply to robbylynnofnm]

Thank you for sharing, it helps to hear that other people struggle too. Sometimes one can feel very alone.

[crowningglory19]

I"m sorry you are experiencing that, and glad you joined HU, welcome and hope you find your place here and answers. Some things that help with anxiety and depression are the following; Take a good multivitamin like Nature's Sunshine that would have extra magnesium to calm your mind body and spirit and extra Bs to heal your nerves. Also, ginseng is great to get rid of the sticky negative thoughts that loop too. Take walks in the sun without sunscreen to get your vitamin D, most people are low on it, and it enhances good mood. Walk barefoot or sit on grass to get grounded too, it really helps. Another things, what about volunteering? It will help you as your help others too. =) Blessings! <3

[pam4him]

You are not alone. Many of us have experienced this, and it sounds like you may be experiencing some depression. I highly encourage you to seek professional help. A treatment plan might include medication, counseling, and/or a combination of the two. Depending on a diagnosis, the treatment could be short term, just get you through this rough patch. In the meantime, we are here to support and encourage you. Prayers for peace, wisdom and guidance.

[lovetodance2018]

Thank you for sharing. So glad you reached out on this forum. You are not alone. We are here for you and we care. We also understand the struggles with depression and anxiety and how it can consume us. Getting a support system, even through forum's is helpful. Are you in counseling for depression? What about medication? The biggest thing that helped me is first recognizing that depression and anxiety is a disease. It is not something I caused. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. I have found however, working on positive self-talk is a huge help. These 4 techniques have helped me. I hope you find them helpful.

1) Healing comes from the inside out. It starts with letting go of the things of the past, forgiving and changing our focus and behavior. Becoming aware of what you need through self-care and personal nourishment. Take time for yourself - you are worth it. Like taking walks, baths, massages, mani/pedi/, listening to uplifting music/sermons and anything that makes you feel refreshed and renewed.

2) The 557 breathing technique is take 5 deep breaths in while thinking good thoughts about yourself like I matter, I am special, I am strong and then hold the breaths for the count of 7 focusing on those words about yourself, then let out the breath slowly for 5 seconds letting go of any anxious, self-defeating, unhealthy thoughts. I do this one to three times a sitting.

3)The gratitude journal is writing down something good every morning and night something that went well in the day, or something I appreciate about myself. Taking our focus off of the anxiety and depression and focusing on positive uplifting things really helps. What you think is what you believe. So thinking uplifting things you believe those things but the reverse is true - thinking negative self-defeating things, you will believe those.

4) Emotional Freedom Tapping - bit.ly/2URuWbN Is a technique where you tap on pressure points while you repeat positive uplifting things to yourself. Page 9 shows the pressure points.

I will be praying for you. Feel free to pm me if you'd like to chat. Hugs and God Bless

[JkBauer]

Good afternoon,I am so sorry that you are feeling so lost. In the early years of my marriage, my husband had to work out of town and I had all of the kids to take care of, the one thing that really helped me was that I listened to the Christian radio station. It always had good positive music on and then it always had talk show programs on that helped me through the struggles that I was dealing with. Maybe you can find a Christian radio station online that might be of some encouragement and help for you. A few stations that I know of that are an encouragement to me are. YNOP radio. Moody Radio, K-Love Radio, The Message Radio. These are all great and helpful stations. - If you have Alexa or some other device I know that they are on there also. God Bless you!

[Millie35123]

Hi Thunder, I feel exactly the same. It really resonates with me when you say you feel suffocated and that you don’t recognize yourself anymore. Also, I realised I didn’t have a support system, I’ve always tried to do things on my own and it’s very hard for me to show my family and friends how vulnerable and lost I feel at the moment.

[lovetodance2018]

How are you doing? I have been praying for you. Hugs