Just surviving

[Mols44]

my anxiety and depression have gotten pretty bad for me this summer. I quit a job in the spring because it seemed to send me into a depression, but now I feel the after affects are even worse. I feel like quitting that job and feeling like I failed at something just destroyed my confidence and belief in my intellect and abilities. Does anyone have any tips for starting to feel smart and confident again? Especially in terms of careers/work - I’m just having trouble picturing myself in a career or even five years from now.

[Layla_Bear6]

Hi Mols44, I am sorry you are suffering from depression and I know how you feel to be struggling with that. I think you chose what you thought would be best for you by quitting that job because it was causing depression and my feeling from reading your post is that you are down on yourself about quitting the job and letting that erode your self-confidence, and I think you need to ease up on yourself for quitting the job and realize that you are the same person you were before with the same intellectual ability. Depression has a way of making us doubt ourselves…you need to realize it is the depression making you feel less confident in yourself. Try to stop listening to the negative chatter in your head because it is the depression lying to you. I hope this helps a little.

[Mols44 in reply to Layla_Bear6]

Thank u Layla it did - hearing it from someone who is objective helps! Just wish it was a little easier to ignore the inner jabs but I just have to keep working

I hope you are feeling ok today

[lovetodance2018]

Thanks for sharing. Sorry you are struggling with depression. I just recently went through and episode again. It is so hard to move forward and feel like you can do anything when you are depressed. Do you have a therapist? Are you on medication for the depression? Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain and it takes both therapy and medication to really feel normal. What helps me is to use positive self-talk even if at the time I don't really feel like I believe it. Here are a few techniques that help me. I hope you find them useful.

1) 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.

2)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.

3) Emotional Freedom Tapping - bit.ly/3AVYNiX You use pressure points to tap on those points while you repeat positive uplifting things to yourself.

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

[Mols44 in reply to lovetodance2018]

Thank you for your words. I will definitely try the breathing exercises. I do have a therapist and I do take medication, but I seem to be having trouble finding my confidence even still. I need to try harder with the positive self-talk. Thank you for your tips

[lovetodance2018 in reply to Mols44]

The more you practice the positive self-talk. The more it becomes a part of your life and will help. I will continue to pray for you. Hugs