Following wise advice from people around here, I am in the process of accepting my anxiety and not fight with it. It is a process that takes time but I can already see the benefits. So much so that the depression that preceded it, and that had been drowned by anxiety symptoms, is coming back up to the surface. I'd like to know if anyone has approached depression with the same principles: accept it, don't fight with it, let it blab away and don't give it too much importance so you can go about doing other things (be they small things since depression saps motivation and energy). Anyone has experience with this?
Hope everybody is as well as can be.
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Eklektik
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I can say that I have been practicing acceptance as well. I do feel the depression on some days more than others and even changes during the day. Knowing that I am not alone with this helps. Support from others is key. I don’t really know if it’s beneficial to accept the depression; maybe acknowledge it and go on as best you can? I find disappointment to be hard to take lately.
Hello Hope4me1. Sorry about disappointment being hard to take lately. It sucks. Maybe apply to it what you say about acknowledging and go on as best you can like you propose for depression? You make me think that acknowledging is not quite as intimidating as acceptance. Maybe it is a step towards acceptance? For the time being, I feel I have a rational understanding of it, but still not much of a working understanding.
And you are definitely not alone in this. My depression also fluctuates from day to day, and also within one day. I think I am in a slow uphill trajectory, but it comes with punctual setbacks and then I think things are not moving forward or I am relapsing AGAIN. That is a disappointment I have a hard time with.
I wish us both some peace of mind and that we enjoy the moments without depression. Thanks for your reply!
You are very welcome! Sounds like we are similar to what we are experiencing. Feel free to message me in the chat anytime. Support from others is definitely a plus.
Thank you for sharing. Yes, I have been working on becoming more aware of my struggles. Not trying to fight the anxiety but to work on why it is happening. I know my spirals are due to a chemical imbalance but as I am going through an anxiety episode, I do a lot a positive self-talk to remind myself this is temporary, I will feel better, my thoughts are not right when I am struggling and I have to not focus too much on what I am feeling but that I will feel better. I hope you will continue to work on acceptance and awareness. So glad that is bringing you some peace and relief. I know it is for me. Hugs and God Bless
Hello Lovetodance. Nice to see that you are going forward with many strategies to live with anxiety. This morning, I really needed to be reminded that anxiety is temporary, that our thoughts are not right when in the midst of it, and we will feel better. Thank you so much. I am not so good though at trying to find why it is happening. The "topics of my anxiety" are ludicrous, and sometimes (often) I have anxiety without any object. Do you have examples of a "why your anxiety is happening"? Thanks again and be well!
My anxiety happens due to a chemical imbalance. I try to take control of it by keeping my thoughts in check. When I feel it coming on it seems to be like this gnawing feeling I can't explain. However, if I focus on my thoughts and they begin to get anxious and my thoughts start going negative and on and on, I then I am spiraling, which falls into depression. I have found my trigger appears to be around my time of the month when my hormones are off. Awareness of your trigger is important to feeling better.
These techniques seem to help me not spiral so deep or so fast.
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 also pray often and know when I pray I feel a little more at peace. This song God Will Make a Way by Don Moen seems to bring me comfort too.
I will be praying for you. Feel free to pm me if you'd like to chat. Hugs and God Bless
Dear lovetodance2018, thank you so much for sharing all this. I do use breathing, but did not know that particular technique. I will try it, for sure. I do gratitude inventory too, but not consistently enough to my taste. Thanks for reminding me. Tapping really intrigues me, I'll go check it out! It is nice of you to pray for me. Hope you are doing well!
Hi Eklektik, it is good to hear that you want to defeat depression but the way you are adopting is not effective and can lead to serious consequences. Untreated depression can lead one towards self-harm and is harmful to those around you. Untreated depression and anxiety can have serious impacts on your health hence it is imperative that you seek advice from a certified psychiatrist. It is not necessary that the psychiatrist will recommend medication to you right away there are various other options available like depression counseling which you must try. I am sharing a link ezcareclinic.com/depression... I hope you find it useful. Get well soon and best of luck.
Hello AdamFCastillo31 , I am seeing both a psychiatrist and a psychologist for my depression. I've had different medications over the past 35 years. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes something that used to work does not work anymore. I am not giving up on conventional depression treatment but I am exploring as many options as I can. Thank you for the reference to the ezcareclinic and for your very kind concern. It makes a difference. I hope you are well.
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