Guidance Overload

[Lost-and-Stuck]

Over the last several years, I’ve read so many articles online that pertain to various anxiety disorders and I have also read so many articles that offer guidance and solutions for managing anxiety disorders as well. I feel more well informed however none of it has made me feel any better.

In fact, I’m overwhelmed with all the information about anxiety disorders that is on the internet and I really don’t know which guidance I should follow.

Has anyone else felt overwhelmed and more lost from consuming so much information?

I’m not sure if I’m making any sense.

[Dolphin14]

Lost-and-Stuck

I do understand what you are saying. I read as much as I could about anxiety/depression/ PTSD

I found I need to take that info to my therapist to help me process it. I needed help breaking things down.

🐬

[LunarEcho24]

Yes, I understand completely.

It is also frustrating because I've tried so many things and they don't always work that well. When I'm struggling, reading an article that says "take deep breaths", "go for a walk", or "try meditation or mindfulness" falls pretty flat. I know there are a lot of things you should do that can be helpful, but when you're experiencing severe anxiety and/or depression, its rough.

I think it is a matter of figuring what works for you, and be willing to try something.

[Bootscat]

I find sometimes the advice can be really contradictory. Am I supposed to sit with my thoughts and lean into them or distract myself until they pass? Who knows I sure don’t lol

[Beevee in reply to Bootscat]

Hi 👋🏼

If your only problem is trying to cope with the symptoms of anxiety, including depression, recovery is about observing the thoughts and feelings, letting them come, letting them have their say and then letting them go. Accepting all thoughts and feelings and doing nothing to think or feel differently. In brief, all symptoms are just anxious energy that needs to be released without hindrance and the way the mind and body recovers.

Placing belief in the thoughts and feelings just stokes the anxiety fire and delays recovery which is waiting patiently in the wings.

Those thoughts and feeling won't be there when you recover so please don't waste more energy grappling with them. Fighting the symptoms has the opposite effect because it just adds more stress to an over stressed mind!

Recovery is all about developing a completely submissive attitude towards the symptoms and giving up the struggle. I literally stopped trying to get better, stopped caring how I was feeling and recovery came to me.

This was the advice I took.

Hope this helps.

[blackcat64013]

Hi Lost and Stuck,I too have read large amounts of information.

Luckily, I have an enquiring mind and soul.

My friend told me and I agree, don't read entire articles or books now.

Nowadays, I scan for key words and go to the index of books, again for key words of interest.

Unfortunately, to find the 💎 gems of advice, we have to read 📚 or see a therapist 🤔

[mizzou7016]

You're making perfect sense...wish there was an easy answer..wish there was an easy fix to our mental health....unfortunately it isn't linear. What works for me may not work for you...also I don't feel like there is ever enough information. It's just a matter of trying things until you figure out what helps you. It's also a matter of what you're doing with the information