Belong

[dutchgirl71]

Life is a struggle. I face one struggle after another. I know everyone does, but I find it difficult to enjoy my life. Anxiety just depletes me. I feel like I am not cut out to belong on this world most days.

[Hidden]

I am sorry. I feel that way a lot, too. You are not alone with this feeling.

[LunarEcho24]

I experiencing the same thing. Right now my anxiety and/or depression drowns out much else, and relaxing and enjoying myself seems impossible.

[Joseph46]

I feel like I don’t belong too.

[dutchgirl71 in reply to Joseph46]

I’m sorry you feel this way too.

[Joseph46]

what should we do when we feel like this? I try to get exercise which helps and try to practice mindfulness and being thankful. I try to focus on the positive things. It all helps but I still feel empty - and truthfully at 46 years old - I realize I’ve always felt alone since I was a child. Just looking to hear about other people’s experiences and what they do.

[debrajo1]

I have felt that many times too. Antidepressants have helped me for 30 years, and I just take a low dose. I have had relapses when I had to switch medications, but I think anxiety and depression comes from a chemical imbalance in your brain as I really don't have anything to be depressed about.

[Joseph46 in reply to debrajo1]

It’s tough because like you - I really don’t have anything to be depressed about - just the regular day to day life. I used to be on an SSRI but tapered off last fall after 10 years. I know the going theory is it’s a chemical imbalance but I don’t like the idea of being a life long pharmaceutical customer. I’ve considered restarting the SSRI but want to give it a few more months hoping my body/brain will recover from this. I gave up alcohol 6 months ago. I’m hoping that this too shall pass. Everyday is a roller coaster of emotions but the general mood is pretty stable and indifferent.

[debrajo1 in reply to Joseph46]

I would like to discontinue my antidepressant also, but I am afraid of a set back. I have been off and on antidepressants since the 90's and each time that I stopped taking them my depression came back eventually and even worse. I did lower my dosage a year ago to half of what it was and I am fine but I will take it the rest of my life unfortunately. 4 years ago I had to switch antidepressants as the one I had been taking no longer worked and after trial and error I found one that works for me now at least, thank goodness.