Depression and anxiety are taking over my life

[sophieanne6293]

Hello all,

I am new to this site, I was recommended by a friend just for moral support and to help with the feelings of being alone.

Ive suffered with depression and anxiety for the best part of 10 years now and nothing i do ever seems to make it go away. I have periods where it dissappears and then it rears its ugly head again.

I have now got to the point where I feel like its totally consuming me, its taking my life away, I no longer enjoy anything, I argue with my family, my boyfriend left because he couldnt cope with how different it makes me and if im honest, I couldnt feel more like giving up on everything.

Any advice or little tips or tricks to self help would be great. I am hoping to get referred to a counsellor soon but I am really struggling to cope in the mean time 

[rome1977]

Hi I started feeling same as u over a year ago was on various doses of citalopram then propanolol been on 100mg setraline 6 months been on fairly even keel since odd blip here and there currently going to cognitive therapy not everyone different not sure what medication if any your on just hope I never slip back to those feelings please don't give up

[sophieanne6293 in reply to rome1977]

I'm on sertaline and I'm not finding it's helping at the moment but I'm only on the smallest dose so I'm thinking maybe I need a visit to the doctors. Il try not to, it's just hard sometimes I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle xxx

[Reb1]

Hi,

You're definitely not alone. It can feel so difficult when all of the things that you would ordinarily enjoy feel bland and joyless. This is something that I experienced for a substantial amount of time over the last year. Something that helped me was to read about stories where people had overcome their struggles, no matter how difficult it seemed at the time, they could pull through and begin to enjoy things again. Also, when things I used to enjoy didn't make me happy any more, I tried to engage with different things. It was a trial and error process to see if there were other things I could enjoy. It might be helpful to try something creative. Creative hobbies can engage your focus for longer and serve as a sort of escapism.

It seems like you're doing all of the right things and speaking to a counselor will help to talk through what's going on. Don't give up. I know it's hard, but try to be patient. Things will get better.

[sophieanne6293 in reply to Reb1]

It's horrible. I think back to the days when I was at university and I was such a lively free spirit and now just feel like I'm being bogged down and having my sparkle dulled by this horrible illness. I do enjoy art and drawing and find once I get into doing it, I feel a bit of a release but it's just finding the motivation to actually want to do something that will cheer me up? Thank you xxx

[JLou]

I completely understand were you are coming from I've suffered with this horrible thing for over a year now! I've gone from popular, everyone wants to be around me party girl! Loving life. To literally living in my room, moaning about every ache and pain I get in my body. I have zero motivation to do anything I enjoy but not because I don't want to because it feels like this anxiety stops me?? It's bloody horrible! 

[sophieanne6293 in reply to JLou]

That is literally what has happened to me. I've been reduced to living in my room hoping one day all of this will disappear. Chin up sweetheart. It won't be forever xxx