Hi, I have been in this state for all of February. I was off my antidepressant as I thought I was doing well. Little did I know. I want to scream and yell and get out of this cycle. I want to feel happy, be normal and get my strength back. The cortisol is putting a huge strain on my body physically and I'm sure mentally. I try to put one foot in front of the other and go on. I tell people I am fighting through it. Yes, I am back on meds but it will take some time. Does anyone have any suggestions? I really want a face to face support group but I can't find one here. I think sometimes I am the only one who gets this crazy but I see what all of you have faced. I pray all the time. I think I need anger to help clear out some anxiety. I love all of you and I pray that you will face down your struggles and get well.
Severe Anxiety and Depression - Major Depressive ...
Severe Anxiety and Depression
My suggestion is to get back on your antidepressant and stay on it unless you are suffering from major side affects. There is nothing wrong with taking an antidepressant if it helps you and your body needs it. A lot of us have deficiencies that the antidepressant makes up for and ther is nothing wrong with that. If you do decide to get off of it again, make sure you have been stable for a good long time and then very slowly taper off of it. For me, I plan on staying on my antidepressant for the rest of my life, I know from experience I do much better on it.
You are exactly right. I just wasn't thinking rationally at the time. This is hell and I know if I want to keep on living I can't afford for this to happen again. I lose brain flexibility and the anxiety is unbearable. Thank you for your good advice. I hope you are doing well.
You're welcome, it may take awhile for the med to start working again so try to be kind and compassionate to yourself as you are adjusting, and i'm doing well thanks.
Thanks for your compassion. It's hard to deal with the anxiety.
I understand, one of the things that helped me was learning that anxiety is our builtin system of supposedly keeping us safe but we aren't being attacked by a tiger anymore but our system still reacts as if we are. The other helpful thing was learning to never believe my anxious thoughts and remind myself that they are lies and if i quit fighting and struggling with them they will dissipate along with the anxiety. You might check out the DARE Anxiety youtube, there is also a book available, I found it helpful for learning more about anxiety and how to constructively deal with it. Another good resource is the youtube of Paige Pradko.
You have good recommendations. I am trying to ignore my anxious thoughts and just listen to my body. The cortisol from the anxiety is a big problem. I will check out the YouTube sites you recommended. Thanks for caring!
You're welcome, I had issues with high cortisol also and took natural supplements at night, ashwagandha, magnesium glycinate, phosphatidyl serine and sometimes valerian root tincture before bed.
Got the DARE ANXIETY app and signed up for newsletter from Paige Pradko. I am taking ~ 500 mg mg glycinate . What do you think of L-theanine?
Sorry to jump in but you saying you take supplements for cortisol caught my eye. Besides the valerian root tincture you take all those other things? Have you noticed a change? I have such chronic stress that cortisol runs rampant in my body.
No problem, yes it has helped, especially with my sleeping. The other thing I did for a while was using CBD, it's legal in my state, especially in the evening but I quit that because I have glaucoma and it causes problems with it. I also switched to decaf because the caffeine causes issues too. it took some time but definitely all helped.
I feel you about in person support groups - they are now really hard to find. Everything near me is online, and that's just not the same.
You'd have thought given the importance of connection there would be a return to in person - you can't have the same sort of connection on line.
As for any advice - when you're overwhelmed I find TIPP helpful :
- Temperature - usually cold on your face, or even a cold shower
- Intense Exercise - 10-15 minutes cardio, or as much as you can do. I like to dance or just run around a bit.
- Paced Breathing - slowly in through your nose, slower out through your mouth. You can hold your breath at the top or bottom (or both) if you like.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation - Start at the top, tense muscles and then relax, go down your body. Or as I like to do just tense all your muscles for 5 seconds and then relax.
Its a DBT skill, so you can search for it easily, there's a lot of resources out there.
Thank you so much! I like that about the cold. I also find brushing my hair and my skin helps a little. Singing out loud sometimes helps. I hope you are hanging in there.
Hi Eagle. I wish there was an in person depression and anxiety group I could go to as well. I looked through NAAMI for in person and it's mostly zooms. I belong to a few depression support groups including on Facebook too. It helps to know there are others who get you and how your feeling. Hope your all adjusted now with getting back on your medication. You have to remember to wean off medications slowly and under a doctors care to make sure your ok medically and psychologically too. Sending you positivity and light here in your journey. We're all in this together.
I've been back on full dose about 2 weeks but the anxiety is eating my lunch. Thanks for the positivity and light. I find when people just check in with you and say something kind, it helps you feel that you are worthwhile. Thanks
Hi there. Have you ever done mine full or meditation breathing exercises before it might help with your anxiety. I use the 567 method which is breathing in slowly for 5 seconds holding it for 6 seconds and then blowing it out slowly for 7 seconds and it usually calms down the anxiety and makes you feel better almost instantly it calms you down. You definitely are worthwhile and if no one has ever told you this before you are worthy you are enough and you are made by God above and He makes no mistakes. If he actually sit and think about it for a minute we were hand-picked by him to be here so that makes you special in every way. Wishing you peace light and well-being on your journey here. Keep in touch and let me know how you're doing.
That breathing method for anxiety is a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing it.
I hope you are having joy in your life. I love that you said I am enough and made by God! That means a lot. I went to a NAMI meeting tonight...a real live one. We had a 2 minute time to talk @ what is going on in out lives. Then later we talked about a small success we had recently. I liked that. Lots more appreciation and positivity. It made me feel worthwhile.
I notice you have a ?seagull for your photo. Do you like to watch birds? I saw a beautiful red cardinal in some bushes the other day. It made me happy. Also, I've been watching the 2 bald eagles sitting on their nest of three eggs. They should be having chicks in the next 3 or 4 days! Nature does give me a lot of joy.
I hope we can keep on talking! It's a connection! I had veggie soup and cornbread for supper tonight. Do you cook much?
Love & hugs!
Hi Eagle. I'm so happy that you found a good connection and a real life meeting it would be nice if I could go to one but they don't have any close to me. Last night I had chicken Parmesan for dinner. My husband is the cook in our house. If you didn't cook we'd starve I always say LOL I can cook but never got the bug so to say. My mother always threw us out of the kitchen she was a nervous cook and we were always told I'm cooking watch out stuff like that as I giggle remembering it so I guess I didn't quite ever get the bug for cooking I mean I can cook I make my own potato salad from scratch and I can make baked ziti and stuff like that so it's safe to say I can boil water without burning it I just don't have a passion for it. My husband likes to cook so it works for us. I hope you're having a great day I'm off to work soon.
Hope you find a good support group sooner or later. I will start individual counseling this week.
I'm running out of motivation and drive to keep fighting this anxiety and depression. (scream!)
Chicken parmesan sounds good! I found some good blackberries at Sam's that brought me a smile. Looking for things to smile about.
Hope work is going well for you!
Hi Cookie! I have used supplements Melaleuca Luminex, B12, L-Theanine. They have ALL had a positive effect on my anxiety, depression, and mood. Recently, I replaced the Melaleuca Luminex with L-Theanine due to the cost and it seems to work just as well.
I am looking into B Complex and Benfotiamine.
I have been taken Bupropion 300 XL for years and find that my mood needs supplements.
Please do your research and I hope this helps. I wish you the best. ❤️🤗
Hi Eagle! Please excuse my last message addressed you as Cookie.
I have used supplements Melaleuca Luminex, B12, L-Theanine. They have ALL had a positive effect on my anxiety, depression, and mood. Recently, I replaced the Melaleuca Luminex with L-Theanine due to the cost and it seems to work just as well.
I am looking into B Complex and Benfotiamine.
I have been taken Bupropion 300 XL for years and find that my mood needs supplements.
Please do your research and I hope this helps. I wish you the best. ❤️🤗
Hi Lucci,
Struggling. I had a good day yesterday and then this morning the anxiety started up again. I do take Vit B complex. I don't believe benfotiamine is effective for me. We tried it a few years ago. I'll have to get the L Theanine.
I start counseling on Tuesday. I have very negative emotions/thought processes that I believe are what stir up the anxiety. I went to some new treatment place and they are trying something with tuning forks.
I just want my mind and feelings back and the anxiety gone. I talk to the Lord and beg him for help. The anxiety keeps the cortisol pumping, which makes me shake, and then I get weak easily when trying to exercise.
How are you doing? Sounds like you are pretty stable. So happy for you. It helps to get the encouragement and support.
I don't want to give up but I am so tired of it all.
Hugs!
Hi Eagle!
Having one good day at a time is a blessing. Keep pushing minute by minute.
This morning I hit a sad moment. I took a shower and then went for a walk while listening to music. I felt better about 30 minutes later. The idea was to distract myself, change the scenery and get some fresh air.
Wishing you the best with the tuning forks. Sound interesting. 🤗
Thanks Eagle! ❤️🤗
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