Hi, I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Over the past two years I have worked really hard with doctors, counselors, my family and myself to try to overcome the overwhelming sadness and hopelessness. Today I have been off of my meds for 2 months and I'm feeling pretty good! While my depression is no longer such and issue, my anxiety seems to have come back in full force. I have pretty debilitating social anxiety and for the most part avoid social situations. I have become much better at little things like going to the store and making small talk at work, but larger more social events still elude me.

With this, I feel that I now have a better understanding of the illness and a good set of tools to put in to play. I feel I know what I need to do to calm myself down in stressful situations and the steps needed to move forward (and hopefully past the anxiety). However, I can't seem to drag myself out of the pit of negative thinking. I recently applied to volunteer at an event I have interest in thinking this was the next natural step in becoming more at ease in social situations and perhaps maybe even make a friend. However, I have been completely sick this week leading up to the event and am thinking of not going. I want to be better, but to be honest I'm tired. There is no break from your mind.

Despite rambling, my question to you is, how do you stay motivated to keep on working toward your goals? How do you know if you are or aren't moving too fast? My support system is falling away, and the one friend I do have has very little understanding how I feel. How do you change the way you think, despite living your whole life with people telling you "you can't".

Thanks