[atypical.person]

Recently (in the past 2-3 weeks) I have been experiencing moments of sudden anxiety and depression. Like, I'm minding my everyday routines, and all of a sudden, with no apparent cause, my thoughts start racing and I have to stop whatever it is I'm doing. Minutes later, I feel like I'm in a very very bad mood and I just crawl in my bed and lie there for minutes or maybe more, having thoughts like "What is this? What's wrong with me?" or the worse "What am I doing with my life?" or simply start questioning recent decisions, overthinking. During this moments, my pulse is higher than usual. But what's even weirder is that they simply vanish. Suddenly, my dark thoughts are just gone and I feel fine. What could this be? I've never seen a psychologist because, well, before this, I've been able to cope with my (I consider them small) personal problems on my own. But I am freaking out right now. Can anybody help me?

[iwalkwithjesus]

Hi

The same thing happened to me several years ago, but I didn't' want to admit anything was wrong at first. In had been through a lot of ups and downs throughout my life, and at that particular time, everything was going great. So I couldn't figure out what was happening. Long story short it got worse, and I went to the er five times by ambulance. then a lady doctor confronted me because they had given medicine before but I didn't want to take it. she Said I had Panic and anxiety. She told me if I wanted to get better then I needed to take the medicine because it takes about four weeks to get in your syste,m, and I already wasted time. I was mad her, but after the meds started to work, I knew she was right. Out may have something entirely different. So if I were you, I would definitely write down all your symptoms, and call a doctor. A psychiatrist is beeter, but your doctor may have to refer you. Keep n touch. God bless!

[DePressMe]

Hi atypical, my anxiety does not vanish but it varies in intensity throughout the day. I've discovered that there are often little things that trigger me. Like a certain thought or feeling that pops into my mind or a certain tv show. Sometimes I'll do something that causes my breathing to increase and then I suddenly become anxious because I relate fast breathing with anxiety. Whenever I feel an attack of anxiety coming on I try to keep myself busy so I don't ruminate on it and become depressed about it. Although I try not to lay down in bed sometimes I have to...then I try to calm my mind by breathing deep and repetitively trying to silence my thoughts through relaxation. Anxiety and the ensuing depression is no fun...you are not alone.....D.

[anneo59]

Hi atypical, you are not alone. Anxiety not my primary DX but I've suffered a lot of it plus panic attacks over the years, off and on. Welcome to PC, and join the anxiety forums and discussions if you will. Here, you'll likely find solid support and info. I wish you the very best!

[Mustkeepjob32]

atypical,
These symptoms sound very unpleasant for you and if you can see a doctor, you may want to look into medication options or even therapy options, but you shouldn't feel like you have to suffer.

Z

[OHiFEELtheCOSMOS]

It's kind of funny you called yourself atypical because have you ever looked into Atypical Depression?

I'm a 4th year psychology major and recently I stumbled across Atypical Depression. It fits my depressive symptoms really well and is the most common subtype of depression, and yet I had never heard about it in a psychology class and it's not in any of my psychology text books. You may want to research it to see if it fits your symptoms than a standard diagnosis of major depression. Diagnosis of atypical depression requires the ability to react positively to happy events, unlike regular melancholic depression, but as soon as the positive stimulus is removed the depression comes back. It is a more chronic and debilitating form of depression, because although you are still able to feel euphoric at times, the depressions are deeper, almost like bipolar, but you never reach the level of mania. Atypical also requires having two out of these four symptoms as well: Excessive sleepiness (~10 hours a night), excessive hungriness (I dont have this but I do have the other three), feelings of heaviness that last for an hour or more a day (feeling like you can barely move), and high sensitivity to rejection (innapropriate feelings of guilt/embarassment/failure/etc.)
Atypical Depression is more common in people who tend to be more right brain/creative types, and women, but this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. It also tends to start earlier, in childhood or teenage years.
There are different medications to look into, differences in personality issues to those with "typical" depression, and dealing with it involves a different approach than with more traditional depression.

Whether or not this was helpful, I wish you the best of luck from the bottom of my heart in overcoming your depression. Remember, normality is a paved road. It's comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.
,
Oh, I feel the cosmos