From depression to anxiety

My mom read an article about negative thinking and complaining and how it can become addictive. There is a thread about learned helplessness. I think these things are true but don't apply as much to those of us with depression. When it is severe we just can't help it. When mild to moderate and in general the attitude of gratitude and staying in the moment and looking on the bright side can be powerful. Sometimes we have to look at the smallest things to be grateful for.

Yeah if you are going through a really difficult time, and experiencing severe depression like me, then practising things like mindfulness meditating and gratitude are challenging to do. I have been to mindfulness course and to some meditation classes as well as learnt about cultivating gratitude from courses/workshops. For me, the negative intense dark thoughts feelings are part of illness, not me. The dwelling on things, hearing replays of situations in head, difficulty concentrating and being present are related to the depression.

Absolutely, I agree about those things are related to the depression. Good you can separate the effects of depression like that. Sometimes I can do that with my obsessive thoughts and just think, there goes my brain again, it's gonna be here a little while, then it's going to go. I sometimes visualize it as a clear ball, and I can see past experiences that haunt me in the ball. But I can push it aside and keep on doing things. That doesn't always work, but was a bit of a breakthrough for me when I found I could.

Also letting go of a toxic relationship was a big help for me. I didn't realize how it was affecting me, and it was extremely hard to cut it off, but there was something in my life I could change to start getting better. You say you want to change your life but it feels overwhelming. Change as in over come your depression, or something about your life, like a hard decision, that you want to change?

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I can so relate to your words. I live with very much the same feelings. But I would like to point something out....that is huge! You are up and functioning!!! That is such a major accomplishment when we live with depression daily.
I was out of work for 3 months due to my depression and with lots of therapy and medication my pdoc got me back to work. I was scared to death to take this step but even more scared to remain where I was at.
I have a wonderful pdoc (also my therapist) that offered to come to work with me and walk me through the doors.....I also have major panic that I deal with, but I was able to walk in on my own two feet. Never thought I could do this. I have been back to work now for over a year and I can never let myself forget this major accomplishment--functioning. I am no way near feeling content. I still have depression and panic. It stops me from doing so many things. I look out my window and see people living their lives as if it were nothing-I would give anything to be able to freely go about my day. It takes tremendous strength and self convincing to go out my door each day--but at least I am doing it. Sounds like you are able to achieve this also. Do not forget the work it takes for you to simply function. You should pat yourself on the back each day you do this. Eventually, I am counting on this, through just showing up for life, perhaps happier times will come and I can get out of this dark prison I feel like I am in. Right actions bring about right thoughts.....that is my mantra. And I will keep up the good fight until I need.
I wish this for you. You should praise yourself for just functioning daily. That is a huge deal when we feel the way we do.
I know it feels horrible still, but hang in there. You are doing something so great just by functioning daily. Depression is paralyzing. You have attacked a big hurdle. Don't underestimate your strength.
Sorry to go on and on about this, but I so often forget what it took for me to get out my door each day and what a huge deal it was. The fact that I was able to do it is a big reminder to me that I am ready for more steps to freedom and escape this awful nightmare.
There are some days I just can't do it....today happens to be a better day.
Many days I would not even be able to write a positive message here. I re-read my words now and can't believe it is I saying this. This is miraculous for me. Progess.
I wish the same for you.
Peace.

I mean I need to make changes to my way of life as well as being more in control of things. I have been affected a lot by illness over the years.

Ahh ok. Maybe taking on one thing at time isn't as overwhelming. That's the way I deal with multiple family issues. Including a few right now, ugggg.

Have you found anxiety or depression harder to deal with or are they interrelated?

I need to change my overall way of life. And that involves tackling underlying issues that are getting in the way. And illness is challenging for me which I've suffered with for numerous yrs

My anxiety seems to be driving my depression. T says if I bring down anxiety, depression will weaken. She and my psychiatrist both are most concerned won't my anxiety. Says it can cause other health issues.

Hope you can itemize your personal challenges and then knock them off. Even if you have to do it one at a time.

Easier if I had more people in my life to talk to, share with help and support in my life in managing issues. Things won't get better for me without real change and cos its challenging with illness it requires some help.

Yes a support system is good. This forum is good virtually, and many communities have local support systems. If you haven't, you could research to see what's available in your area. Then start making the changes you feel you need to make. Even though it seem overwhelming, that's the path to getting better.

You mean mental health support groups? not professional help and support? Well, to have people who can talk to, share with easily, are understanding, considerate and supportive is important. I need help in managing illness not just changing life.

Hi, yes talk support is great. I've talked my friends and family's ears off in the past year so that's partially why I'm on this forum. Funny I still need to start a thread about my stuff sometime.

For managing your illness hard to say in detail cause I don't know what it is. Plus I'm not sure of all programs everywhere. But your primary doc should know of programs and groups. My son has a disability and the Department of Rehabilitative Services helps with with everything from transportation, to job/illness balancing, and other things. My mother had a service come in every day for a hour just to help her with things she couldn't do on her own. You could start with your doctor and local government website. Also google for whatever type of services are in your area. I don't know what illness you're talking about so these are general ideas.

Hope this gives you some ideas on making forward progress!

Its a complex, challenging serious illness, I say that is both mental and physical, which includes depression and and anxiety and mood swings. It involves intense overwhelming feelings and dark suicidal thoughts.

Ok yes, depending on where you live, local community health centers and organizations like NAMI. I guess you know this but it seems overwhelming. All I can say is one step at a time. Don't look at everything ahead of you, just work on what ever is most possible right now. If you find a med you want to try, try it. If you find a low cost therapist or group, try it. I'm actually in a state of uncertainty with several important things and I can wake up with all these things on my mind and start to freak a little. Like this morning at 3:30. I just get up, write down all the things I need to do, and then put them in order. I make my days schedule as light as possible. Helps me. I had to try a lot of things.

Persistence is one of the most powerful things in being successful. I read a study on people with high IQs, and others with a lot of persistence. Big majority of people with persistence were more successful than those with higher IQs.

Finding Low-Cost Psychotherapy | Psych Central

I need help and support managing illness as well as making changes in life. I shouldn't have to pay for it. No one should if not working.

Agreed. That's why I mentioned local community health centers and organizations like NAMI. We've gotten free help there.

Hope you can make the changes in your life and get help. It's out there.

I meant professional help and support like you have and others do who have challenging mentalhealth issues. Like social worker, support worker, therapy...on nhs

Between my son and I, I've paid so much for out-of-network psychotherapy and psychiatry in the past year that I stopped paying for my own in May, I even have insurance, so I hear you. My son has to have it though; without meds he has no connection with reality.

The free help I referred to was from a psychiatrist and therapist both with PHDs who helped him a while back. It's definitely for challenging, if not life threatening mental issues. Ping local people in your area if you haven't yet, maybe even on this forum, you might find qualified help for no cost. Worth a shot right?

People can see psychiatrist, have therapy and receive support by professionals for mental health issues on nhs. I have a challenging illness and I deserve to be helped and supported by mental health professionals free of charge like others do without having to struggle hard. Unfortunately I've had negative experiences of staff though when tried to seek help through GP.

Unfortunately, there is not one of us that has not had to struggle before we got help. As for the negative experiences with staff - be assertive, speak your mind, and keep asking for what you need. In my experience as both a practitioner (first) and patient of (later) mental health, I have learned that even in this arena, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Sometimes, like it did with my recent hospital stay, it comes with a significant financial cost, but had I not been hospitalized, I might not be here to type this...I do wish you well, Creative1onder .

I'm sure you appreciate that seeking help takes a lot of courage and willpower , it shows a person wants to get better but is finding it hard to manage by themselves. Some people are afraid to get help or don't feel (recognise) they need to.
When someone does make efforts to get professional help and support they should not be mistreated or made to feel worse by staff. And there is no reason way someone should have to pay a lot of money for help they have a right to receive for free on nhs. I am not able to afford a lot. And I should feel forced to go privately either.

I appreciate the struggle, for sure. Best of luck to you on getting the help that you seek.

You can have bipolar without the happy mania. There are mixed states which include anxiety, irritability, and anger. I'm bipolar and the closest I get to intense happiness is during euphoric rage. I never have an episode where I feel on top of the world.
Just something to think about.