By experience, what helps the most?

[ppppts]

I struggle a lot with depression right now. I find it so hard to do the simplest things, and I feel as if I should just isolate completely, because I bring nothing good to others in my state right now.

I wonder what have helped the most for any of you?
I’ve heard of those things, but I don’t know what is most important.

- Being completely honest with your therapist (but I’m personally too afraid to be medicated or being hospitalized again)
- Working out regularly, like getting a habit of doing work outs
- Letting go of a lot of things. Just trying to be, and not focus on too many things at the same time
- Spendig time with family, friends and other close people
- Expressing yourself through creative hobbies and dealing with difficult emotions through this
- Getting enough sleep, enough food, taking care of yourself in regular

And if anyone have other suggestions, I’d be so happy and thankful if you’d like to share!

Are there any things one REALLY should avoid doing? I know the obvious, like not do any drugs, not isolate, though it’s difficult, and to not stop taking care of yourself. I have some anxieties for certain things, and they drain me for so much energy. Sometimes when I’m already like tired and exhausted and can’t do anything, I get these flashbacks and there is nothing I can do, I just cry because it’s so exhausting.

 

[somerandomguy]

Honestly, it sounds like you're on the right track. That's a really good list. And a lot of those things you can do (even if you really don't feel like it) until it just becomes a habit, like exercise.

Trying to be kind to yourself is something else you can try, because this:

I bring nothing good to others in my state right now.

is distorted thinking. You have something to add to the world, even if it feels like you don't.

 

[KimmyO]

Those are all great things to do, not in any order of importance, they are all important. I would also say the following has helped me and many others a lot with anxiety: I have found that taking magnesium (magnesium malate is best) and ginseng helped me a lot w both, they calm the mind body and spirit and get rid of sticky negative thoughts the loop around in the mind. Also, getting outside, laying on the grass to get grounded and breathe in fresh air, looking at stars, these things help a lot too. Our environment help or hurt our mental health and physical health. Speak aloud positive truths to counteract the negative thoughts and things said to us. Also, Volunteering helps us get our of our own misery to help others, which helps us. Call those negatives a lie and correct them to yourself. Protect yourself from those who put that added stress on you and go out and do new challenging things, take classes, go to meetups. Learn new things, meet new people, it will get you out of the pit. Hope this helps you, blessings!

 

[blackemerald1]

I think that is a great list you have there @ppppts - and I agree with the responses too.

I'd suggest only one other thing....

Keep it simple! Keep it all really simple!!

All of those ideas are great so long as they are achievable. When one is in the depths of depression complicated routines, obligations, relationships etc., will. not. work. You will set yourself up for failure if you make plans that are too detailed and busy.

For example food... make it two - three ingredients in a one pot wonder and relatively healthy ie simple!

Exercise - walk for an hour each day rather than the complicated routine of getting to a gym etc., Put on a baseball hat, dark-sunglasses, ear's plugged into some music on your mobile (or not!) decent walking shoes and just simply walk... for one hour....

Relationships - maintain good relationships but don't get emotionally tangled - it's too exhausting.

Therapist - be honest about your depression. It will not necessarily mean in-patient care or medications. A lot of meds do not work on depression anyway... particularly if it is situational.

 

[Mach123]

IDK really how it works. Just one thing leads to another and you get a result that's not the same stuff. Like one plus one finally equals two. You don't believe it at first. So you try and it works again. That's one thing. You hold onto that. You see it's possible. It's very scary at first. Keep trying. You are or you wouldn't have asked so that's good.

 

[EveHarrington]

Have you ever been medicated? Or are you just afraid of the unknown?

 

[ppppts]

I think that is a great list you have there @ppppts - and I agree with the responses too.

I'd suggest only one other thing....

Keep it simple! Keep it all really simple!!

All of those ideas are great so long as they are achievable. When one is in the depths of depression complicated routines, obligations, relationships etc., will. not. work. You will set yourself up for failure if you make plans that are too detailed and busy.

For example food... make it two - three ingredients in a one pot wonder and relatively healthy ie simple!

Exercise - walk for an hour each day rather than the complicated routine of getting to a gym etc., Put on a baseball hat, dark-sunglasses, ear's plugged into some music on your mobile (or not!) decent walking shoes and just simply walk... for one hour....

Relationships - maintain good relationships but don't get emotionally tangled - it's too exhausting.

Therapist - be honest about your depression. It will not necessarily mean in-patient care or medications. A lot of meds do not work on depression anyway... particularly if it is situational.

Yeah I feel really exhausted now a days.. Luckily I have a really kind boyfriend, who really sticks up for me when I have bad times. Unfortunatley, I have a lot of those bad days and bad periods.

I don’t know if it’s TMI but I was at the gynecologist today, and for some reason I had like a panic attack or something. She did not take any tests or what it’s called, she said I was not ready. It’s probably not so unusual, but I was shivering for 2 hours later, and I feel really really exhausted now.

She told me to maybe switch to an female psychologist because i have a guy as psychologist now, and there are certain things that I just can’t get myself to talk about.

Anyways, I have real big difficulties eating, amongst a lot of other things, don’t know if I mention that. I don’t have anorexia, just a lot of anxiety, and even when I feel a little more well, eating right and taking care of myself is so difficult to maintain a rutine for and remember in general.

 

[ppppts]

Have you ever been medicated? Or are you just afraid of the unknown?

I’ve been medicated to that point that I couldn’t have a proper conversation with anyone, I would only think so far as saying yes and no to the things I was able to understand from what people was saying to me. I thought I would never be the same, and that was scary, but I already had PTSD, I was misdiagnosed for paranoid schizophrenia and locked up in institutions for several years. I also had claustrophobia and other things people felt was strange reactions, which led to dramatic events while I was in mental hospital. I was put in belts and so on.

And I have tried several medications, antidepressants also way before the wrong diagnosis. I don’t like medications. I’m not afraid of the unknown, I am to a certain point. But I’d be in a mental hospital, if it was directed for the things I suffer from. That says a little at least of what I’d do to get better from this.

 

[blackemerald1]

Hey @ppppts - :hug: Ah... secret women's business.... it's never pleasant but it is necessary... :hug:

switch to an female psychologist because i have a guy as psychologist now, and there are certain things that I just can’t get myself to talk about.

^^Do you think you can find a good female trauma psychologist or psych doc? I hope so.

I think I can see her view and agree bc if the source of your trauma revolves around the issue's you cannot discuss with a male... it makes sense to find a female. Can you discuss this with your current psychologist and see what he thinks. He may be able to recommend a female colleague.

I feel really really exhausted now.

^^After a anxiety attack subsides - exhaustion if often another big problem. Rest.. I know it's obvious but you must rest and recover after a big attack. Getting the shivers could indicate you blood sugars are too low because you are not eating? Or may be directly related to your symptoms with ptsd. Idk... If it happens again possibly try eating or drinking something slowly.

I have real big difficulties eating, amongst a lot of other things, don’t know if I mention that. I don’t have anorexia,

^^I had a terrible time eating when my anxiety was off the charts and I never had anorexia.

You may still have a eating disorder that revolves around your trauma or symptoms of ptsd. It would be good to discuss this with your psychologist and your gp. It may be time you received some assistance with nutrition as well.

I'm glad you have a boyfriend who is supportive that is very fortunate.

 

[ppppts]

Hey @ppppts - :hug: Ah... secret women's business.... it's never pleasant but it is necessary... :hug:



^^Do you think you can find a good female trauma psychologist or psych doc? I hope so.

I think I can see her view and agree bc if the source of your trauma revolves around the issue's you cannot discuss with a male... it makes sense to find a female. Can you discuss this with your current psychologist and see what he thinks. He may be able to recommend a female colleague.



^^After a anxiety attack subsides - exhaustion if often another big problem. Rest.. I know it's obvious but you must rest and recover after a big attack. Getting the shivers could indicate you blood sugars are too low because you are not eating? Or may be directly related to your symptoms with ptsd. Idk... If it happens again possibly try eating or drinking something slowly.



^^I had a terrible time eating when my anxiety was off the charts and I never had anorexia.

You may still have a eating disorder that revolves around your trauma or symptoms of ptsd. It would be good to discuss this with your psychologist and your gp. It may be time you received some assistance with nutrition as well.

I'm glad you have a boyfriend who is supportive that is very fortunate.

I think it was probably related to my ptsd problems. I don’t shiver very much, sometimes when my blood sugar is low, I start shivering, but that was not the reason this time...

I could maybe have an eating disorder of some sort, I’ve not really thought so much about it, because I’m not avoiding eating, I just can’t get myself to remember it, but it’s many other things that’s also difficult, like taking care of myself in general. I’m not sure why that is, but it could be because my parents was not very caring when I was a child. I remember being locked up in my room, several times, and they would go visit someone in our family, and I’d have no idea when they were back. I must have been hungry and all that, but they said it was a punishment for something, and I’ve always felt guilty for the smallest of things, I can’t imagine me being so difficult to handle that they would just lock me up inside my room, and leave for hours. I think those things may be a factor that this is difficult for me in my life now.

I hope to find a good female psychologist. They have good systems now, and I have my PTSD diagnosis. They also have a really good treatment center, like a mental hospital for anxiety and PTSD not so far from here. I wanted to ask my psychologist what he thinks about me going there. I think I’m absolutely fitting to the requirements of «getting in there» but I’m not sure I want it or if it’s going to work, because I’ve been in mental institutions before, and for once in my life I feel SO safe at home (with my new boyfriend) and I wrote it in an answer over these, and that explains also why I’m less interested

 

[blackemerald1]

like taking care of myself in general.

^^Learning to love yourself and give yourself permission to accept that looking after yourself is good and you deserve it... it's hard and it takes time. That's why being in the right therapeutic relationship is so important.

I’m not sure I want it or if it’s going to work,

^^None of us know if any treatment or therapist is going to work until we give it a red hot go.

You owe it to yourself to be as well as you can be.

If the facilities and qualified people are within your reach I encourage you to explore.

You do not have to commit to any thing or anyone but just have a good look before you dismiss it.

When things are good...of course you don't want to rock the boat. But being well extends beyond the good days - it helps us handle the bad days better. That is one of the goals that I go for. Is it one of yours?

 

[EveHarrington]

I’ve been medicated to that point that I couldn’t have a proper conversation with anyone, I would only think so far as saying yes and no to the things I was able to understand from what people was saying to me. I thought I would never be the same, and that was scary, but I already had PTSD, I was misdiagnosed for paranoid schizophrenia and locked up in institutions for several years. I also had claustrophobia and other things people felt was strange reactions, which led to dramatic events while I was in mental hospital. I was put in belts and so on.

And I have tried several medications, antidepressants also way before the wrong diagnosis. I don’t like medications. I’m not afraid of the unknown, I am to a certain point. But I’d be in a mental hospital, if it was directed for the things I suffer from. That says a little at least of what I’d do to get better from this.

Wow, you’ve really been through a lot! I’m so sorry.....it’s rough fighting against the very system that is supposed to help us. Many people here, including myself, have been misdiagnosed over the years, so you’re not alone (although your exact story may be a bit different from others.....just trying to not minimize your situation as it does sound quite serious).

Meds can be a godsend to many of us, but also quite harmful to others.

I hope you can find what works for you.

:hug: