I'm Trying To Figure This Out And Need Help.

[Mim28]

I've been on an SSRI and at times two different benzos to relieve anxiety. In the past 6 months I have not had consistent improvement. I am in therapy with a psychologist and see a psychiatrist for medication. There are several factors that have lead me here: PTSD, anxiety, extreme stress, and an imbalanced thyroid. Those are the ones I know of.
It seems that ANY stressful situation that I have to deal with, sets me back. I do yoga, meditation, read self help, connect with family and friends. I am trying everything I can.
I had an emergency situation that needed to be handled. In fact it was something I had to deal with in the past. In the past I handled it and moved on. This time, It seems that anything stressful sets me back. I'm anxious, exhausted.
I feel like I've wasted time trying to figure all this out and maybe I'm ignoring the real problem whatever that is. I don't know.
Maybe my meds aren't working. I need to go back to work, but I'm running out of time fast and I feel defeated.
the past few days have been very stressful and now I'm on the couch, so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.
So I guess my question is, has anyone been through a stretch of time where they simply are unable to cope? Does it sometimes take years to rebuild yourself? I was hoping that wasn't the case, but I'm starting to feel like it is.
I'm feeling so defeated right now.

 

[Finchlet2]

Mental exhaustion can be just as tiring as physical exhaustion often more so. Sometimes you need something to trigger inspiration and excitement to motivate the true strong and energetic you to bounce back into action. Physical complications make this harder I get that but keep open to something new and exciting can give u more get up and go to tackle the rest of stuff life requires of you.

 

[Muted]

Yes and yes. But when it took me years, I didn't have a good t.

 

[Sea_lady]

Yes, I burnt out. Three times in the last decade.
Yes, it takes a lot of time... It is a journey. It is normal to feel defeated at times, but you should not feel ashamed because you did absolutely nothing wrong, and there are so many people out there who go through similar difficult processes. You are not alone. You are not guilty. You did not choose to be like this.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Meds only help to ease symptoms. Tearing your trauma apart, exposure therapy, CBT and or DBT will help the most. Facing your trauma is the hardest, but it works....

 

[Deleted member 34328]

Irkkk sounds awful.

Seems to me having "you time" needs to be inserted into your schedule on a daily basis. Not just when it's convenient.

Life has to be lived regardless of whether we want it or not. It also seems to have this nasty habit of throwing unexpected curve balls that throw us completely off balance. Sucks but true. The aftermath sucks even more.

That's why having something to soothe you at the end of the day is important. Whatever it is that will help you to lay back and feel special.

It's a long journey isn't it...feels like a long dark tunnel with no end. I do hear you. Glad you have a therapist working with you.

 

[EmmaOwl]

Does it sometimes take years to rebuild yourself? I was hoping that wasn't the case, but I'm starting to feel like it is.
I'm feeling so defeated right now.

It can. I have had to measure my progress in years. Then again, no one expected me to get better, ever, at all.

I guess the point is, you need to be persistent even when things are so slow, you feel like you are stagnant. When I think about where I was 5 years ago.... I cannot say how amazing the changes have been. 10+ years ago I was nothing but a shell, and a bruised and battered one at that. Here I am, 2017, and I have gone through many phobias/aversions I had in the past - I am on a computer, online, typing, posting... Even writing posts here, is something I've only recently been able to do. Those 10 years ago? I used to watch Law and Order all day, every day. Drugged out stupor. Seriously. It is amazing to me now, that I had one person to pick me up and keep trying FOR me until I could try on my own. (I do get a little upset when I see Law & Order come up on tv listings...which it does a LOT ;) but I am okay as long as I don't watch it!)

That is my story and please do not worry - I am not saying you'll even approach this long at getting better - but that sometimes goals need to be adjusted, or a person needs patience when things go up and down....but the trend is up. You just need to take a long view, and you'll see. You're way ahead of the game - and it sounds like you are venturing into the outside world even when it hurts. There are people here for you (and for me), too. You do a *great* job with communication and I think that is a key step. Good thoughts your way, Mim.

 

[EmmaOwl]

Meds only help to ease symptoms.

This is exactly how I accept my current need to be on medications: I am taking them to help me get through therapy. As I improve, I hope to decrease dosages, and even eliminate some meds entirely. This is a long-term goal for me.

 

[candor]

10 years complete meltdown, lots of isolation and anxiety...but feel recovered now. Oh I do get symptoms but it is all relatively good now. One thing that really helped me and the anxiety was a course I took on eft tapping (for free lessons see utube). The upside is that it is painless, effortless as in few minutes a day ...you can practice whenever and as often...the downside is that it seems too hard to believe ..I was really skeptical and yet it really helped a lot. The best way I can describe the result is that once the symptom went away it also seems to erase the memory of having had that emotion. So it left me with a feeling that I never had the problem to begin with rather than one of having found treatment. It seems to be a common experience among people who have tried it. I did not need a T and did it on myself.