Anyone else trying to drag themselves out of anxiety/depression?

[Dembones292]

Wow its a battle isn't it. One I've thankfully never had to fight before but long term physical health problems have caught up with me mentally in a big way. I've spoken to my gp, started on meds yesterday, been referred for therapy of some sort, I walk the dog every day and I'm managing to put a brave face on for work but I'm an absolute mess inside. Lost under a pile of anxiety. Scrolling through my phone and I can't believe the difference in me from just 2 years ago to now. I want to get back to her but I'm terrified I never will and this will be me for the rest of my life.

Trying to, as I've just fallen into it in a very big way. At the moment it feels like there is no light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

Just wanted to give you some hope. This is not forever. You have done so well seeking help and hopefully with meds and therapy you’ll start seeing improvements too. Two years ago I was an absolute mess! So depressed and anxious. My worst fear was that it would last forever. Like you I couldn’t believe how much I had changed, I hardly recognised myself.
I made some major lifestyle changes and got some therapy and now two years later (it didn’t last two years but I mean it’s two years later now) I am honestly happier and healthier than I’ve ever been. I like myself a lot and I feel like life is worth living again.
Take it one step at a time. Keep walking the dog! Go to therapy, take the pills. Keep working at it, things will get better.

For me it's a great big dark cloud that makes you want to curl up and hide. It sucks.

Shaking off the cloud feels impossible, but we can shelter from it, and it sounds like you're taking positive steps to do that. My shelter includes exercise, keeping myself clean and not letting my house get too messy (because I spiral when I feel it's too much to clean/sort out). There's more too, but these are the things I can control and feel in control of.

The cloud is still there but I can go days without having to acknowledge it which is such a big improvement from where I was. I'm hoping I can make those days stretch into weeks as a next step.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, going slowly is much better than stopping because you have to regain momentum again

Me too, I feel completely lost after the last two years and am finding it really hard to look forward to any kind of future. My GP has referred me for therapy but there is a long waiting list - I had an initial telephone consultation and it wasn't good, I'd much rather see someone face to face.
Most of my family members seem to be feeling similar, I think it's getting to everyone to a degree.
You're definitely not alone

My anxiety has got really bad this week after a few months of not being a problem. I hate it. I'm considering giving up work because that's what I worry about the most. My doctor told me that people never recover from anxiety and all I can do is learn to live with it. I don't even know why it started! I hate it.

My doctor told me that people never recover from anxiety and all I can do is learn to live with it. I don't even know why it started! I hate it.

Oh no, is that the case?

I will be totally honest. I have anxiety and depression in conjunction with a serious and complex mental illness. I have had it for 25 years and I have had to learn to live with it. I have had therapy, medications, psychiatrist, cpn etc and there have been times when it has improved for a decent period of time but its always been there.

Mind you my previous long term relationships were abusive so that's a mitigating factor but still it's always been there.

Yes. The worst thing is I forget everything I learned after the last bout! It weasles it's way in again. This time it's likely related to perimenopause but it's a battle getting that treated on its own.

I am trying to reread about the Power Threat Meaning Framework. Instead of saying what's wrong with me, I try and ask, what happened to me. It starts to make more sense then, especially after the last couple of years.

Thankyou for all the replies. It's good to know I'm not alone.

I understand the sentiment of keeping the momentum going. I feel like if I stop I'll never start again, it will swallow me. I actually think this is what covid lockdowns have done. I've been powering through it, coping with my health problems for so long, life stopped and I was so happy and content at home, I found some peace at last and now I have to get back out into the real world and its such a struggle. I fantasise about living in a cottage on a remote island with just my dog.

I'm 41 so I think hormones could also be playing a part. Its just terrible and I hate feeling like this.

for everyone going through it and all of you who have been battling this for a long time.

I've had depression and anxiety for many years, been on ADs for years. I was fine and feeling OK until last year when I had a stroke (whilst on a ventilator for Covid) and since then, the depression and anxiety are much worse. I started counselling recently - got the 2nd session next week. I hope that will help.

This might sound ridiculous and stupid but I’ve had anxiety with bouts of depression since my teens, I’ve had therapy and have been on and off Seroxat since the age of 24.
I’m 45 now and in peri, I have really struggled the last couple of years and didn’t want to go back on antidepressants. Coincidentally I’ve needed to lose a few pounds for the first time in my life so stopped eating sugar in all forms in January and I’m a completely different person, the constant being on the verge of tears has gone, doom mongering thoughts have disappeared, I’ve got motivation and energy and while the anxiety is not quite gone it’s manageable. I feel like a different person.

Newyearnewme2022 that doesn't sound stupid at all. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try anything!

When my DH was put on antidepressants he was told to take them for life. There has never been talk of coming off them, he did manage to slightly reduce them once.