If you were depressed and anxious in your 20s, did it get better?

[goldenn]

I'm 29 now and it's sinking in that my entire 20s I have had really poor mental health - cycling between high levels of panic and anxiety, to collapsing into depression and dread. It's all I've known my entire adult life, and I'm just wondering if it gets better or if that's how I'll always be?

I feel like so far, my life has been one long search for some kind of golden answer that will help me; I long to be able to stop that search and rumination and just reach some form of contentment.

Does it get better? If so, how? Does it take work and effort (I've been trying) or is it something that just gets better with time?

I could have written the above. For me
the answer is no, it doesn’t get better BUT as you get older, you learn to manage it better. Depression and anxiety are an illness (as I’m sure you know). I’ve just succumbed to the fact I’ll probably be on antidepressants the rest of my life. As I’ve got older though, you care less what people think, what you look like, worry less about the small stuff (I’ve anxiety too so I know it’s easier said than done), and realise happiness is in the simple things. I appreciate that sounds corny, I simply mean once you learn it’s a part of your chemistry, you no longer let it define you. Hope that helps :)

I was depressed and anxious to a pretty extreme degree between the ages of 16 and about 21, so a bit younger than the age you're asking about. I'm now in my 50s and am never anxious and only down very occasionally. It took A LOT of hard work. I read books. I learned new skills. I practiced. I made myself do things that frightened me. I really, really tried. And it made a massive difference. So there is hope.

For me it did get better. I had some really good counselling and I kept telling myself did I want to still be this way in 2, 5, 10 years time. The answer was always no. I do still get anxious or feel down but I force myself out of it. I understand that isn't possible for a lot of people and I think sometimes it doesn't actually help me in the long term deal with things I really ought too. However, I then had a disabled son and now I will not allow myself to get to that stage as I would be doing him a massive disservice. I cannot become unwell because I am his everything.

yes, so much.
I collapsed in a heap on my very sympathetic childhood GP, was signed off sick for 4 weeks, started citalopram and referred psychiatry.
I took citalopram for 2 1/2 years ( and had another 6 month course a little while after that).
I am still absolutely terrified of finishing back there, but am now 15 years down the track and cannot believe it was me.

Yup shit all the way through my 20s. 2 years on anti-ds at age of 32 and then CBT and massive mind shift when I felt able to engage properly. Am 54 not been depressed for 20 years. DD is 16 and on anti-ds, here's hoping she gets through it before her 20s!

I really really hope it does get better for you. I found my 20s really difficult, serious anxiety which wasn't helped by a stressful career and promotions at work. By mid 30s, I felt more in control of my life and of my mental health.

If you have the opportunity for CBT or NLP (neuro linguistic prog) then I would recommend trying them out and persevering as results aren't instant but can be absolutely life changing. I had EMDR due to a traumatic bereavement in my early 30s and that helped me immensely.

It took time and effort to get to a place where I am no longer crippled by anxiety. As cheesy as it sounds, I try to frame things differently and be grateful for opportunities- for example, instead of "eugh, I have to do x" I think "I'm lucky I'm able to do x" or "I'm grateful to do x".

I had a bad spell of depression in my 20s that culminated in me finally booking a GP appointment to discuss it. When I got to the surgery they had cancelled my appointment. I nearly stuck my car in a hedge as I drove home in hysterics and still don't really know how I got back safely - did a bit of praying and maybe some divine intervention helped me out.

I did get some proper help though, no thanks to the NHS, but because I was able to see a good psychologist through an occupational health referral at work. Only saw him 3 or 4 times, but he was able to help me reframe things and set me on the path to recovery. It took months. I didn't take drugs to help, but over the next year I changed everything in my life.

Changed career, got married and moved in with my long term partner, changed my name, moved to another part of the country etc.

For some people depression and anxiety will be a lifelong battle. For others it's a response to a really tough time in life. For me, it was a reflection that I needed to make big changes that would make me happier. Its hard to find the energy to make such big changes when depressed, but I chipped away gradually. I've not relapsed, though for years whenever I had a week that make me feel a bit low, I was utterly terrified I might be getting depressed again. I still have a healthy fear of the hopelessness of being suicidal, but the anxiety of that has gradually faded.

Sorry, but no. I was 14 when I was first thrown at the CMHT, medicated and so on.

I'm 52 and was diagnosed with ADHD last year and suddenly everything made sense.

Life is still very turbulent but I'm happy I have an explanation as to why.

I think it can change. If you find the thing that makes you feel like you are in control of your life.

Yes, completely different. I had anxiety in my 20’s and 30’s, sometimes delusional.
i had psychotherapy,(also CBT but not helpful for me personally), started on citalopram, it slowly got better and has stayed better.

No. I'm still on the rollercoaster of depression where it goes through phases, from being slightly depressed to full on suicidal. The difference is that I know I will come out the other side if I wait long enough. I've had multiple types of antidepressants, all of which turn me into a zombie, so I've learnt to live with it and I tell myself I'm doing okay. And it's fine to just be okay.