re: Depression is real, and scary

I battle severe GAD, OCD and borderline depression. I have tried so many different meds to the point I told my psychiatrist that I was done. She prescribed me one more and its been a miracle.
T
H
C

ETA: Stop watching the news, all of it. I went a little bit excessive when this thing started because I started watching g the news again. I stopped again about a month ago and it made a huge difference

nm

quote:

---

I’ve started threads on here before about my battles with anxiety. I wouldn’t consider myself on the extreme end of the things, but the reality of what I deal with is still scary.

I’ve been married for exactly 2 weeks. I love my wife. Our lives with each other are great. The virus and POLI-climate remain scary. Every day is a roller coaster of emotions.

I admit to tying to much of my free time into sports. That was never a bad thing until corona hit. Nights are the worst time for me. I’ve ventured into video games, and reading. Sure, I can go out into the humid air in the backyard for some drinks. The fact remains, this tunnel is long and dark.

There are times when I feel like things are great, and I’ll be back teaching in a classroom soon. There are also times where I feel like I won’t be in a stadium watching a game until 2023 or something.

If you don’t have depression, consider yourself lucky. It’s tough to feel like you have so little control over your emotions. My wife is very much informed on what I go through. She has been all through our dating life. Still...this shite is rough.

I know I’ve given some posters on here some shite. Compared to real life, it’s all insignificant.

---

Pretty much everything you said... I'm right there with you bud.

Just turned 40 and can relate. Going through the mid life crisis and during Covid its gotten bad.

Ive found that deep breathing and exercise really help and i talk to someone.

For those who take meds, what has worked? SSRI? My doctor recommended Prozac and I’m scared to take it for fear of weight gain and insomnia

FYI if you guys have the time, listen to a guy named James Nestor, who was a guest on Joe Rogens podcast last week. He just did a book called Breathe and spent 4 years researching how people around the world deal with meditation and breathing to calm themselves and improve quality of life. It’s very interesting and has helped me this week when i tried it.

Also, google the natural herb Ashwaganda. I read about it in a recent Men’s Health and its been around 2000 years and helps with anxiety and lowers cortisol levels. I take a droplet every day its crazy how it mellows you out and not get as worked up. Amazon has a good brand

Real clinical depression is scary. I was diagnosed with major depression years ago.

Most people think it’s just a state of feeling mopey and numb. It’s not. It’s like a raging forest fire in your brain. Your thoughts, emotions, moods — all of them — are haywire. You are incapable of regulating any of them. Depression feeds anxiety, and vice versa. Many depressed people have symptoms of bipolar disorder. There are drugs that can do wonders, but sometimes it take a while to find the right one that works in the right way.

People who view this as just personal weakness are ignorant.

If you think you are depressed, see a doctor. Otherwise enjoy your video games.

ETA: I take an SNRI, not an SSRI. Once I got on it (about 8 years ago), it literally changed my life.

quote:

---

For those who take meds, what has worked? SSRI? My doctor recommended Prozac and I’m scared to take it for fear of weight gain and insomnia

---

THC.

I lost 40+ lbs in the first 6 months of starting it and have kept it off. Sleep like never before, look forward to social events, love my job again, ect.
Actually just went through another blown up disc in my neck that had to be fused. Did it with out pain meds this time, only some muscle relaxers for spasms.

THC isn’t an option where i live

I just read a book called “The Body Keeps Score” and its all about depression and anxiety and how people have worn out Fight or Flight responses and its fascinating.

I think i have it because my body automatically will have a panic attack when nothing else is happening and i feel fine because my body goes in fight or flight

quote:

---

THC isn’t an option where i live

---

THC is an option anywhere. You just are not willing to do what it takes to access that medicine.

spend a long weekend in a legalized State and mail it back to yourself. It is actually very easy.

I've battled it most of my adult life. Only once did it get really bad. Ended up almost homeless. Had quite my job. Drank till I passed out. Was blaming myself for my Fathers death(he drowned, I was supposed to be there that weekend but ended up holding off till later in the week to get an extra shift at work. Never saw him again). Comes back at times. Sports is a good distraction when it does.