Anyone else suffering from Anxiety & Depression?

I’m turning 26 this year and I’ve had depression/anxiety for most of my life. I identified with a lot of what you’ve written here, especially

“It has crippled my social life, love life, & fianancial life.”

and

“I’m at a point in my life that I feel like giving up. I have no hope or faith that things will get better.”

I’ve actually been feeling that second one a lot recently. My depression and anxiety has never been easy to manage, but my symptoms have really intensified over the last two years since graduating from college and moving to a new state. I haven’t had a “real” job since I moved here, with the exception of a couple different jobs that I tried out but just couldn’t hack. 2014 was the darkest year of my life. Last year I found a freelancing job that allows me to work from home, and that has helped improve my situation a bit. But the flipside of that is now I rarely talk to anyone except for my boyfriend.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I understand how inhibiting it can be, One thing that I have found consistently helpful is exercise.

Go see a shrink soon. Maybe you will be prescribed some medication. It helps to a certain extent. Go join a depression anonymous or that sort of group. Talk about your depression among fellow sufferers. I have known a friend who had recovered from depression by this way. To most people, depression cannot be cured by 100%. It is better to take some action rather than doing nothing and keep on suffering.

Medical condition? Go see a doctor. I’m not a professional, but as someone who just teared up from reading your posts (yes, I suffer from depression too) I can at least sing with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ECUtkv2qV8

When I start going to that dark place, I remember millions of people who are born just to die. Millions of people who won’t eat today. Millions who suffer in pain and hunger. So I’m grateful. I know depression and pain in general is an entirely individual matter, but I’m still physically good although broken a little bit on the inside.
But when I remember what we are going through, as a society, and when I observe all this people walking around me like they got it all figured out, at least I can join along and act like I know what I’m doing as well. I’m not mimicking them, I’m mocking them.

Nothing is certain, it can always get worse. But I am here, fit and behind a computer in a warm place. Be grateful, be humble, be brave.

@CynthiaFulcanelli I understand being grateful for what I have, but contemplating the suffering of other people has never helped me feel better about anything. If anything, it’s one of the reasons I feel depressed a lot of the time.

@skip2mylou and all on this thread:

Thank you so much for sharing your difficulty with us.

I have bipolar disorder type 1, and I understand depression intimately. I have been in the black pit where no light shines. The walls were slick mud that did not allow for any grip to try to climb out. I was literally ready to kill myself, and I was lucky that I was saved at the last second by the phone ringing. I chose to answer it instead of finishing the deed.

I cried to my friend who had called. I somehow got help and was whisked away to the hospital. Thus began my road to recovery.

I now have a good job that I like. I have a nice place to live. I have friends.

I have hope.

It was a long and difficult journey, but I did it, and you all can, too. From the hospital, I got a psychiatrist and medicine. It took many tries to find medicine that worked best for me, but we found it. I found a psychologist who truly listened and cared. She listened to me, and I felt heard. Again, it was a long journey. It took many years, but it was so worth it. I discovered I am worth it. I deserve all the good that came from the hard work I gave to my treatment.

I suggest you do one nice thing for yourself today. You may decide to call your doctor. That may be your one nice thing: the decision. Celebrate that decision! Take joy in making that decision! Give yourself a pat on the back.

If you feel like you have enough energy, you may make that call today, too. Hooray either way! Whether or not you make the call, be glad you are taking steps in the right direction.

Choose recovery.

I recovered. I recover every day I sit up on the side of my bed, put my feet on the floor, and stand. I win! And you can, too. We all can.

No. Well, sometimes. For specific reasons.

@skip2mylou Welcome to Fluther, skipper.

I am sure you would probably be surprised just how many individuals
in the U.S..alone are on some kind of antidepressant. I bet it is 1–3.
Ever since regular MD’s started handling depression patients and giving
RX of antidepressants many people hopped on the wagon since they
could “skip” seeing a psychiatrist and go to the town doctor. Many people
on depression medicine in my opinion could make some changes in their
lives and prevent some of the depression they are dealing with….and that
is where I think psychologist and therapist really help. Many just want to pop
a pill and not address some of the many things like negative thinking patterns
that make depression worse. I am thankful for antidepressants but I think
many would see a big difference in their lives if they took the meds a step
further and got some extra help.