How is depression & anxiety affecting your life?

Asked by kidreamer (35

) March 7th, 2016

Depression has had a huge affect on my life in many ways. I am 26 and have been suffering since I was about 19. Currently living with my parents and working to gain enough money to move out. Also looking for a better job that pays more money and has benefits. One that is much closer to my house as well.

1— It has made me really lazy and unmotivated. There are many things I want to accomplish. Design more art, learn the guitar, join a football (soccer) team, and more. I want to accomplish these things little by little. The problem is I am always tired both physically and mentally. Even when I get many hours of sleep.

2— It is making it really hard for me to find a girlfriend. I want a relationship, but I’m too shy to approach someone I like. If I had more confidence I would be in a relationship by now.

3— I’ve had many opportunities offered to me. In terms of joining football (soccer) teams, job opportunities and relationships. I feel like I’ve wasted almost most of my 20’s. I could of went away for college and had an amazing experience. Really wanted to go to a big college and dorm. However I went to a community college in NYC. I feel like I missed out on the college experience. For my masters degree I would love to go away, but I don’t know yet.

4— It has affected my emotions. I have been having many mood swings. I am always angry, moody, stressed, & paranoid. I often lash out at people over little things. I feel really bad about that. I am good at hiding my anxiety and depression in front of people. Everyone thinks I am this happy guy that has life figured out. That is not the case. I am so lost in life.

5— I have gotten panic & anxiety attacks whenever I am in public. It has also made my eye strain worst. I can’t read, or look at something for a long time. I am always looking around because it is hard for me to blink sometimes. My eyes are often dry, itchy, hot & watery at times.

I want to get help, and currently looking to get the help I need. Hopefully therapy helps. I do not want to take pills to help ease my symptoms. I just want to be happy and enjoy life. I use to pray, but if there is a God I do not think he is listening. My faith in God is also going away. I am starting to turn away from God and just be an atheist. I really want to believe in God, but these days it is very hard.

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8 Answers

Faith in God? God has no use for you until you define a use for yourself.

Fall asleep to this for three nights straight.

Then start listening to this as much and as often as you can during the day and afternoon naps.

Trust.

Chill.

“My eyes are often dry, itchy, hot & watery at times.”…

LOL. Get your shit together punk. You weren’t created to complain.

RealEyesRealizeRealLies (30960

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@kidreamer Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I know it takes a lot of courage to be so open and expose yourself to the stigma as evidenced by @RealEyesRealizeRealLies.

I live in recovery from bipolar disorder type 1. It used to rule my life. Today, with the help of good medicine, excellent therapy, regular exercise, and meditation, I enjoy a very different life. I have a job I love, I live in a comfortable apartment, and I have good friends. I dream of having a romantic relationship, and I’m open to the possibility.

I would suggest that you keep an open mind about medication. It is proven to work. Why would you cut yourself off from something that works without trying it? It works for millions of people just like you. It works for me. It took a lot of trial and error to find the right medicine, but I’ve been on my current one for about 2.5 years, and it’s excellent.

Good luck to you.

Hawaii_Jake (37734

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The correct medications, coupled with appropriate therapy is great for depression and anxiety. I am now reducing in doses from my medications and am having a helluva time. Effexor is great when used as needed, but near impossible to get away from once you don’t need it any more.

majorrich (14741

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I’ve had pretty bad anxiety since I was a child. Medication takes it down a huge notch for me.

Another thing that helped me was to reevaluate my goals. My anxiety was largely centered around academic achievement. When my goal in life used to be “be a NASA engineer” and I knew how hard that goal was going to be to achieve, I was constantly putting pressure on myself to be a top 1% student. When I finally surrendered that goal and realized I’d be happier aiming lower, I was able to relax a bit.

I still have a lot of anxiety but it’s very different now.

Mariah (25883

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I am currently having councilling for anxiety because it has become crippling. I take anti-anxiety meds as well to help deal with it day to day and they do take the edge of somewhat but I find talking helps a lot. I need someone to help me rationalise things because I am unable to do it on my own.

OpryLeigh (25310

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I kinda wanna die every day and I’ve almost gone through with it a few times… it makes me really tired and irritable. I’m lazy, unmotivated, feel like I’m a burden and I have horrible self esteem. I’ve been hospitalized for it and it just makes life extremely hard to live.

Misspegasister28 (2103

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@Misspegasister28 Hugs. Thank you so much for sharing your difficulty with us. Please, read my answer above. I have been where you are, and I recovered. It is possible to feel good again. It’s not easy, but it is possible.

Hawaii_Jake (37734

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@Hawaii_Jake Thank you so much, you’re very kind :)

Misspegasister28 (2103

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