Depression & Anxiety

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

So who here deals with forms of depression and/or anxiety?

Given the types of people who are generally attracted to frequenting message boards and being a part of pseudo-anonymous online communities, I'd say a good percentage of us probably deal with at least some level of mild mental or emotional struggle.

What kinds of issues do you face, and how do you deal with them? Are you dealing with them? What kinds of things do you feel help you when the struggle gets real, i.e., having an anxiety attack, feeling your seasonal depression, manic or depressive swings, etc.

I guess I've just been hit a little harder than normal lately, and it's nice to know there are other people going through similar things.

 

[That N Word]

I do. I can't even go for a ride in the car or walk to the corner store by myself without my body start forcing me to choke and ask strangers to call 911. The most embarrassing one was at the Money In The Bank PPV. I was nervous about it being my first WWE event ever it was crazy.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Man, that makes my experiences seem so mild and insignificant. I guess that sounds like a pretty severe case of like...social anxiety? I'm sorry to hear that.

Mine seems to be more rooted in insecurity. I do well with people and going places, and it's usually more about my relationships with others that trigger an anxiety attack.

I was doing really well until I got involved with a beautiful, incredible girl that lives about 2500 miles away from me. When I'm not sure where our relationship is, or how to fix certain problems, or communication breaks down, I just go into full-on panic mode, and I'm saying things and freaking out about everything. Two hours later I'm calm and I can realize why everything I just did was insane and not rational, but in that moment it's really impossible for me to see clearly. I become very insecure, very paranoid, very doubtful that she could like...feel the same way about me as I do about her. Even though I know, rationally, objectively, she does.

 

[Starkist]

Man, that makes my experiences seem so mild and insignificant. I guess that sounds like a pretty severe case of like...social anxiety? I'm sorry to hear that.

Mine seems to be more rooted in insecurity. I do well with people and going places, and it's usually more about my relationships with others that trigger an anxiety attack.

I was doing really well until I got involved with a beautiful, incredible girl that lives about 2500 miles away from me. When I'm not sure where our relationship is, or how to fix certain problems, or communication breaks down, I just go into full-on panic mode, and I'm saying things and freaking out about everything. Two hours later I'm calm and I can realize why everything I just did was insane and not rational, but in that moment it's really impossible for me to see clearly. I become very insecure, very paranoid, very doubtful that she could like...feel the same way about me as I do about her. Even though I know, rationally, objectively, she does.

I think the issue of your anxiety might be that she lives 2500 miles from you. That is a far distance to have a relationship while never having the thought of "what if."


I hope it works out for you.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I think the issue of your anxiety might be that she lives 2500 miles from you. That is a far distance to have a relationship while never having the thought of "what if."


I hope it works out for you.

The distance in our relationship is a factor, but not a new factor. We're going on 6.5 months now, and we have met in person and spent a considerable amount of time together. We have talked about potential futures, and the anxiety doesn't come because of the distance. Actually, being a fairly private and introverted person, who doesn't really "do" relationships (I get bored easily, and that ends up hurting people), the long-distance thing is actually a really good, therapeutic way of easing me back into social life, relationship life, being loved and loving someone else, without the constant stress and demands of being in a physical, immediate relationship.

 

[Dan Severn's Moustache]

I've been dealing with a nasty bout of depression for over 3 years now. But the best advice I can give for those trying to cope with it is to identify what is causing it. For me, it was my self image and my constant attempts to people please and giving a huge fuck if someone, anyone didn't like me. The best thing I've ever been told is that I am completely independent of the good or the bad opinions of others. You are letting figments of someone else's imagination control your life, which is ludicrous.

Thankfully, because of my happy relationship with my partner and a general improvement to my situation, I feel I have almost completely recovered. I'm still taking anti-depressants, but I aim to ween off them once my prescription ends.

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I'm thinking pretty seriously about seeing a psychiatrist. As in, I'm literally on hold right now trying to see about scheduling a new patient session. Ironically, waiting on hold for long periods of time seems to be a trigger for my anxiety.

 

[Really?]

Well, let me make this clear to you. A psychiatrist is not the answer. You need to find a Cognitive Behavioural Specialist. A shrink will medicate, mask the issue and rinse and repeat. Yes, psychiatrists have an important job and deal with many mass issues, but you need to grasp the problem you have and deal with the precipitating factor.

First, accept that the 2500 miles between you and this other person is the most active contributor, most likely. What you describe is a generalized anxiety. In dealing with the, you need a support system in place and yours is too far to be effective. Yes, having a relationship is important, but long distance doesn't work for you as an assistance to your illness.

Next, make a square on a paper. Make it 3 inches by 3 inches. That is your window of control. Everything over which you have control goes inside and that which you do not goes outside. Write it down inside and leave the others. As you notice your anxiety decreasing, you can begin to make a bigger square.

Finally, learn how to deal with panic attacks. Start with a 5 -4-3-2-1 approach. Think of 5 things that you like to touch, 4 things that you like to taste, 3 things you like to smell, 2 things you like to see and 1 you like to hear. As you deal with active attacks, you will then deal with preventing by using a 4-7-8 approach. 4 seconds of breathing in, hold it for 7 seconds and take 8 seconds to let the air out. Do that three times when you feel an attack coming on.