I've been diagnosed with a mix of depression and anxiety. While it's rooted in childhood experiences, it's been exacerbated by the stress of completing my education as a Ph.D student. I have been diagnosed, and was prescribed anti-depressants (Fluoxetine AKA Prozac) It's been moderately helpful in that I'm able to write my dissertation without freaking the fuck out or sinking into weeks of hopeless self-hate because my advisor e-mailed me, but I still experience periods of despair and anxiety. I've also attended therapy. I have mixed feelings about how well it worked. Therapy has helped me develop insights into where the issues came from, but I don't think it's really helped me to resolve them.
As for coping, I remind myself that my view of 'reality' (especially concerning self-perception) is somewhat distorted when I'm feeling anxious or depressed (similar to how a person may need glasses to accurately see the world), so I've learned to question the thoughts that I have, and to delay acting on them until I'm in a better frame of mind. I've also learned to cut myself a bit of slack, to not demand perfection of myself, nor to catastrophize minor incidents. I remind myself of my ordinariness - I may be depressed or anxious, but so are a lot of other people, so I'm not alone in it. I've also learned to seek out the bright side or silver linings to whatever happens in my life. Things that seem difficult can often provide lessons that help in future situations, or at the very least, reinforce my sense of resiliency.
Post-avant-retro-demelodicized-electro-yodel-core is my jam.
I have not been diagnosed but do live with occasional bouts of depression, as I have recently mentioned over in Rump's. No medication or therapy involved, just coping. Coping mechanisms? Exercise, esp. outdoor walks and biking, helps. Fresh air (see previous). Music of some kinds. Comedy and humour gives me a boost (I've never been so low that I couldn't manage a laugh or two).
Take your pick of diagnoses. You may or may not be right. For all i know, the doctors may or may not be right
My Ph.D. is actually in a psychology-related field. Personally, I'm not a big advocate for diagnosing, which seems to me like trying to fit someone into a neat categorical box when human experience is varied, and unique in a lot of ways. Some people find them helpfule, but often patients get a label, treat it as explanatory, conform to it in their behaviour, and then use it as an excuse to do nothing about it. Diagnosis is necessary for insurance purposes, and can be helpful to clinicians in communicating about common clusters of symptoms, but for patients, I don't see too much value in it usually. Also it's important to avoid being totally defined by a diagnosis. I might feel depressed or anxious more than I'd like, but it's only one part of who I am, and often not the most salient part of my identity.
Post-avant-retro-demelodicized-electro-yodel-core is my jam.
Depression and anxiety. Anxiety is the one that affects my daily life, unless I take medication.
I'm the only one in my family that was ever medicated for it, but if I look at behavior and symptoms, I'm very sure I come from a long line of anxious people. Both Mom and Dad had panic attacks, though they wouldn't have called it that.
Anxiety.... I have extremely bad anxiety attacks but it’s actually been awhile since my last one and I have learned what works best for me is to just remove my triggers...
I was treated for PTSD during my college years with two years of therapy. Part of that was to treat my anorexia as well. To paraphrase 'Alice': Am I mad? I’m afraid so. I'm entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.
Someone(s) on my LUSH friends list ???
I have been accused of being sex-mad - does that count.?
I work some with veterans, about ten hours a week. mostly dispersing emergency assistance and passing out phone numbers for assorted veterans assistance sources. About half those I see have health issues, often more than one problem. ie: PSTD or TBI (traumatic Brain Injury = concussion) also accompanies nutritional problems, stress induced physical problems, or physical wounds. The Fourth of July is coming up & several I'm acquainted with are stressing already, For the PSTD afflicted the Glorious 4th is often hell.
I’ve had an eating disorder that has progressively gotten worse and worse since the age of five. It was made worse by a series of events that culminated in one catastrophic event leaving me with PTSD in 2011. I was on Effexor for a long time after that which actually really helped. The only reason I stopped taking it is because of the cost and I think to a large extent it made my eating disorder worse. I’ve had as many diagnoses as I’ve had therapists, which is quite a few. I tried SSRIs for a while but the functioning of my penis is more important to me than dealing with my depression. I no longer feel like PTSD is an issue, although about a year ago I had a really strong panic attack to a scene from “Shameless.” So I may be in denial about that. I’ve been seeing my current therapist for a few years. He’s pretty good but I think if I’ ever going to be better it’s going to take a decade to change the way I think about myself and life in general. Which I guess is fine. I’m not really busy, so... yeah..
I’m not really sure I’m coping with any of it particularly well. I masturbate a lot. Thst seems to help.
PTSD and manic depression. i hate the drugs, so i don't take them, except a few times when it's been overwhelming. i manage both with therapy, excersize, and meditation. not always well, but well enough.
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
Anxiety. It gets bad sometimes
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They say the first sign is recognizing you have one. I recognized mine as alcoholism. Some say that is not a mental issue. I disagree because once I realized I had it, I was able to cure it for a time. It is a constant battle to keep it at bay. I have not touched a drink in well over 30 years, but believe me, I want one every day. This is why I avoid drama and stress. I work for myself so I don't have to deal with company bullshit that can make me want one more. I work from home, so I don't have to go out and deal with people unless I choose to. I have eliminated almost all of the things that can make me want to drink again. I am in constant recovery mode.