I Have Anxiety And Depression. What Can I Do?

Feeling anxious or down from time to time is a common human experience that we all go through in life. Although anxiety and depression are different conditions, they commonly occur together. And sometimes, it can be a struggle to determine the difference between the two. 

Because anxiety and depression have many overlapping symptoms (for example, problems with sleep can be seen in both generalized anxiety and major depressive disorder), getting an accurate diagnosis to treat the correct condition is vitally important. This is especially so if the individual is experiencing both of them simultaneously.

If you have never wrestled with mental health issues, it can be challenging to understand the struggle. Look below at some comments from people who live with anxiety and depression daily. 

It’s like living with two different people inside your head.

“The anxiety makes you stress over the littlest thing (like going to bed with dishes in the sink), and you berate yourself for it. But then the depression tells you there’s no point in taking care of it because nothing matters anyway, so you stay in bed. Then while you lay there, your mind wigs out about everything else going on, but you don’t have the energy to sort it all out.” — Carmella D.

It’s a never-ending rollercoaster.

“You worry all the time. The voices inside your head won’t stop. You stress over every little detail, yet sometimes you can’t even care. You feel exhausted every day. It’s hard to concentrate or find the energy to do anything. It sucks the life right out of you.” — Brian T.

Nothing brings you joy.

“You always have this sense of fear even when there’s nothing to be afraid of. Your mind tells you there’s always something to worry about. You overthink and worry about things to the point where you can’t sleep, lose your appetite, and can’t breathe. The depression feels like a heavy weight on your chest. You feel constantly tired, sad, and uninspired. Nothing seems to bring much joy, and you feel alone and withdrawn. It feels overwhelming.” — Abbey B.

It’s like living a nightmare.

“It’s a vicious cycle of not caring about anything because of the depression while caring too much about everything because of the anxiety. You want to sleep and forget everything, but you can’t because you are overthinking everything you didn’t do or have to do.” — Cameron T.

LIVING WITH BOTH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

People dealing with anxiety and depression say waking up every day is a struggle. They feel like they are fighting a battle day in and day out. But if you ask them what’s one of the hardest parts?—It would be trying to hide it. Negative stereotypes and attitudes of others often keep them from talking about their difficulties. And even though they long to confide in someone who genuinely understands what they are dealing with, the fear of being viewed as “different” holds them back from reaching out for support.

Suppose you are someone who lives with anxiety and depression. In that case, you know what these people are talking about because you live it. You need to know you are not alone, even though you might feel lonely. Anxiety and depression affect more of us than you know. Or maybe anxiety and depression are not your struggles, but you know or live with someone whose struggle it is. Hopefully, reading this will help you to empathize with what they are dealing with. 

TREATMENT

There would be no point in writing this blog if I didn’t offer a word of encouragement and hope — and that being that symptoms of anxiety and depression are treatable. In fact, there are many ways to get help, and you can even try some on your own.

1. Talk Therapy – A professional therapist will work with you to develop a plan to treat your anxiety and depression at the same time. There are many types of talking therapy, and different therapies suit different people. Working with a trained therapist will help you find answers to your problems and give you the skills to manage your symptoms.
2. Medication – Sometimes, along with talk therapy, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant drug that can treat both depression and anxiety symptoms.
3. Exercise – This can be very helpful for both disorders. Physical activity is a proven mood-booster. It releases feel-good chemicals in the body, aiding relaxation and well-being.
4. Relaxation Techniques – Give yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises a try. Meditating for just 2-5 minutes during the day can ease your anxiety and lighten your mood.
5. Watch Your Diet – Anxiety and depression often trigger cravings for carbs in the form of unhealthy “comfort foods.” It’s essential to take care of yourself by eating a well-balanced diet of lean proteins, good fats, and lots of fruits and veggies while limiting sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
6. Get Support – This one is vitally important! Anyone going through struggles knows that having solid relationships helps you feel better. And living with anxiety and depression is no different. Reaching out to family and friends and letting them know what you’re going through is an excellent place to start. But joining a support group is especially helpful because you’ll meet others going through the same things. There, you might also discover coping suggestions and encouragement from others that will be helpful.

HELPING A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND

When someone you love or care about is experiencing symptoms of mental illness, you are presented with some complex and unique challenges. Getting support for yourself is as important as the loved one with the condition. Not only to learn how to be helpful and supportive of the person you care about but also to learn how to take care of yourself in the process. Often, some of the best support can come from others walking in your shoes.

Whether you are dealing with anxiety or depression, you need to find out and understand what is happening. It’s okay to ask for help and to take care of yourself.

It is often the small steps, not the giant leaps that bring about the most lasting change. — Queen Elizabeth II

If you want to feel better, working with a coach is a great way to develop the coping skills to deal positively with whatever life throws at you. Let’s work together to bring healing and balance to your life so that you can feel in charge of your inner self again.

Hi, I’m Kris Henderson. I want you to know I am here to help. If you want more personalized support, I invite you to contact me or schedule your phone call today. Together, let’s work on strategies to help you move forward through any problematic situations you may be going through right now and ones you may encounter in the future.

This article originally appeared on Counseling Solutions Of West Michigan.