Who else suffers from anxiety and/or depression?

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GospelOfMatthew

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If you are comfortable sharing, who else suffers from anxiety and/or depression or other mental illnesses? I have both diagnosed anxiety and depression and am on medication.

I would like to know who else suffers and what has helped them, I want to feel less alone in the battle
 
I struggle with both. Medication and therapy never really helped so… Not really doing very much about it. I think it helps to have a good friends and family who you can be open with. Talking about your your struggles, thoughts and feelings etc is also helpful with a friend or trusted adult. Maybe also group therapy or talking to other people with similar struggles. I also think reading up on it can be helpful. Someone recommended to me “When Panic Attacks” by David Burns which is about anxiety and another of his books about depression. You can get them for a few dollars used on Amazon.

Another link written by a Catholic psychologist.

guidetopsychology.com/depresn.htm

chastitysf.com/depanx.htm

It also has links to other resources and lots of information
 
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I suffer from anxiety you are most definitely not alone, it is very common. In fact, I think anxiety in some ways makes you feel like you’re alone in this because Sally across the street looks so put together. I hope the medicine helps you very much. God bless.
 
I just turned 56 years old yesterday and I’ve been struggling with anxiety, depression and panic attacks since 1988. That’s a long, long time. I am not on any med’s for it nor am I receiving any “therapy”. Trusting in God’s love and grace as well as family and friends who are supportive.
 
I’ve had some form of depression and anxiety all my life. I started meds in my mid 20s (1997). It helps me control it. Meds aren’t the answer for everyone, though. The first step is to see someone, get a diagnosis, and talk about treatment options.
 
Since college, anxiety and after 13 years of marriage severe depression. Joy is going to high solemn Mass ( it must be the incense) or Divine Liturgy (Catholic or Orthodox). If there was a perpetual Mass this side of heaven I would be just fine 😉
 
GospelOfMatthew said:
I want to feel less alone in the battle
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Take heart, my friend, I think you’ll find many of us here. I’ve suffered from panic attacks, anxiety disorder, and depression since 1984, going nine years before I got a proper diagnosis. I went through therapy and take a daily medication to this day. I highly recommend the books of the late Dr. Claire Weekes. I believe her material can still be found on Amazon. I also have an article I wrote specifically for people like yourself which can be found on my old blog, which I no longer use but keep as a small archive. The link is below. It’s the first piece you’ll see. Never be afraid to ask me more if you need to. There is no such thing as a dumb question. I’ve been through it all with panic attacks. 🙂

 
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I struggle with both greatly. I know it is hard to feel alone. Medicine does help, I was on antidepressants for awhile, but I went off of them for various reasons. Praying to Our Lady helped me so much. When I felt like I couldn’t talk to my earthly parents, I felt so alone and sad. I came to realize that whenever I was sad, lonely, in pain or sick, Our Lady was always there, willing to love me and comfort me. Talking about how you feel helps, especially with someone you trust a lot and someone you know listens to you.
 
I can’t say I’ve experienced anxiety or depression for a very long time, or needed medication so far. However, I do understand that there are people who have a very hard time with it.

I was stunned to learn about Anthony Bourdain, he obviously was struggling very hard with depression despite having an incredible job, success and wealth. It just reinforced to me the fact that fame, power and wealth are not everything, not matter what the world says.

There is also a book that explores the link between acedia (sloth) and a demon.

A small intro to the book says: “The noonday devil is the demon of acedia, the vice also known as sloth. The word “sloth”, however, can be misleading, for acedia is not laziness; in fact it can manifest as busyness or activism. Rather, acedia is a gloomy combination of weariness, sadness, and a lack of purposefulness. It robs a person of his capacity for joy and leaves him feeling empty, or void of meaning.”

The Noonday Devil: Acedia, the Unnamed Evil of Our Times, Author: Dom Jean-Charles Nault O.S.B.

It might be useful for you to read it, since it also contains ways to overcome it.

While family and friends are great to help overcome this issues, for me having Jesus is the key. I was particularly surprised by some Saints (e.g. Don Bosco) rain or shine, regardless of the amount of problems and financial difficulties, he always seemed to be joyful and happy, nothing was able to bring him down.

He was a man who experienced many trials, but who also lived a life full of gladness and joy. St. John Bosco was so happy that he could hardly contain it. “Dear friend,” he wrote to an associate, “I am a man who loves joy and who therefore wishes to see you and everybody happy. If you do as I say, you will be joyful and glad in heart.”
 
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7cupsoftea is a " Good " website that is free, that offers coping techniques and has free listeners to talk to along with paid therpaists to choose from and " Chat rooms " , like with anything online one has to be cautious in what one openly shares online with complete strangers.
 
Me. Thankfully I’ve never had more than a couple panic attacks and they happened at night when I was in bed.
I’ve been taking citalopram for over ten years. About two months ago I decided to taper from 20mg and hoped to quit. I felt like it wasn’t doing much for me and I was mentally slipping. Just too flat. Didn’t have strong emotions, good or bad. I stopped for several days and felt sad. Just very sad. So I went back to 5mg/day.

I also take Adderal for ADHD.
 
I struggle with both depression and anxiety. It reached a head two years ago shortly after I entered the church. I take two medications and did some counseling two years ago after my attempted suicide. Honestly, life has never been better for me now. I’m 62, retired and have a better relationship with my wife and kids than ever. I thank God for watching out for me that night. I also thank Him for my priest, doctor and wife who were instrumental in getting me back into a clear head. I may be on these meds the rest of my life, but that’s okay. I also thank St John of God, who was a soldier and opened hospitals in Spain after he left the military. He provided care for many who suffered from mental illness, including depression.
May God Bless you!
 
Exercise. Participate in ministry. Help others. Take part in a bible study.

If you feel down, visit a nursing home. You might realize you are blessed with relatively good health.
Practice gratitude. Be thankful even when you are suffering. Try it. “Thank you Jesus for this trial. I can’t see the meaning in it but I trust you. Thank you Jesus for loving me.”

None of this is a substitute for medical treatment, if it is needed.

Anxiety and depression work hand in hand and can get out of control.
For me, loss of sleep is the key contributing factor to spiraling out of control.
That’s where common sense habits come in.

Exercise. Regular prayer. Helping others. etc…
peace is the fruit of a well ordered life
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If you like to read I would recommend a profound book by Roman Guardini:
Learning the Virtues
That Lead You to God


It talks about patience, acceptance, courage, etc…

Also
A Mind at Peace
Reclaiming an Ordered Soul in the Age of Distraction
https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/mind-at-peace
 
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Thank you for this, I do have to mention that the visiting nursing homes kind of suggestions always make me feel worse because I start to feel so bad for these people that even if I’m grateful I’m in better health, they’re still sick so I stay feeling bad ( or worse in despair because this just leads to contemplating everyone else doing poorly or being trafficked or starved, I start going down a spiral unfortunately). I wish I could just be joyful, I love Jesus, I’ve prayed and gone to daily Mass…Im just not one of those joyful people I guess but I do wish there was a way to get this fruit when Ive exhausted all Catholic avenues.
 
I also take Adderall and strangely enough today I had a strange reaction. Normally the pill makes me feel good and talkative and I concentrate but today I was very down after taking it and hungry. Strange. I wonder why that happened.
 
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Hi everyone, so how did yoi guys know that the anxiety you have is not the usual one, and would somewhat required to take medications?
 
I don’t have depression but I do have an anxiety disorder.Started haveing panic attacks in my late twenties.Started exercising regularly and while still issues with anxiety no more panic attacks until two years ag at age 64 I had a doozy and was in a bad cycle for about two months.StRtd taking low dose of Zoloft and it has helped me immensely,
 
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