My anxiety...

I haven't posted on here in quite a while... I've been having a lot of mental issues as of late. If that's what you would call this... I always think I'm gonna die not a day goes by where I don't think that... I have made bad decisions I am very overweight and I smoke I've struggled with the weight thing since I was a kid. I started smoking when I was 22 as a coping mechanism I'm 25 now. Last year I was a normal human I was walking I was going on dates with my beautiful fiance I felt better than I ever did since I was a kid then I became depressed about my life I stopped doing everything and i became worse off than I was before.. anyways that is my story I dont want people to pity me. I just have no one I can talk to about this. No one in my life understands

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Sometimes you just need someone that listens. I understand why you made this thread. Depression/Anxiety is a very difficult thing to deal with and you seem to be losing hope that you can deal with it on your own.
Have you thought about getting professional help?

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Originally Posted by Caali

Sometimes you just need someone that listens. I understand why you made this thread. Depression/Anxiety is a very difficult thing to deal with and you seem to be losing hope that you can deal with it on your own.
Have you thought about getting professional help?

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Of course I've thought of professional help 6i just can't do it though


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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

Of course I've thought of professional help 6i just can't do it though


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I've suffered from OCD and severe anxiety for about 10 years (from 6 years old to 16 years old) until I decided to change something. I'm extremely sure that I would've been unable to get over my problems without help (Even though I refused the offered professional help, I had a lot of people at my side).
In the end you have to fight yourself if you want beat your issue but that can be very difficult. Not everything will always go as planned. It can be a very difficult battle and it can be very frustrating. Often medication is needed in order to be able to proceed and not everyone knows how to deal with their problems. Many people suffer quietly and make their illness worse. Sometimes we just need someone to guide us. I know the thought of opening your heart to a stranger is absolutely frightening but if you feel like there's no-one you can talk to, that's your best option. A professional psychiatrist can also tell ways to handle your issues.
I don't know you or your life, so I cannot give you a lot of advice. You know yourself best. If you really want to fight these feelings, you will have fight with all you have and use all the help you can get. Fighting against yourself is a long and tiring battle.

Your mental health and physical health ALWAYS comes first. Anxiety is tough to deal with and you should never apologize or feel guilty for taking some time for yourself. I don't know if you can't get professional help because of money or of fear but it's worth it. I suffer from anxiety as well as other mental illnesses and I admit getting help was scary at first but it was the best decision I've ever made. I hated the way it took over my life because I couldn't be the person I wanted to be and taking care of myself felt like a chore..

We're all here for you. Take care of yourself and don't let it control you :)

This is a tough one .... there can be so many causes or factors involved and it's a devil of a job to even know where to start to help yourself ..

I've suffered from terrible anxiety all my life , I'm now 60 and still trying to 'manage' .

I've got a school report from when I was 7 and it mentions a phrase that I've never forgotten "a gifted little fellow but what an anxious chap he is - such a shame"..

Now I'm a bit more complex as I tested as Aspergers and dyslexia so these bring a whole raft of problems / issues / positives / negatives to the party ..

Anyways ..... A while ago when I realised that my health was taking a downturn ... overweight / depressed / lethargic ( anxiety is a given ) ....and started researching how to lose weight and keep it off ... Dieting is a problem for me as I have a very narrow diet meaning there I have a very small list of things I actually like to eat .
Luckily I do like meat / fish and fruit and veg so I'm half way there .. Soooo
I eventually stumbled upon " FASTING " !!!

Fasting sounds far worse than what it actually is tbh and the benefits are amazing . One thing is that because you are going a while each day without eating it gives your body and the organs all time to rest , recover , replace cells etc .



Yes it sounds crazy or ridiculous but there are various formats to chose from and they all work ... You lose weigh , easily , regularly , quickly and it stays off as long as you stay on the regime .
I followed the 16:8 fasting regime PLUS I excluded bread and chocolate from my diet completely . I was still eating around 2,200 calories daily I basically just replaced the bread and chocolate with potato and loads of fruit ..
Oddly enough .... the main bonus of losing the weight .. 2 stones ( 28 lbs) in about 3 months was that my depression lifted , I was suddenly optimistic and enjoying life again ... loads of energy - almost reborn !!

I still follow the fasting regime but reintroduced bread ( at the moment ) which means I've stopped losing weight.

I'm done extensive tests [emoji4] Pretty certain that although I LOVE chocolate , chocolate HATES me as the next day I'm down and even tetchy . So I simply don't eat chocolate !!

I'd also recommend anyone who wants to feel healthier ( and look better ) to do some online research on FASTING !!!

It's not a new fad ... It goes back thousands of years and it's proven ..
Look at society these days and all the problems and diseases we all have , most of them are down to our diet and how and when we eat .
There are a few different ways of fasting .... The 5 & 2 is popular but didn't suit me so I started on the 16:8 fasting method which basically means eating no later than 9pm and skipping breakfast !
I did that for 2 months , ate like a king 2,300 calories daily and lost a stone without trying ...

Starting the fasting was so easy !!

After the first two or three days of skipping breakfast I stopped feeling hungry and felt alive in the mornings !!

After two months I moved up to 19:5 which means I skip breakfast AND dinner and I felt AMAZING all through the working day !

My first meal of the day (a good sized meal ) was around 4:30pm , then you snack of healthy fruit and or nuts ) whenever you want in the evening and have a snack no later than 9.30pm . The evening snack should contain some protein so I always snack on either ham , chicken or salmon and finish with a banana ( banana at bedtime helps you sleep !) .



Sorry for such a long winded post guys and gals .

Just wanted to share my successes ...

Aged 60 , no health issues , not taking ANY medicines !

Still jogging the odd 5 or 6 mile whenever I feel like it or ( have the time ).

I put all this down to the absolutely INCREDIBLE benefits of fasting ( and ditching chocolate partly ) .





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The best example I can give to explain is ...

You all know of people who binge drink at the weekend . So they drink crazily heavily Friday , Saturday even Sunday evening and if they kept that pace up they'd be dead by the weekend with alcohol poisoning BUT they then leave off the booze for four or five days and the body ( liver) miraculously repairs itself and then they all go through the same process the following weekend .......

Well by daily fasting - you give your whole body , the organs and tissues time to slow down and repair themselves and replace cells - each and every day !

Plus you feel wonderful !!

What's not to like people ?

It's the future !

[emoji4]


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Let me start off by saying I am sorry you are going through this. I choose a more natural approach to healing my anxiety and depression. I was over weight and went through a divorce almost 10 years ago. It felt like my life was over. I decided one day to make some changes. Like you, I had reached a point where I didn't like myself or anything about my life. I went vegan for several years. Went from 330lbs to 185lbs. I began to do more things outside. Camping, hiking, etc.... Slowly over the course of a year I transformed my life into something I can and am happy with again. I went from struggling with depression, anxiety, heart disease, fatty liver, and diabetes to healthy, medication free, and full of life. No life is not a cake walk but it is much more enjoyable and people enjoy being around me again. If you don't like your life, make a change. A good change! Keep in mind it takes time and dedication to do it my way but it was well worth it.

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Originally Posted by Skyrivers

Let me start off by saying I am sorry you are going through this. I choose a more natural approach to healing my anxiety and depression. I was over weight and went through a divorce almost 10 years ago. It felt like my life was over. I decided one day to make some changes. Like you, I had reached a point where I didn't like myself or anything about my life. I went vegan for several years. Went from 330lbs to 185lbs. I began to do more things outside. Camping, hiking, etc.... Slowly over the course of a year I transformed my life into something I can and am happy with again. I went from struggling with depression, anxiety, heart disease, fatty liver, and diabetes to healthy, medication free, and full of life. No life is not a cake walk but it is much more enjoyable and people enjoy being around me again. If you don't like your life, make a change. A good change! Keep in mind it takes time and dedication to do it my way but it was well worth it.

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Amazing !

PS
I guess my post was ALSO about making changes ..


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I know all to well what you are going through, I have had anxiety and depression since I was 10 years old and suffered through medications and doctors and weight gain and all the fun that comes with that. At age 13 I was diagnose with a mild form of aspergers. At age 18 my gf, who suffered from bipolar disorder, killed herself in my living room. It was at that point that I thought I couldn't go on... but yet, somehow, I did. I certainly wasn't from medication... none of those ever worked for me, and it certainly wasn't a therapist... we are lacking any good ones where I live. It was because I realized that I didn't deserve this... I realized that even though I felt terrible about myself, I was a decent person. I also realized that while I may never be able to totally rid myself of my anxiety, I could at least try and change some of the things in my life that made me feel so bad. It's an ongoing struggle, but over the years I've gotten myself into a better frame of mind, and don't feel as depressed as I once did.

My best advice is to focus on one thing at a time, one thing that makes you feel bad and try and change it, wether it be smoking or your weight, or something else. It will be hard, and you will fight yourself constantly, but once you make that single change, you will feel better about yourself and it will be a little easier to make others. Also focus on the things that do make you happy, the things you still enjoy, and do those things as much as possible.

You can get through this, and you are NOT alone.

Keep your chin up. Keep fighting and find something good about yourself every day.

I've been through my share of depression, anxiety and self-loathing as well as got myself clean and sober after 15 years of daily drinking and using.

Feel free to PM me if you need to talk, need somebody to listen, whatever...

Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments.. tbh I dreaded coming here to read the comments I was tired and emotional when I made this post. But I'm glad I did so many amazing people here

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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

I haven't posted on here in quite a while... I've been having a lot of mental issues as of late. If that's what you would call this... I always think I'm gonna die not a day goes by where I don't think that... I have made bad decisions I am very overweight and I smoke I've struggled with the weight thing since I was a kid. I started smoking when I was 22 as a coping mechanism I'm 25 now. Last year I was a normal human I was walking I was going on dates with my beautiful fiance I felt better than I ever did since I was a kid then I became depressed about my life I stopped doing everything and i became worse off than I was before.. anyways that is my story I dont want people to pity me. I just have no one I can talk to about this. No one in my life understands

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The difficult part is crawling out of that hole that you sunk into. Its hard to jump start getting better when you are in the middle of a deep depression. Sit down when you have a quiet moment and consider what would work for you, to give you a moment of hope and the will power to start climbing. It is different for each person.

Someone to listen and talk to ? Even if you have no-one around you, several people here offered a ear. ACCEPT IT. Professional help ? Sometimes it takes a bit more to get started, and there is nothing wrong with it. If you feel you would benefit from it but just can't get yourself to up and do it, have someone help you research your options and make that appointment and GO. Just go. Take it from there. One day at a time. Right now your mind is trying to sabotage you into doing nothing. Because as bad as all this is, it is what you KNOW. Even a dark place can be a safe place. The "Unknown" is the scary place. You just need help to start climbing, from then on, little by little, you will be able to go on and get better. One day you look back and can barely comprehend how you could have gotten stuck in such a dark, dark place.

If people around you don't understand, don't focus on that. People that never went through that will never fully understand. They get impatient. They get "tired" of it. Unfortunately society still doesn't accept that this is a real issue. Many think its a "fad", that suddenly everyone has those mental issues, depression and anxiety. But no, it is not a new problem, it is not a fad. It has always existed. Only back then people suffered silently. They ended their life. They ended up in sanatoriums. Its truly sad that there isn't more understanding. If people were more scientifically inclined they would understand what a true marvel the human body (and all living things) really are. What each cell consists of. What makes everything run. The impulses, the marvel of the human brain and what powers it and how it runs everything. To think that only "physical" things can go wrong in a body is asinine. The mind is a powerful thing, we already know that. Even chemicals in our own body can literally turn our minds, ourselves, into a different person.

A friends doctor once said, to say to a mentally ill or depressed person to just "go out, do something, just get over it" is like saying "just take a deep breath and you'll be fine" to a person with a collapsed lung. It doesn't work that way.

You need help. Just take that first little step, whichever you choose, and focus on that alone. Then the next one. Do not look at Mount Everest of "my life is horrible and there is so much to do to fix it". Take that one step and only look at that. Talk to people. Seek out a doctor. Get help.

There are a lot of natural , non addictive things that can help you as well. A good friend of mine was on some powerful anti depressants and anti anxiety meds and she wanted off. However, that is difficult to do, esp. after the many years she has been on them. I recommended a homeopathic supplement to her. She used it and was able to wean herself completely of all the heavy duty meds. She used it for about 3 month, only as needed when she felt overwhelmed. Now she doesn't need it anymore. She keeps it on hand when she feels anxiety reaching out or overwhelmed, but that doesn't happen very often.

If you would like to give that a try, here is a link.

https://www.amazon.com/Hylands-Stres...pSrc=srch&th=1


Stay away from caffeine or energy drinks. Drink Chamomille Tea. You will be surprised just HOW MUCH help there is out there, straight from Nature and non habit forming and not in any way hazardous.

Don't even worry about the weight right now. You think to much about all the negatives. One step at a time. Once you get started, just take short walks. Focus on breathing and looking around yourself. Make the walk something to enjoy. The only hard part is to get started.

And in a way you already did. You reached out to us.

Now focus on that next step, and only on that for now. I know you can do it.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

The best example I can give to explain is ...

You all know of people who binge drink at the weekend . So they drink crazily heavily Friday , Saturday even Sunday evening and if they kept that pace up they'd be dead by the weekend with alcohol poisoning BUT they then leave off the booze for four or five days and the body ( liver) miraculously repairs itself and then they all go through the same process the following weekend .......

Well by daily fasting - you give your whole body , the organs and tissues time to slow down and repair themselves and replace cells - each and every day !

Plus you feel wonderful !!

What's not to like people ?

It's the future !

[emoji4]


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Hm, that is really interesting !!!

I didn't know that was a thing. I've been doing that forever. Only..I don't eat until late, I start with dinner and I like to snack in the evening. But I usually don't eat breakfast and I don't eat lunch.

I always get fussed at over it, too. My mom can't stand it. They are big on breakfast and when she comes to visit it drives her crazy. Sometimes I do have to eat, because we go out to lunch. It makes me feel sluggish for the rest of the day.

I like to eat when all the work, all the chores are done and I can sit down and enjoy it. I DO feel better and energized that way, always have. I used to think there is something wrong with me, its unhealthy, its not normal, but I always feel better when I'm not being badgered into eating before I'm ready. And it hasn't killed me yet, LOL.

So now I can say I'm on this healthy lifestyle called "The Fast" and hopefully people will leave me alone about it. ;)

it's so nice to see you back on the forum, chris!!! :) i wish it was on better terms, tho!

i've been very open here about my struggles with anxiety and how i cope, and a lot of people came out in support on the few threads i've mentioned it. this is a very welcoming place and i think a part of you knew people would empathize and offer kind words; we are a community here.

if you want to change something, you have to do something differently. every day; no matter how small. but the change has to start with you.

you can't control the universe, no matter how hard you try, but you can control how you react to it.

as for professional help: local colleges and universities usually offer free services even to the community, or your local church or religious center might have support groups even if you aren't exactly religious.

i'm glad you're back! we're rooting for you. :)

My pastel bp, pandora, has been fasting for 5 months... she must be really mastering this healthy lifestyle thing. :D

I need to lurk here. I’ve been sinking for 20 years, ever since my divorce. Meds only work for a while, then they need to be upped or changed, but it’s alway a backslide.

One other quick fix is to start listening to happy , fast tempo , uplifting songs !

Virtually every song is available for free now through the internet - YouTube , Spotify free , Grooveshark just for starters ...

Happy music is proven to change how your brain thinks / feels / reacts etc and so music is an easily accessible quick fix that actually works for many and it's instant and long lasting !

Just a thought .


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Originally Posted by zina10

Hm, that is really interesting !!!

I didn't know that was a thing. I've been doing that forever. Only..I don't eat until late, I start with dinner and I like to snack in the evening. But I usually don't eat breakfast and I don't eat lunch.

I always get fussed at over it, too. My mom can't stand it. They are big on breakfast and when she comes to visit it drives her crazy. Sometimes I do have to eat, because we go out to lunch. It makes me feel sluggish for the rest of the day.

I like to eat when all the work, all the chores are done and I can sit down and enjoy it. I DO feel better and energized that way, always have. I used to think there is something wrong with me, its unhealthy, its not normal, but I always feel better when I'm not being badgered into eating before I'm ready. And it hasn't killed me yet, LOL.

So now I can say I'm on this healthy lifestyle called "The Fast" and hopefully people will leave me alone about it. ;)

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I read somewhere that in the 1950's a struggling company called Kellogg's hired some big noise from the advertising world who came up with the logo ' Breakfast , the most important meal of the day !' and completely turned the company fortunes around .

The idea was made up as an advertising gimmick and was complete bunkhum !

A soon as you eat breakfast ( usually some form of carbs ) you will be hungry all through the day as your body will then be craving or chasing carbs all day . If you delay 'breakfast' you won't feel hungry until after you eventually ' break fast' later on ... it just takes a few days to 'educate' your body of the changes .

As regards the 16:8 or even the 19:5 fasting methods they go back thousands of years when people were generally healthier and stronger more active . I've read accounts of herdsmen , cowboys , even warriors / armies used to do it .


Pretty sure that I read somewhere that NOBODY had breakfast at all in the UK until the 1900's .


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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

I haven't posted on here in quite a while... I've been having a lot of mental issues as of late. If that's what you would call this... I always think I'm gonna die not a day goes by where I don't think that... I have made bad decisions I am very overweight and I smoke I've struggled with the weight thing since I was a kid. I started smoking when I was 22 as a coping mechanism I'm 25 now. Last year I was a normal human I was walking I was going on dates with my beautiful fiance I felt better than I ever did since I was a kid then I became depressed about my life I stopped doing everything and i became worse off than I was before.. anyways that is my story I dont want people to pity me. I just have no one I can talk to about this. No one in my life understands

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hey i think here are a few things u can look forward to each day:
1. black licorice
2. pineapple pizza
3. your snake
4. your fiance
5. cool sunglasses


:)


ok i've had my own personal struggles w/ things like acceptance, relationships, etc. throughout life. then a sudden tragic loss turned my world upside down 5 years back. i took time off to be with family but when i returned to my job and apartment in California, i started having really, really bad anxiety and panic attacks. i would breakdown out of nowhere, freeze and couldn't enter doors, get claustrophobic in randowm places, always looking for an escape route. i was usually hyperventillating, crying or throwing up. my issues, the loss, my depression and anxiety, drinking, etc. and work stress was overwhelming. i was completely F'ed up, didn't think about suicide much tho TBH but knew that my lifestyle could/would kill me. i was like an emo zombie hot mess for like 8months. friends and co-workers were concerned of course, offered support, their ears, shoulders and their hearts, EAP, etc. but i didn't start to get better until i let them in. so for me, it started w/ opening up and talking. while it was still a struggle, talking helped lead me back to some kinda routine and normalcy. talking and laughing again, i started going out again and back into sports and my hobbies. i still felt apart of me was missing so i uprooted myself and moved back to Seattle to be closer to my mom and sister. it still kills me that was a too late but the prodigal son returned. i'm better but i still fight it. my anxiety is mostly gone but comes back now and then like last year i was finishing notes alone in a conference room here at the office when i felt disappointment in random freakin' notes i was typing and broke down crying. Rachel, from research stumbled upon me, consoled me, we chat it up, she also cried about stuff and i realized i needed professional help so i started talking to a counselor to help me sort out my feelings which helped. it's a fight i'm winning and i acknowledge that i have peeps i can talk to and good benefits/resources that help but recognize not everyone has that - so i offer myself to chat with u or anyone in need. my PM box is open.

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Originally Posted by DLena

I need to lurk here. I’ve been sinking for 20 years, ever since my divorce. Meds only work for a while, then they need to be upped or changed, but it’s alway a backslide.

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:hug:

Anxiety doesn’t follow a schedule or behave on command. It can make the most mundane tasks excruciating and otherwise trivial thing utterly debilitating. Hang in there as no matter how we get low, there is always a better way coming.

I have ave clinical anxiety disorder and it rules my life sometimes so when it is bad all I can do is focus on the now to keep me from going inasane.

You our are still so wonderfully young and still have a full life to live so please find some positive change even if it means abandoning everything you know. It’s never to bad or too late to make changes for the better.

Oh oh and thank you for sharing this it’s really powerful of you to do so.

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Originally Posted by DLena

I need to lurk here. I’ve been sinking for 20 years, ever since my divorce. Meds only work for a while, then they need to be upped or changed, but it’s alway a backslide.

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we're rooting for you, too. [emoji4]

Sometimes mental illness feels like a sentient being. All the things you need to do to get better are exactly the things it tells you not to do. Go outside, be active, eat better, interact with people. It takes unbelievable effort to do any of them.

My parents made me get help in middle school. I was lucky to be able to get treatment, otherwise I doubt I would have through high school. I have made it to a good place in life, but I still struggle. Here is some limited insight from someone on the same battlefield.

First of all, you are worth it. You are worth everything. This is true even when you doubt it.

Second, take baby steps. Nobody can completely turn their life around overnight.

Sometimes I try to make a game of it, whatever my depression says I do the opposite. Don't take a shower? Okay, I'll take one. Stay up stupidly late when I have to get up early? Bed, here I come.

I have also found cognitive behavioral therapy helpful, and you don't even need a therapist to learn it. Lots of books and online resources.

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Thank you all so much you're amazing!

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Originally Posted by omglolchrisss

Thank you all so much you're amazing!

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You are worth it!

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

A soon as you eat breakfast ( usually some form of carbs ) you will be hungry all through the day as your body will then be craving or chasing carbs all day . If you delay 'breakfast' you won't feel hungry until after you eventually ' break fast' later on ... it just takes a few days to 'educate' your body of the changes .

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Originally Posted by zina10

I didn't know that was a thing. I've been doing that forever. Only..I don't eat until late, I start with dinner and I like to snack in the evening. But I usually don't eat breakfast and I don't eat lunch.

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ok i forgot to reply to this. u two are krazy! i love breakfast! i love eggs and bacon! mimosas!!