Postby Beenthere » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:21 am
To: Shatterddreams / Soulindespair / Emotional77
I have just read the Shattereddreams posting and all of the subsequent postings to it. Each of you sound very kind and supportive of each other and I'm gald you are conversing in this forum. These forums and are a great place to realize that Depression, OCD and Anxiety are real, hurtful and sometimes debilitating. Please keep supporting each other and realize none of you are alone.
Shattereddreams you talk about being bitter about seeing groups of people having a good time. That is a symptom of depression and it's okay that you feel like right now because you appear you may be suffering from some sort of depression. Please don't feel guilty or beat yourself up about those feelings of bitterness. However, now that you know this symptom of depression it's important not to feed the negativity as it's a road that leads to no where. Look, depression is like putting on a pair of dark green sun glasses. It shades the world you see into a different view and it's only one color that appears dark. Sometimes we think we are alone in this view and begin to isolate ourselves from the world and are not able to accomplish tasks or live life like we used to. There is no more joy or fun and we are left wondering what is happening to us. Left unchecked we eventually, by human nature, begin to feel hopeless and alone, bitter and unresponsive to life's opportunities. I have heard some of this language in your posting and various responses and would like to propose some ideas that may help. I hope you find this information helpful and non-judgemental as I wish only the best for you. I offered some of this advice to another contact on this forum today.
1. Admit you might be suffering from depression and seek professional help. When our cars break, we take them to the mechanic. When pipes in our homes leak, we call a plumber. However, we are not as quick to call for help when we don't feel well emotionally. The best thing you can do TODAY is start looking for a licensed professional therapist to help uncover what is happening. Find someone that specializes in OCD, Anxiety and depression and has been in the business for a long while. Don't find someone that just prescribes meds and that's as far as the therapy goes. Look for good analysis and meds if necessary to give you a boost in the process for however long is required.
2. Start learning about what is happening to you. Use natural curiosity to ask yourself "what the heck is going on and why? Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel alone when I'm not? Why am I tired, lack energy, can't seem to make friends anymore" etc. etc. The fact that you are on a depression forum is a fantastic start. I also suggest reading Sensible Self-Help by David Grudermeyer, Ph.D.; Rebecca Grudermeyer. This book is a good indicator that can help you define just where your at in the road map of life/depression so you can start your own plan to figure out what's going on. Remember when you were happy as a child? It can be that way again.
3. Realize you can win your life back! Anxiety and depression can be beat. In most cases totally and in the worst cases it can be controlled with proper therapy and you can experience joy and wonder in your life again.
4. Remember each minute of the day "You do not have to feel alone".
5. Exercise. No matter how hard it is just to get out of bed or find the slightest bit of motivation, get out and exercise for 30 minutes a day(or more if possible). I can't stress enough how important this step is. It will help your body naturally fight off some of the negative chemical situations created by depression. Also a good byproduct of doing this is you feel better from the after effects of exercise and it helps the self esteem as the body will naturally get back into shape.
6. When you feel you are ready, volunteer your time and talents to the less fortunate via some sort of church or charity. It can help you to know that your helping others. It's always nice to forget about how sad you may feel by making someone else's day brighter. It's also good to know that no matter how bad we feel about our own individual lives there are others that have it worse than we do and are suffering too.
Based on the level of strong language of how unhappy you were feeling in your posting, I can't stress enough that you should move quickly (starting TODAY). Learn as much as you can about depression/OCD and Anxiety because it is a sly cunning devil of a disease. It's main goal is to disorient you and distract you from the good things in life and once your distracted that's when it decides to do it's most damage which is to take away hope. The truth is it's an illusion. You are never alone and there is always help to overcome your feelings of isolation. You have to work at this though. Claim your territory (your life) today and don't let depression and anxiety rob one more minute of your life. Once you beat depression/OCD/anxiety you will look back on this time of your life with great relief and smile at your accomplishments and decision to persevere. I wish you the very best!!
My best wishes to each of you.
so I go elsewhere to be by myself. I don't know how to make new friends. I'm not very good at making conversation 
& I hate going places by myself. I don't know if I can go on like this, I don't know what to do anymore.. I'm afraid that I'll be so lonely & myserable that I'll be desperate enough to put myself out of my mysery.. 
