My number one advice for anxiety
If something seems hard and impossible to do because it doesn't seem like your anxiety will let you do it, keep doing it. Nine times out of ten once you complete it, you'll feel better. Anxiety is an attention hog - you have to ignore it.
I don't have much experience with depression, but so far, the same thing seems to apply.
Thanks for the helpful contribution :) I think this is a good, simple insight that can help anyone.
@WhataDime713
My experience with depression is that it only gets worse if you ignore it. You may be able to get through a day or however long with mild depression by "powering through" but that's only with mild and high functioning depression. Clinical depression that is more extreme will leave you feeling so energy spent that you won't know from one day to the next when your energy will just stop short on you and make your limbs feel so heavy they may as well be bricks of lead (good luck not getting it from ignoring things while it's not as bad cause that's how it gets worse in many cases). High anxiety leads to depression when left unchecked. This doesn't mean to hide from the things that cause the anxiety by any means. It just means you should take steps towards working on minimizing anxiety in a positive way instead of giving it negative attention. (See mindfulness on 7cups for what I mean by positive instead of negative attention.)
@CoinFountain I'm on my third year of ANY therapy now, so I'm not ignoring the fact that I have It. For me, however, I have the unfortunate habit of obsessing over my anxiety and depression to the point of, if I'm in a pretty good state to start out with, worrying to the point of high anxiety. I definitely know how you feel about being tired. And it's true that having a constant stream of cortisol and a complete deprivation of dopamine can leave you exhausted. (Not to mention that I go through periods where I can't eat for weeks.) This might be where anxiety and depression differ, though - no matter how tired you feel with anxiety, you can almost always get up and go because you're basically on natural steroids. My brain tells me I can't do things a lot - i have MS and my brain and nerves don't always communicate Well. However, I haven't yet reached the point where my brain is actually right. Sometimes I feel like my legs are made of lead, which makes me feel like I can't walk, but when I actually try, I can walk just fine for the most part. I guess my point is, it's just always a good idea to listen to your brain.
@WhataDime713
I wish I had the sort of anxiety that always made me get up and go. Half the time I start feeling sick to my stomach before it can go anywhere. Also there's that part between fight or flight where you just freeze like a deer in headlights cause you're too afriad to move (which is a survival instinct but can be unhealthy if it's constantly being triggered). Thankfully I'm not currently feeling quite that much that is extreemly triggering.
@WhataDime713
Welcome! Im Lizzy and Im currently a trained listener and intern. I hope you find what you are looking for here in 7 Cups. Please feel free to message me whenever. I will usually reply within the day and if Im online, you should expect a reply straight away! I specialise in anxiety, panic attacks and loneliness mostly but you are always free to message me for other reasons!
http://www.7cups.com/15248074
"You should take steps towards working on minimizing anxiety in a positive way instead of giving it negative attention"
I agree to this statement. For us to have a healthy mental well-being, we must acknowledge and give attention to our anxiety positively.
@CoinFountain
@WhataDime713
Write down how you are feeling and what specifically is stressing you out! This can be very theraputic and make a lot of tasks seem less daunting and more manageable. :)
This is really good advice! Thank you!
