Weekly Prompt #19: What are the triggers or situations that tend to worsen your depressive symptoms?
Hello everyone, I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
Last week we discussed: Is loneliness a constant companion or an occasional visitor in your life? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you
This week's prompt: What are the triggers or situations that tend to worsen your depressive symptoms?
I wanted to start a discussion on how triggers or situations tend to make depression worse. Take a moment to think about the specific circumstances or events that tend to exacerbate your feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness. Are there any patterns or common themes that you can identify? I look forward to hearing and discussing with you all!
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Overcoming depression by setting goals
@ASilentObserver when someone I'm close too and feel love towards acts as if they hate me or has negative things to say about me, idk it makes me not want to do anything at all cause it hits harder then if it came from someone else
I am in huge depression i felt so bad after waking up , during the day cause after quitting my job i feel so useless that time , when i see someone working or talking about work, or going to work , i feel triggered though i am working on myself, building confidence when someone asks me what do u do i am not sure what to say , i feel horrible that time . I cry most days.
@Mekuland3050 I understand this is an incredibly difficult time for you. Feeling useless after leaving your job and struggling with how to answer what you do now are very painful emotions. My heart goes out to you. You deserve compassion for walking such a difficult road, and know we are all here with you, Meku. If I can ask, when these feelings overwhelm you, what small things currently help you cope or feel slightly better, even if just for a moment?
sleeping, going outside , painting
Stress of any kind. I get depressed really bad when I'm surrounded by negative feelings and attitudes. Everything really.
@Deadtiredperson175 It sounds like being surrounded by negativity impacts your mood. You must find it difficult to feel happy and upbeat in those situations. How does it make you feel when those around you have negative attitudes?
The best way I can put it is drowning, but instead of water, it's heat and anger or just plain emptiness.
@ASilentObserver
My mother. The holidays require that I spend more time with her than what is mentally healthy for me. As I’m writing this I’m realizing she did not respect my boundaries.
A little over a year ago she was diagnosed with cancer. It was devastating for her of course. But because she required help and care with doctors appointments and pharmacy runs and chauffeuring I spent more time with her. After all this time I’m still trying to be the good daughter. At the expense of my mental health. I saw no other choice. It was a cultural requirement and now I’m here.
im trying to work through this. What seems like a lifetime endeavor. I feel battered, exhausted. Angry, resentful. Vulnerable. Raw.
I can never get enough sleep and negative thoughts invade my brain. I’m tempted to cut her off now. My nerves are shot. She sucks the life right out of me. At least that’s what it feels like. If I could just sleep for a thousand years maybe I would wake up refreshed.
So I now go about my life just trying to survive. Just functioning on fumes.
And I’m angry that I’m not being a better mother. That I allowed someone to deplete my resources.
And then I think… what am I feeling sorry for myself. I’m not the one with cancer. I need to stop thinking about myself and suck it up.
@SeekForgiveness730 I hear this is an incredibly difficult situation that has taken a toll on your well-being. Feeling battered, exhausted, angry and resentful are all understandable emotions after dedicating so much care to your mother over this time. What have you learned about caring for your own needs through this experience? You deserve to feel refreshed and at peace.
@ASilentObserver I’ve learned that neglecting myself is a recipe for disaster. I need to keep practicing meditation and gratitude. I often forget.
@ASilentObserver
@ASilentObserver
Muscle twitches or spasms, I'm not sure which is more accurate. However, when I'm really down or deep in the endless rabbit hole I start shaking/twitching. Normally, I just flash a fake smile or try and act normal because I can't really show my emotions in my situation. And I can't make it stop or really control the physical reaction, which leads people to stare. It scares me sometimes not because it difficult to breathe and feels like I'm going to pass out, but I can't hide that. Which will result in one of two things. 1. Family takes notice, tells me calm down or stop it because I am blowing things out of proportion as always. 2. They promise to help me out but then break that promise leaving me in worse shape than before. So, whenever I have twitches or shake all I can think about is how broken I am going to be left after they see me. Which is why I try my best to hide it. 🙃
@JollyRacher It sounds like hiding your emotions and physical reactions takes a toll on you. Feeling like you have to pretend to be okay must be difficult. What helps you feel seen and supported during those times, even if just a little? You deserve to feel at ease in your own body.
@ASilentObserver
My big sister, honestly. She's off at college so she's not physically with me but she's always texting me and sending me memes. Assuring me that I am not crazy and reminding me to relax. Opening my phone and seeing she messaged me makes me happy. She's understanding because like me she's been in my shoes and has also felt what I'm feeling. She makes me feel safe and sane. So, she's definitely a silver lining in the storm I am currently living in.
@ASilentObserver I don't remember if I wrote in this post so sorry if I did already. when someone I care about is passive aggressive about the fact that I could just ask them to block me, gives me the most stress/depression. I won't respond to it because I've experienced it many times in my past and know from experience that those kind of conversations are ones you don't engage in. If they aren't willing to see how their words affected you, then trying to talk sense to them will go nowhere. they aren't going to accept their actions or how you feel so it's pointless. so yeah.
