i need help
Hello, I hope this thread is finding everyone well. I have recently been having the worst anxiety and depressive episodes of my life in the past couple months. I don’t think I’ve gone a single day without crying and it’s even happened at work and around friends.
Ive just had this constant feeling of regret and anxiety that hits at random points in the day. Regrets about my choices in life, about where I am right now, and the direction I’m afraid I’m heading in. Every day it feels like it gets worse and I have nobody to talk to about it, I desperately need someone like a therapist or psychologist asap but I can’t afford any online and the only ones I’ve reached out to through my insurance have not gotten back to me. It’s making me feel very worthless and helpless. I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this
@parivolans First of all, thank you so much for sharing your feelings and experiences. It's not easy to talk about mental struggles with others, and I want you to know that you're incredibly brave to reach out on this forum.
I'm a 17-year-old girl, who I'm sure has not gone through as many hardships as you have, but I relate immensely to what you've described. Constantly thinking back about the mistakes I've made in the past, and experiencing anxiety for every test and grade at school. The voice in my head keeps telling me: "one wrong step and you won't be able to go to college".
I'm not qualified to give you advice, but I just want you to know that you're not alone, and it's completely normal to feel what you're feeling. I hope therapy goes well for you, and that you'll be able to find yourself in a better place in the near future.
@utzie At 17 you have so much time ahead of you!! I wish I could be 17 right now instead of in 2020. I had a lot of bad anxiety, too, so I get how you feel.
Most of what I’m feeling right now is regret for not taking my future seriously🥲 I thought I’d never make it this far. But here I am, taking 2 classes in a community college and wishing I had gotten the opportunity to go to a uni. The pandemic also made things extra difficult for me, my parents kicked me out in 2021 so I never got to go full-time and I’m stuck working several jobs to afford my rent and don’t have the time to go to school full time. In this stage I just wish things could have been different, maybe I could have been more successful if I wasn’t so scared.
I guess that’s all to say that, you won’t end up as bad as me lol, because you care. I know that it’s never *too* late to go to college, and I’m still young enough to be considered a college age, but It’s just a little hard getting back in my case specifically, just because of workload + time.
@parivolans Thank you so much for your encouraging words 🥲
I thought starting off middle school with the pandemic was bad enough, but I can't imagine how hard it must have been to go through the pandemic at my current age like you did... Also, I think it's seriously impressive that you're managing all that work. I'm just so proud of and impressed by what you've managed to live through.
I'll try to stay positive and strong. I hope we can heal together!
🫂🫂
@parivolans hi if you ever need to talk about it I’m here I too been having the most depressing weeks of my life I don’t know if it will help to hear what I’m going through but maybe we can help each other
That would be nice, thank you :)
@parivolans
You are brave for being open about how you feel, and I know exactly what it’s like!
You shouldn’t have to worry about where life takes you because you are the one who chooses your own path.🙂 You may take some wrong turns, but you will also choose good paths, ones that you have decided for yourself.
I know that dealing with anxiety and depression is tough, but you are not alone in feeling this way. There is nothing wrong with the path you choose; it is yours to decide.🤗
@parivolansHey, I hear you, and I want you to know you’re not alone in this. It sounds like you’ve been carrying a really heavy emotional weight, and I can only imagine how exhausting that must be for you. The fact that you’re reaching out, even when it feels overwhelming, shows so much strength.
That constant cycle of regret, anxiety, and fear about the future can feel suffocating, especially when it seems like you have nowhere to turn. It’s understandable that not hearing back from therapists or struggling with affordability is making things feel even worse. Feeling stuck and unheard can make those emotions even harder to bear.
I want you to know that what you’re feeling is valid, but it doesn’t define you, and it won’t last forever. You deserve support and help. Even though it’s been hard to access therapy right now, there are still ways to find relief in the moment. Would you be open to trying small things to help ground yourself when these waves of regret and anxiety hit? Sometimes journaling, deep breathing exercises, or even just allowing yourself to sit with your emotions without judgment can help lessen the intensity.
I also want to share that you’re not worthless or helpless, even if it feels that way right now. The pain you’re experiencing is real, but it doesn’t mean you won’t find a way through it. If you need someone to listen, I’m here. There are also crisis lines that are completely free—if you ever feel like you can’t keep going, please reach out to one of them. You don’t have to go through this alone.
Would you like help finding free or low-cost therapy options in your area? Or maybe we can talk through what’s been weighing on you the most? You don’t have to carry all of this by yourself. 💙
@parivolans It's good that you're looking for ways to help yourself. If it's okay, I want to suggest a resource that often helps me when I'm too overwhelmed to think clearly:
Give yourself an hour or so to work through the prompts. You can do that anytime you need to. It often helps, and it is in little bite sized chunks.
I hope the people you've reached out to will contact you soon.
You are really strong, you support a lot of things Pari, but the most important is... You want to be better. You want to be okey. It might seem obvious, but I know people in this kind of situations doing nothing to be okey. You are a survivor :)
Thank you for sharing. I can definitely relate to feeling intense emotions hitting you out of now where. I have the opposite problem where I feel so numb and I want to cry. I really do hope things get better for you, you’re not alone! ❤️
@parivolans It's great you've shared your feelings! I have to admit, it's hard to lessen this feeling, but look for something that you find comforting, whether it's a song, video/movie, or show. It might not work but hopefully it does even a little bit. Writing your emotions and thoughts down can help a lot if you don't want to talk with people could help a lot, too. And if you save enough money, you won't really have to talk if you write it down. Until then, is there anyone you trust deeply? If so, you can tell them. If you don't, then try the journal idea, or even draw your feelings! The drawings don't have to make sense to others, but as long as you understand it, you'll hopefully feel a bit better.
I apologize if this is not helpful, but these are what help me a little bit. But I wish you the best of luck in getting better, my friend!
