My anxiety is getting worse and depression won't let me live my life, how do I overcome this?

Sometimes it can feel like anxiety and depression rule our lives. Once those anxious thoughts creep in, it can feel impossible to shut them off. Even the most mundane, routine tasks can feel like the most difficult tasks. Anxiety and depression can trick us into thinking that the sky is falling, and there is nothin we can do to stop it- but they're lying to us. No step is too small. Reaching out on 7Cups is a great start to tackling your anxiety and depression, so I want to congratulate you and thank you for being honest and willing to share.

you can start with doing something you used to like in the past, like reading a book or traveling. And than, when you ll feel better, you can start talking to someone you liked chatting. You can talk about your hobbies, your family, your friends, your boss maybe, your teachers. Than read the best book you ever heard of. Try to concentrate on the good things in life and spend most of your time by doing it. Try to keep your mind off of the bad things and try to take back control. You can do this, and I believe in you, and your family does too.

Speak out- talk to someone whether that is a friend, family member, doctor or even a neighbor. A problem shared is always a problem halved. Often we carry a load on our shoulders and just by chatting with someone can really help off load. You can also try self help guides online or in book format. It may also be of use to get outdoors, be surrounded by nature. Exercise has been proven to be of benefit to our mental health. As for anxiety you could always try a weighted blanket or heat pad. There is also a range of meditation apps which you may find useful.

I'd say it would be impossible to do on your own. Reaching out is the first step and I don't mean going out and finding like-minded people. That could actually bring more harm then good. Overcoming anxiety and depression will be a grueling and time-consuming endeavor but through finding the right people (therapists, supportive friends/ family, people you trust) progress is sure to follow. Though, a team effort is necessary in overcoming anxiety and depression, it also takes self encouragement and self motivation to continue; to want to see yourself better and happier and fining motivation in that to continue the hike up the mountain. Though the journey may seem impossible or the fight never-ending. I'm certain the view from the top will be magnificent.

At this point it's definable worth talking to other people about this including your doctor and a therapist before it spirals out of control. Although there is plenty of self help tools out there which can be used and will take a little practice and focus on to strike up some good techniques to implement asap, talking to a close friend or indeed a stranger also helps in some cases there's always advice out there to be had, this is something you cant afford to leave and fester as it generally has a nasty habit of growing and getting worse.

My grandmother once told me a great saying and it has helped me so many times in life. How do you eat an elephant? (No don't really eat an elephant) One bite at a time. I often think that we look at the big picture and sometimes that can be overwhelming. I think we have to break things down into bite size pieces. One bite at a time. One second at a time, one minute, one hour, one day... whatever it takes to make it more comfortable and manageable. I write down goals and gratitude with this as well, this helps me to see the small things. One day it might be a couple of things and the next day one might be I am breathing. Small steps, baby steps. I also think that with that we need to slow down, sometimes just practicing breathing and relaxation is so helpful. A 1 minute breathing exercise to calm us restores a lot in our mind and slows it all down so we can decide what is our next bite.

Truly, I have been in your position for and know what it's like to have anxiety and depression take over your life and make you feel as though you have no say over it anymore. To overcome it, the treatments vary. Some just include minor adjustments to your daily routine and others involve a more intensive approach. We do have many communities here at 7Cups that can help you fight these battles, as well as free listening and therapy at a fee. Also, just waking up and letting yourself have the mindset that you are in control of your life and you can decide how you want to handle your anxiety and depression, should it come up, is a really good technique as well.

I have felt the same way before. It sucks. But there is always a way out. I know when I felt like I couldn't live my life anymore, I would just talk. I would talk to my sister, my parents, or my friends. Sometimes I didn't even talk to them about how I felt. I just talked to the people that made me happy. If I found that any time by myself would make my anxiety worse, I would constantly talk to people (different people of course so you don't get tired of just one person). I would occasionally tell them how I was feeling so I could be listened to, but I would also just talk to them because I found that I was happier with them than I was by myself. Then, once I started to feel like myself again, I would go back to my regular routine.

Try to do things you normally dont do everyday - things that make you happy or things in the past that have made you happy. For example, going for a quick run, drawing, journaling, yoga, calling a friend. Things like this may make you feel happy and make you realize other things too that you enjoy as well. Maybe you like to cook, ride your bike, walk a dog, something that you forgot about that brings you joy. We all need happiness in our lives. Also remember to practice self-care. Take some time for just yourself. :) Stay positive and keep fighting. You've got this!

I understand how you are feeling, I often feel as if these feelings are getting in the way of my life. It can be hard to move past these feelings but in the end It is so rewarding. Also, remember that getting help is not a bad thing, these are illnesses and sometimes treatment is needed. Doing something I love helps me let go of these feelings for awhile, you could try this. In these times, I like to think of this quote "Feel what you need to feel and then let it go, do not let it consume you."