Notice that I said that I've tamed my anxiety and depression, not beaten it. I'm not sure that I'll ever truly beat it BUT I've certainly tamed it enough to finally live the happy life that I never thought was possible for me. This is Part 1 of how I changed my life - and it is the best advice I've got for how YOU can too.
I've struggled with severe anxiety and depression off and on (more on than off unfortunately) for about 26 years. I come from a long line of (secretly) depressed people. We're a family of worriers who, only within the last 15 years, have started speaking about it.
For much of my life, I've wondered where my anxiety and depression comes from. Am I this way because of genetics? Is anxiety literally written into my DNA? OR is it all a result of being raised by anxious, sometimes depressed, people? It's impossible to know for sure, but I think it's probably a combination of both.
It's hard for me to believe now, but there were times when I was so depressed that I actually considered suicide. We've probably all been there, those moments when we're so low that we think we'll never be back up again. There were times when I was so lonely or feeling so guilty or feeling so scared, that I didn't think I'd be able to go on - nor did I particularly want to.
The good news is that I feel better today than I've ever felt before. I attribute my increasingly healthy positive outlook to a combination of factors that have made all the difference. My best advice is to treat your anxiety/depression with a combination of drugs, therapy, diet and lifestyle changes. Too often we rely on just one strategy to serve as the cure or magic bullet, but it turns out to not be enough. Then we get more discouraged, frustrated, anxious, depressed and less likely to try new methods to heal ourselves. Here is how I've attacked my anxiety/depression. I've included links that will take you to more helpful resources for helping you beat anxiety.
I started with antidepressants. Over the last 12 years I've tried what seems like every antidepressant and anxiety drug out there: Zoloft, Paxil, Welbutrin, Prozac and Buspar. When you try a new RX for anxiety or depression, it's important to give it time to work. This means sticking with it because, in my experience, it usually takes 1 to 3 months until you start feeling their effects. I gave all my RXs plenty of time to kick in but none of them worked that well for me. Again, none of these drugs are going to be a cure-all-your-problems magic bullet, but you'll KNOW when you've found the right one.
What can make it even more frustrating is that what might be the right drug for one person might not be the right drug for the next person. Our body chemistries are sensitive and unique. Unfortunately, the only way to find the right match for ourselves is through trial and error. This can be expensive, time consuming and frustrating. I know it's easier said than done, but be patient.
