You Struggled With Depression/Anxiety For Years. What Cured You?

Question

I'm curious about this. I've suffered from anxiety/depression for most of my life (now 40), and also low self esteem, negative thinking, guilt, etc. I'm curious how long you suffered from any of the above or other mood/brain disorders, how bad you were, and how you finally overcame it. Whether it be taking a drug, eating different, changing your thoughts, etc. Just curious if there is hope for some of us that feel hopeless out there.

Answer 1

Metal-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONZ9bL2WGBE

Answer 2

Change of attitude. I'd suffered maybe 10 years with depression, often very serious and scary depression, and just decided that I wasn't going to waste my one and only tour of this earth wallowing in depression and I have never suffered it since.
I don't know if that sounds crazy or if others could do that, but it worked for me. It may depend a lot on what's causing it in the first place, such as specific reasons or a chemical imbalance (mine was both).
I found that the drugs didn't help. In fact they just gave me weird side effects.
I have not had any long-term bout of depression now for nearly 15 years and during that time I've had some bad experiences and events (things that go wrong in life) far worse than before, but I recovered from them quickly.

Answer 3

Well...I got officially diagnosed when I was 16 (17?), but I had been severely depressed for about 2 years before that, and mildly depressed since I was about 10.
At its worst, my depression way very bad. I cried for hours every day. I got horrible migraines (depression often manifests itself physically). I abused drugs and alcohol. I got in horrible fights with my parents. I did horribly in school. I cut myself. I contemplated suicide all the time. I could barely get out of bed.
I went to a doctor after a particularly dark day that my mother was privy to. She gave me Zoloft, which actually made me more suicidal than I had been before (this can happen if you're on the wrong antidepressant.) I went off of it and went to another doctor, who put me on Effexor. It worked wonderfully for me. I'm now on Effexor and Lamictal and Seroquel for sleeping, and see a therapist once a week, and I can really say that I am happy.
I don't want it to sound like I took a pill and was magically cured. It was a struggle climbing out of the hole I had fallen in to, and I have relapsed a number of times over the years. But I have never gotten as depressed as I was then, and I am so grateful to have my life back.

Answer 4

I struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life. I had a physically and emotionally abusive parent, and an unhealthy family situation, growing up. And through adulthood I had several more problems, including bad relationships, divorce, being stalked, being in an accident, watching a friend get hit by a car, physical problems, and more. I never went in for treatment or counseling until I had my first child at age 29. I thought I had post-partum depression, but I was diagnosed with PTSD. I was having insomnia, panic attacks, excessive weight gain, and depressive thoughts.

I interviewed several therapists before selecting one, and I chose her based on her experience with family counseling, life trauma, and the sorts of problems I had. She was wonderful in helping me to examine my past, connect the dots, suggest coping skills, grieve, build, clarify my goals in life, change how I think or react to things, and more.

I never took any drugs, but I had to do a lot of work. I kept a journal, searched relentlessly for supportive friends, talked a lot to my sisters, "came out" to family & friends about the abuse I went through, read a lot of books and articles, started an exercise program, began doing volunteer work, and spent a lot of time thinking about my life.

I am 36 now, so for 7 years I've been actively doing this work. I stopped seeing the therapist a couple of years ago. My current (second) marriage has improved, I sleep better, I'm happier -- but the work never stops. It's like having a physical condition which you just learn to manage, but is never cured completely. I still have my occasional bouts with depression or anxiety, but I have several resources and skills now to help me deal with it.

Answer 5

Hello Doubting Thomas,
Long term depression and anxiety is indeed a long struggle.
What has helped me is years of therapy and taking medications.
Understanding my depression has helped me figure out what I want out of life. Facing our depression helps us realize what is missing for us so we can take steps to bring change into our lives. I am by no means cured. I can say that at times I am less depressed. This is what one of my goals is, to feel less depressed. I am thankful for the times when my depression feels more manageable. I do not have the goal of being cured. For me this would be setting the goal too high.
Best Wishes and hang in there with the rest of us.
I hope you will have happier times to remember and cherish.

Answer 6

I think most of my anxiety/depression/low self-esteem was caused by me not being aware that I have Asperger's... learning about AS and realizing I'm doing a pretty decent job despite that have helped me feel better. Being a mom and wife has given me some more purpose in life as well.

Answer 7

After being on numerous antidepressants, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills, plus years of counselling, I think that the NAMI support group that I'm a member of helped the most. I was able to chat with other folks that had depression and anxiety, make a lot of new friends, and have a reason to get out of the house. Plus, the NAMI support system is always there for you when you need them.

Answer 8

I've suffered from clinical depression most of my life and I'm almost 57. I've learned to recognize the signs of an impending bout and learned to counter-act the severe downward slides. I exercise, eat low carbs, write out my feelings and go to counseling. If I have to, I go back on medication. Currently I've been medication free for four years.

Answer 9

Dear Doubting...

I've been where you are...I'm 47 and I lived with bipolar, anxiety and panic attacks (especially after two traumatics events in my life when I was 14 and again 17)

I had a hellish home life because you see I have a sweet nature...but rage built up from so many things that happened to me from the age of 5 through my early 20's caused the natural moodiness of the bipolar to explode in unexpected and irrational rages. I asked my mother for help, but the one counselor she took me too wasn't right for me and we never tried again. As long as I kept myself busy especially when I started working and loved my jobs things were okay. Sometimes I'd have to run to the restroom to hide unbidden tears or an anxiety attack and each time I would wonder what the heck was wrong with me, be embarrassed, ashamed and humiliated in my own eyes. I developed a personality disorder that increased my panic attacks. Event after event caused so much pain, sadness, (I never had any self esteem) , worthlessness and despair that suicide became a thought in my head every day. After 8 years of taking care of my mother who died from colon and breast cancer I sank into an abyss where there was no light or hope and tried to take my life. In 2002 I had a heart attack and lost everything...my house, my job, my car, my savings, and finally my fiance who didn't want the responsibility of caring for me. A friend took me in but they couldn't deal with my depression and timidity. They thought I should stop feeling sorry for myself and snap out of it...so I sank even further because even though I could see no point in living....I TRIED.

It was my faith a whisper from God that had me contact my church. My friends came and got me every Sabbath and took me to church and brought me home. I got counseling and medication for the first time in my life, and I got another job. I changed my diet to only fresh fruits, veggies, steamed and raw, brown rice...nothing white....chicken and fish, nuts and whole grains. No fast food, no carbonated drinks only sugarless without sweetners fruit juices, water, and herbal tea and I feel better today. I'm married to a man who also has bipolar and schitzo-affective disorder and we both understand and help each other if and when depression descends. With continual support from each other and therapy, medication and a healthy diet our lives have gone from hell on Earth to really good. I rarely have episodes and when I do they don't last very long. I lived depressed all of my life up to now...you can too. The very most important factor in the restoration of normal living for both myself and my husband is our faith and belief in the power of God in our lives.

Wishing you the best of luck and God's great love and mercy,

Pami

P.S. Feel free to email me if you would like to discuss anything at all.

Answer 10

i had both anxiety and depression for
about three years. it literally felt as though
i was prisoner in my own body.

What i believe truly cured me was finding God.
Without a doubt, there is hope for anyone, no
matter how low you are feeling, He is always there
and does not judge.

i didn't have any brain disorders or serious medical
conditions.