Have any of you dealt with depression and/or anxiety? For me, the depression started 3 years ago, it was much more intense then but it is still her in little spurts now. The anxiety attacks only started in this past year.
How have you guys dealt with your anxiety/depression? Does it ever go away? What did you feel?
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13 replies on this topic
Alpha - 1/28/12 @ 7:28 PM
What is this depression you speak of? im never depressed at all! ;)
All jokin aside, yeah it goes away :) the anxiety is usually when youre holding onto things you oughta let go.
Ariel - 1/28/12 @ 10:22 PM
Haha :p ahh but how and when?? The first year I experienced it was intense depression, and now it's at the point where it comes and goes. If ya ask me, 3 years is too much for my liking :p ha, with the anxiety comment, you just told me the fact I've been trying to ignore for months :p
With Love On Your Arms - 1/28/12 @ 10:23 PM
Well, I had trouble with fear and letting go of things in the past. I had some bad times so far being an adolescent. There were times I believed lies and that physical pain can help take away anger. So once in a while I have those feelings and thoughts.
Spirit in the Sky - 1/29/12 @ 12:15 AM
Ariel - I'm a manic depressive. I deal with depression and anxiety all the time. Mine is severe enough that I take medications and see "talking doctors" on a regular basis. Feel fortunate that you don't have to do this and, I hope for your sake, you never will. I literally avoid certain situations to avoid feeling anxious; depression is much harder to avoid for me.
Gabriella - 1/29/12 @ 6:55 AM
i'm a depressive person too. deal with depression for 2.5 years now.
i believe it will never go away. i'll always have to deal with it.
what i feel is just a black pit in me which says life's not worth living it.
and yes i have God Who helps me much, but sometimes it's hard..;)
KingsKid - 1/29/12 @ 9:54 AM
I have never dealt with depression or anxiety personally, but I know people who do. I have never experienced what some of you have, so I don't know exactly what you feel, but I want to say this to you.
You are loved. No matter what you feel like, no matter how dark it feels, no matter if you can't believe God's love for you....HE STILL LOVES YOU. Nothing you do, nothing you feel can ever take His love away from you. He loved you before you were born and even though you may have no one else, He will still be there for you. He'll carry you through to the light and use your life for a testimony to His great power and love. Trust Him with everything. You won't regret it. I love you all, but more importantly, Jesus loves you.
Sarah32 - 1/29/12 @ 4:51 PM
I've battled both depression and anxiety, so I can definitely feel for you, Ariel.<3 I had panic attacks for 5-6 years. Prior to that, I was always anxious and would have most likely been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I was on medication for the whole of the 5-6 years, yet I was still continuing to have panic attacks, and I truly believed in that time that I would have to be on medication for the problem for the rest of my life.
I think it's important to look at the totality of the situation and the person to come to a conclusion as to what's going on. What are you eating? Are there certain foods that trigger your anxiety/depression? Does exercising help? Have you tried to stay away from processed foods and sugar? Are you meditating on Scripture, communing with God on a regular basis, and taking every thought captive to the cross? Is there something you are overlooking in your walk with God? Ask Him to reveal to you what is exactly transpiring if this is the case. Also ask Him if there are any thoughts that are causing you to be deceived that are leading you down the road of anxiety/depression. Hidden sin can cause anxiety and depression because they cause destruction. If say, we are placing any idols in our lives above God, that alone can cause a negative emotional response. Is there anything you are placing in your life above God?
I know you like writing, Ariel, so pray to God that through your writing He can reveal to you what is going on in this area. As you write, what do you notice? Is there a common thread? Do you mainly write about the future? You may be experiencing some unwanted emotions because of a fear of the future and the unknown (as an example). Ask Him to bring you revelation, Ariel.:)
For me, I COMPLETELY went off of sugar (aside from the naturally occurring kind found in fruit and healthy foods), began eating primarily organic foods, and tossed out processed foods from my diet. The results were surprising. I haven't had panic attacks since, and my mind is much more focused. You may want to check out the book "The Maker's Diet." It has a good outline of healthy eating according to the Bible and it goes into the mind body connection which will explain why keeping the body healthy is so important to the mind.
I think it's important to examine all the aspects involved with emotions when dealing with depression and anxiety: the spiritual (your relationship with God), the physical (your bodily health which will most certainly impact your emotional health), and the psychological (your relationships, thought process, etc. which can also tie into your spiritual health).
As it stands for me, I've been without medication for a good while now. I rely on God first and foremost and recognize that my identity is in Him. His idea of perfection is so different than my own, and it is His Christ-likeness that I need to grow in, and not my own ideals of perfection. (I think this is a common thread for people who deal with anxiety/depression-- the issue of our own natural yearning for perfection.) It is something I still struggle with, but God is my strength and overcomer when I am weak and oh so frail. I've also gone extreme with my diet and nixed the bad food from my diet. I try (though I do fail at times) to find the root cause to a thought process. For example: why am I concerned with this aspect of the future? Am I afraid to go back to school because I think I won't succeed? Am I relying on my own strength and human frailties instead of God then? Am I taking too much on myself now with relationships, work, etc. that I'm already feeling stressed, thus the immediate entrance to school would cause only a burden to myself instead of a good and enjoyable experience?
I'm praying you work through your struggles, girl. Not by your own strength, but by God's.:):)
Nicole - 2/12/12 @ 1:31 AM
Runs in my family. I really do suggest talking to a counselor. I know it seems awkward at first but I promise it's beneficial.
Thirst - 2/12/12 @ 7:18 AM
Counselors are amazing. 99 times out of 100, people saying otherwise don't know what they're talking about, seriously.
Coming here, telling us, helps. It's a method of releasing those emotions when you tell us, and it's why counseling is so effective - you're telling someone you can trust will do their best to help you out; someone who cares for your plights.
Other methods of releasing said emotion? Art is a big one, and so is sports, or any kind of hobby, really. There's a reason God gets us to become attached to our hobbies, it helps us unwind and calm down much better then if we simply sit there, regarding our fate.
Again, go for counseling. I still visit mine, even though she's long since helped me grow up. Get a good hobby, and use it to continually honour God. You'll be fine
Stephanie - 2/12/12 @ 7:45 AM
I suffer from constant anxiety. I have OCD and I feel as though I cannot control it. A couple of years ago I began to have panic attacks, especially while driving. It altered my ability to drive and I struggled with the simple task of driving for close to 6 months. I also began to feel anxious anytime I had to leave my house. God was gracious to me, though.
I began speaking with a counselor at my church. That helped because I could talk those fears out and try to get to the root cause of my fears.
I also began to pray for others as I would drive. Intercessory prayer was SO helpful because it took the focus off of me (which fears are typically self- focused) and placed the focus on God and petitioning God for others.
And, of course, scripture. God gave me a specific verse that I believe He was using to specifically address my OCD (the cause of all my anxious thoughts) and that was this:
"Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem;
You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left." ~ Isaiah 30:18-21
I felt that God was saying that He would heal me from my OCD. I did not feel that it would necessarily be like "right now" or even in this life. But I felt like God was reminding me that He is in control and He is using this to teach me and train me and prune me and that, in the end, this adversity would be for my benefit. Healing may not come until heaven, but to know that He was in control of that.
It really strengthened my heart. :)
KingsKid - 2/14/12 @ 8:33 AM
THanks for the testimony, Stephanie. :)
Nicole - 2/21/12 @ 10:25 AM
I completely agree Steph.
I had ocd growing up and still suffer from it some days.
I had to go on medication for a while to help with the anxiety. That combined with therapy helped A LOT.
Just know that God is ALWAYS with you. My past once told me that he sees the cross as a symbol of God crying with us. I love that.
Sarah - 3/14/12 @ 8:06 PM
Awww...Ariel <3 You are amazing--remember that.
I don't think I can add much to what the others have said. I struggle with depression,too...and have had anxiety attacks as well.
About counsellors, it's a good idea, but be sure you get the right one!!! The lady I was seeing is not a Christian, and her values and sense of right and wrong are not what I need; she betrayed and deeply wounded me last week. Definitely seek counselling, but be sure it's with a good, godly counsellor.