Hi, everyones,

I've just had two very stressful weeks, the stress coming from many sources and all at once. I've dealt with it all, but haven't slept for two nights because of anxiety.

I've fallen into a real bad depression again, don't care about anything, find myself worthless, don't want to talk to anyone, just be left alone.

I am so exhausted that the thought of reaching out to someone just seems like one more thing. Anyone have any tips for getting throug this? Do you let yourself rest for a few days, or do you try to push through and be around others? (My meds were recently adjusted, and I see p/doc this week, so I don't think it's the meds.)

Thanks a lot, hope everyone is doing okay,
Seaturtle

Yes but I think not sleeping is even a bigger influence.

Its just not acceptable to do that. You know Britney's incident happened when she hadn't slept for days, people can really snap after that because they don't think clearly. It can even happen to someone that has no mental disorders, its that bad.

Don't you have sleeping pills or something to relax? Yeah its not good to take it every night but when you haven't slept for so long I think you can justify it.

Hi Sea,

Sorry to hear it's tough for you at the minute. I definitely think stress brings on depression and anxiety (and don't forget not sleeping makes you stressed out - we all need to sleep, most of us more than we do). I'm always in two minds about whether to go with it and stay in bed or force yourself to get up. I think a balance between the two - maybe 'give' yourself two days off but being sure to at least get up and wash and change your pyjamas. If you can't face going out or seeing people try to at least get up and sit next to a window if you can, so you at least get a bit of air and you can maybe see people going by. It's also important to eat, even if it's only a bit of fruit or a glass of milk - I think those meal replacement drinks can be better than nothing when you can't face cooking. I think it helps if you can be 'active' in bed as well - maybe try to write your journal, read a magazine, make a list of things you'll do when you're better, that sort of thing, rather than just lying there wishing it was different. I think if you stay in bed longer than a couple of days you're getting in to the danger zone of things getting much worse - even if you just sit in the garden in your pyjamas it's better than nothing.

Lack of sleep is always a problem - if you need something to help it won't hurt to use it for a little while.

I try and see life as a set of scales - if you've had a really difficult couple of weeks, then I think it's fine to say to yourself, okay - I'm having two days in bed to get over this, then a week of doing nothing other than eating well and exercising, then I'm going to treat myself to x,y and z and then I'll start getting back in touch with my friends etc - whatever feels right for you. It's about balance, we're all expected to run around at a hundred miles an hour 24 hours a day now - it's ridiculous and I'm sure our Western lifestyles play a big part in mood disorders. You've had a rough time of it lately, so it's necessary to try and get back a bit of what you've put in. I've read some of your other posts in the past and you always seem to be very self aware - I think you'll know in your heart when it's time to get up and get back in the saddle, but don't feel bad about giiving yourself a bit of down time - you're in touch with your virtual friends, anyway, which has to be a good sign!!

Hope you're feeling better really soon - I'm lucky that I don't get such high peaks and troughs like I used to, but I remember what it was like and really feel for anyone in that situation. Take it an hour at a time - you're strong and you'll get through it.

Janine xx

Hi Seaturtle I hope that your starting to feel better. picli has good advice for you. I just want to add take baby steps. You can do it. I will pray for you. Sassy:angel:

hi seaturtle, sorry to hear about your depression I am also in the same boat and am struggling to get out but I have been forcing myself to go out more and be with my friends but most days I do admit I don't want to be bothered and reaching out to one more person just seems to be like what you said just seem to be one more thing one more drama to deal with. well I hope you come out of your dark cloud soon and my prayers are also with you best of luck

Thanks so much, everyone. Reading your replies helped me so much. I did go to my suppport group tonight (-2 degrees, with wind, sigh), and everyone there is in the pits, too. The weather has been bitter, with more snow predicted for tomorrow. This means I won't be able to get out again because of the ice.

I will hang in there, thinking of all of you,
Seaturtle

Hey Seaturtle (and everyone),

I came across this thread, and I'm sorry to hear about you going through a hard time, although I think it's no coincidence that it's winter time, a lot of us are struggling to stay balanced right now....I'm glad to hear you're doing better, it's a constant battle sometimes, isn't it? The tiltle of your thread brings up an interesting question, how much of what we go through is a response to stress and outside factors in our lives, and how much is about our brain chemistry, and how we are re-acting to our medications, etc.?

It's probably a combination of both, but we are so much more likely to be affected by outside factors, when others could just brush things off, we simply aren't able to have the same normal reactions to situations. It hit me today when I was getting something out of my cupboard, and the door hinge has become lose, yesterday, it came off the hinge, and I just about came off with it!;) But today the same exact thing happened, and it didn't even phase me. I've been back home for about a week now, and every day that my life and routine are 'normal' again, I feel better. I just don't think we have the capabitlity to cope anymore with things outside of our comfort zone without impact on our mental health.

I told my pdoc when I saw her yesterday that it's kind of like in the movie 'Rainman' when the autistic brother completely freaked out when he was taken away from his routine, I mean obviously not as severely, but it's sort of similar...I think it's true stress does equal depression/breakdown.

Good luck to everybody, spring will be here soon...hang in there!

~~lily

Seaturtle: I know you don't know me, but I can understand how you feel. I have been there more oftne lately.

You are already getting great advice, and I will borow some of it. I can't go anywhere today, I have no transportation, but, sometimes it helps me to go to stores when I feel low. Especially thrift stores. It's good to look at other people's stuff, or even stuff in the stores. When I feel this low, I don't even feel like buying anything anyway, so it's ok. Sometimes I allow myself a little money, like say $20 bill in my pocket. That's all I get to spend on something useless.

It usually takes me a few hours to walk around the stores, and I don't have to talk to anyone. Sometimes it leads to something productive, like buying yarn. One day I just bought yarn and when I got home I knitted, and knitted. It was great stress relief.

But your friends here are right, it helps so much to get washed up and dressed. I have cats, so today I felt bad after breakfast, so I showered, got dressed, and held one of my cats on my lap while I watched TV.
Well, hope you feel better. By the way, reaching out through the internet is a great thing. I don't have to talk to anyone, but I can communicate at my eisure. :D
Strawberry