Its back

[Peter_A]

After many years of coping with anxiety reasonably well, im now feeling overwhelmed. Meeting other peoples expectations seems to be a real worry for me. Ive always worried, i think, too much about what other people think. 

Something as silly as selling my boat seems to have set me off this time. Ive had boats for about 20 years and its become a chore to look after so i thought, thats it, ill sell the boat and no more boats for me. Now im feeling anxious/guilty that im depriving my wife, mother in law and friends of somthing they enjoy. Not that we were doing it very often anyway. 

Ive finally told my wife how im feeling and broke down in tears. Dont want to worry her but i do want her to support me but she doesnt seem to understand. I guess someone who hasnt experienced it cant understand. 

I dont want to go back to the major depression i went though many years ago. Hoping i can get through this and get back to "normal"

[jaz28]

Hi Peter_A,

I am sorry you are going through this, it must be hard for you. Good on you for thinking of your wellbeing and mindset to decide to get rid of your boat. Did you talk to your wife about selling it and was she supportive?

It is true that people don't understand when they have not experienced mental illness themselves. They tell you to "snap out of it", harmlessly not realising that you physically cannot sometimes. Did you see a psychologist about your depression? Maybe it is time to go back? Maybe you could take your wife to one session to help her understand a bit more about what you're going through.

I hope things improve,

Jaz xx 

[NoFoulPlay]

Hi Peter, you're not alone, I'm also a chronic worrier, too much so that before I go to bed I ALWAYS think about things that haven't happened yet, things I worry about like work, what others think of me, how I'm not fit for my job and what a total impostor I am, and what I'm going to do if I lose my job, etc, etc.

It is difficult for people to understand when they haven't been to situations like we have, and sometimes we feel so alone in our struggles and it becomes so heavy, but I would suggest to just hang on and read other people's stories here so you can gather strength and see that you're not alone and that somehow some people will always manage to overcome their struggles and that's what you need to think about - that you can overcome your struggles, you just need to be strong and keep believing that you can, with or without your family members relating to your struggles. I am doing and trying my best to hold on as well, we are in this together, we will come out victorious, let's believe...