OCD and Anxiety + Dealing with Depression with a family member/friends?

[Aleins]

Hi!

I'm new to this website, so I've no clue how it works, but I was wondering if I could perhaps get some advice as to how to deal/explain with family members and friends?

I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and OCD a few months ago, and also moderate depression. My friends and family have been great, but I feel like they don't understand. My father has OCD, but he was never treated, so he doesn't understand what its like to constantly have to see a therapist and go through taking medication. My siblings are too young to understand and my mother, although she's been greatly supportive and understanding, doesn't realise what it's like . She doesn't understand why I get so frightened of raised voices, or why I'm so stupidly sensitive and why I spend time doing things to deal with my OCD. I feel like I don't deserve anything, and I don't deserve to have such a wonderful family and I just don't like myself in general. I was wondering if there were any steps I could take to ensure that I don't worry my family anymore so I won't burst into tears all the time? I don't want to be a hindrance to them anymore.

[Chris_B]

Hi Aleins, welcome to the forum. Below is a thread you might want to check out:

How to explain depression/anxiety to a non-believer

[Swami_George]

Hi Alein,

I totally get what your feeling. Its just impossible to get other people to understand. Its like trying to describe the taste of watermellon to a person thats never tasted it themselves.

I got rid of Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Depression many years ago but I do remember what it was like dealing with the people around me.

The truth & reality of the issue is that only you can See, Hear, Smell, Taste & Touch & feel the world around you.

Unfortunately/Fortunately nobody can feel what you feel. At best people can be empathetic towards what you are going through & to have Family around you that cares is a BIG PLUS.

Being grateful for their support is the first step. Appreciation is the precursor to a future positive outcome.

I`d like you to remember how as young children we had no other option but to learn by asosciation. Most of the information regarding who we believe ourselves to be, came from watching and mimicking our peers and the external forces around us.

As we mimick the people around us in order to learn how to think, talk & walk, our memory serves us as a subconscious computer program.

Imagine how life would be today if every single person we grew up around had zero hang ups. What would it be like if our parents, siblings, teachers, priests and politicians were all loving, wise, compassionate, joyful, awe inspiring, gratious people?

The truth is that they ALL had certain hang ups. If they didnt, we would have downloaded all the great stuff and be living a fantastic life.

The people around us are always doing the best they can at any given moment according to what they learned and downloaded from the people around them as they were growing up as well.

Our job as adults is to turn out attention onto US. We must honour, respect & cherish ourselves by putting the attention on the only being that experiences life, which is YOU.

Life is all about YOU. You are the ONE and only person that can experience your life.

In my studies, research and experience over the last 25 years I have found various meditations, physical and mental excersizes that helped me eliminate the cause and symptoms of Anxiety disorders and depression.

The trick is to choose the right information, Learn and apply it.

You would be quite surprised how quickly you can do away with all the heart ache.

Let me know if you need a helping hand.

Blessings