How to get help

[Glasshouse6]

I’ve had depression/anxiety symptoms for at least the last 17 years.

I’ve had multiple mental breakdowns and built myself back up.

im medicated and it kind of helps. I’ve tried going to physiologist and that wasn’t super helpful.

lately my anxiety has gotten so bad it’s making we question everything.

I’ve been to three doctors, my medication isn’t really working anymore, I’ve been referred to a psychiatrist but the first available appointment I can get anywhere is October. I just want someone to help me. I don’t want to be like this. I feel lost and defeated that no matter how proactive I am I get no where. The mental health situation is a joke. Has anyone been through something similar what did you do? How do you fix yourself when no one can help

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear Glasshouse6,

I have anxiety and am medicated for it…I don’t think we or medical professionals can really  “fix” out anxiety, I think it’s learning to control our thoughts and redirecting them when our anxiety starts to interfere with our life to much….one way of course is deep counted breathing, or box breathing, or listening to music, reading a book…anything you like to do…to take hold of your anxious thoughts and redirect them onto something you like to do…

Another thing you could try is making a couple of grounding boxes and keep them close by in case you need them…I have several “Grounding boxes” around my home and in my car for distracting my anxious thoughts when they start bombarding my mind…You can learn how they work and how to make them on the thread called “Grounding yourself what it it and how do we”…

Please Dear Glasshouse6, next time you visit your Dr..please let them know your meds are not working…so your Dr. Can review them and if needed maybe an adjustment to them..

My kindest thoughts Dear Glasshouse,

Grandy..

[Glasshouse6]

Hi Grandy, 

I appreciate your response.

I don’t really have anxious thoughts, just severe anxious feelings, physical symptoms and feeling of dread.

I’ve told my doctor my meds aren’t working, he gave me different meds which he’ll but no enough. I’ve been to different doctors, tried multiple meds. Tried multiple holistic techniques. 

[JoshD]

Hi Glasshouse6! 
You are definitely not alone!!!!!! I have sat there many times thinking "I don't want to be like this anymore", or, "I wish someone or something could just fix me". I'm 2.5 yrs in since I hit the eject button, I hope my story helps you a little :). I only recently had a setback too, its important to remember we are never a finished product.

You ask, "how do you fix yourself when no one can help?"...Thats probably the only question to ask really, the main lesson I learnt was.. "I don't HAVE to feel this way anymore".. So it became this drive that was: It's all on me, I need to take responsibility for my own happiness..

I went negative with it though and pushed people away.. Strangely for me, it had a positive effect in the end..I got selfish. I put myself first.. I stopped chasing people that didn't follow back up with me, I stopped talking to people who weren't listening to me, I started appreciating the people that were there rather than the ones that weren't, I ended a toxic relationship of 4 years, quit a toxic job of 7 yrs at 32 with no options or plan. I ended up closer to some truly great friends, lost a lot, some family too. I even had to tell my Dad, who was going through a hard time himself, that I couldn't be there for him and to stop calling me with his problems, I said I didn't have the space or the capacity to give myself to anyone other than myself right now and he needs to lean on someone else for a while. (Truth be told, he called me one day to vent about his ex wife and I screamed the above at him on the phone while I was mowing my neighbours lawn). That was 2.5 years ago now.

I was lucky to have the support network I did, with no job I ended up selling most of my stuff and left my rental, I went to help family on their farm or did labour work for friends/families trade businesses. I started CBT therapy with a psychologist, read a heap of books, watched a heap of corny videos, did some NLP courses, quit smoking and alcohol(only for 6mths). 

Healing is ugly Glassy.. Perspective only comes after moving forward.. Just take the next step.

The thing that helped me the most was going out and helping other people. I started volunteering with addiction recovery, did a Mental Health diploma, now I'm a counsellor 🙂

[Glasshouse6]

Hi Josh,

Your story is amazing.

I’m having a better day today, I’ve been listening to podcasts and trying to find something which resonated with me. I’m yet to find it but I’ll keep looking!

Some of my toxic traits are I’m incredibly good at masking my emotions and Ive never felt comfortable sharing outside the anonymity of somewhere like this. I find therapy very challenging for this reason. I’ve tried several times but struggle to convey my thoughts and feelings.

I don’t have the answers right now and I’m still waking up with overwhelming anxiety but I am trying and I’ll continue to do so.

I appreciate you sharing. Your story is incredible and I am proud of you. I’ll keep striving to be where you are. Thank you.

[JoshD]

Thanks Glassy you made my night!!

A good day is a good day 🙂 I love that for you! 
Most of my anxiety is when I first wake up too dreading the pain ahead.. Or the night before, dreading having to go through that again. Thats the best thing about a good day! 

I like sharing with strangers too except I treat Dr's and psych's the same.. Im not going to a mechanic to fix my prostate am I haha

Try the Huberman Lab, he is all about the brain and how it functions.. I'm listening to Dax Shepherd's podcast Armchair Expert at the moment its surprisingly good; just about the messiness of being human.

Im proud of you too Glassy, thanks for reaching out today 🙂 you made a difference.

[JoshD]

Hi Glassy

I was thinking about you today, thought I'd jump on a tell you how much I appreciated you saying that you were proud of me and how much it really hit home. Thank you again 🙂

It made me think of how many people out there are working their ass off every day, providing for others, making sure their kids eat even if they don't, making sure that their partners have everything they need.. And never hear those words. Doesn't seem fair.

I text a friend this afternoon, I re-wrote it a cpl of times but in the end just said "Proud of you".. He called me straightaway to have a chat, I was on the way home from work and he said to pull in if I had nothing else on, then to stay for dinner.. I just got home now at 10.30PM...

Just wanted to say thanks again 🙂 you helped me find another part of myself.

PS... I hope you found another good day x