Me

[k_a_y_t_l_y_n_e]

How do i deal with depression and anxiety. its making my life hard especiallymy social life and personal life its hard

[Just Sara]

Hi and welcome Kaytlyne;

It takes so much courage to write on here for the first time, so well done. 🙂

Your post's very brief and to the point, but doesn't express who 'me' is as a person. How about pushing yourself a little to talk more about what you're going thru. That can give me somewhere to start.

I've experienced depression and anxiety for many yrs, but found good coping skills and am in recovery. So have you been diagnosed or are you in the first stages of confusion and fear? I know what that's like ok. So please don't worry, you've come to the right place.

I look forward to hearing from you...

Kind thoughts;

Sez

[LavenderTea]

Hey there,

Thanks for posting.

Dealing with depression and anxiety can be tricky, especially if you don't understand what is happening to you.
Depression and anxiety can cause a range of difficulties with social and personal relationships, as well as with just everyday living. There are a few things that you might be able to do in order to lessen the impact of depression and anxiety. A helpful acronym that headspace suggest is STEER (https://www.headspace.org.au/young-people/understanding-and-dealing-with-depression-for-young-people/)

• Self-care: this includes making sure you're eating well, getting enough sleep, trying to include some exercise in your week, and staying away from alcohol and/or drugs.
• Thinking patterns: sometimes when you are experiencing anxiety or low mood, you can start thinking negatively. When this happens, it’s hard to break the cycle, so being aware of your though patterns means that you’ll pick up on these negative thoughts when they start, and try to understand and change them.
• Express thoughts and feelings: this can be important so that you’re not just ‘in your head’. Sometimes just talking to someone else about how you’re feeling or what your thinking is helpful enough, but often, our family and friends can help us to work through negative thoughts or feelings
• Enjoyment: sometimes when individuals experience depression and anxiety, they will avoid certain situations, or stop doing things they used to enjoy. It is important to do something that you used to enjoy, even if you don’t feel like it, because it can lift your mood, even in the slightest.
• Relaxation: having some time for yourself is important, so pick out an activity that you find relaxing and try to do it a few times a week. This can include listening to music, reading a book, or even just simple breathing and mindfulness exercises. This is especially helpful with anxiety, especially breathing exercises, because it can help reduce your heart rate and other symptoms that come along with it.

Hope this helps

LT.