1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Depression

Depression & Anxiety recently varying in intensity day to day

Posted , 4 users are following.

caroline50055
caroline50055

I wonder if I could have some support around this.

I have had severe anxiety and depression for many months and am off work. Symptoms recently got a good bit worse with the Spring (has this happened to anyone else). However another thing I have noticed is the variability day by day. I don't mean I am swinging from feeling up to feeling down, what is happening is one day the depression / anxiety is really bad but just about bearable but the next day it is terrible and feels completely unbearable. There does not seem to be a trigger. For example yesterday I managed to do a few things (my depression is not a slowed down depression) but was very fearful of the future, as usual. I did not sleep at all well despite sleeping tablets and kept waking with a fast beating heart. Today just feels unbearable. A pressure feeling in my head, shaking muscles, some agitation and absolute depair about the future (I have a few medical appointments coming up and I am frightened of not being able to cope with them due to fear of panic attack/feelings of extreme discomfort and worries about the outcome) and fears of how I will get through the day, It feels intolerable and I don't know what to do.

One thing that happened is yesterday and whilst trying to sleep I was thinking about all the things I would be doing now and in the future if I was well. I wonder if the horrendous 'reality' of my situation with the depression/anxiety has caused this increase of intolerable feeling? It really is unbearable and I'm not sure how to handle it.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • lynne82155
    lynne82155 caroline50055

    Posted

    Anxiety/depression is nasty.

    With depression try to do stuff dont sit at home and worry about things be with family and friends.

    With anxiety you have to distract yourself when an attacks comes on,exercise a good diet keep hydrated meditation are all good.

    I know sometimes its hard but with mental illness you have to try and help yourself.

    I think your anxiety is feeding your depression so get help for the anxiety and hopefully your mood will lift.

    Remember anxiety thrives of fear,its a switch in your brain that is telling you you are in danger when your not you have to learn how to control that perhaps through therapy.

    Stay Strongsad

  • Sigatoka
    Sigatoka caroline50055

    Posted

    I am sorry that you are suffering so much and only wish I can help you in some way.  I have occasionally suffered with mild depression but I also have the capacity to get out of it as well.

    My son who is 38 has suffered severe depression and anxiety worried about the same issues as you do.  Right now he is in the midst of another episode and like you doesnt sleep well but he refuses to get any help from the doctors.

    He is also an alcoholic, however, after several admissions into hospital to be detoxed, he went to rehab voluntarily and hasnt drunk since September 2014.  He is now smoking a lot.  Stays in his room most of the time and my husband and I who are in our 80s and 70s, do not know how to help him.

    Do you have any friends or family who you can talk with and who will be understanding and non-judgemental.  Can you ask a friend of a family member to accompany you to the doctors.

    I so hope we can help my son and I only wish I can help others as well.

    Sending you lots of love.

    Hang in there.

    • caroline50055
      caroline50055 Sigatoka

      Posted

      What an awful situation Sigatoka but well done your son stopping drinking. Unfortunately sometimes even if help is there it is difficult for it to break through the depression and anxiety. My friends are working so cannot accompay me, also I don't have much family and they live away. Even if someone was with me I don't think that would help as interacting in a sociable way stresses me a lot and makes me feel very uncomfortable as i am so different to how I was and the depression/anxiety seems to affect the part of the brain that is involved in socialisation (as well as other areas)..

      Your son is lucky he has you to care for him - even if you feel you are not able to help you are there for him and he is safer at home than on his own.

      thank you for your kind wishes

      Caroline

    • hypercat
      hypercat Sigatoka

      Posted

      Hi I do feel for you but letting him stay at your home and staying in his room is enabling behaviour.   He will continue to do this coz it is easier than having to face his demons.  You need to make it a condition that he only stays with you if he gets help from the doctor.   Make sure you mean it too and don't back down.  Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind and this is one of those times.   This is how you can help him best.  x
  • hypercat
    hypercat caroline50055

    Posted

    Hi Caroline you don't say whether you are getting any help for your depression.   Are you seeing a doctor?  Are you on any meds and/or counselling?   If not you need to seek help.   If you are on meds then they obviously aren't helping you enough and they might need either upping or changing.   x

     

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.