Dealing With Anxiety and Depression

Hi everyone! I know todays blog post will likely only be interesting to those who can relate or those who want to judge; however, I think it’s important to hear others experiences, stories, and tips! It's very scary to open up and be so vulnerable and know anybody can see, read, and judge your experience, but I have learned everything I know about these topics through others and have found so much support in knowing that I am not alone and I am bigger than this. 

For as long as I can remember, I have dealt with depression and somewhat mild anxiety. I was diagnosed with depression when I was about 15-16 and took medicine for a few months and hated how it made me feel (groggy, exhausted, out of it) so I decided to come off of it by my own doing. After I stopped taking to medicine, I noticed my moods would fluctuate; however, I thought they were stable enough that I didn’t need medication so I didn’t worry about finding a replacement medication. 

Though I still dealt with both depression and anxiety over the next few years, after quarantine, during the fall and winter of 2020, both my anxiety and depression reached limits I had no idea they could get to. I was severely depressed and having anxiety attacks almost everyday. I would have to step away from what I was doing to gather myself after crying and hyperventilating. This level of anxiety was not something I’d ever dealt with before and I did not have the support system around me to help me and work my way through this, instead I was judged & told that it was all in my head and therefore, this basically assisted my spiral. 

Like I said, I deal with both anxiety and depression regularly; however, I also deal with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and my depression intensifies in the winter months, especially considering that I live in Western New York and it is cold and gloomy for about 9 months out of the year. So, following up with what I was getting at, I’ll simply state that from the winter months of November 2020 through April 2021, I reached lows that I truly did not think there was a way out of. 

I've learned a lot about both anxiety and depression over the years, and I've managed to experience what works and what doesn't (for me). Keep in mind that everybody is different and that what works for one person may not work for you! It shouldn't discourage you to keep going or to move onto another try with something else. 

Here are some of my key tips to handle and overcome what you may be dealing with: 

• Recognize and acknowledge you triggers (if you can). This may be difficult at first but once you become and stay in tune to your body, you will be amazed the signs that you recognize and relate to being a trigger. Doing this will help you avoid these triggers in the future. 
• Take the time you need. This one is probably one of, if not the most important point. By "take the time you need" I mean to be patient with yourself and do not rush yourself back into something if your depression or anxiety pulled you out of it. 
• Make time for yourself. By this, I mean to spend time alone and doing things that you enjoy. This could be anything from taking a walk, shopping, taking a bath, doing a workout, reading a book, and so many more. Doing this is essential because it keeps your mind pleased and somewhat distracted to fall further into these illnesses. 
• Remove toxic situations, people, and environments. This is exactly what it is. If you're in a toxic environment, leave. If you are being treated poorly, do not allow that people in your life anymore or limit their access to you. By doing these things, you will alleviate some of the stress and set healthy boundaries to keep your peace. 
• Be kind to yourself. All of these can be hard, but sometimes this can be the most challenging but it is so important to remember that you are more than what you are struggling with. It won't be an overnight process, but if you keep focused on where you want to be and how you want to come out of this, you will feel empowered and you will learn so much about yourself to help you in the future. 

In addition, here are some "on the stop" tips to come out of either an anxious state or a depressed state.

Anxiety:

• Chew gum 
• Practice grounding (focus on breathing, touch things surrounding you, take a walk)
• Utilize lavender oils or herbs (oil can be breathed in or rubbed onto the skin and herbs can be made into teas)
• Listen to a relaxing song
• De-clutter something small (organize a small space)

Depression:

• Take a walk
• Notice the good - little things
• Reach out to someone (this may be difficult but knowing you are not alone and allowing someone to be aware of how you are feeling provides the opportunity for help) 
• Write it out / journal 
• Spoil yourself. By this, it can be anything from a simple dessert to treating yourself to something new you've been wanting 

Both of these illnesses are very hard to deal with; however, it's important to remember that even though it may not feel like it, but you are bigger than these illnesses. Tend to your body and take care of yourself. My last tip is to take medication if that works for you. I previously mentioned I didn't like it; however, after 2020 and the winter of 2021, I gave it another try and I fully want everyone to understand that that decision saved my life. 

I know so many people struggle with these issues and I'm hoping this post helps someone! Let us know in the comments if you have a tip or trick that you like! Xoxox