Life after being diagnoised with anxiety and depression?

Ever since I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression a year ago, I have been having problems being in public and meeting people alone. Even a simple action as to pay for my groceries at the supermarket would start to make me sweat. Sometimes, I would feel uncomfortable around people and I might tend to sweat. But if I am with some familiar faces (ie friends and family), non of these problems will happen.





Anyone know what can I do to stop these things? I wanna socialize and have fun like how a normal human should!

Life after being diagnoised with anxiety and depression?
As an RN...Are ya' on any RX??? I'm NOT a firm believer in RXs for this condition!!! I use condition, as personally I feel both are very over used diagnoses!!!





As this is a subject I know very well, personally...I have tried RXs...Found the RXs made me feel no better!!! Actually worse!!! I do suggest ya' speak with ya physician re: a low dose Valium, or some type of tranquilizer, for times when ya' have to be in public situations. I have a standard script for my 23 yr old son and, myself...Just for these types of situations.





ALWAYS consult ya physician, before just trying something!!!





As I look at it now..."What normal"???





Break a leg!!!
Reply:so you're saying you didnt have these problems BEFORE your diagnosis?





have you considered that maybe hearing that you're depressed and anxious from a doctor has convinced you that you are?





the way i see it, emotions are part chemicals in your brain, and part actual feeling. if you have problems caused by a physical chemical problem, then yes, you might want to consider medication.





but on the other hand, if it's NOT that, then the only thing that can change how you feel is you. you have to decide what needs to be changed in your life to make you happier. try and get to the base of your problem. what is it about other people that makes you nervous? i mean, we all know that we shouldnt care THAT much about what other people think, even though it's difficult advice to follow. but what is it you're worried about happening? you seem self aware and intelligent. that's already 2 great traits that many wish they had.





i guess what i'm trying to say is, learn to be happy to be YOU. enjoy life, while you have the chance. we're all gonna die someday, and if you spent the whole time worrying and stressing, then you wasted it. you have to be determined to be happy, and it'll come.





you can do it! keep your head up, and take care.
Reply:I have the same problems.1 year ago i never even came out of the house.but i am in therapy which has helped a great deal.I took antideppresants that helped to get me up and out now im off them and im okay.First im gonna say control your mind dont let it control you. 2nd just think hey there only people and believe me do you go out and look at everyone and critique them?Hopefuuly answer is no well no1 is doing that to you either also the harder you try to control those feelings the more they get out of hand.just let the feeling come and say I am not gonna die. Deep breathing from the stomach helps panic attacks also.Every1 is just out taking care of their own business and so are you. No one is better then you either you deserve to have and be just as other people,medicine is not always the answer but if its that bad there are things out there that will help cause i know its a bad feeling.antideppressants help.There are counseling centers everywhere that take sliding scales and are very very inexpensive it took me agonizing and being reclusive and in a major deppression and panic attacks so bad to prompt me finally into getting help cause I couldnt stand it anymore. read self help books make your mind strong it belongs to you and you can handle this just know that but please figure out a way thats right for you to cope better.
Reply:Are you on medication? It really can help. Talk to the Doctor.
Reply:Just stay on your meds and stay in counseling... It gets better. Believe me, I'm in the same boat and I've been here for quite a while.





Good luck.





((( r u randy? )))


.
Reply:If you have been diagnosed, you have obviously seen a physician. The symptoms your are experiencing can be alleviated by medication and you need to talk to your doctor about which would be best. Don't believe Tom Cruise and his Scientology about not needing medication for anxiety. My husband takes paxil and I couldn't live with him if he didn't. It can make the difference between enjoying life or not.
Reply:If you did not have this problem before then you should take time to really think about things. Quite often suggestion can make people believe. I see this many times. We want to believe the doctor so we create the symptoms.


I am not saying you do not have these problems. You may and then again you may not. As one said we all have them from time to time.
Reply:Youre meds dont sound like theyre working, if youre even on any. If not, get on some.





Talk to your doc about how youre feeling. They can help.
Reply:Everyone on Earth has anxiety and depression at times.It is my opinion that these Drs. and pharmaceutical companies are laughing all the way to the bank...


Best wishes.
Reply:It's good that you want a social life.





Start by getting into a therapy group or self-help group with people who have the same disorder. They won't judge you while you learn to be around people again. The practice will help ease your fear of social situations.





Try Emotions Anonymous





http://emotionsanonymous.org/





and see how it works for you. When you find out you aren't the only one, and you find people who had worked through the anxiety, it will help you see that there is an end to the fear.





good luck!
Reply:try going to church. you will be welcomed and people will be


understanding .Give it a try. You will find peace and comfort


there.
Reply:All normal human beings feel depressed sometimes, and we all feel anxiety. The pharmaceutical companies would have us believe that we are 'victims' of normal human emotions, that we are the only ones with these felings, and that there is a 'magic pill' cure, just waiting for us (in the form of 'this-erols and that-azines').





It is called self preservation. We are all "right" in our own minds, and we alll have our own perceptions, which are "correct".





When we feel stress or pressure, who else's priorities do we really consider? Who's perceptions? Our own, that's who.





When we are labeled with a 'condition' such as 'depression' or 'anxiety', we tend to believe it (that there is something wrong with us) and behave that way.





It is really a case of being self-absorbed. We are told that being exclusively consumed with our own feelings is ok, it's not our fault, and that we should take drugs to cope. But what is really going on, is that no one is giving it to us straight.





We need a reality check. All human beings face social anxiety to some degree or other. We all have feelings of self-doubt, to some degree, and we all value the approval of thers, to some degree.





When we focus on ourselves, and our negative self-talk (what's bad or wrong with us), we become more self-absorbed. We don't notice that other people feel just like we do. We forget to notice other people's effort to be noticed, to be important, and to be acceptable.





By forcing ourselves to put our own feelings on the back burner for a minute, and forcing ourselves to notice other people, then we realize that we are not victims. We realize that we are not alone, or the only ones who feel like we do.





We all want to be admired, to be appreciated, to be acknowledged, to be liked, to be important, to be desired, to be saught after.......





Give to others what you want from them (for yourself). Notice others and make positive observations by acknowledging them. Compliments and questions show interest and appreciation. You could really feel good about yourself, if you made the effort to forget your own worries and flatter someone and make their whole day.





Those hot-button issues I mentioned earlier.....hit on those in conversation with others, every day. Decide to be the hero and break the ice, to establish rapport.... Tell someone they have great style, and follow up with a question about where they shop. It shows interest, respect, and acknowledgement.





When you hide behind your anxiety, you appear standoffish and unfriendly. People don't know that you're scared, intimidated, and insecure. You are so worried of what they'll think of you, that you act like you don't notice them. And you don't, because you are consumed with fear.....





In a social situation, smile at everyone, and make eye contact with those that smile back. When you are within 3 feet of anyone, notice something specific about them and make a positive observation, and follow it with a question. Get them to talk about themselves. Ask what they think of a topic. Make a positive observation about what they say.





If you can't think of something, have trivial pursuit cards in your pocket. People love to be the only one in a room that knows something about something obscure or uncommon. Enjoy the situation you are in, doing whatever you are doing. Share that with other people.





You don't have to get really personal or reveal your darkest secrets with everyone. Just keep things light and pleasant. You will make people feel god about themselves and they will want you around more.


Focus on others more than your own problems. Do this and you wil be fine.
Reply:I know the feeling all to well. When you have a chance look up the definition to agoraphobia, fear of crowds - open spaces...I only felt safe around certain people too.,people I trusted and thought understood what I was going through. No one does unless the have this condition themselves.


Try thinking that what we have is a behavior problem, treat it with rewards and consequences. Consequences are there already because we don't enjoy where we are and sometimes have to leave...reward yourself by self praise and calling your support group and telling them what you have accomplished. It's a big thing to us. You'll be tired and get a headache but you did it I'm no shrink but I have had this for 20 yrs and just found a Dr. who actually helps God Bless and Good Luck Remember: Nothing can happen today that you and God can't handle.


Confused
Reply:Maybe you don't really want to socialize and be normal. Perhaps people have treated you so badly in the past that you don't expect them to treat you properly, and why should they? Most people are callous and cruel and when someone shows a weakness they expoit it or make fun of it.


Supermarkets are dreadful places. Have you thought about woking with animals?
Reply:Anxiety and depression can be helped with medication, meditation, and learning everything you can about your illness. I have had to LEAVE grocery stores, and my cart full of food, because I couldn't stand the pressure. If I didn't have medication for this I wouldn't be able to stand going anywhere, especially not alone for goodness sake.





If you have been prescribed meds but find they aren't helping, you need to ask your doctor if your prescription should be modified or changed. Also, you have to take them every day. In the meantime, there are very simple meditations that you can use to help you feel better, and also books and websites with good ideas for you.





Exercise as much as you can, it blows off some of the steam. Meds can help, the rest is up to you. Good luck to you, I hope you find an answer that works!





p.s. i just remembered a website called the meditation station, it was great! something for everybody, check it out, it may help.

sweet tooth