Anxiety and depression - what worked for you?

[HonestlyHumbled]

I was not sure where to put this between the options on the forums, so please excuse me if putting it here isn't appropriate.

Since childhood I struggled with depression and go between feeling low to feeling suicidal. I also struggle with anxiety. This evening it got so bad I was shaking and struggling to think.

What, in line with Christianity, has worked for you guys?

Thank you in advance

 

[Billyd]

I was not sure where to put this between the options on the forums, so please excuse me if putting it here isn't appropriate.

Since childhood I struggled with depression and go between feeling low to feeling suicidal. I also struggle with anxiety. This evening it got so bad I was shaking and struggling to think.

What, in line with Christianity, has worked for you guys?

Thank you in advance

God provided me with a pair of medications that has helped me manage my depression for over 30 years. God has provided many qualified mental health professionals. Talk to your personal physician ASAP.

 

[ForthAngel]

I deal with a few things myself. Most recently, PTSD from a fatal car accident I was involved in. I had major depressive disorder and OCD since a kid though. Massive anxiety and times of depression's heavy weight on me.

I know this is probably the most common answer, but what worked for me was faith in Jesus and submitting myself to him. That isn't always as easy as it sounds though.

I still deal with anxiety and depression and other inhibiting things that come along with them.

What gets me through it and what makes me able to stay positive and feel the joy that only God can give is to stay grounded in the Word. When scripture permeates your very being, these things become more of an annoyance than a disability. You feel the joy, even in the pain and suffering.

You have to trust God in every situation, even if you don't trust yourself. Prayer and fasting is very helpful when going through times of depression and anxiety. Constant study. Surrounding yourself with others who have had the same struggles and who are grounded in the faith and sound doctrine who can help share the weight with you.

Try not to isolate yourself. That is the worst thing you can do. Don't expect an easy fix. Like I said, you come to see the joys in the suffering and can praise God all the more for giving you the strength to endure it.

The most important and effective ways of battling this from my experience are:

1. Prayer
2. Fasting
3. Reading the bible
4. Fellowship with like-minded believers
5. Embracing sound doctrine (watching preaching really helps me a lot)

5 is included because when I was struggling the most and outside the faith, I fell into a false system of beliefs that only served to train wreck my mental health and faith. Being grounded in sound doctrine and the faith was vital for my healing.

 

[Lost_sheep]

Massive daily doses of Prozac and Valium for me. Before that, I drank heavily almost every night.

 

[HonestlyHumbled]

Funny you should mention MDD, that is what I have
I've been told I deal with an abnormal amount of stress. <--- I could never twist that in a way that is actually comforts me
My therapist said "It's amazing you are alive". <-- Haven't found this comforting either.
My suicide attempts are too many to even count, they were just never successful.
I do believe God can heal me. Just sometimes it feels like I am hanging on a thread which is completely worn and anything that goes wrong sends me in a complete spin.
I do appreciate both of your inputs. Thank you so much for sharing. I will try your suggestions.

 

[HonestlyHumbled]

I am not allowed to take medication like that as I easily become addicted

 

[Txroads]

I think everyone has a problem with this at one time or another..some folks it gets a little stronger for them to deal with....i know without ever having had emotions like this some people are hesitant to give advise...but I can't think of a better place for you to ask...i'm really big on prayer...having had similar problems, I know sometimes you feel like everything is out of control.....first, your not alone, your never alone.. God hears, sees it all, Jesus went through it all..remember on the cross He cried out why have you forsaken me.... He wasn't forsaken and neither are you and you won't ever be..i known it's hard but you have to find time when you don't have those feelings, sit down with Jesus and tell him...tell him every little thing until you break down, somewhere in the middle of all that you'll see his face, you'll feel the Holy Spirit start to move and just have this feeling swell up inside you.. Find Scripture that speaks to you... Words or promises on the Bible that make you assured that God hears you, you feel Jesus right there with you... That way when those feelings do try and come your ready.... "nope... Not this time.. The LORD already told me I have his love...i am never alone... I can feel him with me and the Holy Spirit moving!!.. These feelings are a lie because God would never want me to feel this way....he's got plans for me!!!. Jeremiah kind of plans!"..... It's not easy by any means, but you start and you find what makes you strong... God will show you.... And then you always have us here....

 

[ForthAngel]

Funny you should mention MDD, that is what I have
I've been told I deal with an abnormal amount of stress. <--- I could never twist that in a way that is actually comforts me
My therapist said "It's amazing you are alive". <-- Haven't found this comforting either.
My suicide attempts are too many to even count, they were just never successful.
I do believe God can heal me. Just sometimes it feels like I am hanging on a thread which is completely worn and anything that goes wrong sends me in a complete spin.
I do appreciate both of your inputs. Thank you so much for sharing. I will try your suggestions.

I was hospitalized several times for overdosing. I was completely self-destructive. I did finally end up in a crisis treatment center. This was about 4 years ago now. If you feel things are so bad that you can't handle it, I would recommend going to the ER or checking into a crisis center in your area. I'm not sure how it's done outside of the one I was in, but we got to hear some testimonies from volunteers, many of which were Christians sharing their faith. This was a major things for me and extremely helpful in my recovery.

 

[HonestlyHumbled]

I read pizza instead of plans... He's got pizza for me! Really? Awesome lol... Thank you Txroads

 

[un2him]

God provided me with a pair of medications that has helped me manage my depression for over 30 years. God has provided many qualified mental health professionals. Talk to your personal physician ASAP.

True typically it is a chemical imbalance.

There are a few other factors that can contribute to this your surrounding, fear, what you take in with your ears and eyes and your attitude to mention a few.

God says to seek Him with your whole heart and to give all your troubles to Him. There is nothing He would not help His child with. He loves you!

 

[Lost_sheep]

I have to see a counselor weekly as part of my "recovery plan". So, I have to dredge up the past frequently, which just makes me more depressed and more anxious about feeling depressed. I'm much better now than I was, even though I'm not real good right now and am AWFUL hard to get along with. LOL

 

[Ugly]

Anxiety and depression typically go hand in hand. I've had depression most of my life. And went through a time of anxiety, and can still get it in smaller amounts.
As cliche as it sounds, eating a healthy diet, being on a regular sleep pattern (sleeping at night) and exercise all are actually proven helps for depression.
For anxiety, medications are the most effective, though they should be coupled with counseling to work past the anxiety. But some natural supplements can help. If you're having a bad attack it won't work like Xanax, for example. But if you catch the anxiety in the beginning before it builds up, you can sometimes nip it in the bud. I use Gaba. Buying it in capsule form, emptying one or two into a 16 oz bottle of water. Taking, i think, B6 helps the absorbancy. It's usually under $20 for 90 capsules of 750 mg, at a vitamin shop or health food shop, something like that. And B6 is one or two dollars at walmart. And usually they are way more than you need, so you can break them in half.
Another i used, years ago, was Kava Kava. I would empty the Gaba capsule into water. Then put the liquid Kava in the capsule (since it was kind of nasty).
Learning what anxiety looks like is a big help as well. I have a decent handle on my anxiety as well, and if it comes up i try to know what my specific symptoms are. Then reassure myself that, no matter what i'm feeling, it's anxiety. Takes time, but it's effective.

How much any of these things may help can vary, of course. But they're all things to look into.

 

[Txroads]

I read pizza instead of plans... He's got pizza for me! Really? Awesome lol... Thank you Txroads

Hey I wouldn't put anything past Him..... Besides... Your half right....i heard pizza can cure just about anything.... IN FACT.... If the whole Israel thing would a happen in Texas I'm sure instead of manna they woulda found pizza in the mornin......

 

[JesusIsAll]

It's easy for most of us to give advice from personal experience. I like reading the Psalms, just start at Psalms 1 and keep going, they go-to depressed or anxious scripture that can refocus me. The problem is, you're describing a level of difficulty that goes beyond what most of us experience, and, like Billyd, ditto you're describing a problem that you need to talk to somebody professional about. Luke was a physician. I have great reluctance over drugs, because they don't help all people, a percentage getting worse. Something important is a proper diagnosis, before drugs, that you are suffering depression or some anxiety disorder and are not, in fact, bipolar, a condition antidepressant drugs can amplify. It's complicated, but we've all had to resort to medical professionals of one sort or another. In any case, you don't want to let a debilitating problem fester that's crippling, any more than you would an infection. As to drugs, not all are of an addictive nature, nerve agents, rather many alter brain chemical balances, slowly. To be honest, I don't like any of it, but it beats shaking in a corner or the desperation reflected in repeated suicide thoughts and attempts, which are not normal and need all possible plans of attack, spiritual and medical.

 

[JesusIsAll]

Anxiety and depression typically go hand in hand. I've had depression most of my life. And went through a time of anxiety, and can still get it in smaller amounts.
As cliche as it sounds, eating a healthy diet, being on a regular sleep pattern (sleeping at night) and exercise all are actually proven helps for depression.
For anxiety, medications are the most effective, though they should be coupled with counseling to work past the anxiety. But some natural supplements can help. If you're having a bad attack it won't work like Xanax, for example. But if you catch the anxiety in the beginning before it builds up, you can sometimes nip it in the bud. I use Gaba. Buying it in capsule form, emptying one or two into a 16 oz bottle of water. Taking, i think, B6 helps the absorbancy. It's usually under $20 for 90 capsules of 750 mg, at a vitamin shop or health food shop, something like that. And B6 is one or two dollars at walmart. And usually they are way more than you need, so you can break them in half.
Another i used, years ago, was Kava Kava. I would empty the Gaba capsule into water. Then put the liquid Kava in the capsule (since it was kind of nasty).
Learning what anxiety looks like is a big help as well. I have a decent handle on my anxiety as well, and if it comes up i try to know what my specific symptoms are. Then reassure myself that, no matter what i'm feeling, it's anxiety. Takes time, but it's effective.

How much any of these things may help can vary, of course. But they're all things to look into.

Some great tips there, things like right diet, especially enough protein, some potent vitamins and sleep: these things can work wonders, of themselves.

 

[JesusIsAll]

Hey I wouldn't put anything past Him..... Besides... Your half right....i heard pizza can cure just about anything.... IN FACT.... If the whole Israel thing would a happen in Texas I'm sure instead of manna they woulda found pizza in the mornin......

Pizza? You sound more like some carpetbagger. I thought it was Tex Mex!

Oh! And what about barbecue? I bet you don't even remember the Alamo.

 

[Txroads]

Pizza? You sound more like some carpetbagger. I thought it was Tex Mex!

NNNOOOO!!!!..... They needed the spices to prepare the bodies for burial... (the others used it for bar-b-que)....

 

[Txroads]

NNNOOOO!!!!..... They needed the spices to prepare the bodies for burial... (the others used it for bar-b-que)....

Ok....... That was so wrong......

 

[popeye]

I am not allowed to take medication like that as I easily become addicted

I can't believe anyone would tell you to take meds.

* Spirit

* Vitamin deficiency

* Mental

Any or all of these is a good starting place.

Define/locate the root,then proceed.

No meds

 

[JesusIsAll]

Ok....... That was so wrong......

True, but now I believe you're a true Texan. A horrible thought came to me about that barbecue. There was really no way of telling what it was, you know.