Last couple of months I've been crawling out of depression and anxiety. Anyone else experience this?

nobody_thinks · 2019-08-04T18:05:53+00:00

Just keep doing what you're doing. Discipline and habits are the only thing that can save you.

If you've been depressed your whole life, just understand that sometimes you can do everything right and things can still start to crumble again for seemingly no reason. While the notion depression as a "chemical imbalance" is radically oversimplified, it's pretty clear there is a physiological/genetic basis for it for many people.

Life has its ups and downs and its very important to not cling to the good and push away the bad. Be wary of getting too positive. Happy/high energy people are much more prone to fucking their lives up because they end up becoming more impulsive and indiscriminate about their choices because everything starts to seem amazing. You don't have to be full blown manic for this to happen - even hypomania can cause destructive behavioral changes that turn you into a hedonistic slave to your impulses.

I would look more into eastern/Buddhist philosophy - it pairs quite well with stoicism. Whenever I feel "happy" ie excitable, energetic, etc, I'm very careful to not identify with that feeling and let it guide my decisions and thoughts. A key lesson I've learned is that consciousness is neutral and is never shaped by your emotions and thoughts. It helps to recognize that feelings are fleeting and won't last.

I truly do believe that optimism can go way too far - you need to make sure you stay grounded in reality. That's not to say you should be "flat", perhaps a better way of describing it is to be consistent and objective. Don't ever allow your feelings (however good or bad), to dictate your actions.

Heathcliff-- · 2019-08-04T22:30:18+00:00

It's a good feeling.

Best way to maintain it is to realise you can't keep it up forever. Prepare for the burnout because it will come soon, self growth is cyclical, and for every 2 steps forward there will be 1 step back.

Best advice is to not beat yourself up too hard if it does happen, it is natural and normal, accept it with a smile.

And to try to avoid the fall back into depression, you have to catch yourself before you fall into the traps. For me, this comes in the form of "rewarding" myself for being good. After 6 months of lifting and reading and targeted practice and nofap I say "okay I managed to defeat it, one cheat day/fap/joint/video game will be okay, I can handle it now"

And thus the downward spiral begins. Realise these things cannot ever be enjoyed "in moderation" and you will never have control over them, instead remove them permanantly and don't be drawn back in by their allure and your arrogance.

Vouch33r · 2019-08-04T21:26:16+00:00

I had a 1 year long depression that ended about march. Now I feel I'm changed - more mature at times. But as other people said there - I am in favour of a saying "A man is only a sum of his habits". Seems like you're doing a good job. Hope it gets better and better. Good luck

bbraham · 2019-08-04T18:15:12+00:00

Great that you're finally getting out of this.

A few years ago, I felt like you. To maintain this state, I can recommend daily cold showers aswell as going on a microdosing regime, plus keeping up with the exercising and diet.

Then a work burnout came. Since then I'm so depressed I'm not able to function and I tried everything. I'm just existing now.

failberry · 2019-08-04T20:28:43+00:00

I did experience this and it's gonna be ups and downs. Yes during the ups you'll feel like it will never end but the way it's longer than we expect and you'll have to stand up fall after fall. Many fail everyday and its all about discipline. If you got depressed it means you are somewhat inclined to it. Keep your guard up.

NEPat10 · 2019-08-05T02:21:04+00:00

Awesome job man - a year ago I was depressed, anxious, scared and quite frankly suicidal. Tomorrow I start my first legitimate full time job after graduating college in May 2018. Am I still anxious and scared about it? You bet. But I've built that idgaf mentality these last few months and I'll suffer through the growing pains because I know it's for the right reasons.

dtyler86 · 2019-08-05T03:28:02+00:00

Hey bud. Been through it all. It’s never easy, or fun, but it gets easier and when it does, it all makes sense why it ended. For me, riding a bike, getting 15+ minutes of sunshine as much as I can, sufficient sleep and lifting weights are the top fixes. I drink and smoke less than I used to, that helped a ton. Idk how old you are, but fitness and alcohol were big game changers. Also, what’s your work like? I should have mentioned before, as I’m a freelancer and LOVE my work, my old soul crushing 9-5 gigs were 95% of my misery’s causing. NO salary is worth living for the weekend and hating Monday’s.

daffy_duck233 · 2019-08-05T05:51:11+00:00

I experienced it a few weeks back. Almost thought that it was a manic episode, and I might have bipolar disorder. But nah, let's not complicate things. I called it a "welcome back gift". Use it to launch yourself into your new life.

XXXMersenne · 2019-08-05T11:20:43+00:00

Helps me to have a x day plan, 21, 30,60,90 whatever of stuff I'm going to be doing every day to move towards a new paradigm + goals.

20 min mediation, Read 10+ pages, Workout, Learn skill 1hr/1 video, Go out (club game) etc etc.

From there you just execute them whilst focusing on your "goals" hopefully u have a list of them to reflect, review and update regularly. A lot of the depression & anxiety comes from not feeling a sense of meaningful purpose and direction in your life. Create it, review it often, focus on it, update it.

Should keep you in good shape emotionally.

mickey__ · 2019-08-13T18:59:12+00:00

You should write more how did you actually done all of it, it's remarkable thing when you're on your lowest to push up and breath

kayfab · 2019-08-04T23:38:40+00:00

i guess in this day and age everyone at some point gets depressed, yes i have last year, but now with healthy eating, training, hobbies i am back being happy everyday

Title	Last couple of months I've been crawling out of depression and anxiety. Anyone else experience this?
Author	hedden93
Upvotes	81
Comments	18
Date	August 4, 2019 5:34 PM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/clz1r2/last_couple_of_months_ive_been_crawling_out_of/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/last-couple-of-months-ive-been-crawling-out-of.248665 https://theredarchive.com/post/248665