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

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hedden93
August 4, 2019
81 upvotes
askTRP

I've been depressed and full of anxiety almost my entire life. Last couple months really have been working hard. I've been meditating everyday, reading everyday, taking positive forms of media, getting into drums, studying stoic philosophy and controlling my emotions. I feel so much better in so many ways but the most noticable thing is my energy level. I have 5x more energy than a couple of months ago. Working out is so much easier, I wake up easier and my work day isn't nearly as draining.

Any of you other guys experience a massive change in energy level as you crawl out of depression/anxiety?

Also any tips on maintaining this state? I really do feel incredible. Obviously I'm gonna keep up the strict meditation and gym routine I've been on but any other suggestions?


Post Information
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 04 August 2019 05:34 PM UTC (1 year ago)
Subreddit askTRP
Link https://theredarchive.com/post/248665
Original Link https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/clz1r2/last_couple_of_months_ive_been_crawling_out_of/
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Comments

[–][deleted] 56 points57 points  (6 children) | Copy

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.

[–]nobody_thinks9 points10 points  (1 child) | Copy

great comment you should expand on this with a post somehere

[–]_i-like-turtles_2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Agreed! This is an intriguing way of thinking, I’m going to look into it.

[–]thrwy754791 point2 points  (1 child) | Copy

Don't ever allow your feelings (however good or bad), to dictate your actions.

Good points. However, this will never be true.

We're all emotional creatures. Rational thought is applied by the conscious mind after the fact, and that's a good thing.

Instead of trying to be less angry, or be more this and that, it's better to acknowledge the emotions you have, and become more in tune with them so you can simply be.

[–]jn14j0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Great comment. The hypomania part really hit home for me. I'd be interested to see if you have any sources that elaborate on that. I want to prepare for the likelihood that that can happen again in the future as I slowly make progress on myself again.

[–]mickey__0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

please think about making your post about this subject

[–]Endorsed ContributorHeathcliff--26 points27 points  (2 children) | Copy

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.

[–]TRP VanguardHumanSockPuppet13 points14 points  (0 children) | Copy

This right here.

Enjoy the highs when they happen, but don't depend on them. Discipline matters most when everything around you sucks.

[–]Jesusfeminist0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

This is so true. It’s like a positive and a negative snowball. It either gets bigger in a positive way or in a negative way

[–]Vouch33r4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

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

[–]bbraham4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

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.

[–]failberry2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

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.

[–]NEPat103 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

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.

[–]dtyler860 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

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_duck2330 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

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.

[–]1XXXMersenne0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

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__0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

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

[–]kayfab0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

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



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