r/AnxietyDepression

I’m 22F, still figuring out my life. I’m figuring out my goals, my relationship and stuff. I’m too emotional and i feel extremely of things be it anything. I’m currently undergoing psychotherapy sessions but sometimes i just can’t hold myself and my emotions overpowers everything.
RN I’m having an anxiety attack and no matter how much I’m trying to divert my mind I just can’t do that.
I feel so lonely and sad that i don’t have anyone I can talk to rn because it’s just too heavy to carry. I’ve always been a very chatty and jolly person and having nobody i can talk to just sucks and is very different for me.
Any suggestions on how i could try to learn to not expect people to be there and to learn to be on my own and handle and caress myself?

I used to call myself lazy. From the outside I was functioning, work got done, I showed up. But behind that there were many evenings where I just... couldn't start anything. I'd sit with laptop open and stare. I'd doomscroll for two hours, feel bad for myself. I could see it, I just couldn't reach it.

And the worst part was that rest didn't fix it. What changed everything was learning that there's a nervous system state that looks exactly like laziness from the outside. When your body has been under stress for long enough and can't fight /run its way out, so it does the only thing left: it pulls the emergency brake.

Everything slows. Energy drops, focus drops, emotions quiet. It's called a freeze response, and when you're still managing to function on top of it, people call it functional freeze. It's a body that ran out of power and is trying to protect what's left.

What actually helped surprised me, because it was the opposite of what I'd been doing. Every fix I'd tried before was force: more discipline, more coffee, harsher self-talk. But you can't force a system that's braking, it just brakes harder. What works is: coming out gently, in tiny steps and phases. For me: humming , rubbing my hands together and actually feeling it, standing up & swaying a little. Not to be productive. Just to signal to my body that moving is safe again.

Result :- the feeling of sorry for myself is mostly gone, and that alone gave me back a huge amount of energy.

Putting this here because I know how many people are quietly calling themselves lazy right now. Does this match anyone else's experience? And if you've found your own gentle ways out of the frozen state, I'd honestly love to hear them.

I am 15yo about 2 weeks ago i had a terrible headache and i was throwing up and having a panic attack my mother was extremely worried and contacted a doctor. She told me she was gonna schedule an MRI i didn't know what that was so i searched it up and freaked myself out, about time for the appointment the doctor told me he didn't think anything was wrong with me and he said the MRI was optional and he thought the headaches were anxiety (haven't had a headache since) but the MRI was scheduled for august 21st and now ever since that day of the appointment i've been having terrible anxiety issues yesterday i cried 4 times my heart keep beating extremely fast i was unable to eat, I wake up with my heart beating very fast and I am unable to make myself relax my mother even said she would cancel the MRI and i thought that would calm things down but no my body is still in this fight or flight mode i just need to know i'm not in this alone i've did some research looks like heart palpations and just anxiety if someone could give me some advice/information i'd really appreciate it.

Whenever I think about my last trauma, which was when I went to college for one and a half month and this year 2026, when I am trying my best to go again as I had left it in 2024, my mind fills up with anxiety so much so that as usual the extremely tensed me+ weird noises from stomach+ go to poop as fast as possible. And then, since 2026 beginning, also extremely drowsy and sleep attacks when the level of anxiety is beyond the threshold. Idk what to do. I feel very lost. I will die if this continues.

Been dealing with anxiety my whole life but only really started managing it properly in the last couple years. Tried all the typical advice deep breathing, journaling, meditation apps and while some helped occasionally, nothing really stuck long-term. Made me feel like I was doing it wrong tbh.

Finally found some approaches that actually work with my anxious brain instead of against it. Nothing revolutionary, just stuff that clicked:

• The "5-4-3-2-1" thing when I'm spiraling. Name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste. Sounds dumb but it pulls me out of panic mode by getting my brain to focus on right now instead of the disaster scenarios.
• Writing down worst-case scenarios and then what'll probably actually happen. My brain loves jumping to the worst possible outcome. Seeing it on paper shows me how ridiculous it usually is, and the real likely outcome is almost always fine.
• "Worry window" - only letting myself worry between 7-7:30pm. When anxiety hits during the day, I write it down and deal with it at worry time. By evening most of it seems way less important or I've forgotten why it even mattered.
• Cold water on my wrists or face when panicking. The shock just interrupts everything. I keep a water bottle in the fridge for this. Works way better than trying to breathe through it.
• Box breathing but only in the shower. Something about warm water plus breathing actually calms me down. 4 counts in, 4 hold, 4 out, 4 hold. Only time that breathwork stuff actually works for me.
• I use Soothfy for anchor activities (stable routines that keep me grounded) and novelty activities (different stuff to stop boredom and keep dopamine up). Having both predictable calming things and fresh engaging stuff helps me stay balanced without getting stuck in anxious thought loops or getting bored and restless.
• Keeping a "did well" list instead of to-do lists. End of each day I write 3 things I did, even tiny stuff like made breakfast or texted someone back. Helps me see what I accomplished instead of obsessing over what I didn't do.
• Tensing and releasing just my jaw and shoulders. Hold for 5 seconds then let go completely. That's where most of my physical anxiety lives and releasing it gives this weird instant relief feeling.
• Stopped fighting high-anxiety days. They just exist sometimes. Those days are for easy stuff only comfort shows, light stretching, organizing one drawer. No guilt about it. Fighting makes it 10x worse.
• Pre-planning what I'll do if anxiety hits in public. Like "if I panic at the store I'll go to the bathroom and run cold water on my wrists." Just having a plan removes that extra fear of not knowing what to do if it happens.

Been managing pretty consistently for about 4 months now which is honestly a big deal for me. Anyone else find weird stuff that works? The normal advice never really clicked.

Hi, I am currently going through a difficult time in my life and am experiencing depression. I also have episodes of anxiety - uncontrollable thoughts, crying, overwhelm- but they don’t last too long (5-10 mins).
I have read a lot about Wellbutrin and people experiencing irritability and increased anxiety, at least initially. I also have read about Wellbutrin rage, which sounds worrisome as I can get angry at times with overwhelming emotions.
For people who took it with anxiety and depression, did you increase your anxiety or make you irritable continuously or did it settle down after a while?
My dr did also mention Lexapro instead.
Weighing my options.
Thanks for the insights.

I’m a 43 year old executive who honestly should have nothing to complain about. However instead I find myself stuck unable to move past this feeling of being a failure. I feel like at any moment the house of cards will fall and my life will come crashing down. I wasn’t always like this at least from what I remember but the new norm for me is a constant feeling of falling. That sick feeling in my stomach and my throat that I can’t seem to shake. No matter what I do in my life it’s never enough I’m never enough. I have two beautiful children and a stay at home wife since I make more than enough to provide for them. I do travel more than I’d like to and life is tasteless. I enjoy nothing my kids are growing up yet I’m never present even when I’m physically there. I have zero confidence anymore in my job, as a husband, as a leader, or as a father. I honestly want to give up and just end my life and I would if it wasn’t the feeling of being obligated to provide for others. The pressures of work is unbearable so I find myself only doing the minimum and procrastinating on everything. I have no desire to work which is how I have defined my entire existence. What the fuck is wrong with me?

Physically I’m in pain from scoliosis and it’s only gotten worse but I’m still standing. Yet I do nothing to make myself stronger it’s like I’m paralyzed and stuck in motion. I have zero friends at this point only colleagues who I work with. I get to travel to some near places yet I just do my job and then go sit by myself or go back to the room. I’m so very tired I don’t even know where to start. So is it selfish I just end my life?

I read this and thought this is exactly how I feel.

“Having anxiety and depression is like being scared and tired at the same time. It's the fear of failure but no urge to be productive. It's wanting friends but hate socialising. It's wanting to be alone but not wanting to be lonely. It's caring about everything then caring about nothing. It's feeling everything at once then feeling paralysingly numb.”

I’m sorry I’m just rambling at this point but I wish I could find the support I need. It’s clear I can’t help myself to be at the state I’m at.

If anyone has any suggestions I’m in KC and would like to find some resources or support before I get worse.

Hiya there...I am a mother of a 22yo that just graduated college and they is in a major funk. This kid THRIVED in college-graduated near the top of their class, took Japanese 'for fun', really peaking. They have never really had friends-social skills are tricky for them. They are working a p/t job, not in their field. Immediately after graduation-they started sleeping all the time, not leaving the house, really struggling (mind you, these behaviors are normal for them in the summer-no structure is super hard for them.) Now we are a month into graduation, they have put their resume out there (no bites) and they are stuck. Still going to the gym/martial arts classes-but other wise sleeping a ton and not doing anything else. I encouraged them to go to a therapist, which they did and are seeing regularly- but what else can I do? They don't want to talk to me (sometimes they do, when they think I may be helpful) and I keep reaching out to them...I encouraged them to join the gym (which they did) and to get dressed and shower/eat every day but I'm at a loss. I'm trying baby steps. I don't know how to help my kid. Any advice? I know the world seems so bleak right now, I get how they feel, but I want to help. Thanks for your thoughts.

Anxiety and depression is known to make people feel alone, I’m just here to remind you that you aren’t. If you need support I’m here, you are loved

I was recently diagnosed with moderate anxiety and higher on the scale for depression, even though I’ve been dealing with it for as long as I can remember but it got much more extreme after my sister committed suicide understandably. My primary physician prescribed me fluoxetine and a starting dose of 20 mg, my other sister takes it and he said typically what works for one family member tends to work for another. The problem I’m having is starting the medication because I have anxiety over the possibility of having worsening symptoms or experiencing “detachment”. I went through a months long episode of depersonalization when I was 17 (I’m 29 now) and it was probably the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced and I want to avoid that happening again by any means necessary as it took me a very long time to come out of it. Looking for any advice or personal experience when starting a new medication for anxiety.

Edit to add: I have taken 5mg of Ativan for panic attacks in the past and never experienced side effects of that, but in saying that it’s a super low dose and fast acting anxiety medication and curious to how a slow acting daily med would differ.

I always wonder what it would be like not to struggle with depression. I've struggled since I was a kid and I'm in my 40s now. I've tried so many different things, including therapy and meds. Multiple meds. But here I am, still struggling. I have a wonderful life on paper, but I'm screaming inside. I just want to sit and cry right now. I have done so much healing, but it doesn't change my depression.

I believe people are better off without me so I'm trying to just not be around people and if I am, I try to disappear into the background. I'm just so tired.

I think of being on my deathbed and remembering my life. I have a good life, but I feel like I'll just remember all the misery. Even when I'm "happy" and good things are happening, I still feel my depression. It never goes away. It steals so much from me.

The worst part? I see so much of myself in my son. I don't want him to suffer like I have. I don't know how to prevent it though. His anxiety is already so high.

I'm just screaming into the void. I hardly ever get responses or support on Reddit, but I can't say this out loud in real life.

I am so so so so so so sad. My anxiety is awful I’ve been off work for a year and have left my house a handful of times in that year. Mainly just to go buy cigarettes all I do is smoke and eat and feel sad for eating…

I’ve been suicidal since I was 7 and I’m turning 29 in 2 months. I have always said that I will kill myself when I’m 30 if I am still depressed and it’s getting closer

I feel sorry for my parents and brother and that’s why I haven’t done it yet I wanted to wait until everyone kinda has there own life and support network because I don’t want them to be sad when I do it. I say I feel sad and not depressed, I just think this world is so fucked and I honestly hate most people and I just don’t want to be apart of anything.

If I could just live in my flat playing animal crossing and eating yummy food I would be so so so happy that’s all I want. Not to see anyone not to do anything just to eat sleep smoke and play cosy games. That’s honestly the only thing keeping me alive.

Im kinda just venting here but wanna express my thoughts to anyone that is interested in hearing. Im turning 27 in a couple of days and looking back at my life - I have really wasted most of it. Ive been working at an office based job in the same role for over 5 years now that I havent progressed in whatsoever and have only gotten the job due to nepotism (i know im ashamed to admit it). Truth is when i was 20 and in final year of Uni I tried to kms myself several times and that didnt work obviously... and I havent really been the same ever since. My problem is, and has always been, fear - and now that im nearing my 30s and am basically a old man child - its really feels like an impenetrable wall. Everything revolves around fear - i fear to do pretty much anything and everything. I need to make significant changes in my life such as getting a new job, moving out, doing a masters (which at this age i still havent done) and so much more but I have lived most of my life being sheltered by my parents and haven't really done anything for myself but all that has done has made this obstacle of fear practically impossible to break. Even the idea of braking things down into baby steps causes me anxiety because I immediately start panicking and thinking "this is gonna take forever, and I cant even tackle the simple steps'. Should I go to therapy: that alone causes fear because what if I find the wrong one, what if I go to a therapist 3 months and nothing changes, what if I don't adhere to the instructions he/she gives me, what if I keep bouncing between therapists for a year and no real change happens'. I cant read or listen to self help or psychological books or podcasts or vids or articles because im scared of that too - scared I guess because of seing a true reflection of myself or scared that I will have unrealistic expectations of somehow magically finding the one answer that will solve all my problems and then ultimately and inevitably getting dissapointed when it doesnt because thats impossible (im not even making grammatical sence at this point im sorry). I cant finish reading an email at work because reading "too much" gives me anxiety - especially when its written in technical language because that feels like an attack on my intelligence and my insecurities. I feel like im in a constant race against time. Im generecially naming the issue here as fear because I dont understand what the real problem is but let's say that its fear - its stopping me from functioning properly on a day to to day basis and its getting worse by the day. I feel literally addicted to doom scrolling on and playing games on my phone just for the bliss of temporary distraction. Its quite pathetic really. I know I need to change, I know i need to take baby steps and what not, but im tooooooo dam scared to do so. I cant read the first two lines of a job description without panicking and leaving my desk just to distract myself to calm down - then when I return to my desk it's 3, 4, 5 attempts at trying to get through 5 bullet points of job description before I give up. It was never this bad for me. I don't understand how I managed to read 50 articles in a week to write a 30k dissertation and now 7 years later cant read five bullet points without feeling like I cant breath. I wonder if anyone else resonates with this.

My family got me off lex when I was clearly doing good and said I stay humble and I’m no longer mean ( I was setting boundaries)

And so far
I’ve quit my internship at the aquarium
Reason:
My engine was shot and I can’t not have a panic attack thinking about walking downtown and taking the train at 3am to be clocked in at 6am lol

I quit my $22 an hour job at an office with all men because they said a lot of things… and I was a sobbing mess after every shift. I now work retail :/ My co worker said “ *name* can you come here for second” and it felt like my nerve system was shot I went mute all day.

I’ve quit concert plans I made last year

I’m a huge mess. I lost insurance. So I can’t get back on lexapro lol

SOOOO what about yall lol

Yeah so I'm thinking about using the site Talkiatry to see if they will prescribe me meds such as Klonopin. I have horrible anxiety and nothing else will work, right now I have been borrowing a few Klonopins from a family member when my anxiety gets so bad I can't stand it and the panic attacks are brutal.

But I'm just wondering is Talkiatry worth it? I would use Medvidi because I hear they will for sure prescribe meds like Xanax and Adderall but I can't afford that and I have pretty good insurance and Talkiatry does take my insurance so it wouldn't cost me anything to see them. I gave them a call and they emailed me a form to fill out and send back to them so I'm gonna do that. But I'm just wondering will I get prescribed the meds I want or what, who here has experience with Talkiatry and has seen them already, I'd love to only hear from those people. Thanks.

TLDR: Considering Talkiatry because it’s covered by my insurance, dealing with severe anxiety and panic attacks, wondering if they typically prescribe medications like Klonopin/Xanax or stimulants like Adderall/Vyvanse, and looking for real patient experiences before booking.

Alvida song comes to my mind. By kk. I have been hoping to get into college again after I left it in a month in 2024, not knowing why, what it was something was wrong. "Something" which I didn't know I cried in bus, stairs, elevator, first bench of lecture hall, i thought ts fear of failing in exams, but I completed my notes and understood, revised them everyday and not a single day when I didn't hit my papa for getting me admitted in the college. Had he not got me admitted in college I would have hit him daily. He got me admitted then also I was hitting him daily. And so, despite studies "something" was not right. That was the or one of the no but the worst time of my life. Lost my mother at 3, always always everyday felt in toilet of school is there anything called mother? Why? Who? Is there or is it just a rumour? Dad married when I was 6yo. Firstly, I considered her my mum but then within 2 months, she started hitting me badly. And every alternate day due to some or the other reason. When papa came from office she told things which I had not even done. This continued, I cried in school a lot because of what was happening at home and got severely very severely bullied from grade 2 to grade 10. Severe. And at home everything was happening but daily the hitting thing. And the college now, so left it on 30 sept, 2024. October was like who am I? Why am I? What kind of kid leaves college? But then the visuals I saw through bus of trees and roads came and i remembered what I felt while being in the bus. So got scared, but again who leaves college. November I felt idk who I am, what I am doing, nothing at all is making sense, it's making me cry to remember august to November 2024 phase. Dec 2, Monday, I went to psychiatrist. 5-7 minute meeting in a govt hospital. Escitalopram and clonazepam- the wonder drug as I call it were given. I had on paper that day that there is something in real life wrong. Not in my head. That I am lying to myself about feeling emptiest while going to college. I even have pictures of when I was hit as my papa and i fight like karate but hit wherever. December was the most blessed month ever of my existence.