PTSD, Depression, Anxiety and Bipolar Disorder

My daughter, and one of my sons, suffers from these effects and while I have had my own share of depression, I can't begin to appreciate the struggle that they go through. I've watched my wife struggle with this after having each of our kids and that effect seems to be transient and related purely to hormonal changes.

All I can recommend is that you should seek professional help in order to get proper advice and guidance. They can determine if medication is needed or not, and they can also provide you with a toolbox of strategies to apply to managing these feelings on a long term basis. Social remedies and recommendations can often make matters worse despite the best intentions.

That said, the one practical bit of direction we were given was to try and turn negative thoughts into positive ones. If and when we hear negative comments, we jump on them and try to turn them around. If you have friends that can help in that regard, ask them to keep an ear out for negative comments from you, so they can help you turn them into positive comments and thoughts about yourself.

I wish you the best in this regard, I have seen how tough this can be to manage.

I have depression, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD (I've never been diagnosed). I briefly went to therapy, hated it, and decided to avoid both therapy and medication. My attempt to just "move on" didn't help me, so I decided to try natural remedies. I took 5-HTP, which helped until I developed an unhealthy attachment to someone abusive. That person triggered memories I'd been repressing and I developed symptoms of PTSD.

I had no idea what was happening to me, assumed it was the 5-HTP and foolishly quit cold turkey. Despite getting through the withdrawal symptoms, the other symptoms remained and I spiraled down and hit rock bottom. Not long after, I started taking St. John's Wort and exercising. In April, I decided I needed to commit myself to serious change and joined MFP. While I'm not exactly happy, the St. John's Wort helped give me enough motivation and stability to seriously work on the mental and physical task of getting healthier.

It hasn't been easy. Becoming healthier has taken every ounce of my energy and will and has forced me to confront a lot of buried emotions. But despite that, committing myself to getting better is the best thing I have ever done for myself. The confidence I've gained has enabled me to remove that abusive person from my life and has given me the desire to keep fighting.

For those of you struggling with any or all of these, I'd love to know your story.

How do you cope? Do you take medications, or stick to natural remedies?
How has your weight loss journey been affected by this?
What about your relationships?

I want to hear from people that are going through what I'm going through.

Hello.

I have a blog here which covers more of my story. In short, I've had experience with the first 3 things on your list. Personally, I observed that I could focus on all of these symptoms and just treat them...or I could try to figure out what was causing my symptoms. Additionally, at times, I sensed how "easy" it could be to "cross over" to a diagnosis of bi-polar or ocd or alcoholic, etc. if I continued to allow myself to get carried away by how powerful the stress, depression and anxiety felt and continued to ignore what could be causing all of it.

I chose to try the least invasive to most invasive (for me) methods for dealing with things. For me this included some bodywork, homeopathic remedies, talk therapy, support groups, meditation, some diet changes, journaling...essentially, all around better self-care.

I really didn't want to take medications. This was challenging because in Western culture there is still a reliance on pills to "fix" things and at times I really felt like I was going to die and I should just take pills because they represented immediate help. But what helped me remain calm and explore other options was just keeping in mind that there are many, many more people in the world that heal themselves in very different ways. I really tried to be open to that idea and I feel it helped me be open to so many of the options that actually worked for me.

I was very open with my doctors about my view and, luckily for me, they were very receptive and respectful and even open to learning about the things I was doing that ultimately made me feel better. If they hadn't been open I would have thought about changing doctors. I also sought out others that had experience with wholistic care and self treatment. I navigated these new interactions by trusting my instincts. I contacted a several people before picking the Reiki practitioner, yoga teacher and massage therapist I chose.

Also, just from personal observation of some of my friends who choose pills (for any ailment), they seemed to have never discussed an "exit plan" for getting off the pills...like, how long are you supposed to stay on them? When I pointed this out to a friend she liked that observation. I saw her a while back and she said she had a moment with her doctor when she pretended she was me...my friend said, "I told my doctor the medication I was on was starting to cause me to get nauseated. Without a beat, she told me that was a common side effect and there was another pill I could take to combat the nausea. So, I just said - Thanks. I'll think about it. - and decided it was time to make an exit plan."

As for my "weight loss journey," I quite recently have become much more clear that, although at times I thought I was, my journey was never really about weight loss. Meaning, my weight was not THE issue. It, too, and all the struggle that had come with that line of thinking, was a symptom of my past trauma.

Talk therapy has been the most beneficial thing I could have done for myself. It took me about 3 attempts to find someone I liked. It took many sessions to finally trust her enough to open myself to her guidance. It has been very difficult to face all of the things that have contributed to my stress, anxiety and depression...but I am SOOOOO much better than where I was and now when stress or anxiety or depression come up (which they do less frequently and with less intensity) I have a better ability to see why I'm feeling these things. I also have more strategies and resources to deal with them in a way that is more in line with how I want to treat my body, mind and spirit.

In terms of relationships...depends to what kind you are referring. I, fortunately, have a long time partner who is incredibly supportive. I know my struggle has been hard on him and I feel badly about that at times. But now that I'm facing things and dealing with them differently, there is less stress for both of us.

My relationship with my family has gone through phases. Mainly, these phases don't reflect anything they are doing differently...most of them haven't changed at all. What has changed is my perspective on things and my idea of what they can/can't offer me and I them. There has been a lot of sadness and anger involving some of these realizations...but, again, ultimately I feel the better for it and I'm happy I'm facing the feelings rather than covering them up with meds or self-medication with harmful habits.

I really wish you the best. It can be a long and difficult journey but the universe will support your desire to heal and better yourself and remarkable things can happen.

Best to you!

9thChakra:flowerforyou:

Oh...I wanted to add...in re: to meds/supplements:

In the past (and for the time being), I am taking sam-E (non-prescription in U.S., prescription in Europe).

About 2 1/2 years ago, I was quite depressed and had really bad joint pain. My therapist recommended it and it took me a while and research to feel comfortable trying it.

I tried taking just 200 mg daily for two weeks but felt no change. I upped it to 400 mg daily and after two weeks started to have less joint pain which really helped me feel less depressed. I really was so down about being so sore.

After about a year on it, I noticed my joint pain increased again. At the time, I was also entering into topics in therapy that were very intense. Instead of upping the sam-E I went off it.

I recognized that my body was sore and reacting to the emotional stuff I was dealing with. I stayed off sam-E for some time and really dealt with allowing my body to "talk" to me. (Using the body scans from the audiobook, Your Body Speaks Your Mind, have been incredibly helpful with this).

Recently, I was cleaning out my bathroom closet and found I still had 2 boxes of sam-E left. I have been having some really bad joint pain again so I decided to take the sam-E to give me a little relief and use it up before it expires. I know there are some exercises I need to do for the current pain I have but I've been struggling with exercising because it triggers my trauma. As I work through this, I don't mind using this supplement. I feel I'm doing so with mindfulness. And I would like to add that I don't think taking meds is "wrong" or "right" I just know I want to have a really good awareness when choosing them.

Again, take care!

9thChakra

I had really bad post partom depression after my kids were born - they are 14yr and 16yr old. At first I was too embarassed to see anyone about it, until I had to. I took medication for about 6-7 years with success. I stopped taking my meds when I got a divorce and switched jobs. Have felt "in control" of my life ever since!

I gained weight when I was depressed - up to 200 lbs - in which I was an athlete, so that's outrageous for me. After my divorce I dropped about 30 lbs and am now working on the last few. I'm almost at maintenance.

Now I'm back to playing volleyball 2-3 times a week and eating healthier.

I had a case of depression/anxiety. I was really stressed from extended family emotional stuff, plus the demand of raising a family. It took me months to heal my hormones after I realized what was going on.
Since that time, I am aware that allowing myself to be overly-pushed physically and emotionally is bad! So I won't go there.
I am an herb-lover, but the strange feeling of anxiety/depression made me feel that I would take a drug!
Fortunately, St.Johns Wort herb is listed in the drug-reference books as an equally effective remedy. So I took that herb.
Also Omega-3's, exercise, Vit D.
I had a hormone panel taken, showing my hormones to be a tad low....no wonder I felt bad!
I now have GREAT respect for keeping a healthy body and healthy mindset....the hormonal reactions to prolonged stress is really hard on us!
I also stopped the extended family interactions. Enough of that! I need to focus on my family, and not partake in the whole dysfunctional dynamic. I want a happy home-life!
Now I feel energetic, and don't have the oppression of dealing with anxiety/depression.

I've been diagnosed with all of these except PTSD. They are all very hard illnesses to live with. I was originally diagnosed when I was 15/16 years old (I'm 22 now) and was promptly put on a multitude of medications. I honestly felt like the meds made me feel even worse. I abruptly stopped all of my medications when I was 17 (I DO NOT recommend this, if you're going to do this do with a doctor's consent) but ever since I have been off of them I have felt like a completely different person. I definitely still have my days. weeks even, where it is very hard for me. I've gained different coping strategies when I do get depressed or manic so that I can cope and get through it a little easier. One of them has been yoga and/or meditation. This helps tremendously! Sometimes we get so built up inside and expel the negative energy in a harmful way, but when you take the time to CALM yourself, it makes a difference. Going to the gym is also a huge help, it burns so much of the negative energy and I always feel better after I do it.

As for my weight loss journey, it has been hard. With my depression came a very serious eating disorder that I still struggle with today. It plagued my mind with the constant comparison of myself to other women, so it makes it hard for me to focus on myself instead of how others look and why I need to look like them. It's a constant battle with my own thoughts. Yet through my coping method of working out when anxious or manic, this has been beneficial

Relationships were hard. I am now with someone who loves me for who I am and I KNOW that, and I think that's the most important thing is that I believe it. He is aware of my "moods" and has worked with me and knows how to handle them when the situation comes up. These illnesses are typically a forever thing, and while they can be maintained the person you spend your life with needs to be accepting and supportive of things when you need it the most.

I hope this provides some insight for you, feel free to PM me if you ever need any advice or just to talk!

I have been diagnosed with depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and spectrophobia.
I found the best way to cope was to exercise, have a GREAT support group of friends and family, and break out of my comfort zone.
All the medications made me gain weight and sometimes left me feeling empty.

But for sure, I recommend talking to a therapist, having a great support network, and trying to change things up before trying medications because they can really mess you up. But of course, I'm not a doctor, and you should always take your doctor's opinion in consideration.

PTSD - yeap, somehow got 2, yes, TWO of them
Chronic lifelong depression - CHECK
Anxiety & Panic attacks - CHECK
Bi-polar - NO but my sister is (and schizo runs in BOTH sides of the family)

Tried counselling, meds, etc.... nothing really helped much. I know what is wrong, I know what should fix things.... but does it? Nope. So i get by day - 2 - day. Many are worse than others, some are better. I have my methods, but.....

*hugs*

I have PTSD and Depression. All I can say is I use to never understand how someone could be depressed and just want to sleep all the time. But now I TRULY understand. I didn't become depressed until 5 years ago. Life drop kicked me in the face and I fell fast with issues in my marriage and with my weight and just with how life was not going my way. I always had PTSD from my abusive father and his ignorant ways of beating me and telling me I was worthless, this didn't snap into place until one day I snapped and struck out at my husband because of a fight we were having. He had me arrested and I was charged with Domestic Violence Reckless conduct. This basically meant I knew what I was doing but didn't care to stop. I then was ordered to a psychiatrist and from there she told me I had PTSD and SEVERE depression and ordered me to a Counselor and then to a doctor for meds. My depression became WORSE because I was so humiliated and felt like my fathers words of being nothing were true. I started out on pills and HATED IT, I was an emotionless walking Zombie. My doctor changed my pills twice and then is when my obesity and depression consumed me. I was in a severe car crash, my right leg fractured badly. I had to endure major pain and surgeries and metal now holds my lower leg together. I had to then re learn how to walk and go through PT to get help with the pain. I then had to endure being taken care of, which in my entire life I have fought people off to help me because they always just hurt me. God does mysterious things in our life and to be taken care of like a baby broke me down more were my depression couldn't hide behind my fake smile I use to wear. I binge ate until I would make myself sick and even tho I had never thought of suicide, I was basically killing myself regardless. At this time I told my doctor I wanted off my pills as I was sick of feeling like a Zombie, My doctor didn't fight me on it and she said EXERCISE, LIFESTYLE CHANGE and FIGHT. At first I didn't understand what she meant and now I can say, fighting for my life and understanding we all fall and hurt sometimes is alright. I still have depression, but my doctor told me I am the only one who can feed it. Yes it is a chemical imbalance in the brain and hormones. She says my hormones are out of sync due to my weight and a low vitamin D along with Anemic/low iron. Along with my extra weight. So I keep fighting for ME and my family. I want children in my future, but I will not bring them into this world knowing a mother who can't fight for herself or show them the amazing things of this world. I fight my depression with vitamins and liquid Vitamin D3 and B12 and just eat a healthy diet of fruits, veggies, whole grains and have very little to NONE for junk food. I notice soda really made me depressed when I drank it, so its a very SPECIAL treat for my birthday or whatever we celebrate with others. Also the LORD has been a big part of my recovery, I turn to him when I need a shoulder to cry on or my Husband, he has a better understanding of me now and comforts me even when I am having a break down or a moment of screaming at him to back off. He knows I am ashamed but he comforts me regardless and we talk about later and it really does help me!!

To those struggling, just know you are AMAZING and you can BEAT this. I know some days feel like the end. But it is not, YOU ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS!!

which helped until I developed an unhealthy attachment to someone abusive.

I'm going to recommend for you and anyone else that struggles with this the book, "The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of Exploitive Relationships" by Patrick J. Carnes.

This books is extremely good. It is for anyone that has struggled with unhealthy attachments to abusive people. But, it is especially good for people that first experienced this as a child (for example: abused by a parent or both parents or people in a parental type of role). This book helped me so much. I have gone on to have a long term, healthy relationship, and to bring children into a safe, healthy childhood. I see my family members still struggling, never being able to recover or heal or see or understand how to break these unhealthy bonds. It may not ever go away entirely. But, you can gain control over it and break the cycles and lead a healthy life, seeing the unhealthy patterns for exactly what they are and not allowing them to harm your life.

Books help me. And this one is top of the list.

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Betrayal-Bond-Exploitive-Relationships/dp/1558745262/ref=cm_lmf_tit_6

Also this one helped me a ton!!! http://www.amazon.com/How-Long-Does-Hurt-Recovering/dp/0787975699/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

And this one about healing through writing in a healing way (tested scientifically): http://www.amazon.com/Opening-Up-Healing-Expressing-Emotions/dp/1572302380/ref=cm_lmf_tit_7

For those of you struggling with any or all of these, I'd love to know your story.

How do you cope? Do you take medications, or stick to natural remedies?
How has your weight loss journey been affected by this?
What about your relationships?

I want to hear from people that are going through what I'm going through.

I have all of these except for bipolar. I stick to natural remedies.
My relationships are.. eh. They have to deal with it. If not.. Well it doesn't work out. Which, I don't mind, if they don't care enough to understand.

Also, just from personal observation of some of my friends who choose pills (for any ailment), they seemed to have never discussed an "exit plan" for getting off the pills...like, how long are you supposed to stay on them? When I pointed this out to a friend she liked that observation. I saw her a while back and she said she had a moment with her doctor when she pretended she was me...my friend said, "I told my doctor the medication I was on was starting to cause me to get nauseated. Without a beat, she told me that was a common side effect and there was another pill I could take to combat the nausea. So, I just said - Thanks. I'll think about it. - and decided it was time to make an exit plan."

The thing about Bipolar Disorder is that it's not something that goes away once you treat it. So, for those of us who find medication beneficial, the answer to "how long am I supposed to keep taking it?" is "for as long as it keeps being effective." That isn't to say that other treatments aren't effective...I find that the best treatment for serious mood disorders is a combination of medication, talk therapy, and healthy lifestyle including eating well and exercising. If I lapse in any one of those areas, I begin to slip.

I respect anyone who decides that medication side effects aren't worth the benefits, but for some people medication may be part of their long term treatment and that's nothing to feel bad about. For some of us, "nature" itself doesn't have all the solutions.

I've been on Wellbutrin for about a year and a half. It changed my life.

PTSD and anxiety. Not on any meds because I don't llke the side effects. Working out and eating better has helped a lot. I haven't had a full blown anxiety attack in years. Self-preservation kicked in for me.

Relationships are hard for me to deal with. I have absolutely no tolerance for drama or nonsense of any kind.