Social anxiety and depression.
havok1113
Posts: 26 Member
I suffer from bpd, panic disorder, gad, as well as depression. So it's hard for me to stay motivated and it limits what I can do to work out. (Social anxiety is huge for me) I'm starting to really hate myself and how I look/how much I've gained. Any advice or friends going through the same would be awesome. This is my first time putting all this out there. I'm currently at 224 pounds.
2
Replies
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Do you see anyone professionally? If you don't, you should.
I started off doing videos on YouTube. Worked way up to walking outside with ear phones. Short distance to a point n back first. Then got longer the more comfortable I got.
Then joined a gym. That took 3 yrs.6 -
Definitely see someone, if you aren't.
This might sound crazy, but even my own doctor told me - new research is beginning to point to meditation being more powerful than any anti-anxiety drug out there. My anxiety isn't anywhere near the level of yours, but I have to say that even being a very beginner with meditation has definitely helped me in a few circumstances. You literally re-wire your brain to direct your focus. It becomes easier to push out the thoughts that harm or derail you and concentrate on what you want, and to stay calm.6 -
I hope you are getting medical help for all that honey. I'm so sorry you're going through all that. I have social anxiety as well and life situations make it worse. You just need to find ways to cope. What really helped me is meditation and spirituality. I'm not religious by any means, but spiritual, yes. Find your inner peace and know that life is valuable. It takes a little time but you will get there.5
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I agree with going for a walk, doing stairs and putting the headphones in. If I'm feeling extremely anxious, I won't force myself to go to the gym if it's going to heighten anxious thoughts. I listen to my mind/body and do what it needs to feel better and more relaxed. Keep at it!
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i recommend a doctor visit if you don't have one already.
i have found running and yoga and aerial arts(hammock and lyra) quiets my head when it acts up. even just walking literally away from the stress makes me better.
I am under doctors care and medication but unfortunately sometimes i need the above addition help.4 -
Thanks for all the advice! I have seen a doctor, psychiatrist, and psychologist since I was 12.3
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good luck 2
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hey there. I have bpd and depression, but not serious anxiety. do you take meds to help with the anxiety? in my experience with people who suffer from debilitating GAD, meds are really the only thing that help.
as far as the bpd and depression go, getting my body back to its happy place has definitely helped me, as does the lifting program I do now. antidepressants also help increase my general baseline mood which allows the exercise a better chance of improving my mood, and I also take something to help me sleep as I don't sleep worth *kitten* otherwise. and for me taking care of the most basic things like getting enough sleep and eating enough are huge for helping me having that baseline at a reasonable place so that I have more energy to focus on the deeper things and work on myself. I also facilitate a support group that I find super helpful, maybe looking for something like that in your area would provide you with some additional support? or a skills group?
you're welcome to add me as a friend if you ever want to talk or just have someone in your news feed going through similar things. 2 -
I suffer from severe anxiety too and take prescribed Sertraline daily.
I've tried hypnotherapy and acupuncture but neither helped however CBT worked really well. Enquire about it if you haven't tried it already.2 -
Don't beat yourself up about your weight. It's one thing in life we have control over. You can definitely lose it! Not today, not tomorrow, but in time. Do some work to eat better and exercise, let your early success be your motivation to keep going.
If going to the gym makes you anxious, find workouts you can do at home. Lots of at-home exercise routines posted out there.
Do something to get out of the house everyday even if it's going to grocery store, even if it's walking around a clothing store, even if it's walking to the end of the block and back.
It gets better.
Take care!1 -
I have depression, and severe anxiety topped with post pardon depression. It might sound crazy but I have never been one for taking meds, I had a counselor back when I was in my teens that pretty much just wanted to drug all my problems away and had me on 5 different meds for a total of two conditions at the time. Needless to say I have since given up on drugs for my situation, I barely even take pain reliever anymore. I have come to find through looking for ways to help myself on my own that breathing techniques and hot showers or baths for decompressing from the day do provide relief. It might not seem like much, but when you couple a few techniques together and start to do them on a daily basis, you will probably start to find some relief.4
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try working out at home, YouTube has a huge amount of variety! my personal faves are Fitness Blender (they have an awesome fitness community and all their workouts are free) and Yoga with Adrienne
i find regular workouts do wonders for my anxiety and ability to sleep2 -
I have social anxiety too, due to Asperger (autism) or in addition to, can't tell. I started by using a single step and some 5-10 lb weights to make my own step aerobics routine to tv programs. Later I bought a Walmart elliptical for $200 so i could use it while watching tv. I use noise isolating ear buds at public gyms and watch hulu or listen to podcasts. It keeps random people from bothering me, even most of the brain dead men (you know the type). I felt alot better about being around people when I got healthier. You can hide in the back of yoga/Pilates classes too. I arrive early to get a spot in the back and put in earbuds or read a kindle if I feel awkward not talking to anyone. Also water aerobics may help because it is no-impact but strengths joints/muscles. Can't really hide in that class but its alright. You could walk with a doggie if you have access to one that is medium energy (doesn't pull) if you like them because that are the best motivators to move.
Hope this helps3 -
My feeling is that it is necessary to get all of your mental and physical health issues under control before you try to focus on fitness and weight loss. Anything else is really just an exercise in frustration.
I think that in your case, I would look into adjusting medications, trying different therapies or perhaps seeing a new mental health professional.
Best of luck to you.1 -
I struggle with depression and anxiety as well (especially social anxiety). I know how hard it is to take that first step. It took me 6 months to join a gym, then three more weeks to actually go to it. After I realized literally no one there was paying any attention to me at all (besides at check in lol) I became more comfortable going. Everyone is in their own zone. I've come to CHERISH my alone time at the gym. Not only that but my symptoms have dramatically improved. It has startled me a few times how quickly waves of depression set in after only a few skipped workouts. I don't take medication because I can't afford to see a specialist, but diet and exercise has been an invaluable tool for helping me cope with my symptoms.3
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »My feeling is that it is necessary to get all of your mental and physical health issues under control before you try to focus on fitness and weight loss. Anything else is really just an exercise in frustration.
I think that in your case, I would look into adjusting medications, trying different therapies or perhaps seeing a new mental health professional.
Best of luck to you.
i respectfully disagree to a point. i think exercise and a good diet can go hand in hand with mental health. for me personally, if i have something i seem overly anxious about nothing takes care of it more than a good exercise session. not even anything crazy, just a good run where i am only concentrating on what my body is doing in the moment resets my perspective and when i am done my anxiety about the situation is gone too.
that being said, you still have to work with your doctors to ensure you're addressing your problems.6 -
I also have anxiety and depression issue but in the last 1 1/2 years I have lost 4 and abit stone. It can be done I started of walking my dog the more and more I did it the easier it got I do have to admit I stick to paths no parks where people might want to talk or quite woods less likely to bump into someone. I also got an exercise bike started of 10mins and increased from there as the weight started falling of I noticed my mood started to pick up I now feel able to go to the gym I joined 3 weeks ago first time I'd been in over 10 years I go with my head phones in as soon as I leave the car work out and take them out when I get back to the car. No body has spoke to me yet just what I wanted.
Baby steps everyone's different you just need to find what works for you5 -
Thanks everyone for the support. I am slowly getting better. I've been doing some at home yoga, kettle bells, and walking on the tread mill. Much more comfortable bUT I will work on stepping out of my comfort zone. As for doctors I dislike them, all they do is push medication and I'm working on becoming better without something altering my state of mind. I've found yoga and meditation does help some, so I plan to delve deeper into those practices.3
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »My feeling is that it is necessary to get all of your mental and physical health issues under control before you try to focus on fitness and weight loss. Anything else is really just an exercise in frustration.
I think that in your case, I would look into adjusting medications, trying different therapies or perhaps seeing a new mental health professional.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you for the advice. But I believe that in trying to better myself physically, in turn mentally I will improve as well. Exercise is a known form of therapy if you will that every doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, and Web article I have ever come across, suggest.3 -
You can try using local school's track or other park where fitness is the main focus....trust me, everyone else there is pretty much doing the same thing and nobody will pay you any attention! I find at my town's high school, especially out of school season, it's hardly crowded only a couple of other folks there walking or running. Might be a good place for you to start and get comfortable (if it's a viable option for you)4
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »My feeling is that it is necessary to get all of your mental and physical health issues under control before you try to focus on fitness and weight loss. Anything else is really just an exercise in frustration.
I think that in your case, I would look into adjusting medications, trying different therapies or perhaps seeing a new mental health professional.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you for the advice. But I believe that in trying to better myself physically, in turn mentally I will improve as well. Exercise is a known form of therapy if you will that every doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, and Web article I have ever come across, suggest.
If you are so anxious that you can barely leave the house, how are you able to exercise in a consistent way?
Of course exercise is helpful for stress and anxiety, but if you are having big enough problems that your issues are getting in the way of your everyday life, exercise is not going to be enough to keep things under control. You will be inconsistent and constantly frustrated.1 -
azulvioleta6 wrote: »azulvioleta6 wrote: »My feeling is that it is necessary to get all of your mental and physical health issues under control before you try to focus on fitness and weight loss. Anything else is really just an exercise in frustration.
I think that in your case, I would look into adjusting medications, trying different therapies or perhaps seeing a new mental health professional.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you for the advice. But I believe that in trying to better myself physically, in turn mentally I will improve as well. Exercise is a known form of therapy if you will that every doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, and Web article I have ever come across, suggest.
If you are so anxious that you can barely leave the house, how are you able to exercise in a consistent way?
Of course exercise is helpful for stress and anxiety, but if you are having big enough problems that your issues are getting in the way of your everyday life, exercise is not going to be enough to keep things under control. You will be inconsistent and constantly frustrated.
I have a treadmill, weights as well as yoga materials and videos. Lots of others suggestion on this post to help. I'm not sure what you are trying to get out of this but I believe at this point in time I will agree to disagree. Thank you for your opinion thought and good luck!1 -
campbellbx wrote: »I also have anxiety and depression issue but in the last 1 1/2 years I have lost 4 and abit stone. It can be done I started of walking my dog the more and more I did it the easier it got I do have to admit I stick to paths no parks where people might want to talk or quite woods less likely to bump into someone. I also got an exercise bike started of 10mins and increased from there as the weight started falling of I noticed my mood started to pick up I now feel able to go to the gym I joined 3 weeks ago first time I'd been in over 10 years I go with my head phones in as soon as I leave the car work out and take them out when I get back to the car. No body has spoke to me yet just what I wanted.
Baby steps everyone's different you just need to find what works for you
Thanks! I was thinking about getting a dog but they aren't aloud in my building
. I've been working on walking and getting out of the house more. So far with someone but hope to get over the anxiety of doing it alone.
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ObsidianMist wrote: »hey there. I have bpd and depression, but not serious anxiety. do you take meds to help with the anxiety? in my experience with people who suffer from debilitating GAD, meds are really the only thing that help.
as far as the bpd and depression go, getting my body back to its happy place has definitely helped me, as does the lifting program I do now. antidepressants also help increase my general baseline mood which allows the exercise a better chance of improving my mood, and I also take something to help me sleep as I don't sleep worth *kitten* otherwise. and for me taking care of the most basic things like getting enough sleep and eating enough are huge for helping me having that baseline at a reasonable place so that I have more energy to focus on the deeper things and work on myself. I also facilitate a support group that I find super helpful, maybe looking for something like that in your area would provide you with some additional support? or a skills group?
you're welcome to add me as a friend if you ever want to talk or just have someone in your news feed going through similar things.
I was on about 6 different medications, but a situation in my life made me decide any form of medication wasn't for me. It has been hard, and I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. But I would like to develope on my own and try to get better without them. I will look at something like that! Thank you 2 -
minime0424 wrote: »I have depression, and severe anxiety topped with post pardon depression. It might sound crazy but I have never been one for taking meds, I had a counselor back when I was in my teens that pretty much just wanted to drug all my problems away and had me on 5 different meds for a total of two conditions at the time. Needless to say I have since given up on drugs for my situation, I barely even take pain reliever anymore. I have come to find through looking for ways to help myself on my own that breathing techniques and hot showers or baths for decompressing from the day do provide relief. It might not seem like much, but when you couple a few techniques together and start to do them on a daily basis, you will probably start to find some relief.
Thank you! I really hope so. 1 -
I also struggle with anxiety and depression, but I have found that, if I can just force myself to push through and go for that walk or take that bike ride, I end up feeling better. (I'm not on any medication, by the way.) Physical activity can be very meditative if you give it a chance, allowing you to sort through your thoughts and feeling while engaging in repetitive motion that directs your excess or negative energy away from you. I find it also helps to blast music that adequately expresses what you're feeling at the time. It can be very validating and cathartic to hear your emotions reflected in the music you exercise to. Often, for me, these two things are enough to keep "the demons" at bay. Good luck, and I hope you find something that works for you and makes you feel better!2
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Plans realistic number of days you want to workout for the week and an idea of kind of workout but be flexible of which days you do that particular workout. On those days you schedule a workout but time is short, just think a little something is better than nothing. So even a 30 min workout when you really wanted to do 1 hr is okay. The routine for me is helpful.1
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Also, I sent friend invites to the majority in this feed for accountability, appreciation for mental health understanding, and supporting each other in health and fitness.2
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I suffer from dysthymia with bouts of major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, PMDD, and C-PTSD. I understand what you mean -- motivation can be quite difficult. I do take medication for it, as well as seeing a psychologist. I require the medication since at least one type of the depression is hereditary, and when not on it, multiple professionals have almost put me in the psych ward. Absolutely, trying to motivate oneself with a mental illness or two can be pulling teeth.
Personal diatribes aside, seeing a professional and getting medication isn't a bad thing, in my opinion. Some people use medication simply as a stepping stone to help their brain chemistry get in check while they figure out their emotional issues, and then wean off of it as they learn self love and better coping mechanisms. Some medications cause weight loss, and some cause weight gain, and some have both as a side effect listed, so if weight is contributing to a negative self-image, that may be something to keep in mind.
That said, I think it's important to work on good coping mechanisms and getting professional help if available; but, one thing that can help is try to not beat yourself up if you slip. If you meant to exercise today but don't have the energy to put your feet on the ground, it's okay. There's no need to beat yourself up about it; save all of that energy to exercise tomorrow. Exercise does release endorphins, as well -- those can help you feel better, provided your brain doesn't absorb feel-good chemicals too quickly.
You're welcome to add me and talk to me as you wish. I struggle with the same depression-driven motivational issues, and if you think having a friend who would help to keep you accountable for your goals as well as talk through mental concerns, I would be happy to help.0 -
First, you doing a great thing joining mfp..it is a step in the right direction. I don't suffer from your situation but was experiencing serious anxiety after decades of thinking I'd never have it again. I read up on what to do, and one thing was to exercise. I found when I lifted heavy weights it actually relieved my anxiety. I also started eating better…there's a list of foods that ease anxiety. So, in short.. if you make yourself exercise, eat healthy..and get good sleep.. you may find your symptoms are way relieved. i never had to resort to medicine and so glad for that. Yet, at one point I was so uncomfortable I considered that option.. glad I pushed through. .1
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