Anxiety/Depression

I have had anxiety/depression for the last 7 years. I have tried several different medications and techniques. I had several years of being on medication and several years of not being on medication. I was diagnosed after going through postpartum depression after giving birth to my third child. The hormonal and chemical imbalances became too much for my mind and body to handle, and I needed help.

Knowing when you need that extra help is very important to your mental health and wellbeing. It is entirely ok to ask for help and discuss your problems with someone. I started using Talkspace at the beginning of 2022. I was fortunate to get 6 free sessions through my 9-5. After those sessions, I signed up because I liked the therapist I was partnered with. She helps me when I need to talk things through and get a deeper insight or when it is something that my husband does not understand. She gives me the tools I need to work through my feelings and get to the root of the problem, to heal and cope.

I also worked with my primary care practitioner to manage my anxiety and depression with medications. I had to go through a slew of trials on different SNRIs and SSRIs before finding one that helps rather than inhibits me. Failures with several medications turned me into a zombie, which was unhealthy for my family or me. I was so doped up on meds that I did not care about anything. I did not take care of myself, physically or emotionally. My husband noticed my lack of will on everything and gently suggested I go back in to be reevaluated as he was concerned.

I was tired of trying different medications, and nothing was working, so after consulting my practitioner at the time and expressing my want to not be on them, I whined off them. I was able to not take any medications for almost 3 years before I began to need them again. To be completely honest, the Covid epidemic really pushed me over the edge. All the fighting, worry, being scared, and contradicting information threw my mind into a spiral I could not escape. I have been on my current prescription for approxiamentally 2 years, which has been a tremendous help.

I learned ways to cope with it without medication: yoga, listening to podcasts, tanning, and taking care of myself so I could take care of my family. I have recently started reading Herbal Antibiotics, which has a multitude of information on using herbs for several different ailments with your mind and body. One of those ailments she covers is anxiety and depression, and herbs could possibly help you. You should consult with your doctor or an herbalist before starting so that you do not hurt yourself or interact with any medications you may currently be on.

Why did I go back on medication? Because I struggled to get out of bed, go to work, care for myself, care for my family, and socialize, I lost my will to live. I didn't want to die, but I didn't want to live. I began resorting to old habits of drugs and alcohol to cope with it. After, I would feel even worse for using those substances to help me feel relaxed enough to cope with my emotions. I met with my current practitioner and discussed my feelings, the need for help, my concerns with the past medications, and the want to not be on them for the rest of my life.

She prescribed me my current SNRI, which is primarily for anxiety but does work for depression as well. SNRIs increase the level of two chemicals (serotonin and norepinephrine) in your brain. It gives me the right amount of the chemical boost I need to live the best life without turning me into a zombie or a different person.

If you are feeling any of these, please contact someone for help. You can call or text 988 anytime for immediate assistance. You can get a ton of information at the 988lifeline.org website. Talk to your practitioner or a therapist. There is help out there, and you are not alone.

💖,

The Wellness Blondie

I would love to know, what do you think?