This is a tough one for me. Fear of depression/suicide is what started my ocd. It’s been over a year and unfortunately, it is always the background theme. I’m in the middle of an ocd spike and I am feeling hopeless and sad because I’m tired of anxiety and ocd has latched on to that feeling. Thoughts like “that’s the only way to end ocd. You’ll always be like this, etc.” Now I’m afraid I’m depressed and that will further hinder my recovery. My therapist isn’t concerned but my own feelings of course scare me.
Hello I know what you are going through it was so hard for me to make a real break through what really helped me see all of this from a different pov was a book called “Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, Or Disturbing Thoughts”
Book by Martin N. Seif and Sally M. Winston trust me it does get better
Drew, do you know (or do any other readers know) of someone who writes about feeling depressed with the kind of supportive and "can do" spirit that you write about anxiety? I am not overly obsessed or anxious about depressive states, but when it does come on, it's nice to have additional uplifting resources.
Thanks drew , because I’m a emotional person I mean I cry over tv commercials 😂 you know the sappy sad one’s so when I have therapy session’s I usually cry mid way through not because I’m sad it’s because I feel weak for admitting saying out loud what’s going on with my anxiety if it’s a good story’s I still cry I tell myself I’m not going to cry in this session but I end up crying for a minute or two then I snap myself outta of it and carry on but I always have to say to everyone I’m a emotional person I can be happy and cry. But when I read my chart (MyChart) it’s a online through my hospital. I read my therapist put I was mild depressed and I’m like oh no I’m not depressed at all no how do I mention this in our next session that I’m. Not depressed at all. It’s all anxiety I know. Also when I mentioned you and your Facebook group and books etc she said she would mention to other patients how helpful its been to me because it sounds like I’m right where I should be ( she’s a new therapist)
You are entirely within your rights to challenge that diagnosis. Just ask her. She won’t be offended. “How did you reach the conclusion that I am mildly depressed since you indicated it in your notes?”
I hope not, she’s been a therapist for 25 years when I did mention I wanted cbt and act therapy that talk therapy isn’t very helpful for anxiety disorder she smiled and said yea it is helpful for some not all and as I get to know you I’ll know what would work best for you. And to give her a chance and if I have any issues to let her know so she can work on them or help me find a therapist who’s a good fit for me. Who knows I’m probably waiting on you to get licensed 😂 well I’m getting free help a long the way with the group your podcasts, recovery Monday’s and books you’ve been the push I needed in my recovery journey.
Love this Drew! With this cancer journey that MR. is on and my menopausal body I grow so tired of the people around me that tell me to just go on an antidepressant and you will feel better. This is life I declare. I might feel sad or down in the dumps but I’m up moving and functioning. When others make those comments it makes me question if I’m normal or if there is something wrong when I know there isn’t. I don’t knock anyone down for choosing meds I support them but sometimes you just have to feel and process what you need too and not be scared because THIS IS LIFE. Love you Big Guy 😊
Hi Drew, This was a thought-provoking one. I used to be happy and content, but I actually am depressed precisely from having agoraphobia. I have been looking for many months for an on-line support group for agoraphobia only-to address just this issue of sadness/depression that has developed with the isolation that I have been feeling. Can you recommend anything? I have looked all over the country, and the groups that exist are always anxiety, or OCD, etc. I've written to other counselors as well as the ADAA, among other resources. Thank you for any thoughts or suggestions! Rachel L.
I have to point out that while support is always useful and while every human is entitled to support and compassion, be careful about deciding that agoraphobia is a fixed point around which your life must revolve. Seeking depression support is fine. Accepting that you just have to be agoraphobic as part of the deal isn’t terribly fair to yourself. 💜
This one used to be big for me. And in reality I am a sunny, bouncy person; I’ve never been anywhere near a depressive episode. But especially after I gave birth to my son, I was of course emotional and sometimes teary, and I would think “Oh no, what if I’m developing post-partum depression??” It was scary for sure. I have sympathy for anyone experiencing that fear.
Thanks Drew. Whenever I was suffering with anxiety all my doctors have always treated me as having depression. I kept telling them that I was not depressed but it I was anxious. Maybe it's changed now but I think the doctors still try and treat anxiety as depression.
This is a tough one for me. Fear of depression/suicide is what started my ocd. It’s been over a year and unfortunately, it is always the background theme. I’m in the middle of an ocd spike and I am feeling hopeless and sad because I’m tired of anxiety and ocd has latched on to that feeling. Thoughts like “that’s the only way to end ocd. You’ll always be like this, etc.” Now I’m afraid I’m depressed and that will further hinder my recovery. My therapist isn’t concerned but my own feelings of course scare me.
Hello I know what you are going through it was so hard for me to make a real break through what really helped me see all of this from a different pov was a book called “Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A CBT-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, Or Disturbing Thoughts”
Book by Martin N. Seif and Sally M. Winston trust me it does get better
Drew, do you know (or do any other readers know) of someone who writes about feeling depressed with the kind of supportive and "can do" spirit that you write about anxiety? I am not overly obsessed or anxious about depressive states, but when it does come on, it's nice to have additional uplifting resources.
Thanks drew , because I’m a emotional person I mean I cry over tv commercials 😂 you know the sappy sad one’s so when I have therapy session’s I usually cry mid way through not because I’m sad it’s because I feel weak for admitting saying out loud what’s going on with my anxiety if it’s a good story’s I still cry I tell myself I’m not going to cry in this session but I end up crying for a minute or two then I snap myself outta of it and carry on but I always have to say to everyone I’m a emotional person I can be happy and cry. But when I read my chart (MyChart) it’s a online through my hospital. I read my therapist put I was mild depressed and I’m like oh no I’m not depressed at all no how do I mention this in our next session that I’m. Not depressed at all. It’s all anxiety I know. Also when I mentioned you and your Facebook group and books etc she said she would mention to other patients how helpful its been to me because it sounds like I’m right where I should be ( she’s a new therapist)
You are entirely within your rights to challenge that diagnosis. Just ask her. She won’t be offended. “How did you reach the conclusion that I am mildly depressed since you indicated it in your notes?”
That kind of discussion is always OK. 🙂
I hope not, she’s been a therapist for 25 years when I did mention I wanted cbt and act therapy that talk therapy isn’t very helpful for anxiety disorder she smiled and said yea it is helpful for some not all and as I get to know you I’ll know what would work best for you. And to give her a chance and if I have any issues to let her know so she can work on them or help me find a therapist who’s a good fit for me. Who knows I’m probably waiting on you to get licensed 😂 well I’m getting free help a long the way with the group your podcasts, recovery Monday’s and books you’ve been the push I needed in my recovery journey.
Love this Drew! With this cancer journey that MR. is on and my menopausal body I grow so tired of the people around me that tell me to just go on an antidepressant and you will feel better. This is life I declare. I might feel sad or down in the dumps but I’m up moving and functioning. When others make those comments it makes me question if I’m normal or if there is something wrong when I know there isn’t. I don’t knock anyone down for choosing meds I support them but sometimes you just have to feel and process what you need too and not be scared because THIS IS LIFE. Love you Big Guy 😊
Hi Drew, This was a thought-provoking one. I used to be happy and content, but I actually am depressed precisely from having agoraphobia. I have been looking for many months for an on-line support group for agoraphobia only-to address just this issue of sadness/depression that has developed with the isolation that I have been feeling. Can you recommend anything? I have looked all over the country, and the groups that exist are always anxiety, or OCD, etc. I've written to other counselors as well as the ADAA, among other resources. Thank you for any thoughts or suggestions! Rachel L.
I have to point out that while support is always useful and while every human is entitled to support and compassion, be careful about deciding that agoraphobia is a fixed point around which your life must revolve. Seeking depression support is fine. Accepting that you just have to be agoraphobic as part of the deal isn’t terribly fair to yourself. 💜
Thank you, Drew, for your compassionate and thoughtful reply.
This one used to be big for me. And in reality I am a sunny, bouncy person; I’ve never been anywhere near a depressive episode. But especially after I gave birth to my son, I was of course emotional and sometimes teary, and I would think “Oh no, what if I’m developing post-partum depression??” It was scary for sure. I have sympathy for anyone experiencing that fear.
Thanks Drew. Whenever I was suffering with anxiety all my doctors have always treated me as having depression. I kept telling them that I was not depressed but it I was anxious. Maybe it's changed now but I think the doctors still try and treat anxiety as depression.