13928779:cory.iyoob said:
Any of you have experience with ocd based anxiety? I’ve had generalized anxiety, irrational fears, obsessive behaviors and unwanted thought patterns that I’ve only just recently mostly gotten over. At times when I was younger it’s gotten so bad I was barely able to leave my room for days. It’s genetic so both my sister and mom have it also although there’s is more depression and generalized anxiety. They decided to go the Prozac route but I decided not too and I’m really happy with my choice. They frequently become depressed again and have panic attacks about fears that their meds are no longer working (then they take Xanax for that which is also dangerous). It’s a scary and sometimes unstable lifestyle to live. I’ve learned that with diet, friends, family meditation, staying busy, biking, music and most obviously skiing I can maintain happiness. Honestly, It actually helped me with my skiing since I’d become obsessed with certain tricks/rails and hike for them for days haha (there was one season where’d I rarely even take the lift lol). However I’ve learned to let my friends rather than my anxiety fuel my skiing and have been happier ever since. My point is, depression and anxiety are sold to us as very understood diseases that you simply need to “recieve help” for. While couseling can be very beneficial, I would stay away from long term use of anti anxiety/ anti depressants unless you are at the last straw since they aren’t actually as reliable as most think. Do your own research, these companies are there to make money and don’t necessarily care about you if that doesn’t help them make more. It’s the marketing of these companies that make depression seem like such an easily treatable illness but in reality it’s very complicated. Also have patience, it was a slow progression for me to move on from my own ocd and anxiety but I find that’s actually more comforting since it feels more stable than if I just magically felt the way in an instant after some time on medication. Did your depression or anxiety just smack you one day after being completely happy? I doubt it, so why would you expect it to go away like that. Hope this helps.
Diet and exercise are great, but there are a lot of people that absolutely benefit from taking prescription drugs. I think the fact that they are corporations and for profit is somewhat irrelevant. They made the drugs with hopes of profit, but that's the same with anything. If they weren't making money they wouldn't be doing it. That doesn't mean that all medicine is bad.
Also I don't think that depression is sold as something we know everything about. Even regarding pharmies doctors are tweaking the dosages or trying different drugs to find something that works for each person, then evaluating things farther on to see whats helping, what isn't, and if they can make things any better.
I'm glad that things are working out for you but swearing off all medications because your mom and sister still had issues is crazy to me. Also there's no guarantee that without the meds they'd be better off. The whole down with the corporations thing gets a little old. Not every large company is evil, not every doctor is trying to kill you.
I had pretty bad OCD for a while, all through school. Also at one point was scared to even go into the store, or walk down the hallways of school. Like to pay for my gas, sometimes I'd sit in the car just waiting, terrified to walk into the store. I had all kinds of patterns I had to repeat or I'd freak out. I worked through a lot of stuff with my own behavioral modification although I didn't know what that was at the time. I'd force myself to go into places, or talk to random people, even if, especially if it gave me anxiety.
That said there are a lot of people with severe depression, and all the hikes, friends, food, aren't going to clear that up for them. I can be surrounded with good friends, doing fun things, and still want to kill myself.
The "nature is my antidepressant" concept just isn't realistic imo. People should absolutely get out and do shit, connect with friends, try and eat better. Things things help for living a better life, and can help with depression, but it's not going to magically fix everything.
