When you're depression or anxious, can you name what's pulling you down? - Page 2

[Alphaghetti]

I haven't read any of the replies, but just wanted to give you my own experience.

I am bipolar. When I have a depressive cycle, people are constantly asking me what my "triggers" are, or what my "trigger" was THIS time...I can rarely identify any reasons for my depression and anxiety, which is the worst part about the whole thing, to be honest.

[branditopolis]

Originally Posted by birdhappy85 

That is such a good description for anxiety! That's how mine is a lot of the time, like my brain is just stuck in a loop and my thoughts are racing out of control. I should start explaining it to people like that when they say unhelpful things like "just don't worry about it" or they're just inconsiderate and think "mind over matter" is all that is needed to conquer the anxious mind... Yeah if it were that easy then I wouldn't have a problem, now would I?

ugh.  The "just relax" comments drive me NUTS.

Originally Posted by EnchantedMamma 

I didn't believe I had anxiety for the longest time because there wasn't a specific thing that I was worried or upset about.

Finally I realized that anxiety, for me, just means that my brain is 'stuck in a loop' on things, so to speak. It's plain old brain over-activity and not necessarily thought-specific.

This, exactly.  Sometimes I don't even realize I'm anxious.  I pick at my arms and legs until they bleed while watching tv, notice my jaw is clenched, or i'm repeating thoughts in my head... and there's no reason.  The thoughts can be simple things like, "I like this episode of The Simpsons", on an endless loop.  It comes and goes.  A while back I was diagnosed with severe depression, but my last psychiatrist changed the dx to NOS because it doesn't seem like my anxiety is caused by depression, it seems like depression is caused by my anxiety.  mood disorder to an anxiety disorder.  I was on SSDI for a while but I've found that talking to someone about it has really, really helped. I had therapy for a couple years and am not now currently taking any meds or or even seeing a therapist (although I'm interested.  It seemed like it kept me grounded.) 

The only thing I can say about triggers is that loud noises do it for me, but I have to be in my little anxiety zone first, these periods when it feels i'm more predisposed to reacting a certain way.  Someone can knock on the front door and it can ruin my entire day.  DS screams and I spend 15min hyperventilating and sobbing in the bathroom.  It's rough sometimes.