I hate so much when people act like major depressive disorder is "all in your head" and all you need to do is "think positive" when there is actually a physical lack of chemicals in the brain. That's like telling someone to just ignore the broken leg, it'll get better on it's own.
Or like with anxiety when people tell you "just calm down" when the part of your brain (amygdala) creates a physical response similar to being hunted.
I understand not everyone knows what it's like to feel these things, but mental disorders aren't just made up, people don't just experience them because they "want to be negative" or something.
An example, my mom likes to throw in my face that she went to some fun work event, ends it by saying but I didn't invite you because you never want to go, your loss. Like it's not that I don't WANT to do things, or that I am being lazy, it's that I physically can't know how i'll react and i'd rather avoid situations I know can cause my panic attacks.
Sorry for venting though, i'll probably end up deleting this out of embarrassment. I feel like it's like airing your dirty laundry on facebook like trash posting about your babymama idk, tacky.
Nothing to be embarrassed about, feel like a lot of the SL community understands this. ❤
I miss concerts and festivals so much but I can't handle them anymore and before all my anxiety I was rarely home. People kinda find it funny when I say I'm not an introvert, just and extrovert with anxiety. Because I really want to be able to do those things. I tried CBT with a few therapists and some SSRI's but none really helped the root problems.
I am working on those now but progress doesn't happen overnight as much as I wish I could wake up and go out and do everything again.
I'm in treatment for panic disorder right now, though the only thing that has really helped me is pushing myself to go to the places that make me anxious. Exposure therapy. It's tough and exhausting, some people don't get that the places/people aren't the scary thing....but the fear of having an attack.
estellamagic: yeah that's called cognitive behavioral therapy and it's the most common treatment for social phobia disorders but it didn't work for me in the times I've tried it. I just get so exhausted and hermit again.
I'm doing dialectical behavior therapy
it's usually used for specific mental illnesses but is being used for panic disorder now too
estellamagic: ooh I should read about that