Anxiety/depression is something I have always struggled with. I try to be as open about it as possible to others to try and help break down the stigma around mental health issues, therapy, and taking medication. But it is very hard sometimes. Sometimes when you tell someone you have anxiety they will tell you “just stop worrying about stuff.” Or if you say you’re depressed, “just be happy”. These phrases are EXTREMELY toxic to people with mental health issues. There’s a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes us to have anxiety, depression, or whatever else it may be, so it’s not as easy as “just being happy”. I wanted to bring this topic up because I have struggled with anxiety for all my life without getting any help for it. It was crippling at times and it started taking a toll on my physical health. From gut issues to panic attacks, I was having some pretty big issues with it. I started going to therapy about 2 years ago and I just started taking medication this year. I was honestly scared to take medicine for my anxiety, I didn’t want to gain weight (this going back to my unhealthy body image from my previous post), I didn’t want to become a zombie/a shell of who I was, and I didn’t want to become reliant on the medicine. I felt I could handle my problems without it and I thought of taking medicine as being weak. My turning point was when things weren’t really getting better. I had been in therapy for a long time and I still felt like I wasn’t making the progress I needed. I love therapy and I think it is so beneficial for everyone and anyone! But I just needed another resource to help me out. So I started taking an anxiety/depression medication. I was so nervous to start taking it, I’m not sure what I expected to happen but I just really thought it would turn me into a zombie and make me not care about anything. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. I took my first medication for a while, like almost 6 months. It wasn’t helping. My doctor adjusted the dosage for me and still it wasn’t helping. So I then made an appointment with a psychiatrist to get a second opinion on what I should be taking. About a month ago I started taking a new medication. Spoiler alert: it seems to be helping so far! My gut issues have improved and I am having significantly less panic attacks. I am really so thankful that I have people in my life who encouraged me to do what is best for my health, there’s no need to suffer through life trying to do everything yourself. Sometimes you have to let go and try something new. Let’s try to be more open about our mental struggles and break the stigma surrounding them. XOXO Paige
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MEET THE BLOGGERHello! Paige here. I see you found your way to my page... haha no pun intended. Anyways, this page is for the 20-something gals who feel like they are stumbling through life. I hope this page brings you comfort, peace, and confidence. Dive into my posts and reach out to me anytime on my Instagram! I would love to chat and make a connection with you.
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