New to the forum but not the anxiety

[bLEWfire5]

Hey guys and gals,

I discovered this site the other day and am glad to know there's a community out there for people struggling with the same stuff I am.

I had a period of depression back in high school during which I was diagnosed with OCD and Social Anxiety Disorder (along with ADD). I got better but have experienced a few relapses since - primarily during college.

I'm 24 now, and I haven't been fine since graduating college 2 and half years ago. But I've had a really rough year and the last 4 months or so I've been submerged in this really intense detachment and numbness about everything that I've never really experienced before.

That was bad enough - but lately I've also been noticing the resurfacing of all my old SAD symptoms and I'm just not really sure what to do abut all of it. I'm so frustrated because I thought I was past all of this and here I am again.

Anyways - nice at least to know there are other people who know what it's like.

 

[coyote]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

 

[hoddesdon]

How did you get better? There would be interest in hearing about that, since it is a recurrent theme on this site.

 

[bLEWfire5]

I don't know actually - being that I find myself right back in the same situation again it's sort of hard to remember exactly how I dug myself out the last time. I know I was on Zoloft for a brief time and it worked but I hated it. I had a therapist and we talked a lot about CBT. I was very committed to doing whatever it took.

I mean don't get me wrong - I've never not had Social Anxiety Disorder (same thing with tendency to self-harm - I've never not had the tendencies - it's just that I've been able to fight them. Counteract the negative thought patterns.

I guess if I could remember more specifically than that - I wouldn't feel so hopeless right now. But if I remember, I will most certainly share with all of you.

 

[EasySkanking]

Hey welcome . We could always use some more cool/good people on this site .

And about SAD resurfacing - it sucks!... I managed to beat SAD at one point for a few days, but if you don't keep "at it", it can resurface (if you start keeping to yourself...not talking to people etc.) If you ever manage to feel better again, it is smething that you have to be commited to (being social, going out, speaking your mind). Easier said than done! I hate SA..........

 

[twist3d]

Welcome!

Sorry to hear you got worse.
The detachment and numbness sounds really familiar, I've always had that with depression, it makes acting in social situations hard. Although I think it's better than being in constant agony .
I've done self-harming but I'm mostly over it. But if I feel bad enough, I turn to it so I know what you mean! Hard to break old habits that "work"...