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I am 72 years old and have only become socially anxious and what I would consider depressed over the last year. I have always been an anxious person which I take .5 mg of Xanax daily to lessen. Now I’m becoming really concerned because I no longer find joy in anything I used to do, I find myself unable to make plans to do anything because I’m certain I won’t be able to keep them, and I spend my days at home reading or watching TV. I never had the time to develop hobbies so I have nothing to pursue in that area. I married my husband late in life and he’s never been much of a talker anyway, so I don’t have a partner to really share these things with. He’s a “toughen up buttercup” kind of guy… 22 years in the Navy I think did that. I don’t know if seven years of Xanax, even though it’s a very low dose my doctor says, is now having an adverse effect. The problem is, the only time I feel up and with it enough to run errands and get things done is when my Xanax kicks in. That’s not very many hours of the day feeling good. I’ve also lost my appetite and over 10 pounds down in the last few months. If there is anyone out there with similar events in their life or thoughts on my situation, please share. I don’t know why I have an aversion to therapy, other than my husband’s very negative views on it based on experiences with his son. I don’t know how it will be received if I bring it up so it’s not my first line of choice. I’m hoping someone has experiences to share that are workable for me.
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@carolinlv It's a tough spot to find yourself in, definitely. I am glad you realize that you are in a depressive episode, perhaps more severe than ever. It is not easy to start out on a road back to where you want to be, but it is worth the journey. Writing out what is causing you anxiety and depression, like you did here, may give you insight on what to tackle first. Even though you have not had any hobbies in the past, what do you imagine you'd like to try? Then go ahead and try it! It's okay to make plans even if you end up cancelling them. I bet just the idea of making them will spur you to try and do them, because you're looking forward to it. As for therapy, there are several types. Can you check with your primary care doctor for a referral?
Everyone deserves to have joy, happiness, and peace in their lives. And usually, that means we have to do the work ourselves to create it. It is not handed to us. I say this as someone who indeed has been where you are at. And yes, it can be a difficult task to take on. But the rewards are great, and those days when you feel like you are not making any progress, be gentle on yourself. Don't give up. Try again the next day. Take baby steps to get where you want to go.
Please let me know if this resonates with you, how you will start your journey?
Ginger