1. < Depression & Anxiety

Long-term depression

Posted by anniep @anniep, Mar 8, 2017

New to the group; would like to ask how others find something to look forward to in life? At my age, there's nothing to hope for, except death. I am a born-again Christian, so I know there is an escape from the physical pain and limitations brought on by illness, and escape from daily depression and motivation to continue. I try to remain active and do have interests, but sometimes the depression is too much. I have also realized when others say they care, etc., there truly is no one who means what they say. It's "We care, so long as you just keep doing your job here, but don't bother me - but we love you!" I'm old enough to know this is not true, but a method to keep a warm body in a position to get a job done. One of my 92 year old neighbors happily moves along, although she tells me almost all her friends are gone, etc. I can't ask her what motivates her. How do others have hope for anything after their families are gone and there is nothing else?

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Parus | @parus | Oct 26, 2019

The thing I have learned is that there is little tolerance for those of us with claustrophobia. Actually zero tolerance. I don't know if I will ever attempt an MRI again. 🙁

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lioness | @lioness | Oct 26, 2019

I too have claustrophobia and just getting the MRI up to my neck I could feel the panic coming on . This even bothered me so I love music and just drummed the beat the whole way through concentrating on this but I will never go into the machine without being put out .

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elwooodsdad | @elwooodsdad | Oct 27, 2019

I am very claustrophobic, and am not a pleasant person for the technicians blessed with my presence. Found an open CT resource, and everyone was happier. I hope never again to be subjected to this technology, as necessary and wonderful as it is.

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1 reply
azkidney57 | @azkidney57 | Oct 27, 2019
In reply to @elwooodsdad "I am very claustrophobic, and am not a pleasant person for the technicians blessed with my..." + (show)
@elwooodsdad

I am very claustrophobic, and am not a pleasant person for the technicians blessed with my presence. Found an open CT resource, and everyone was happier. I hope never again to be subjected to this technology, as necessary and wonderful as it is.

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Hello just had my MRI and I never had one before. I had my right kidney removed May 2019 due to kidney tumor. So I will have more MRI’s in my future and I hated my first experience! I am not particularly claustrophobic I just hated the entire process! I can see how a person could lose their “cool” during an MRI. I wonder if meditation would help me. My tech was nice enough it was just too long a procedure!

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @johnhans "No it is not a pleasant experience @jimhd One thing I noticed is that my anxiety..." + (show)
@johnhans

No it is not a pleasant experience @jimhd
One thing I noticed is that my anxiety comes mainly from not making a decision on a timely basis. If I leave decisions unmade it comes out as stress, so I now try and make a definite decision even if is only to wait for a definite period.

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This is an interesting concept about not making a decision on a timely basis increasing your anxiety, @johnhans. I will have to look at that in my own life. I have been working on multiple projects simultaneously in the home we bought this summer, and there are continually decisions left dangling - sometimes for quite a while - as I'm trying to balance it all and the rest of my life. My desire (I was going to say "need," but then realized how ridiculous that sounded) for all the house projects to come out "perfect" also causes me stress and anxiety.

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1 reply
Guener | @guener | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "This is an interesting concept about not making a decision on a timely basis increasing your..." + (show)
@lisalucier

This is an interesting concept about not making a decision on a timely basis increasing your anxiety, @johnhans. I will have to look at that in my own life. I have been working on multiple projects simultaneously in the home we bought this summer, and there are continually decisions left dangling - sometimes for quite a while - as I'm trying to balance it all and the rest of my life. My desire (I was going to say "need," but then realized how ridiculous that sounded) for all the house projects to come out "perfect" also causes me stress and anxiety.

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Procrastination versus legitimately setting aside some things is a difficult thing for me also, when it comes to managing my anxiety. Perfectionism also haunts me when it comes to tasks, and when I fail to achieve the exact outcome(s) *desired* I bash myself, furthering my anxiety and sparking my depressive side. I have to try to keep a firm grip on my own expectations and accept my limitations when it comes to achievement and toward my own personal evaluations.

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1 reply
johnhans | @johnhans | Oct 28, 2019

@anniep life can be hard when you get old. I too am a born again Christian so I look to God to provide what I need. I was in an apartment all by myself with no way to get out to church. Then I prayed and God got me into a retirement community where there are activities every day. I get to meet wonderful people every day. My neighbor in the apartment next to mine goes to the church I wanted to go to so I ride with her. I am much happier now. God has been good.

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johnhans | @johnhans | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @guener "Procrastination versus legitimately setting aside some things is a difficult thing for me also, when it..." + (show)
@guener

Procrastination versus legitimately setting aside some things is a difficult thing for me also, when it comes to managing my anxiety. Perfectionism also haunts me when it comes to tasks, and when I fail to achieve the exact outcome(s) *desired* I bash myself, furthering my anxiety and sparking my depressive side. I have to try to keep a firm grip on my own expectations and accept my limitations when it comes to achievement and toward my own personal evaluations.

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@guener it is interesting that we all seem to do the same thing. Sometimes we do need to examine what we do that causes us to have problems. Thank you for your observations and you too @lisalucier

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1 reply
Guener | @guener | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @johnhans "@guener it is interesting that we all seem to do the same thing. Sometimes we do..." + (show)
@johnhans

@guener it is interesting that we all seem to do the same thing. Sometimes we do need to examine what we do that causes us to have problems. Thank you for your observations and you too @lisalucier

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Yup, it is noteworthy that we share common reactions to situations in this way. Anyone else tend to "catastrophize" -- leading oneself to the worst possible outcome that could possibly happen, even when nothing has occurred yet? It can stall my decision making sometimes, because I'm afraid that what I do will lead to horrible consequences.

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2 replies
ainsleigh | @ainsleigh | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @guener "Yup, it is noteworthy that we share common reactions to situations in this way. Anyone else..." + (show)
@guener

Yup, it is noteworthy that we share common reactions to situations in this way. Anyone else tend to "catastrophize" -- leading oneself to the worst possible outcome that could possibly happen, even when nothing has occurred yet? It can stall my decision making sometimes, because I'm afraid that what I do will lead to horrible consequences.

Jump to this post

Hi @guener - Your post made me think of a poem shared with me which I really like!

Some of the griefs I have cured
And the sharpest I have survived
What torments of pain I endured
From evils that never arrived.
Hope you enjoy it too!
Best regards
Ainsleigh

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