I have anxiety and depression too. I take Xanax when I am in full swing. I am 53and have had this for along time.God has always been there for me. He gets all the credit.😉

@rosegold. Amen and Amen

@rosegold– Just wanted to add my Amen along with @lioness. He will never let you down! Glad you are part of the Connect family. Jim@thankful

@juju70– Hello and welcome. There is a connection between mood and allergies regardless of the time of year. Here is something that I found and it was published this year:
https://genomind.com/allergies-got-you-down-your-allergies-may-be-linked-to-depression/

Amen My psychiatrist has put my Xanax on .25 mg twice a day! I think she eventually wants to gets me off it. It's the only thing that helps me with anxiety.

@merpreb Interesting article since I have allergies I will take notice now

@pjss Best thing for depression is to get out with other people. I know, I’ve been depressed a lot lately. Join groups that work with the less fortunate. I helped with the homeless overflow shelter, welcoming everyone, cooking dinner. Hard work but so rewarding and it would bring me out of my funk!

Thanks. I do some of those things

@pjss48 I feel sorry for myself at times but like Merry said get out ,find something to do even if its just going for a walk ,n nature ,also exercising can help with an exercise group. If your not on meds for depression this is what I take St. John,s Wort here,s a website https:/nccihnih.gov/St John,s Wort when I am in this state I take it for just a day or 2 Everyone love,s you just you need to love yourself Hug yourself in front of a mirror feel better

@rosegold
I’m not going to add my Amen because I don’t think it’s appropriate.
It’s not what comes to you that’s important but how you handle the situations that come to you that’s important. Grief, tragedy, agony, sorrow, sadness and unhappiness unfortunately are going to continue to be a part of our lives.
People shouldn’t be afraid of failing but looking forward to rejoicing in their achievements. Granted achievements don’t come easily but nothing worthwhile ever does.
Life is so wondrous. Get high on life not drugs. They can’t cure you, but you do have the ability of curing yourself. The most fulfilling part of my life was when I was helping others. I volunteered at various places. I ran a swimming program for 1,000 children we taught to swim at the
Y.M.C.A. Worked at hospital, Police Dept, Homeless Shelter and to my neighbors dismay brought a homeless family home that I got to know. Washed their clothes, let them take showers, fixed them a meal.
Like I always say, ‘You only get out of life what your willing to put into it.
Best wishes,
Jake

@jakedduck1 Many have been through difficult times. It makes us what we are and oft what we choose to be. Hope you have a nice Christmas. @rosegold There are times when medication is needed. It is not a sign of weakness. I have anxiety and I do not view myself as a weak person. Merry Christmas.

@parus– hear hear! Such fantastic news.
I'm sorry @jakedduck- but "cure" is not appropriate here. There are many people on this site that have illness that are chemically induced or caused and need medicine to help create a balance. Your implication that if we don't "cure" ourselves without medicines there is something wrong. It is not wrong. It's a necessity just like your need to take drugs to control your epilepsy, which is a disease. Depression, and all it's different terms is also an illness and sometimes people need medications to control it.
I am so glad that you have been able to help so many people. We all need people like you. But in your exuberance for living high on life there are some of us that just want to get by without curling up in a fetal position. If you haven't ever experienced this you are one lucky dude. But I have and it's horrible. And it's not caused by things that I did or didn't do. It's been caused by a chemical imbalance- a disease. Please don't be so harsh on us until you have stepped in our shoes.

@merpreb , thank you! Certainly explains how many of us feel. Down times, days, weeks, etc., are no fun

@merpreb If I said something upsetting I am very sorry. Did not mean to do so. Medications are NOT a sign of weakness. I have been in that dark place you speak of and would never want to be critical of those that have been there. I struggle daily with depression and anxiety and can empathize with others. We are here to be supportive and not critical. It is not a matter of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps for everyone. Those who can do so cannot help not understanding a chemical imbalance. I did not make myself very clear and I am terribly sorry if I came across as judgmental. 😞

Parus- I forgot to put @ before Jake's name as it was directed at him. I've fixed it
There is nothing that you could say that would be considered wrong. And I certainly hope that you have felt welcomed and supported. You have not been judgemental.
I hope that the rest of today is lovely for you.
Smile, you are loved