Hello there, I recently got released from hospital after 7 weeks. I have OCD, anxiety and depression. I am currently on medication but I get worried about relapsing. Does anybody have that same feeling? Anybody else have anxiety, depression or OCD?

Hi LonelyGirl,

I hope it’s okay if I give you a caring welcome here :)

How brave of you to reach out here. I realise you have clearly been through a lot, and I imagine you’re possibly still readjusting back to daily life outside of hospital. I know that can be quite an emotional transition for a lot of people, so I wonder how you’re feeling...

While I don’t have OCD, I have my struggles with anxiety and depression. The hold that each has on me varies from time to time though...aside from me, there are many people here on the forums who have their own mental health struggles. So I feel there is a lot of compassion and caring here...

I hope we hear from you again when and if you’re feeling up to it. It would be lovely to get to know you a little better, but only if you’re comfortable writing more about your experiences and feelings...

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper

Dear LonelyGirl,

Welcome to Beyond Blue; the place to come to connect with, and get support from others who also have, or are struggling with Depression and anxiety.

I myself have never been medicated for depression - mine is/was caused by trauma - but I have certainly had times when I have felt it return after having been okay for a while; also known as PTSD.

Try to remember that life happens just one day at a time, and if you just focus on today, then next week, next month and the next year will all take care of themselves. I've heard it said that "If you have one foot in today and the other foot in tomorrow, then you are just crapping all over today!" .... and also that "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, that's why today is called the present, because it's a gift." ..... it may sound cliche, but it's true.

Take care. And remember, Beyond Blue is here and 'open' 24/7. xo

Perhaps you could look for some sort of support group, like the 'Grow' fellowship? ....... here's a link to the information page is below:

https://www.grow.org.au/

I know that for some it is much easier to enrich your life and recovery when connected with other like-minded people. I know that for me, if it wasn't for 12-step fellowships like AA, I would certainly not be where I am today. Otherwise, you could maybe check out your local community centre to see if they have or run some sort of weekly support group you could link in with.....

Remember, it's normal for things to ebb and flow in life, so try not to be too hard on yourself when you are having a down day. Just try not to unpack and 'live permanently' in the down times. Remember, everything passes; the good, the bad and the ugly!

And another sugggestion; replace those thoughts of "I will never get better" with thoughts of "I'm getting better every day. Every day that I take my meds and reach out to someone else (online or face-to-face), and do caring things for myself, is another step toward learning to controm my condition, rather than my condition controlling me."

ONE DAY AT A TIME is all it takes, and all that any one of us needs. You don't have to fix your whole life problem by the week's end. Give yourself time. And check in here every day or week of you want to. We're here for you. xo

Hello LonelyGirl, and a warm welcome to you.

I applaud those above me for replying back to you, unfortunately, I also have anxiety, depression and OCD and yes the worry about relapsing, once I was feeling so much better was a definite concern, but now I'm getting old (64) I know that if I do have a relapse it will only last a couple of weeks and then I will feel better once again, that always seems to be what's happened to me over the years.

Out of the three of these issues that you have mentioned, all three are terrible, but I'd like to hear back from you when you can.

Take care.

Geoff.

Hello LonelyGirl, thanks for replying back.

I sort of remember when I was 7 and back then 64 was very old, and all of this has been happening for 60 odd years.

How do I cope, well that's a good question and love to talk about it, but some issues haven't been easy, while others have been extremely impossible, much like so many other people.

I haven't been able to work since '95, back then had depression ------------------- and the list goes on, and fortunately for the last 19 years or so have overcome depression, but will still have OCD.

How did your conversation go with the work manager as I'm interested to hear back from you.

Geoff.

Hi LonelyGirl89, I have all 3! I am new to the forum myself and have made the decision to join if I'm honest to read that I'm not the only one that feels like this! For me the biggest thing has been trying to accept that it was okay to feel crappy at times and that it is okay to ask for help and that actually taking my medication doesn't make me weak or broken. It has been a long journey for me, one that is not over and I struggle with still. Sometimes I find myself having a good day and then I start to worry about what is going to happen or I realise that I entered a room with my right foot not my left, or I decide that my earrings don't match my outfit and the panic/anxiety starts to kick in. I'm not prefect but have gotten better at acknowledging my thoughts and working out my triggers and how I can stop and ground myself. I have gotten back into things that I enjoy and I've learnt the hard way to try to make time for me and that it is okay to say no to people. I hope your week is going well xo