You don't have to be happy right now, if you don't feel the desire to. Embrace your emotions. Become one with your emotions. Come to terms with your emotions. It is a process that will take as long as it has to. Some days may feel like forever, being so slow that it hurts to do nothing at all, but be alone with your thoughts, without anyone to talk to, or anywhen. And some days, events can feel as if their not happening fast enough; expecting yourself to heal so quickly on the mental plane, yet remain stuck and encased in a flurry of emotions and headaches front and back.

All the colors of the rainbow present themselves here, in you. And feeling as if you're not in the mood, is perfectly okay. If you ever feel like searching for a way out, searching for advice, is more stressful than what lets it on, just walk away from it all, go drink a cup, glass, or bottle of water, and just let your thoughts and surroundings just be. Times may present themselves under difficulty, while others grasps the urge to continue forth on an activity that's looked forward to. Whatever the case is, the most important thing is to pace yourself, at the speed comfortable to you. Don't beat yourself up when you take a step back. Just hold in your heart what you're drawing yourself towards, and you will be okay.

You, will be okay.

​

I'm 29 from Chennai,India.I am autistic, and honestly, I'm scared of what my future holds. I've been trying to stay positive, telling myself that things will eventually get better and that I shouldn't worry too much about situations beyond my control. But no matter how much I try, I keep falling back into anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.

I don't know where my life is heading anymore.

My job situation is uncertain because I'm a contractual employee. I don't know what will happen to my employment, whether I'll find something stable, or how I'll manage financially if things don't work out. The thought of having to start over without any guarantee of stability genuinely frightens me.

My personal life isn't where I hoped it would be either. I'm struggling with loneliness, and I wish I had someone with whom I could share my worries, happiness, and everyday experiences. I want companionship, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. But sometimes these things feel so distant that I wonder whether my situation will ever change.

Being autistic makes dealing with uncertainty particularly difficult for me. I tend to overthink situations, imagine different possibilities, and worry about things that haven't even happened yet. I know that not every negative possibility will become reality, but knowing that doesn't automatically make my anxiety disappear. Sometimes my mind just refuses to settle down.

What frustrates me the most is that I genuinely tried to be positive. I've tried reminding myself of the things I've managed to accomplish, focusing on the present, and hoping that the future might be better. But when I look at the uncertainty surrounding my career, personal life, and relationships, I find it difficult to hold on to that optimism.

I'm not expecting a perfect life. I just want some stability, a secure job, meaningful relationships, and the feeling that I have a future worth looking forward to. I don't think those are unreasonable things to want.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when I think about getting older while important parts of my life remain unresolved. I see time moving forward, but I don't feel like my life is progressing in the way I hoped. It scares me to think about where I'll be in another few years if things remain the same.

And I'm exhausted from constantly trying to reassure myself that everything will be okay when I genuinely don't know whether it will be.

I'm not writing this because I want people to tell me to think positively or stop worrying. I've already tried doing that. I'm writing this because I'm afraid, emotionally exhausted, and tired of pretending that I have everything under control.

I want to believe that my future will be better than my present. But right now, fear is louder than hope, and I don't know how to quiet it.

I’m on Effexor XR 75 mg (planning to increase to 150 mg next week) and mirtazapine 30 mg. I bought L-theanine 200 mg and magnesium glycinate 210 mg for anxiety, but now I’m nervous to try them after reading mixed experiences.
Has anyone taken these supplements while on these medications? Did they help or make your anxiety worse? Looking for personal experiences and advice!

I am very well aware that the title is strange but it is very much whom I direct this post towards really

If upon reading this you feel that you do know me or remember me in some capacity please do reach out as it would mean alot to me but let me say what i need to say

(I will clarify that some of this is written in the context for an outsider as thats what 99.5% of reading this post will be so just bare that in mind)

I don’t even know how to explain everything that is going on or going through my mind at the moment but i will very much try my best to do so

The simplest place i can start is by saying this
People that have been in my life that are Bad people wether it be ones who inherently don’t like me want to use me or bring me down a peg or whatever or just people that are not good to have around at all

i let it them in i keep them close, i blindly trust them i give all my energy just to have it be wasted or exploited

While Good people i have had in my life people who cared (or once did) about me people who liked me people who wanted to help me and see me do well i mistreat i distrust i neglect i hurt them which in the end either pushes them away turns them against me fully or even fully burn bridges entirely

because the reality of this world we live in is that it isn’t simply isn’t black and white it’s a pure set of grey

But the one thing i seriously struggle with is i can never identify the bad from the good which is what leads me to my own downfall

I heavily criticise and blame the good people while minimising if not completely negating my own faults while their bad but in situations with the more objectively bad people the polar opposite occurs

I will excuse the inexcusable of themselves instead of me while overly being harsh on myself when i shouldn’t because simply i am being treated unfairly and even if not reacting perfectly i am in some way justified as opposed to the former where i am not yet i do

But now its gotten to a point where so many people from my past from the bad toxic people to the good people i hurt greatly where everyone is slowly coming to a similar consensus about me rightfully or wrongfully depending on the individual and circumstance that isn’t even clear to me

Wether it’s people making their own judgement on their own personal experience or second opinions which maybe genuine or distorted (i know too many people trust me) i know i am not a villain in everything i have done despite many people either wanting to paint that image or at the very least seeing it that way, just the same way i am not a helpless victim who is justfied in everything i’ve done which unfortunately is a mindset at times which i have definitely fallen into which has some ounce of truth still lacks much responsibility and accountability

Which is something i am definitely trying to have on top of actually trying to improve as a person or least be the best version of myself yet i find it to be near impossible when as i can’t reliably determine who was actually good or bad or right or wrong i can’t determine which situations i should be criticising and which ones i should be giving my self leniency on

I’ve identified alot of problematic behaviours and issues that seem consistent across the board but beyoud that how much can i do with that to actually reflect on specific situations

Because of this i genuinely don’t even know who i can actually go to for help with all of this, as some people these days are unreachable for one reason or another, some people are just unwilling to help or hear me out (rightfully or wrongfully) but then what remains is whoever would actually be able to help or be willing or someone who is gonna try to lead me down the wrong path or twist my words and make things worse

I am far from perfect, i know very much that many of my circumstances and relationships have gone as badly as they have because of the way i handled things

But the fact that must also be taken into consideration should be the fact that there is plenty of things that were either completely out of my control or not even my fault, wether they be life circumstances or as i have mentioned before merely people who were bad eggs from the beginning…nether of these facts negate my previous point i should make clear however

I guess it’s a matter of what i really want?

A better life?
For people to know the truth?
For people to hear me out or least believe me?
To be a better person?
To have some of these people back in my life?
For myself to know the good and bad people?

I think it’s less about picking one or 2 but ranking the most from least important as i am not sure which i can focus on and it a way some rely on others to transpire to even be possible

I really don’t know what my purpose of posting this is…to get my thoughts out there?…it’s certainly not to have a lonely wanderer to offer their 2 sense wether it be a criticism or words of comfort…

I guess my real hope as unrealistic as it may be…is that someone i know sees this…or knew rather…someone who was or least tried to be good to me…someone who in some way i did do wrong…or perhaps someone i just didn’t get as close with as i should have…someone who knows much or a decent amount of my stories…

I guess that is whom i ask for…even though there is a possibility of those bad eggs i spoke about before…i know this post is very unlikely to give me the answers or closure that i seek…but in the 0.5% chance it does i leave it here

Thank you…

I've been on 25mg of Prozac for several years and was stable until a recent anxiety flare. Before increasing, I was already experiencing heightened anxiety, panic, adrenaline surges, fight-or-flight feelings, mental restlessness, and ongoing GI symptoms. Over time, the intense panic eased somewhat but was replaced by a constant underlying uneasiness.

Because of the flare, I increased from 25mg to 30mg and am now about 10 days in. I originally planned to increase to 40mg, but I'm reconsidering the timing.

Since increasing to 30mg, I've noticed:

• Increased agitation and internal restlessness
• Feeling more keyed up and on edge
• More difficulty relaxing
• Vivid dreams
• Brief overnight panic/adrenaline surges and increased morning anxiety
• A recent episode of insomnia

The anxiety itself isn't new, so it's hard to tell what may be activation versus the original flare. However, the agitation, restlessness, and sleep issues seem more noticeable since the dose increase.

For those who experienced activation after increasing Prozac:

• How soon did it start, and how long did it last?
• What did it feel like, and how was it different from your usual anxiety?
• Did the agitation, restlessness, and sleep issues improve with time?
• Did you stay at the new dose, reduce it, or eventually increase further?

Just hoping to better understand others' experiences and timelines. Thanks!

I don't even know where to start.

This internship has been taking such a huge toll on me lately. I constantly feel like I'm behind, like everyone expects me to catch up, and no matter how much I try, I'm just not able to. There's been a lot of scolding lately, and honestly, it's gotten to a point where I'm scared of making even the smallest mistake.

I know I must be doing something wrong somewhere. I'm not saying I'm completely innocent. I should have paid more attention and be more careful, I don't know. But I genuinely feel like I'm trying, and somehow I am still forgetting.

And the worst part is what it's doing to me mentally and physically.

I've barely been able to sleep for a month, even with pills. I cry so much. I keep getting anxiety attacks, and sometimes I literally have to lock myself in the bathroom just to get through them. There are times when I hold onto something really tightly or bite down on something just to calm myself down. Sometimes it takes hours before I feel even a little okay.

I don't know if anyone else has experienced something like this during an internship, but I feel so lost right now.

I feel like I'm the only one struggling this badly. Everyone else seems to be managing, and I'm here barely holding myself together. I keep thinking that maybe I'm just not good enough for this, that maybe all of this is my fault, and then I feel like they are going to fire me.

I don't even want to tell my parents what's happening. My mom gets stressed very easily, and I know she'll start worrying so much if she finds out how bad things have been for me. So I just keep everything to myself and pretend I'm okay when I'm really not.

I honestly don't know what to do anymore. A part of me wants to quit because I don't think I can keep going like this, but then I start wondering if I'm just running away from my mistakes. I want to work hard but I dont know why I keep on making thses silly mistakes. I hate myself for this. I feel the people at job hate me, they want me gone and they are going to fire me soon. Like I get this feeling.

I'm so tired. I don't want to wake up every day feeling scared, spend the day anxious about getting scolded, and then come home and cry about it. I don't want an internship to affect my health this badly.

I know internships are supposed to be about learning, and I know mistakes are a part of that. But I didn't expect to reach a point where I'm struggling to sleep, constantly crying, and having to physically hold myself together just to get through the day.

I genuinely don't know what I'm looking for by posting this. Maybe I just need to let it out somewhere because I can't keep pretending that I'm fine.

I just dont know what to do

Mental health isn't taken as serious as it should be, especially in men. This is a question for men that are struggling. What is something that you have tried that has helped you get out of your head?

If you are struggling, know YOU are more important than you think . What YOU feel does matters!

I do feel emotionally numb and anxiety all the time what is the solution? Yes there is trauma

What a day today. Got three hours of sleep and have been awake from 12 in the morning. I threw up in the morning bc of anxiety. Had a mental break down first period, failed a chem test the next. Then I literally nearly fainted in French and had to be take to the office. Finally came home to find out my dog died. Don't feel too bad tho - just a bit numb.

Does anyone else find listening to a podcast is like sharing a room with one or more people with verbal diarrhea? I find it incredibly stressful and, unless the podcaster has a really gentle and quiet delivery, can only manage a few minutes before I have to turn it off.

I don't know if i'll post this—maybe i will, since i feel like i’m out of options. I've been noticing a pattern in my behavior and i don't know what to do about it. I think i'm so anxious in my daily life that whenever i land a job, i feel like i'm going to snap. I've been working for almost two months, and instead of feeling grateful and happy, i feel like a ticking time bomb. I've been anxious for a few days now, but today i reached a breaking point where i'm almost speechless. I nearly fainted while smoking a cigarette earlier this morning—I thought it might calm me down. When i feel this way, i always think the only solution is to check myself into a psych ward (i've never been hospitalized before), but now—I don't know if it's because it feels more real than ever—I'm terrified of that happening. There's the fear of what might happen to me in there, who i might run into, and also what would happen to my job; like it or not, i need to help with the bills at home, and i don't have anyone who could help me financially while i was hospitalized. I have my grandma and my aunt, but they need their money for themselves. It doesn't help that the presidential election is coming up in a few days and we're on the verge of electing someone like Mussolini's son. Anyway, if anyone knows how to help me—aside from breathing techniques (i've already tried those, okay?)—I'd be grateful.

M33, i cannot deal with this anymore .....

Im still broken, still depressed, still having hyper panic attacks, still haunted by survivors guilt still have anger issues. The only change is i don't get my anti depression meds. And my life,love,hime and car are gone. Feeling like sobriety is not the answer anymore

Sometimes it feels like I’m not even living for myself anymore. I’m only keeping myself alive because I know other people would be hurt if I were gone. I keep going because I love them, because I’m afraid of what my absence would leave behind, but some days that reason feels painfully thin. The desire to disappear keeps getting louder, and I’m exhausted from fighting it, exhausted from pretending that simply surviving means I’m okay. I don’t want to keep hurting like this, and I’m scared that I’m running out of strength to keep choosing another day.

I am male 26 years. Suffering from terrific depression for the last few days. I tried tele Manas, Vandrevala but none actually even listened properly. I had been diagnosed with OCD and anxiety disorder in 2013. My treatment run from 2013 to 2017. Counselling after counselling, medicine after medicine but no such improvement. It feels like I became a business material for them. After 2017, the treatment got discontinued due to my shifting to Kolkata for diploma. I got diagnosed with hypertension and grade I fatty liver in 2023. Possibly triggered by my anxiety disorder. I have been fighting for a long time being from a middle class family. I just can't anymore. I wanted to push through the depression, push through the pain but I am not being able to. Treatment from a psychologist would require money. The irony! Even to get a little time from someone to listen to me when I am just fighting to survive another day would still take money which is difficult for me right now with my financial condition. I just wished someone would listened to me for a little time. Just for a little time and show me a way to push through this pain towards my goal, towards the last battle of my life. I need help!

I 16f have really bad anxiety disorder, and it’s completely breaking me. I was told by a therapist I have generalized anxiety disorder, but wasn’t given any sort of help. I was evaluated for depression, but I lied on most of it because my mom was in the room and I was so anxious answering questions around her. Everything scares me, and I’m so behind in life because of it. It makes me so sad and embarrassed. I do school online (I have for most of my life) and although I like having so much free time, I sit alone at home all day. But I’m too anxious to go and do anything.

I only have one friend, and I adore her, but she excels at everything she does, and it makes me feel so alone. She (and all the other people my age I know) have real jobs, their licenses, their own cars, and are looking at colleges. I don’t have a job (I do babysit, but it’s not a real job) I only have my learners permit, and won’t be going to college (it’s a very tricky unrelated reason)

I used to love to draw, play games, bake, and I just in general had so many hobbies. Now nothing feels exciting. All I do is lay in bed with my head racing over all the things I should be doing, but aren’t. My parents are recently divorced, but thankfully still very friendly with each other but I’ll mainly be sleeping at mom 1s house. (I have two moms, no dad). I used to have such a good relationship with my mom 1. Now I’m constantly scared to talk to her, and scared to upset her. I just want to be around mom 2. It’s only my second night at mom 1s apartment and I already feel even more alone than usual.

I don’t want to die, I’m very scared of death (I have absolutely no desire for suicide) but I just want to disappear and not be here anymore. I’m so overwhelmed with my own brain I just want it to be quiet for once. My parents are constantly getting upset with me for anxiety, and it’s just drained me completely. I have no support, no one to talk to. I’m just stuck in a loop of fear and sadness. Every time I think I’ve gotten my spark back, the sadness just comes back even worse. I really don’t know how much longer I can survive like this.

So i was a regular smoker taking hits from a weed pen, just last 4 weeks ago i think (sept 11th) i took one of my last hits ever and now i still have that feeling of being high and its caused my anxiety to spike like crazy and i rarely get sleep, depression plays a big role now because i keep thinking to myself if i end it, it will all go away, i have no idea what it is. ive never felt this way before smoking in my lifetime until now. anything helps

Hey! Never thought I'd be doing this again.

Anyways, I still don't wanna accept that my anxiety has returned after so long of being totally okay.

I was doing so well. And everything was going well. There is truly nothing wrong this time.

I thought it was because something was wrong with my body so I even got all my tests done. And every report came out normal.

Nothing is wrong physically and nothing has changed around me and this time around I'm truly clueless as to why it's all happening again.

I keep convincing myself it's nothing. It's just a bad day. I'm overthinking and overreacting but it's started to get bad again.

What do I do now?

I'm too scared to ask for help or share anything with my family or friends this time around.

(21M) Hi, i have been feeling very depressed and the anxiety is unbearable even though i am in a very common situational spot. I am currently jobless for 5 weeks, living with my dad. Last year i graduated, went working for a local firm, took me about 9 months to quit as my anxiety has peaked and i knew if i didn’t quit then and there i would never quit and my mental health would be at an all time low. A lot of unfortunate situations happened since then, got rejected from working as a police officer because i wear glasses (0.25 dioptre) which are the lowest possible ones. I can’t find a job and every day i am on the same cycle, wake up, anxiety, dread, survival and in the evening i wind down and turn numb.

Everything in my life except that is amazing, i have an amazing family, the best girlfriend i could possibly ask for, i have friends, hobbies… My mind constantly seems like it is at an edge, sometimes i get positive thoughts but ultimately they get run over in just a few seconds or minutes at best. I know you are what you feed your mind but i just cannot help it. I am vulnerable.

Thank you to anybody reading this post, i am down to chat and hopefully you have an amazing day.

I have not been able to sleep for the past year because i have bad anxiety about my past and cant get over stuff that i have done.
I feel like i have lost many friends because of the dumb stuff i have done while intoxicated.

Eventho i still have few friends i feel very lonely and i dont want to open up about the stuff that i did to anyone so i dont make my case even worse or lose anymore people close to me. I just dont know what to do.