Fighting for Reassurance

     One of the toughest things for me when I'm fighting depression is trying to reassure myself. When I get thoughts of worthlessness, reassurance only makes things worse for me. It's hard, I'm told by people that I just need to deal with it. I do, I'm trying my damned near hardest to overcome my thoughts and doubts. I don't know why being reassured only worsens it.

     What makes it even worse though is when others try to reassure me. I don't want attention, I've dealt with this before and just being alone is the best thing for me. My parents I guess know somethings wrong, because they have been asking me if I'm alright out of the blue. Going the past week or so being short with words, I guess they caught on.

     The thing of it all is when I'm depressed it effects everyone I'm around, only making things that much worse, because they don't know or understand why I'm acting the way I am. I snap at people for no to little reasoning, I'm short with those who are trying to be nice to me. I'm just hateful when I get like this. I feel bad, I don't mean to be, but I can't help it.

     I can't reassure myself. Like tonight we ran out of an ingredient. Normally I unload the truck, so I know if there is something missing or not. With my mood the way it's been, I didn't really take note to what was missing or what we were short on. I feel like it's my fault for it, because it wasn't something we could really get by without.

    Setting here, trying to tell myself that it wasn't my fault, only makes things worse, but I can't help but to at least TRY and relieve myself from the guilt. Making things worse the manager I was having problems with, is the manager I told. That made me feel like it was only that more of a responsibility for me to pay attention to what we got. No one else knows what we get on the truck except for what they see restock, and when something is short when it's needed.

     People don't know how to "help" people with depression or severe anxiety, because it effects everyone uniquely. That and people who gernerally feel the need to help others make things worse. All they want to do is help, but most of the time all that really happens (for me anyways) it just makes things harder. All I can think of is being alone so I don't cause anyone anymore pain.

     I constantly feel like I'm bothersome, and a waste of air when I'm around people, and that the would be better off, or happier without me around. Judgment usually comes to mind when people find out I'm "messed up" because I don't show self harm. I over work myself, I push myself to hard, I want to be the best I can at everything, even if a task is harming me. I pretended I'm going just fine when really I'm not.

     My biggest self harm is something the isn't noticeable until it's almost to late, depending on the situation. I'm underweight, I don't eat, a lot of it is due to depression, but I use it as a self harm. When I get depressed I feel like I eat to much, so I need to cut back otherwise I will gain weight I really don't want. I've gone a few days without eating before because I often feel like I'm to worthless to even eat.

     One thing many don't know is I'm trying, I truly am. To them; in their eyes, I'm not trying. I'm just using my anxiety/ depression as an excuse. I look at people who use such disorders as an excuse poorly, not to be mean, but because I try my hardest at everything. I force myself to work when I'm sick, which really only makes me sicker. No matter the mood I'm in I will force myself to work. When I mention I'm feeling down or something, I don't do it for attention, I do it at a warning. I get really hateful, and I want people to know so they don't get upset with me.

     Growing up in a family were anxiety and depression were just things you had to get over and put up with probably was the best thing for me. If I hadn't grown up like that, who knows how much worse I would be. I actually forgotten I had anxiety for the longest time because the way I was raised. Thinking back on it now though, I almost wished I was on medicine, maybe thing I would have had a better education. When it came to presentation or any kind of social grading, I took a zero rather than putting up with the humiliation.  

Why Keep a Journal?

     About a week ago, I know I shouldn't have, but I did a bit more research into OCD. I already knew I had a mild form of it. Though the more and more I read up on it, I was beginning to think it's a bit worse than I first thought. I originally was thinking I had OCD mixed with social anxiety, mainly because I'm a fairly anti-social person.

     What I was reading was OCD causes people to be less social, mostly do to unwanted thoughts. I was talking to an friend I use to work with about it to see what he thought and all that. Later on in the conversation I ended up asking him if I should keep a journal, in which he said wouldn't hurt. Impatiently waiting for his response though, I had already started jotting compulsions and unwanted thoughts.  

    It didn't take me long to fill a page, but that was to be understood. I just got done looking something up which put a lot on my mind, along with what I was already thinking before hand. I felt compelled to look it up. I don't know why looking up OCD even came to mind, I wasn't worried about it or anything, I just thought, why not look it up. 

    I had looked it up at least once before; a friend of mind told me he had severe OCD. He was the type of person who just makes stuff up to get attention, so I didn't really believe him, and I don't remember if I believed him after I looked it up or not. Now that I refreshed my mind over it, I do see him having it, along with myself. 

    I'm mainly keeping the journal for something the doctor can look over, and hopefully it will help a diagnoses. Normally I wouldn't do that, but I have heard before and quite a bit after I hit twenty that. Some anxiety worsens when someone is in their twenties. It is becoming harder and harder for me to talk to people, even those I already communicate with.

     With a loss of word, I normally find myself speechless to everyday conversations, like "How are you?" or "What did you do today?" Typically I'm short with phrases like those anyways, but I'm even more so now. Instead of answering I often pretend I didn't hear it, or even go as far as making it seem like I'm deaf, and just looking around which I just so happen to look in their direction than gaze off.

     My main worry with this really isn't that I'm having a harder time communicating with people. Obviously I'm doing just fine with it now, but it's the unwanted thoughts I'm worried about... they seem to be getting worse. Going from thoughts of just someone is outside or watching you, they have turned into someone is out to get you, and they are trying to kill you sort of thoughts. 

     I also have a great sense of worry when I drive, I worry about hurting other people, but that's normal, those aren't the thoughts that I feel are unnecessary. The thoughts of someone trying to force me into a wreck are the thoughts that worry me, because I'm overly cautious, I pay attention to one car, were as to everyone on the road, sometimes I switch between cards, but I can't help but feel someone is after me. Though those aren't all of what I think, or feel like I'm being told. 

     It truly does feel like someone is telling me these thoughts. At first I speculated I may be developing schizophrenia. One of the things I saw while researching, was OCD is commonly mistaking with schizophrenia from a minority perspective. Other thought I commonly have are I'm unwanted and I don't matter and what not. Some days it is hard to deal with, so I turn to my music to think. I'm hoping to return to my writing here soon, but I feel I'm not good with the creative part of writing. 

     Being told writers should read; me being a writer who doesn't read. I feel now I have to read to be a good writer, and I understand why, but I can't read. I can't stand doing the same thing or feel stuck in one place for time on end. I enjoy reading, but as long as it's longer than a fifteen minute read, I feel to claustrophobic. 

     There is the reason I have decided to to keep a journal. So far, not so good. I feel like even with the journal the doctor may think I'm faking it just due to recent happenings of people thinking I'm faking my "issues". I was put on pretty strong medicine when I was first diagnosed with anxiety, and I'm still on strong medicine to this day, but a different one. It's not like I can taking anything weaker, because it doesn't have any effects on me. While I was taking my medicine a few weeks ago, I still felt very anti-social which worries me.  I'm hoping that the thoughts die down while I'm on the medicine, if not than I may need to try something stronger, which I really don't want. 

     Hopefully everyone enjoyed the nicer weather today! I didn't, I enjoyed a nice day playing video games with the friend that came over. Though I did get a few more pictures for Opachii's Photography. Can't wait to start posting in that blog again!

Things That Help Me

     There really isn't a whole lot that helps me control my anxiety, I just hide the fact I'm suffering from it. Perhaps me hiding it is what causing my headaches, because I'm bottling everything up, who knows? The reason why I keep my anxious moments to myself is because I don't like feeling weak. If I'm going though something I don't often like to ask for help, to me that is admitting that I'm not strong enough to to deal with my own stuff.

     The reason I don't like feeling weak is because I love helping people. I feel like if I need help than I'm not capable of helping those in need. I don't know why but that is just how I am. Me feeling helpless is one of the hardest things for me to control. I can't stand not being able to help. One person is enough to make a huge difference, often times I feel my help is enough to make the difference, it's a bit of a delusion I believe, but it's my motive to help. 

     Working helps me a LOT. Ever since I had that problem at work though, not only do I feel helpless, but I also feel like everyone there is out to get me now. I used work as an escape, and now I can't. I still like working there, it's just I can't control my anxiety like I use to, and there isn't anything to change that now. I like keeping busy in general, so I often try to find outside work around the house, but I don't have enough plants to care for that will keep me busy enough. 

     Getting called into work meant a lot to me. I was told several times I shouldn't come in if I feel compelled to, but I was able to help. I made a difference by showing up when they were short. I'v been there for a little over a year, so I'm pretty fast as just about job they offer. That allows me to not only hop back and forth between two different stations to helps those in need, but I can also handle depending on the situation, two stations on my own. That can really only happen though when there a few people and we have a small rush. 

     Other things that help my with my anxiety, one would definitely have to be music. I started off listening to country, mostly because that's what my parents listened to all the time. I'm still a big fan of John Denver and Alabama. It wasn't until mid-school I started getting into punk rock, well Green Day. After I was introduced to that magnificent band, that was all I ever listened to. Then I started getting into Linkin Park. My senior year was when I started getting into EDM, I listen to many sub genres of EDM, I don't even know them all, hands up is one though. 

     When I was in a bad mood or going through something, I would always turn to my piano; more so electric keyboard. It aloud me to escape from everything, and even play the music I enjoyed. The first song I learned was 21 Guns by Green Day, I remember learning it because I fell in love with the meaning of the song. 

     I still play the piano off and on, but not as much. It reminds me of bad times that have happened over the past. Learning something new is more of a chore than a joy. A lot of that to could be because I'm trying to hard to learn songs that are still challenging, like Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement by Beethoven or La Campanella from Liszt. 

     Writing use to be my biggest escape, obviously enough for me to right a book while trying to get through my senior year. It isn't very long, but still a lot of it had to do with what all was going on. I started off writing a fan-fiction of all the cartoons I use to watch when I was in third grade. I remember my teacher force me to choose a Rosetta stone card and write a story, I think the length had to be a page or something. 

     I didn't want to do it, I remember telling myself there was no way I could write a page about a red ball, which was the picture I chose. I decided to write about Spongebob and how he had lost a red ball, than it turned into more than just that; remember I was only ten when I wrote this story. The story evolved into an adventure going through all the shows I enjoyed watching at that time. Spongebob still being the main character. He was on a journey to find his lost possession. 

     I'm sure there are more things that have helped me though what little I'v lived, but I can't really think of anything so there may or may not be a second post to this. Anyways I hope everyone enjoyed their days! I was lucky enough to have a friend, that has been away for college, come over to hang out over his spring break. I so happen to be lucky enough to also get today off for work so everything worked out there! Until tomorrow, which I think if I'm brave enough I will go over a list of my fears and phobias.  

Optimism

     Sorry this is a late post, I was hoping to get it at least typed out while a was at work, but I was on dishes most of the night and when I got time my phone was about dead. Anyways, tired and wore out I have time to put together more sentence that probably don't make a whole lot of since.

     I am a very optimistic person which in the long run tends to hurt more than it does help. Generally I don't like people seeing me in pain, seeing my suffer from a deleterious disease. It makes me feel weak, most people look down upon the weak even though they still feel pain, like everyone else. Most times when I'm in a really good mood it's because I hide the true face of despair. I don't want the attention from someone else, I would rather give them attention.

     The reason optimism hurts in the long run is because people always relay on you to be okay with what ever they tell you to do, even if it bothers you or they know you can't do it. I don't complain a whole lot so when I do people go all ape shit. I'm just going to call my headaches migraines because I do believe that is what they are. I have several of the symptoms and anxiety can cause migraines.

     These migraines are by far the worst pain I have ever felt, I can't see very well, the effected side of my head my eye waters if the migraine doesn't effect both sides, which today it effect both sides of my head. I feel like I'm running a high fever, my nose gets runny, sometimes like today, I can barely stand. I don't complain though, I don't go around asking for petty by saying my head hurts, or that I can't do this because I have a headache like many others would do just to get out of a task they don't want to do.

     The second I say something hurts and I can't do a task because of it, it suddenly becomes and excuse, even though other people have the same problem and get away with not doing certain tasks. For example I have a bad shoulder, I don't know whats wrong with it. I have had x-rays done to see and the results came back with nothing unusual. It could be arthritis but it hurts every day, some days more than others. I can withstand the pain but the more it hurts the less I can lift, it's almost like it's dislocated shoulder that I'v had for years. Anyways for a while I was doing a task I hadn't done, and I started doing it every day I worked, which I couldn't continue to do everyday because it involved me lifting my shoulder over my head. With a good amount of weight I couldn't do it.

     I mentioned something to the supervisor, he was okay with it and understood as you can clearly see one shoulder is lower than the other. Next day I work I had to do this task again so I said something to the boss, in which she was okay with it too. The other managers find out one I think understood but the other of course didn't. They took it as I was trying to get out of it. Yeah I didn't like the task but there are many tasks I don't like doing at work. I do dishes nearly every day I work, I don't like it but no one else does them, at least not very often.

     I mentioned I feel others should start helping out on dishes a bit more, which only one manager seemed to have a problem with that. I guess I'm just full of excuses. People tend to relay on the people who don't complain. I'm optimistic so I put a smile on no matter the day, it could be the worst day in my life, and I'm still helping others, trying my hardest not to let them see me suffer.

     I'm twenty now and had my first girlfriend at twenty, I'm not a chaser, I'm happy for who I am not who I date. It only lasted a few weeks, but I didn't show it, not at work anyways. My mom caught on after a little while, though it's not hard to tell when I'm depressed at home. My senior year, no one asked me if I was okay or if everything was alright, even though I experienced more in one year than many can say they had in a lifetime. It was one thing after another, and day by day, I went to school showed sympathy to others who were effected by an event I shared with them. I asked them how they were holding up, not once did any of them ask me, I didn't show I was in pain.

     Maybe it's time to start showing emotion, but I don't want attention. Optimism is probably my biggest self harm. Not only am I lying to the people around me, some days I do need help getting through something. I also lie to myself, I pretend nothing is bothersome, I pretend I'm not in pain even though sometimes all I can see is blood dripping from my soul. I'm having a small panic attack at the moment as this is my second night without the medicine. I plan on doing a post of a severe panic attack. Optimistic people feel pain too like everyone else, they just bottle it up better.  
       

Why I Created This Blog

     I really enjoy helping people, sometimes it is hard to do when I'm not willing to be social. I normally do okay with helping people while hiding behind a computer, though messaging people is starting to get harder and harder for me, my social anxiety is getting worse by the year, no matter how anyone looks at it. I'v been told it's been getting better but in reality I just know how to put a mask on.

     I also get panic/ anxiety attacks if I don't help someone in need or if I feel helpless which sucks, because well I can't hide from the social aspect of helping. There will always be some sort of social interaction while helping someone. Rather it be on social media or in person, verbally or through text, you are still communicating with someone to help.

     This blog helps me by allowing me to discuss a few of my past events, people who struggle find it easier knowing they aren't alone. One thing I always keep in mind is someone out there will always have it worse than you, no matter who you are, or how hard you situation can be. That is something that helped me through what was suppose to be a happy memorable year, I will be getting to that in a few days hopefully.

     I can create a community for people who either enjoy the drama filled reads, or people who may be struggling and need help. Everyone is free to leave comments, and ask questions as they please, and it can even be done anonymously. I will more than likely be posting herbal remedies for those who are sick. I have several other helpful guidance blogs for a few of the games I play.

    The biggest reason it is easier for me to help people through a blog is because I to can help anonymously. One of the biggest reasons I use a pseudonym in the titles of my blog. I'm known as "Opachii", at least to those who don't know my alias. I have never been big on being the center of attention, so why announce my real name to the public? If I continue to write books I will more than likely publish them, more than likely not this pseudonym but I will probably use one for my books.   

A Waking Reality

     About five to six years ago, I started having headaches, depending on the day they were either really bad, or just a bit of pressure. At first I didn't think anything of them. I have a high pain tolerance, so I just waved it off, thinking the headaches will pass, at least the ones that made my eyes watery and nose runny. They use to last about a week give or take. There was either no pain, just the pressure of a headache, or the pain of what I would have to describe as small needles behind one eye or the other.

     About a month or so of that passed by, but the headaches began to come more then they would go. The pressure soon became what use to be the needles and the needles became like someone driving a spike through the top of my skull, and behind one of my eyes, if not both... the headaches became worse.

     After about three maybe four or five months of this, I decided it was time to go see the doctor about my headaches that only go away a few times in a month if I was lucky that month. I don't remember much of the first few visits but the first thing the doctor thought was the headaches were just tension headaches. My eyes got checked (my father insisted I needed glasses) and other typical doctor visit procedures were done and I was sent on my merry way, I don't remember if medicine was giving to me the first visit or not.

     A few months pass and the headaches, though not any worse, weren't any better either, but they did seem to last a bit longer. The best way to describe these; I really should say headache as it felt like it was one headache that lasted for at first a few weeks, then a month, to almost a constant headache. So I decide its time to go back as what ever I was told to do the first visit didn't work. The doctor than asked if migraines ran in the family in with my mother said they don't. Though she had the degree and I didn't the doctor said it was possible for me to have migraines, but without migraines running in the family it was unlikely. This time I remember her giving me small dosage of some kind of medication used for migraines.

     Believe it or not it worked, for a good some of time anyways. I don't remember how many months it worked for, all I know is it worked. Then she upped the medication to the next set dose. That is when things really started to change for me. I got more into anime and drawing, I like to call it my artistic phase. Don't get me wrong I was still into anime before most of this started happening but, not as much as I was after I started taking the higher dose of this medicine.

     I would wake up in the morning for school take a shower and find that I can't feel legs. I felt lighter all of a sudden. I just let it pass because at the time I thought I was just really lightheaded, and I was, but things grew white. I saw white lights, mixed in with a magenta color, the white out ruled the magenta color, and I did nothing.

     I continued my morning routine, and got ready for school. At first I though maybe it was because I wasn't eating as much. The medicine made me nauseous so I often skipped lunch or supper (wasn't big on breakfast). I started eating a bit more in the morning and tried to force myself to eat when I didn't feel as sick to the stomach, as this "lightheadedness" wouldn't fade away, it actually got worse. It was hard for me to get from class to class. All I did, was let it pass. I didn't stop for a second, I just kept going because I kept thinking to myself  "self I can't be late for class". I was, no I am a worry wort. I worry about everything. I for some reason or another thought if I was late to class once I would get in a lot of trouble, some may not care about getting in trouble, but this guy sure did. Couldn't be around when the phone rang otherwise I thought I did something.

     One day, I was so drained. I didn't do any physical ware and tare, but my body insisted I did. I was laying down watching, you guessed it anime. Somewhere in between the time I spent watching anime and laying down, I fell asleep. It was early afternoon when I fell asleep, because when I woke up it was nearly time to eat dinner. I was called upon when the food was prepared and if I am correct, I was pail white. Now I'v never seen a ghost, but I would have to say I was pail white, as I look in the mirror to see if I looked sick.

     I made it out to the kitchen on good terms, but once I stopped; impatiently waiting for the ketchup, I saw those lights again only this time they were brighter and oddly enough the lights hurt this time. Again I grew light, almost felt as if I were flying. Without saying a word, I rushed into the living room, hoping to catch the closest seat before I fall from the sky. Thankfully I made it to a seat just in time. All I can say from the point forward, I remember getting up but I don't remember making it back to my room. It felt like I was sleep walking only, ever step hurt. My body just ached all over, more so than with a high temperature. I was dizzy even while laying down; the room just kept spinning, even with my eyes closed, everything was spinning. I never took another pill the doctor prescribed to me after that, and I got better.

     Here recently I know I keep saying that I'm back on my anxiety medicine. It turns out the medicine wasn't for migraines like what my family thought. In my first post Yet Another Blog, and Problems at Work, I mentioned a bit of why I decided to take my anxiety medicine again. I remember mentioning to the manager I'v been having problems with the I grow immune to medication. Putting more and more thought into I slowly started to remember, the medicine I was taking for my headaches, I didn't become immune to it, I stopped taking it because of it's effects.

     I go home that night thinking that I would take them again, my headaches were getting worse once again, and I would have my mom look for my medical papers for my anxiety and my headaches.  I looked up the side effect of the medicine because it had been nearly three years since I have taken them, found out that it is an antidepressant that helps with anxiety migraines. The reason this was such a shock was because I knew how bad my anxiety was and I knew I needed medication, but I would rather suffer being me than being someone the medicine changes me into.

     Here I am taking my anxiety medicine, to show why I can't run the front or answer the phones at work. Anxiety medicine in itself is almost worse than not being capable of doing normal everyday activities. I would much rather give up talking to people then having to take the medicine, but I can't do that. I can be vindictive at times.

   

   

        

A Feared Life

   Severe anxiety is nothing more than a cluster of phobias and is often followed by depression. The more one fears, the less of normal activities one may enjoy during their lifetime. Some may collect more phobias than they conquer, the older they become, if the age from where they left off. Sorrow normally comes after facing a fear, sometimes it just appears on its own. Some fears cause people to tell themselves things they know aren't true, but the thoughts never fade; day in and day out.

     

     The people who suffer the most always show a smile, rather it be in school, work or public. They are optimist most of the time, and some hide problems so well; you may never know something is wrong, until it's to late. 

     Yes everyone has some form of anxiety, but not everyone has severe anxiety. Basic anxiety stems from normal things to stress about; like starting a new job or that exam you "forgot" to study for. Not everyone goes through panic/anxiety attacks weekly or even daily like myself. These attacks don't have to have a reason, they can just pop up out of nowhere. No warning sign nothing. Could be the best damn day someone has and all of a sudden their worst. 

     I'v been told by people who don't have severe anxiety tell me to just get over it, it's nothing, or that other people have "issues". Severe anxiety isn't an issue, for those who truly believe it is, need to fear nearly everything and tell me it's just "issues". Severe anxiety is a disorder, a chemical imbalance in the brain. That chemical isn't something someone can just create out of nothing, that's what medicine is for, though is the medicine really worth it? For some possibly, but it changes who YOU are. Your personality changes. Given time, not much is feared anymore, people become distant, and I even feel soulless at times, like nothing will phase me anymore. 

     Other effects are just as terrifying to others as they are to whoever takes medicine for this disorder. Some may become confused, they won't remember who they are, how to do ritual activities, or even where they are! Faintness; one of the worst side effects I'v experience, your whole body aches like you are running a high fever, but your temperature gets lowers. Everything grows dark, the pigment from your vision just disappears, and you can't feel anything. Luckily I was able to wobbly myself to a seat to gather myself. There are many more side effects than those two, some actually really devastating. It's almost like the only thing the medicine ever fixed were the fears.  

     My biggest fear is claustrophobia. I fear small places, I fear being trapped. Which is why I fear most other things. It isn't necessarily the fact I fear something else like being social. I'm not always afraid to interact with others. I just don't like feeling confine to one spot, I'm constantly moving or doing something else apposed to just talking. I am however social phobic, but depending on the day I can push that aside, though I can't only hold a conversation for a short time before my anxiety kicks in. 

    Tonight is the forth night back on my medicine and let me tell you it isn't very fun. I don't have to take it, the reason why I do though is because not everyone sees severe anxiety as a disorder. I can't run the phone or work the registers at work unless I have medicine, but I can't take medicine for long before the side effects get progressive worse. Here I'm guessing within a few more days, I wont be able to stand for long. I'm going to show they people at work what I'm like with medicine, and show them why I'm not on medicine. Yes I can leave and find a new place, but I really enjoy where I'm at and I feel it just isn't my time to leave yet. Everything happens for a reason and I don't have a reason to leave.