YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Hello
Hey guys just looking for positive friends. I have schizoaffective disorder depression type. I have been really depressed for 2 and half years. I isolate myself. The only people in my life are mostly family and not very positive. So I think that’s a lot of my problems, need to find better more positive people to hang out with. I am going to try and call old friends next week and catch up. It’s terrible I haven’t stayed in contact with them. I just dig my self a hole and can’t stop digging. I been drinking 4 tall boys beers a day to change my mood, but we all know that’s not helping. Tomorrow going to start exercising, not drink and work on my diet. I will let you k ow how it goes. If someone is struggling too like to jeR from ya. Maybe we can help each other. Thanks hope to hear from you guys soon

Hello La15andmary,

Sounds like you have a good plan in place. I'm dealing with long-term anxiety and depression, and have started to try to make a couple of things habits when I get up, instead of jumping right into the sh!t that's sure to come rolling in....

Exercise certainly helps. Been trying to go to the gym a few times a week. Feels good to get the blood circulating. Don't stay more than about hour, and try to push myself a little bit without overdoing it.

Here's wishing you success!

Hey thanks sorry you been dealing with anxiety and depression. Every morning when I wake up I am like shit another day, but I heard on a podcast someone like us said he starts the day by saying five things he is thankful for. I have been doing that now and it seems to help. Just simply things like I am thankful for having a car to get me around. Just wanted to share that with ya if you would like to try it. Since you have depression too. Thanks for for replying to my post. It helps me

Hey, looks like you managed to get *two* threads going! Maybe we can merge them later

Yes, being thankful is always good. (But sometimes the flip side of that is an automatic negative thought about some other poor wretches that are truly suffering somewhere .. Can't win )

Lately its controlling the anxiety that I feel when awaking.... Try to gently stretch all extremities, breathe, and clear my mind before I jump up and get consumed...

(Come to think of it, that's not so surprising to have to do. Our brains have been recharging and running wild with dreams all night, right?).

About meeting people- I'm basically an introvert, but not asocial/antisocial. Just have some anxieties about interacting, especially with larger groups.

Many people seem to like to talk about themselves (I don't). So if you can ask them pertinent questions at the right pace & timing, that should help.

Here something from the New York Times that might be useful

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/16/smar ... tions.html

Yes I don’t know how I started 2 threads. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer lol. Thank for the article.