Struggle

Struggling with mental illness is not always a daily battle. Sometimes it is more like a full-scale war. People who spend every day fighting the depression, anxiety, mood swings and other symptoms of mental illness are often left exhausted by the relentless fight. What many are not aware of is how common it is to come across people who are silently fighting their own war. People who are too afraid to admit they need help, or even feel ashamed of their symptoms.

Yup I am having one of those days...actually weeks. Dealing with the simplest of tasks is a chore and it is not a fair fight. I feel like the old me is gone or left his body and this new person has taken over.

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability around the world. Among these, depression. The most common mental illness, affecting more than three hundred million people of all ages worldwide. Symptoms include sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite and energy levels, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, difficulty concentrating and suicidal thoughts.

Easier said than done. We all know that depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, but what about all these other conditions?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting forty million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18 percent of the population. It is also estimated that 44 percent of the population will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.

Symptoms include, but are not limited to, feelings of panic or fear, shortness of breath or smothering sensations, chest pain or discomfort, choking or nausea, dizziness, light-headedness or loss of balance, tingling hands or feet, feeling that things around them are "not real" or fear of losing control.

Just being me.

The symptoms for obsessive-compulsive disorder include unwanted thoughts or ideas, repetitive behaviors, fears of contamination, irrational worries, unwanted images. The two most common mental illnesses are actually very close, but why is it that they go hand in hand?

"Anxiety and depression often occur together. They can occur at separate times or simultaneously. Sometimes anxiety precedes depression and sometimes depression precedes anxiety. But even when they occur at the same time, it is important to know that both can be treated effectively. It is not uncommon for people to experience one or the other — or even both at the same time — and lead very productive lives."

Vicious cycle.

As it turns out, this is not rare at all. According to clinical studies, about half people with unipolar depression develop comorbid anxiety disorders. If you are wondering what the other half is up to - they're developing something else entirely new.

It is like an endless circle. I feel one way, then it changes to something else. And moreover, there are times when I have absolutely no idea what is going on or how I am feeling.

But as they say “Do not be so hard on yourself”, every disorder has its own timeline for development. Some may develop after a major life event, while others do not show their symptoms until much later. If you are struggling, it is important to keep in mind that recovery can take many forms. Recovery does not mean that all the symptoms will go away - recovery means that you will learn to cope with them, so they no longer interfere in your life.

I wish I could explain what it feels like.