Hai hai

Just a quick overview about the most important things that have been really helping me during the last 10 months of struggling with all of the conditions mentioned above. Feel free to message me if You need help.

DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB/SCHOOL: While for some people it is very hard, for me it was something I looked forward to. Going to school or/and work does not let You sit at home and overanalize everything and spiral down to an even more horrible state of mind. At the end of the day, quitting school or work will only make You feel more depressed because You will not accomplish important things. Try to give Your best at school and work because the more concentrated You are, the less You think about the anxiety/OCD and/or other things that are troubling You. Staying at home is a very slippery road.

DO NOT AVOID SOCIAL EVENTS: Basically the same as the above, do not stop going out with your friends, do not stop doing things that You once loved, even if the illness is robbing You of all the joy. It will get better.

FIND YOURSELF A HOBBY THAT YOU REALLY ENJOY: Unless you already have one... but who said a person can only have one hobby? :) A hobby not only is a distraction for the unpleasant stuff going on in Your head, but also gives you more experience, maybe some new friends. It is extremely good, if Your hobby requires physical activity, because sport is directly linked to the release of endorphins in the brain, chemicals, which interact with receptors, that lessen anxiety and other mental problems. Personally, I started volunteering at a local cat shelter, since I am really not that sporty. There are tons of things you can do, find Your own passion!

FIND A PERSON WHO IS WILLING TO LISTEN: This is really important, because you can not let all the negative thoughts and fears bottle up inside Your head. It is such a relief when You can share your emotions with someone who will not judge. Do not mistreat their personal free time though. What I mean by that is do not make them listen to your worries for hours and hours every day. Try not to become addicted to the reassurance which that person gives to you.

SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IMMEDIATELY: I had to wait for two months before I could go to a psychiatrist  so I recommend booking an appointment as soon as possible. Visiting a psychiatrist can be really expensive, so as an alternative You can start meeting with a psychologist at your workplace/school/university, if they provide such counseling. Check out if Your city provides any psychological help via some projects (in my country, there are places where young people aged 18 to 25 can go for advice for free).

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF MEDICATION: A lot of people are afraid of taking antidepressants and other medication because of the fear of developing an addiction. This is however a false belief, as only benzodiazepines (short term drugs, like Xanax, that relieve symptoms immediately) are habitforming. Trisyclics and SSRis (long term medications for mental health improvement) however DO NOT form a habit. The worst that could happen is experiencing side effects, but then it is very easy to try something new or quit that specific medication. The medication does not help everyone and it is definitely wrong to solely rely on it. It may take a lot of time trying different medication before finding the right one, that fits You the best. Best results are reportedly achieved by combining therapy (for example Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and medication.