Overcoming anxiety and depression is a process. It doesn’t happen all at once. You have to pick your battles. I was deathly afraid of many things at the age of 25, including public speaking, flying in an airplane, riding in a car with people through the desert, going over long bridges, and heights. I wanted a better job, so I knew that I’d have to overcome the fear of public speaking. I took a Speech class at my community college and can still feel the fear of waiting for my turn while the class was going around in a circle to say our name and three other things about ourselves. Sweaty. I HAD TO FORCE MYSELF. It was out of my comfort zone. Once I did that it was gradually working up to giving a three-minute speech in front of the class.
Then the airplane thing. Flew to Chicago for a business trip. Yes I took something the doctor prescribed, but I was still out of my mind with fear. I focused on writing all of my addresses and phone numbers in a new address book as the plane took off. Thought I was going to faint. But it slowly got more comfortable with intermittent spurts of fear-induced adrenaline. It took several more flights before I really became comfortable.
It helps to talk to the doctor about depression and anxiety. I believe they are closely related. I take a medication called “Zoloft” and have been for years. I honestly think it helps with both. I still suffer terribly from depression at times. At those times I have to force myself to realize that it WILL pass.
You have a lot to give! and you don’t have to waste time with excessive fear. Pick a battle and start working on it. :)
