Depressed Anxiety PanicDisorder=VeryUnhappy

I have been living in China for quite some years now, but I've been feeling very depressed for the past 2 years with anxiety attacks and I also suffer panic disorders within crowded areas. Anyone feeling quite down and out of it, email me at silentstormahead@hotmail.com I'd like to meet other people with similar problems and help each other out.

this is not a joke, try eating C H O C O L A T E. quit funny but it works wonder to me.

I believe u have been in a bad physical shape for the past two years .Try build up yourself by exercising,I mean swimming ,yoga ,nothing too heavy,even walking instead of jogging.Take b complex as it he;ps to strengthen the nerves,if u are not against tcm,try herbal medicine and accupunture,I assumed that your sleeping quality is not that well either!

I agree with the exercise suggestion. It boosts my personal well-being mentally and physically, but I've read that there are university studies supporting the use of exercise as a therapy for depression (I read that it can cause as much change in brain chemistry as taking antidepressant medication). Beijing is also very far north. If your depression is seasonal, it may be "seasonal affective disorder" and you could try my personal trick of using high wattage light bulbs (preferably "full spectrum" bulbs) and in winter turn on the lights in your house every morning at 6 AM. As for anxiety and panic disorder, these may be harder to control in China because the environment is so much more noisy, crowded, and smelly here -- leading to sensory overload! There are medications available by prescription from a doctor that definitely help with these but also a psychologist could help with techniques for desensitization and coping. I think you must try not to let anxiety or panic disorder have power over you, or it will come to rule your life. I don't have these issues myself, but because China is so noisy, crowded, and smelly, I personally find it helpful to create an environment at home that is very tranquil and feels peaceful and private to me (quiet, tranquil music, scented candles) -- my own little comfort zone. Coming to my own little nest each day helps me to to recharge "quiet batteries" after a noisy day outside. But also maybe you should consider moving to an environment (presumably your home country) that you find more comfortable. It's not a sign of failure that you don't enjoy the environment here, just maybe a fact that this place is just not suitable for your particular (sensitive) personality type.

Tell me about it. I was just browsing online trying to find some psychotherapists in Beijing when i stumbled across your post. Panic attacks, which in my case are msnifested as 'mini heart attacks' have nearly paralized me. The annoying thing is i cant even think of any reason for this. I try to read, turn off my phone, meditate, concentrate on doing on little thing at a time, stay away from alcohol--sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I would consider anti-depressant the last resort, not to mention its rather impossible to get the latest ones in china. Consult doctors about tranquilizers, and ask those western clinics about phychiatrist service (though the cost is rather dire. usually about 100usd/session, and believe me, some don't live up to the reputation)

Hi, I have almost the same problems, and I am here in China to practice qi gong and tai ji . It is very good for body and regulate mind! You should try! Courage!

silentstormhead.. sorry to hear your experience. I am feeling somewhat similar. Hate crowded places.. hate people brushing by.. days pass by without any significance. I exercise almost everyday. tried chocolate, but temporary depression relief. Don't want to get into medication due to addiction. Don't know what to do. Life feels so empty and I keep thinking to myself what the point is to all this.. hope you feel better. Some people keep telling me it's just a phase in life, but I've been somewhat depressed on and off for more than 4 years now.. where does one go from here?

just jump out there in the crowd and start running people over too! It works for me. When that old lady pushes me from behund and tries to cut me in line, I just trip her and watch her fall!


No, sincerely, take a vacation and see if it makes a difference and if not see a doctor.

I feel somewhat relieved to know that I m not alone... so here is an update on my situation. I exercise quite often (2-3 times a week) I am pretty well built physically, but definately not eating as much chocolate as I should. I don't feel as depressed as I used to since my last post, but I do feel a lot more sensitive to my enviorment... like people are constantly looking at me because I dress, act and talk different... and I have had some bad experiences with locals lately where things almost ended up in fist fights. I am not having panic attacks anymore, but I still get a bit anxious in crowded places where people are always staring and trying to "measure u up"... I feel really affected by the surrounding and I think when people around here see that, they don't really back off but instead they act like pricks and try to annoy you more. Rudeness and the general manners with people here is something I m going to have a hard time adapting to. I have physical symptoms as well while I am in really crowded places like the mall or standing in line: body sweat, muscle tension, super sensitive to things... I think the medical term for this is called "agoraphobia". I also have this weird spacy feeling and where I feel like a foot off the ground and Im not really connected, and I create this awkward situations with people I know and I feel like a stranger. It's been really tuff on my self-esteem and I feel alone most of the time, but I don't want to give up because there is too much to live in life. I can totally understand; that no matter how much money or material weath one has, if the person is not mentally well (attitude, mentality, etc.), then no matter where they are they will always feel down and their view of the world will always be narrow and sad. So I m not giving up the fight, and I did go to a phyciatrist (someone from the States) but I felt like she wasn't really concern about my problems, but instead was just "following the routine" and I did all the talking. That one session costed me about 110 USD and only for 50 min and she kept looking at the clock. (I am a student here and 110 bucks for an icy 50min is WAY over my budget) On the website she seemed to have this impressive career but I think the writing was full of BS. In the end she prescribed some antidepressent but I turned the offer down. I thought maybe she could help me with some real coping skills and to face the true problems, not offer drugs to desensitize me. So now I've hit the off-switch on phsyciatrists in China and maybe when I get back home I'll look for one there. One thing that is helping me GREATLY: I've managed to get some information online and Im trying to learn about anxiety and depression, what they are, what caused it, etc etc and I am not as scared as I was, and the workbooks and relaxation sessions I found online also helped me a great deal. So Anyways, I m trying hard and I hope I will feel better soon because I m definately not giving in to these inner demons and letting the fear consume me.

Sorry the shrink was useless and expensive. But the paxil (or whatever) might really help you over the hump. Glad you are better and working out too! This is totally off the wall comment (I'm just brainstorming here), but it sounds like perhaps you are alone in the presence of strangers a lot. It's easy to let yourself think thoughts that the strangers are being judgmental or negative. Some might be, but most probably either don't give a sh*t or they might actually be thinking kind thoughts toward you. Sometimes your smile might be reciprocated, or you could try a bit of conversation. I do this on the bus sometimes. (My Chinese friends tell me it would be wierd if they did it to a stranger, but since foreigners are wierd anyway it's okay for me to do it. When I start a conversation, people are friendly about 90% of the time.) In the meantime, though, what about this idea -- what about trying to cultivate some closer friends through school, classes, or even a language exchange or a buddy you meet at the gym? Somebody just to enjoy, spend some time with, and not be so lonely? Thinking about my own life, I think I build bubbles of comfort zones . . . places where I feel very comfortable whether at home home or just a mentally comfortable place when I am with friends. On another thread, oyster just said she uses soft pillows and scented oils to make a place where she feels comforted. Friends make us feel comfortable. If you have these safe havens (I mean mental safe havens -- comfort of home, friends, whatever), then the time spent running in between them is just commute time in between nice places. Glad you're doing better though, keep up the good work and the positive steps!