Recovery and remission--just a fairy tale to keep us hoping?

Does recovery/remission from anxiety and depression actually exist? I read stories of the elderly who have had anxiety and depression their entire lives with no relief. I also rarely ever see success stories and, even when there is that 1 in a 1,000 success story, who is to say it's real? It's probably just a concocted story to keep us hoping for the impossible. From a personal standpoint, I have felt relief during some points of my life but they are always short-lived and only end up in a full relapse of symptoms. Where's the proof that people get better from this and live normal and happy lives? People will say things like, "Success stories aren't common because people stop posting when they're better." I guess that's true but even so, you would think SOME of those who are supposedly in remission would post. Is the pool of people who recover really so tiny, so microscopic, that it is practically unheard of to hear of their success? Who is to say these people aren't fabricating their stories to provide false hope for the rest of us? Instead of fighting maybe coming to terms with the idea that living life in this miserable fashion is all there is to it.

I've switched to Zoloft from Lexapro after it pooped out. I've been on 100mg for 3 weeks now. The only difference I notice is an increase in depression and a small decrease in anxiety. It feels like they switched roles; depression is now at the forefront but I still have terrible and unending anxiety.

I feel absolutely numb and tired; it feels like I'm a zombie with no soul. Is this the only unsatisfactory relief I can expect?

I'm looking into in-person CBT but honestly I have no faith in it. I already know EXACTLY what they're going to do and say. How does it help if I already know what I'm supposed to be doing?

worrywort, what you're talking about is so understandable. I can only honestly tell you that it is possible to *completely* re-wire ourselves out of our anxious cycles. I came to this boards to initially look for advice on an unrelated medical issue, and upon finding these panic attack forums felt that as a recovered person, I owed it to anyone else who's where I was, to come and show them it can happen.

That feeling of a dull ache constantly can be lifted. May I ask a question - are you in any way a creative person?

Regards

As you may see from my response in another thread that is usually the case with anxious people. Anxious people are often creative, and it is often the result of a sort of 'boredom', or starvation of our creative drive that results in the developing of a high-anxiety disorder.

If you've ever noticed, it is extremely frustrating when you suddenly realise that for some amount of time, maybe half an hour or so, you weren't anxious. But then the anxiety comes crashing down again! It's interesting to note that whilst you weren't anxious, you were probably doing something that completely distracted the anxious habit. Whatever you were doing creatively, is no longer quite enough to distract your creative mind. Maybe you got a bit too good at it so you could do it with your eyes closed, or maybe you lost interest. What I'd experiment with (because this really worked for me) is to find a way of re-engaging your creative drive. For example, I got bored of the guitar, so I learned the piano. It was something I wanted to do, was close to what I was interested in, and although it took some initial bravery to ignore the anxiety I'll tell you now - within a week, my panic attacks stopped.

Sometimes just finding something new, but still within the realm of what you're interested in, is enough to distract your anxious habit enough to stop it completely.

I hope that makes some sense.

I have learned to live with it. I had many symptoms from childhood and only had them treated in adulthood. I might as well learn to live with it..since I know it's not going to disappear. Anxiety to me is a blessing because I have gained a lot from the pain and suffering I experienced throughout the years.

If I can implore you to reconsider trying therapy.

I too was really doubtful, but ended up going through it twice...for two seperate issues.

I first went specifically for A/P issues and I thought halfway through, that it was going to be a huge waste...I just didn't see how it could help me.

However, it did slowly start to work, and I was seeing improvement.

The second time that I was in therapy, it was not specifically for anxiety...but for a trust issue in my marriage that was of course causing me to have anxiety...

...again, I thought, it was not going to help. but long story short...I have benefitted tremendously from both experiences.

In the big picture, even though it is an expense, and a lot of work...you have more to gain than lose in giving it a try.

S.C.