New here and need Advice,anxiety or depression or a.d.d.??? HELP!!

[jakemason]

Help me... am I depressed?or is it anxiety or a.d.d. I dont know where to start. in the last cpl years I lost a job of 2o yrs..I lost my home and many of my toys,had to move from my home town and Recently split with wife and well I know have issues...I cant seem to concentrate on tasks very well..I cant sleep well, and I get anxiety...the anxiety attacks are mostly sparked by marijuanna use! I also love to drink and cant seem to stop using alcohol...I only drink once a week but it seems necesary to be social...Ive drank and partied for the last 20 yrs I know I need to stop and have pretty much stopped using the marijuana on my own but miss it...I just need a lil buzz sometimes to escape reality and miss the marijuana but cant smoke it as it casues the anxiety attacks I dunno Im a mess do I need meds? am I depressed or is anxiety or wtf?? help very stressed!! I just wanna be happy and usualy had been very strong all this is making me feel weak!!

[rowdy925]

I know how you feel. Marijuana used to make me oh so happy but now I get panic attacks when I smoke. Same with alcohol...I was a big drinker and partier bu alcohol just induces panic as well.

[IndependentJenn]

Ok Jake Mason, first of all you need a real friend. I am here for you, please PM me if you wanna talk further. Now all of these things, depression, anxiety, and ADD can be connected. I was diagnosed with both depression and anxiety. They can also effect each other so much. For example If I get worried about something I will become anxious and then it will be hard to concentrate. Also if I am feeling depressed I will often think negative thoughts that turn into anxiety.

Now on to the drug and alcohol use. Please believe me that you HAVE to stop! I only say this because both of those things are distractions. They are only quick fixes and then what they actually do is make things worse in the long run. I used to drink alcohol, ALOT! I did it so I didnt have to be responsibe, or think, or be sad. Alcohol is a depressant and even though you may seem happier when you drink, it will come crashing down later. If you are using as much as you seem to be, you may need real help. Most places have treatment centers for not only drug and alcohol use but also mental issues such as depression or anxiety or ADD. Please don't feel to proud to use these services. I am a good looking 25 year old woman who looks completely normal but I go to a counselor very often. I have also done many things that I am not proud of. You seem serious about improving your life or I don't think you'd be here. Please take my advice.

Hope I've helped!
<3 Jenn

[vonnhelsing]

Hello Jake Mason,

As a heavy smoker, i can say that after i stopped smoking a whole pack a day my anxiety has definitely reduced. I started eating healthier and i don't drink ANY alcohol. Marijuana and Alcohol just mess with your brain. I know you're in a state where you just wanna feel happy and feel normal again and not have all these constant worries but you can either feel temporarily happy (while ur drinking or smoking) but feel crappy permanently OR you can really commit to getting better and stop with the smoking and drinking, get some therapy and sort yourself out.
Take care man

[alankay]

Have you visited a doc on breaking the cycle of all this anxiety? High anxiety can lead to some depression. Alankay