Coping with anxiety - my story

I've read some really brave, insightful posts by other bloggers recently - bloggers that I admire and bloggers who (whom?) I thought had everything going for them. Turns out a lot of them suffer with depression and/or anxiety.
This is something I can relate to first hand, and they say you should write about what you know!

I first realised that I was suffering with depression when I was referred to a counsellor at university. I had actually been suffering since the age of 14 but I didn't realise that my feelings weren't normal. I felt sad a lot of the time. I would cry in the toilets on nights out and I used self harm as a way of coping.

At university I lost a lot of weight and would weigh myself every day. I slept a lot. I ended up quitting my course. My parents got divorced which hit me hard.

Counselling helped me a lot, as did some medication and a good support network of friends. I gained some confidence and started to like myself. I realised how much I had missed out on by being depressed and scared.

I'm pleased to say that I have not self harmed for many years now and I can mostly realise when I'm feeling down. I am strong enough to ask for help when I need it and I can see the good things in life and appreciate them.

From time to time I now suffer with anxiety rather than depression, and also I get stressed very easily. Pregnancy and a having a new baby have been a shock to my controlled life and I found it very hard to cope for the first few weeks. Luckily, I asked for help and went to my GP and started taking my medication for anxiety again.

Yesterday, I went to my babies' hospital appointment all by myself and didn't have a meltdown! We even went for a cup of tea and I fed him whilst drinking my tea with one hand! I feel that I can cope. At least for now. And that's a big deal for me.