Dear Therapist: Will I Ever Get Relief?

The emptiness that you feel can be a result of multiple things. It sounds like maybe your depression and anxiety are affecting your relationships and friendships. Perhaps you don’t want to interact with your friends as much or when you do, you aren’t having as much fun as you thought you would.

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The important thing to know with depression is that the only way to “cure” it, is through being active. You have to get out and socialize, exercise, etc. to decrease the negative symptoms. You have to find something that you think you will enjoy. This will, in turn, increase your positive feelings. People will notice that you are happier and want to engage with you more.

Having anxiety is something that can be helpful or unhelpful depending on how one looks at it. It seems that for you anxiety is also in some way affecting your friendships and relationships. Utilizing skills such as meditation and deep breathing can be very helpful for anxiety.

For example, if you are starting a job for the first time you may experience anxiety during your first day such as heart racing, sweaty palms, and shaking. In this situation, using a deep breathing technique where you breathe in through your nose, hold for 3 seconds, then let out slowly through your mouth and repeat until you are calm, can be very helpful in that situation. This skill is something that can be practiced and utilized at anytime and over time can become useful in any situation.

All in all, these challenges that you are experiencing can be managed. You can have meaningful relationships while managing your depression and anxiety. As long as you are willing to work it is possible.