Question for anyone who dealt with anxiety and depression, which worked better, drugs or hugs?

[4465loveyou5577]

Drugs

Hugs

Results

[broadsword]

Anyone saying hugs has never suffered with true depression to the point where you are suicidal. This is the absolute worst and lowest point of true depression and anxiety.
You need medication at this point and monitoring to get you through this terrible time. Nobody can be with you 24/7 hugging you.
Low mood is not depression. True depression is so debilitating it manifests in actual physical symptoms, you don't want anyone near you, you want to withdraw.

You are at the bottom of a hundred foot well chest deep in freezing cold water its pitch black and your feeling for the walls.

Your in a flooded fast flowing river slowly drown as yourself past three branches you can't hold onto or reach.

No one can help you it just has to pass.

[redeyemindtricks]

Yeah, or, worse, there's that... cathartic feeling, from rejecting people's attempts to help you, too. "Pleasure" is the wrong word, because it isn't pleasant... and "satisfaction" is the wrong word, because it isn't satisfying, either... but. You know what I'm talking about? And then you're even more alone.

[broadsword]

@redeyemindtricks agreed again it's "negative reinforcement ".
The very worst thing is being taken somewhere that friends and family think will cheer you up. Standing their with tears rolling down your face because you feel nothing there. A spot that is beautiful 3 generations of your family have enjoyed time their and yet you feel nothing.
It's not sad its wretched.

[dudeinohio]

A combination of both. Meds are needed for certain conditions... An understanding person who is aware of your condition is important for emotional support... Be well :)

[fauchelevent]

I'd say drugs. Taking the medication gets me to a point where I can calm down enough for the hugs to work. They're both important but I guess the drugs have more of an effect.

[Heartkiller]

PUGS! Just get a pug, instant happiness. Just look at their adorable wrinkly faces, how can you be even remotely down when such a cutie patootie is lookin' atcha ^.^

[Humping_Tornadoes]

I had a panic attack once some years ago that left me anxious for almost two full months. It was a nightmare, and I took benzodiazepines that helped me a lot reducing the anxiety until it wore off eventually.

I don't suffer from permanent social anxiety but from what I've experienced at that time they worked just fine. As for taking drugs permanently because of a depression it just isn't the way to go. I would assume people go completely numb and dependant in the long run since those are very strong drugs, might fuck you up rather than help you.

Counseling and therapy would work for depression best I think.

[Anonymous]

Drugs won't help at all and can actually make it much much worse if you don't have the chemical imbalance of clinical depression. I took a very mild anti depressant in a stop smoking drug ( for that purpose) and became what my ex wife referred to as "a monster. You made leather face seem like a disney character." Through my phase of depression it was honestly a self contained experience. No one knew, no one cared, and I fought back from it on my own. This course obviously won't work for everyone in every situation. So, it depends if you're clinically depressed, drugs might work. Or emotionally depressed, which "hugs" may work.

[aficionado]

Well... I have never gotten many hugs, and drugs have helped a bit. I still have a long way to go, though.

[truthhammer]

Two types of people under anxiety and depression

For me I can't eat or sleep

So drugs helped me get sleep to recover.

Hugs are good but at this point u need something more effective

[Waffles731]

Hugs really don't work for me on that level
me its a combination of medication and therapy

[idkwtftoputhere]

neither but listening to music helps a little.

[redeyemindtricks]

More than a little.

As a parent, I will ALWAYS think twice before yelling "Turn it down!", because sometimes turning it up really fucking loud can be the difference between wanting to stay alive and not wanting to stay alive.

[idkwtftoputhere]

@redeyemindtricks
yeah, I don't think many people really understand how powerful music can actually be