So basically things have been going downhill for me for awhile and I don't have a lot of support either. All of my supposed "good"friends and best friends have all slowly stopped contacting me over the past few years, I had some bad experiences at college, and recently have had some death in my family causing tension. I struggle with anxiety and possibly depression on top of that and the people in my life just don't get me or why i don't seem happy and honestly its been going on for awhile and I kinda feel like i'm reaching a breaking point. There's a lot i'm not mentioning but does anyone have any advice on how to deal with high levels of stress when things just keep going downhill? I try to keep myself positive but it is a constant struggle and lately there has been little relief and I feel like I have no one to talk to who gets how I feel. Also I don't want to take medication for the anxiety for personal reasons

I hear you I’m going through similar problems I’m in tears as I type but the best advice I can give you is that heals almost anything

I also have been through this kind of times and yeah maybe times heals everything but an advice i can provide is to find someone who you kinda like as a really good friend or even if you find a lover just tell him/her everything but be aware that this is a double edge sword so wait to know the person really well before telling him but once you are sure you can trust him/her tell everything and maybe he'll tell you about him/her to and you both will be feeling better. I know my advice kinda sucks but it's the best i can provide except seeing a professional so...

Good luck! And don't forget life has to be lived

yeah part of the problem is i don't have any good/close friends or a significant other atm... all i have are my parents and a sibling so that's why i'm posting here to see what other advice I can get. My anxiety and stress make me feel trapped in myself and its so hard talking to people who don't get it and trying to make them understand...But thank you both for replying it means a lot to have people listen at least so thank you I appreciate it

according to you what exactly happened with your old friends?
what changed?

May I propose "suicide"? it's quite an easy way to solve your problems, and it can be done in your home from the low low price of $free.99 with the small fee of your mortal soul being offered to Satan himself for all of eternity. Amen. Praise the Lord. Read your bibles and say your prayers before you sleep. God bless.

Hey Sylka I have a question for you. ever meet someone suicidal? or maybe someone who lost someone from suicide? I don't really care about your answer but I'm only bothering to reply to your insensitive, irresponsible and frankly childish "advice" to kindly let you know, for your own good of course :) ,that "proposing" suicide to anyone is a really not the way to go and I hope you never know the pain others go through by losing someone to suicide because I am not a shit enough person to wish that on you for your ignorance. You probably thought you were funny posting that and I get it hun you think "oh this is all in good fun" let me post this and laugh about it to myself behind a computer screen because it doesn't matter right? well jokes on you because i'm not suicidal nor have I ever been and I would love to see you say that to someones face and see how that goes but we both know you wouldn't actually say that to someones face because you are a coward hiding behind your computer screen trying to bully people on a random site because your life sucks enough that you want others to go downhill. You should really use that thing in your head its called a brain by the way and also while your at it do some soul searching because its clear you have some unattended "problems." No shame in admitting your feelings after all right? And good news for you this is the perfect place to do it! happy posting! :)

Hey Kaiyo. I have anxiety and depression too. I lost a parent in a car accident when I was 7 years old. People who don't have a mental illness will never understand it to your extent. Its frustrating but just a fact of life. You said your friends stopped contacting you, have you tried contacting them? If there is someone who you called a best friend, I would start there - they may be more receptive than you think. Otherwise, is therapy/counseling and option?

Side note: kudos to you for the way you handled Sylka. I was going to say something but your response was great.

I don't think it's good to "try to keep yourself positive", because by suppressing your feelings you may get yourself to feel even worse without noticing.
It's best if you try to defuse your stress, which goes best by either talking to someone about it, or by physical activities. It really helps a lot if you, for example, attend a boxing club. It relieves a lot of stress, physically.
I know that you can't always find someone to talk to from experience. I always try to distract myself with other things and listen to music that boosts my mood. Also working out is great to help your mood (and your health).
Good luck!

>>3
I would be careful with that, because talking about your own problems makes a lot of people like you less, even if "only" subconsciously. Try to talk about their problems first, then try to talk about your own. Also be warned, because there are a lot of people who will talk to you about their problems, but not listen when you want to talk about your own problems. It's disgusting, but a lot of people do so.