Do i have anxiety/depression? any ways to help with anxiety?

Ask a Therapist Signs and Symptoms
1

this has some relation to my previous post so uh yeah!
honestly this post is just kind of to see if like what im dealing with now is close to what i think it may be

so for context, when i was in around p4 - p5, i started noticing that i couldnt really recall much about my childhood which was really weird to me as my friends could remember things clearly at that age yet i couldnt remember much about it (i’ve never been that forgetful to the point that i cant remember chunks of my life before) . honestly, im not too sure why i cant remember so much of my childhood. maybe its because of my grandparents’ frequent fights with each other that caused it since from what i remember, they used to yell and throw furniture at each other, in which i had to step up and take care of my younger sibling who was there with me as well. and this kinda branches out to other issues that i face currently.

so, a lot of the suicidal/depressive-ish thoughts that i have stem from my grandparents fights were i would often put the blame onto myself for causing these fights, and i’ve also had them call me ‘useless’ and a ‘waste of my parents’ money’ on multiple occasions when i didnt do well in exams. this affected me quite badly since like i started to harm myself, took their words too close to heart, became a more isolated and quieter person, got more insecure, and like passively suicidal. i dealt with feeling like this for about 4 years, and it was probably the worst times of my life. since my parents became very aware of my sudden change and i just didnt feel like myself anymore.

apart from that, since about p3, i started getting more anxious and started second guessing every interaction i had. i got more nervous to do things that i would have eagerly done previously and all of a sudden, doing almost anything scared me. i started sticking to food stalls that i was familiar with, talked less in class, made less friends, crowds that i used to love became uncomfortable, and basically nearly everything and anything scared me to death. it’s kinda like i just physically cant do it, even if i know i should, i just cant. and i cant stop myself from overthinking, overanalysing each conversation, insta post, text, interaction that i have each day and its eating me alive, its like i cant enjoy life like i once did anymore. i’ve always had a fear of planes, but just recently, i’ve had my legs shake like mad, heart pumping till it hurt at times, difficulty breathing, throat closing up. all when the plane was taking off. but now, it happens even when there’s nothing to trigger it, i could just be sitting down, watching tv and that exact things would happen. i’ve dealt with this for about 5 years and counting.

well, currently, i’ve been attempting to figure out who i am again after all this, and i think part of it would be coming to terms with what greatly impacted me in the past. thus me writing these long paragraphs.

to me personally, i feel like i went through depression during those 4 years in the 2nd para, and for the 3rd para, i think i have some sort of anxiety disorder or something like that. but i’ve never been diagnosed before at all.
so, what do you think about my guesses?

2

i’ve been dealing with like a lot of overthinking, anxiousness, things similar to anxiety/panic attacks. till the point that im too anxious to do simple things like order food from a different stall, initiate conversations, etc. and like i just physically cant do certain things because im too scared.
i find that listening to noise music, with certain bands especially, help during my panic/anxiety attacks as i can focus on the lyrics and beat instead of everything else around me. but i dont have access to my phone and earbuds all the time, like when im in school so any other ways to help deal with this?
i’ve also been trying to overthink/overanalyse lesser now but the only thing that i find helpful is making myself busy since that way i have no time to think about those thoughts, but i know that that isnt very healthy either, so are there any ways to help this?
honestly, if there’s anything that can help any one of these things, i would be very grateful if you could share it with me as im trying to find alternative solutions to make my life just slightly easier and less uncomfortable to live in.

3

Hi, please get a referral from polyclinic as soon as possible. You can tell the doctor the full story or that last part. Reach out to ur school counselor too

4

Hello @user8844

I really appreciate you coming onto let’s talk to share your own personal experiences, I hear how these experiences are weighing on you.

I am not a professional so I can’t provide any professional advices but I can relate to some of your experiences such as being unable to recall large parts of your childhood. Personally how I see it is that your brain is trying to protect you from reliving those unpleasant memories.

Your lived experiences are real and valid and deserve to be cared for. I would encourage you to seek professional support by seeing a psychiatrist or a therapist. While you are unable to change the past, you can try to reconcile with it as well as forge a new path and a new identity for yourself. Let us know if you require any resources.

Waiting to see a professional might take awhile so in the meantime, I would encourage you to go easy on yourself, distractions like keeping yourself busy while are not long term solutions, it can help in the short term. You can keep a journal and note down when you feel anxious, if there were any triggers, this might help when you do seek professional help so that the professional is better able to help you/ customise care for you.

I wish you well. If you ever need a listening ear, do feel free to come back to let’s talk. Do also let us know if you do seek professional support. We’re here rooting for you. Take care! :slight_smile:

5

Hi @user8844, thanks for reaching out!

Adding on to what @Marshmallow.youghurt has mentioned, you can use our Service Wayfinder (mindline.sg | Free Mental Health Resources & Mindfulness Tools in Singapore) for a comprehensive list of mental health resources.

  • If you are facing any mental health issues and need advice, you may like to reach out to the Community Outreach Teams (CREST) who can help identify your needs, support your emotional wellbeing, and link you to other services.

  • If you are aware of your needs and are looking for intervention, you may like to reach out to the Community Intervention Teams (COMIT) with qualified mental health professionals who can provide counselling, case management and caregiver support.

  • If you would like to consult a medical professional for diagnosis or treatment:
    You may like to visit a General Practitioner (GP) clinic or Polyclinic who can provide support or refer you to the specialist outpatient clinic.

Best regards,
HanSolo2000
Befriender | let’s talk by mindline

6

Dear @user8844

Thank you for sharing all of this — it takes so much strength to reflect on your past and speak openly about what you’ve been through.

What you described — the memory gaps, the anxiety, the physical symptoms, the way you’ve adapted to survive chaos and emotional pain — all sound like deeply human responses to very difficult and distressing experiences. When you’re exposed to things like frequent family conflict, harsh words, or emotional neglect at a young age, it’s not uncommon for the mind to respond by shutting down certain memories or developing protective behaviors. That isn’t weakness — it’s survival.

It’s completely valid that you’re wondering whether what you’ve experienced is depression or anxiety. From what you’ve written, it does sound like your experiences could be linked to both — especially prolonged stress, emotional trauma, and possibly unresolved childhood wounds. The fact that you’re also experiencing physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and dissociation when there’s no clear trigger can point toward anxiety or panic-related responses.

But more importantly: your pain is real, and it matters — regardless of whether it fits neatly into a diagnosis.

You are not “making it up” or “overreacting.” It’s okay to seek help even if things don’t feel “severe enough.” In fact, many people seek support simply because things feel heavy or confusing — and that alone is enough reason to talk to a mental health professional. You don’t need a diagnosis first to be worthy of support.

If you’re open to it, it might be helpful to gently bring this up with a school counsellor, therapist, or trusted adult. You don’t have to unpack everything all at once — even just starting with “I think I’ve been feeling overwhelmed for a while, and I’d like to talk to someone about it” can be a step forward. You may want to consider some of the resources shared by @HanSolo2000.

You’ve carried a lot on your own for so long. You deserve a space where you feel safe, heard, and not alone in this.

Please be kind to yourself — healing doesn’t happen overnight, but every step you’re taking now (like writing this out) is already progress.

You are not broken. You are someone who’s been through a lot and is trying to find your way — and that is incredibly brave. Please keep reaching out whenever you need to. :yellow_heart: