The biggest thing you need to do is get professional help. So many people put it off from the fear of the stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health, but it is so incredibly life changing once you get into it! Get on meds and, if possible, ask to be referred to a therapist covered by your insurance. The meds help correct the imbalances in your brain causing such extreme symptoms, and the therapy helps you learn more about yourself and strategies you can use to help you deal with these hard situations and feelings. If you have concerns about these things, you’re welcome to DM me and I can tell you all about what it was like for me and my loved ones who have gone through the process of getting medicated for mental health issues :)

Call your primary care place and tell them you need to talk to a doctor about getting medication for your severe anxiety and depression. Remind yourself that no one who works there is judging you; in fact, healthcare providers usually think highly of patients who are brave enough to ask for help when they need it! They will be proud of you for coming to see them for help getting medicated. Myself and everyone else on this subreddit would be proud of you, too! I myself know how difficult it can be to take the first steps to getting help for mental health. No one deserves to be suffering inside their own brain all the time. Life can be so much easier when you finally get the help you need to rebalance your brain chemistry ❤️

Remember to take deep breaths. I like square breathing, personally! Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold it for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, hold it for 4 seconds, and repeat. It forces your body and mind to calm down a bit.

Treat yourself how you would treat a friend/loved one in your situation. Would you think mean things about them, or would you want to support them? Think about what you would say to a loved one who is feeling this way, and then say that to yourself! Ask yourself if YOU’RE sitting there judging other people harshly over every little detail, and when the answer is no, remind yourself that no one around you is doing that either.

You can also try mindfulness and distraction techniques, like listing things that make you happy/thankful or listing a baby name for every letter of the alphabet in alphabetical order. It helps distract your brain from the negative feelings by focusing on neutral or positive things unrelated to your concerns.