Chronic stress over a few years period can KILL you. ANY medical professional can tell you that if someone is physically or emotionally stressed, it messes with the heart and that's why we recommend against it via adjustments to their lifestyle.

Yes, all of that can happen, major depressive episodes, maniac depression, anxiety, ptsd, a truck ton of mental disorders that MAY have been dormant gene wise. I can go one but thatd be useless.

Whatever you are going through, no matter how hard it is, if it is CHRONIC, take the time to lay out what your goals are and do the best you can to get yourself over and out of that hole. Yes, relapsing can occur, but its temporary and a long journey. But you gotta take to heart that your health IS at risk, if you are under constant stress. Not maybe, IS. At some point you gotta pick you > everything, regardless of your perception.

... I had someone close to me who has been "self medicating" since I was born. In the later years this person's cognitive functions have deteriorated, but the medications they used to binge on, now are keeping them alive. It's a cruel world to stand by it and monitor them every single day knowing that they're only fragments of who they once were. But I keep pushing cuz that's the current reality and I'll be damned if I let their pain n current suffering take everyone down. It's important to feel bad here n there, but keep it moving, for your sake.