Littles with Mental Illness

[CuddleFish]

    As a little with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression, I find it hard to go into little space, trust someone enough to be my S/O, and do things that used to be fun, and I know others have had the same or similar problems. 

      I made this topic is to share our experiences for others to know they're not alone, give tips on how to feel better during bad times, and to make friends with people who understand the struggles.

 

        

[CuddleFish]

For me, whenever I feel the bad feelings like a panic attack, I count.

 

   I look around and make a mental list of everything starting from big areas to it's small details

Ex: how many windows in the room, how many panes in each window, how many rectangles are on the window blinds, how many speckles of dust are on the window, etc.

 

 It works with books too

Ex: how many letters in the title, how many pages, how many words on a page, how many letters on a page.

 

 It helps me feel more grounded when disassociating and is easier to remember when in little space than other grounding exercises because it doesn't involve some acronym to remember the steps to it. 

  I hope it helps others.

[Guest purpleroses06]

I'm happy someone made this topic, since i struggle from this as well!

 

It is very hard for me to go into little space as well, yeah i have trust issues so its hard letting myself be vulnerable to someone. and i no longer enjoy things i loved, which is why i'd prefer to be a caregiver i rather take care of someone and show them love and respect, trust, and care rather than rely on someone to give it to me, because it's not always guaranteed they will and i get hurt easily so, it would take a lot for my to let someone be my caregiver.

 

Some things i do to help me is

Go play with my cat! 100% effective!

Take a breath of fresh air outside

Try and take a nap

Meditate

 

or something that relaxes you!

[Quirkygrl16]

I totally relate to all of this! I have severe trust issues and always feel like I need to keep my walls up all the time. I have multiple mental issues

[kittens_and_cockrings]

Thank you for posting this! For the last few years I have been dealing with serious mental health issues (anxiety, depression, ptsd) which just got progressively worse until I recently reached out for help.

I miss being able to go into little space, and as you guys said enjoying the things I used to love to do, and think not being able to be little affects my mental health which is just a vicious cycle.

I started a journal of all my thoughts, when sometimes it gets too much in my head I'll write down the "overflow" good, bad, whatever, until my head calms down. It's stopped a few panic attacks and reading back over it helps me understand what I'm feeling and my own mind better.

 

I do 100% agree with the cats though they do make everything better!

[Sassybabycat]

I have major depressive disorder and anxiety pretty bad. My anxiety has gotten in the way of many things and I feel like it’s ruining my relationship. My daddy was ignoring me a couple days ago and he messaged me finally and I had asked if he didn’t want me anymore and he told me he does and if he didn’t he would tell me. His phone is broken yet he somehow can read my messages and be on Facebook. And he has been ignoring me all day and hasn’t said one thing. I wanna believe him after our talk, he said he loves me and wants me but his actions at this current moment aren’t showing so and it’s making my anxiety worse and I can’t get out of my head that he’s lying and he doesn’t want to hurt me by telling me he doesn’t want me. I can’t trust him even though he’s never given me a reason not too.

 

This is currently making my anxiety and depression worse he said Friday he will be getting a new phone so I guess I’ll see how that turns out. I just want this anxiety gone it’s affecting my life in so many terrible ways. I don’t wanna ruin my relationship but it’s like when the anxiety starts I can’t stop no matter how hard I try.

[Guest ~*BabyDoll*~]

I have Clinical Depression and I also have Anxiety. My anxiety flares up really bad during/after fights, in a large social group, in big cities, etc. 

 

My anxiety causes me to have an absolute mental break down, and it's kind of like throwing a tantrum in public. I start bawling my eyes out, shaking, trembling, I start stuttering extremely bad as well. I will start silently begging my Daddy if we can either leave or hide or something. It gets really really bad sometimes, we had to leave a outing with friends because of it. After fights with Daddy, not even during, my stomach turns. And I am nauseous for a long time afterwards. We had a fight recently and I didn't eat (consistently) for about 2 weeks. 

 

My depression isn't as bad as my Anxiety, but it's still pretty bad. He knows if I am falling into a what we call "Dark Pit" when I have zero interest in speaking to him, or anybody. I tend to shut off my phone and just sit in silence. Which I admit that I should never do because my mind is too much of a dark place. And Daddy is more than aware of that. Even if I don't talk to him, he will just sit in the room with me, if he sees me shivering, he will get me a blanket. If he hears my stomach growl he will make me a snack, and I wouldn't verbally talk to him. It's those small things that help. In public though, I just wander off, whether I am in the store or out in public. I just wander, avoid anybody. Daddy always ends up finding me and just rubs my back until we go to leave.

 

So I get it, I do... In terms of tips, I will try my hardest to give you ones that help me, but to each their own sorta deal heh! I always try to watch my favorite movies/cartoons to help me with both anxiety and depression. Deep breathes, and LOTS of them. Water, because during these mental struggles, sometimes you (I know I do heh..) forget to hydrate yourself, and trust me when I say water or any kind of liquid helps. Video games and reading also help me a lot. If I am home and available to, I will attempt to nap or have play time with my stuffies. 

 

I hope this helps in any sorta way! xxx

[Guest PrincessRainbowTeddy]

I gets severe Depression and Anxiety,I also suffered Emotional Traumas so sometimes it gets so hard to be myself and dive into doing things I lubs and enjoy especially with having Ptsd and struggling with the effects of my Past ,and other mental illnesses.I get Panic Attacks a Lotsa toos.

[Guest LittleBoyChris]

I have generalized anxiety, experience sensory overload and do go mute easily which messes up being in busy places or anything new being prone to panic attacks.

[Guest QuietBabyG24]

I guess I am the opposite. When something big happens and my anxiety flares I go straight to little space, my depression however does cause problems going into little space.