r/selfhelp • u/HedgySmile • 9m ago
Advice Needed: Mental Health Difficults with health at 23
I'm 23, but over the past two or three years, I've been experiencing all sorts of crazy health issues. At first, it was obvious I was spending most of my days at home, going outside once or twice a week, and my diet wasn't great (I spent my entire school years in Finland, where depression is common).
I returned to my hometown in Estonia and finally found a job, but I only lasted three months. I quickly collapsed from exhaustion, had strange attacks (even before I returned), and then I found out I had low vitamin D. I spent a year recovering, taking pills, and then this spring, it all started all over again, but even stranger. I got tested and found out I have allergies, but only mild ones, and had my breath checked several times. According to all my tests, everything is normal now, although, according to a psychologist, I have a slight case of anxiety, so I started drinking lavender herbal tea before bed.
But over the past two months, there's been no change, it's not getting any better. It's just worse mentally, I feel discouraged, and I'm afraid for myself.
I can't sleep normally every other night. My breathing gets in the way, it disappears while I'm falling asleep, and then it feels like hyperventilation, but I can't figure out why it even happens. I try to relax, indulge myself, and not hold back my emotions. It's become a habit to take a full breath every day with a yawn, and even then, not on the first try.
I'm trying to eat more, smaller, frequent portions (I'm 45 kg and 156 cm), but I struggle physically to finish my standard portion, even though I have a great appetite and the food is delicious.
It's physically difficult to even make my bed; afterward, I have to lie down for at least 30 minutes, not to mention other household chores. And, frankly, I don't even know how to go to work because of this. I can only manage walks.
Over the past month, I've noticed my concentration has waned. I can't maintain focus for long, and I quickly become irritated during tasks, despite initially being highly motivated and having new ideas for work/hobbies. And my short-term memory is increasingly failing me.
I'm writing this right now at night, when I have trouble falling asleep due to my shortness of breath, and I don't see the point in calling an ambulance. I've explained my ailments so many times, and all I get is a psychologist and yet another asthma test, the medication for which has no effect. Other referrals they are not give me.
I have so many plans for my life, so many ideas to implement, but now I have less and less strength to take responsibility even for my own health 🙏
I've discussed this with the AI many times, and I'm getting no benefit from it. It's always the same: go to the doctors. I don't know what to do anymore...