Is there anything I can do on my own or do I need to see someone and possibly get diagnosed?

Hello Shaw,

Thank you for reaching out and displaying such raw vulnerability in sharing your struggles with depression, anxiety, and general emotional dysregulation. It can be very hard to talk about these experiences much less deal with them consistently. I am glad you are here and hope to be of service in illuminating your question. Here goes:

Is there anything that you can do on your own or do you need to see someone and possibly receive a diagnosis? There are many things that you can do, especially seeing as you have noted that you have already received a diagnosis of depression and anxiety. A few that I can think of off the top of my head include: 1. Arranging to have treatment with a therapist for weekly sessions in the beginning and then slowly tapering off as you gain more coping skills and behavioral control related to how you express your emotions, 2. Practicing mindfulness and strategies taught to you by that same therapist throughout your daily life, 3. If you are opposed or ambivalent about involving a licensed mental health professional in your life, you can link with a pastor, a life coach, a mentor, enlist the help of a supervisor at work, seek guidance from a trusted love one, 4. Find your emotional anchor - is it God, spiritual practices, work, exercise, nature, where do you find a sense of calm and centeredness, wherever that is go there, use it, envision it in times of strife and dysregulation so you can come back to yourself, 5. If you are utilizing any drugs / alcohol or other substances leave these practices behind, as they often exacerbate emotional distress by disinhibiting people. When you are happy and drinking alcohol you will be VERY happy, elated even, if you are angry and drinking alcohol you may become VERY angry, enraged even. It is no good for you and it can be difficult to tell whether these things are being used as maladaptive coping skills or whether they may be the cause of your emotional dysregulation. Either way, you need a sober mind and an open heart to figure a path to health. Substances are not the way. 

You did not speak openly about the nature of your dysregulation. What does it look like when you are in transition between emotions like happiness to sadness, tearfulness to joy and anger and the like? How have you supported yourself? When did all of this get to a point where it become distressing? What may be your origin story as far as these issues are concerned? Is there a history of trauma, a loved one with the same mood patterns who modeled this for you from a young age? If you get with that therapist, life coach, mentor, rabbi, pastor, priest, etc. please work on this with them. Learn yourself! Come to yourself!

I am wishing you the best of luck in this journey. Please return to the Betterhelp platform should you have any further questions and need guidance from a licensed mental health professional. Have a wonderful night and weekend! Take good care of yourself!