How Can you tell when you're getting better?

[wolverines13]

I've been dealing with pretty intense anxiety, some derealization and a general sense of something being wrong for the last 7 months. Ive had a couple periods, maybe a couple days or so where I felt like I was really getting over all this but it would always come back and I would feel more hopeless than before. The past week and a half or 2 weeks I have actually felt like I'm making improvement though, it probably has something to do with me starting effexor about 2 weeks ago. I used to think that I would suddenly realize I was perfectly fine, and wouldn't even think about anxiety or any of my problems and I would forget about the past couple months. I'm starting to realize it might not work that way? I do feel better but I still don't feel completely like my old self. I'm not really sure if I'm actually improving or just learning to cope with my symptoms. I was just wondering if anyone could share their experiences about what it was like when they finally started to overcome their anxiety or depression. Will I know I'm better when I'm able to go through my day without checking how I feel or worrying about anxiety? Will I ever feel like I was before? And if so how will I finally realize it? Any input would be appreciated so I can kind of gauge where I'm at. Thanks.

[ravenwaters]

whoa, i signed up to the website just because I came across this post via googling...."how can you tell youre getting better" but i was thinking more along the lines of a cough/cold.
BUT what you described is exactly how i felt....one day, out of no where, this happened to me. well i smoked a lot of weed & the night this happened to me i smoked what was allegedly a stronger strain. I was 'out of it' feeling crazzzzyyyy....a general sense of something being wrong etc. but it went away.
then i noticed the same symptoms when i was totally sober...not having smoked for weeks.

how I overcame the general sense of something being wrong. i do mental checks i say "Im just here at home, im safe, my mom & bro are safe....RELAX girl!"

i sort of taught myself to cope with the feelings...& i consciously try to make them go away with reassurance.
i dont wanna go back to my old self... depersonalization changed my outlook on life in a positive way...so i learn how to be a better me.

[Hton24]

Good question..l. Fess your the only person who can answer that.... Hope ur feeling good and wish you the best of luck

[cutecat25]

I have been wondering that too. its so hard to know if  i have made any progress, because to me i still feel pretty horrible but to others it may look likei m doing alot, like travelling, studying etc.

[r1]

i do mental checks i say "Im just here at home, im safe, my mom & bro are safe....RELAX girl!"

This is my biggest coping mechanism as well. I'm glad somebody else does this. Sometimes i think it makes me look like a crazy person. Muttering.. 'You're just at home and everything is perfectly fine' to myself...  But hey, it works!