--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even more than the depression, it was my…" description: "\"Even more than the depression, it was my anxiety and agitation that became the defining symptoms of my illness. Like epileptic seizures, a series of fr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/douglas-bloch-42306_agitation_even-more-than-the-depression-it-was-my_1304938.jpg" --- # Even more than the depression, it was my anxiety and… ![“Even more than the depression, it was my anxiety and agitation that became the defining symptoms of my illness. Like epileptic seizures, a series of frenzied anxiety attacks would descend upon me without warning. My body was possessed by a chaotic, demonic force which led to my shaking, pacing and…” quote by Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/douglas-bloch-42306_agitation_even-more-than-the-depression-it-was-my_1304938.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/douglas-bloch-42306_agitation_even-more-than-the-depression-it-was-my_1304938.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/162/douglas-bloch-42306_agitation_even-more-than-the-depression-it-was-my_1304938.jpg) > “Even more than the depression, it was my anxiety and agitation that became the defining symptoms of my illness. Like epileptic seizures, a series of frenzied anxiety attacks would descend upon me without warning. My body was possessed by a chaotic, demonic force which led to my shaking, pacing and violently hitting myself across the chest or in the head. This self-flagellation seemed to provide a physical outlet for my invisible torment, as if I were letting steam out of a pressure cooker.” [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense anxiety and agitation can dominate an illness, producing violent, uncontrolled physical reactions similar to seizures. **In simple terms:** Anxiety can cause violent physical symptoms. Key Takeaway Seek professional help for severe anxiety attacks. Themes mental health anxiety physical symptoms Mood distressed urgent Type health warning personal narrative When to use this quote - clinical therapy - stress management - emergency response Key Concepts psychology neuroscience Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your anxiety spikes? - How can you safely release built‑up tension? A Different Perspective Self-harm may be a dangerous coping mechanism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agitation/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-attack/) [Anxiety attacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-attacks/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cookers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cookers/) [Demonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonic/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Epileptics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epileptics/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Pacing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacing/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) [Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warning/) ## Related quotes > [“Look at it this way: there are many here among us for whom the life force is best represented by the livid twitching of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/look-at-it-this-way-there-are-many-here-among-us-for-whom-the-life/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [I was able to be distant by portraying another person, another character, if you will, and I found myself not stuttering and not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/i-was-able-to-be-distant-by-portraying-another-person-another/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [Pale, nervous girls with black-rimmed glasses and blunt-cut hair lolled around on sofas, riffling Penguin Classics provocatively… But it wasn’t just intellectual experiences. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/pale-nervous-girls-with-black-rimmed-glasses-and-blunt-cut-hair/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [One of my first jobs was in Italy and that's where I saw cocaine for the first time. There was a murder in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/one-of-my-first-jobs-was-in-italy-and-that-s-where-i-saw-cocaine-for/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [I'm a really skinny guy, I'm real tall, and I have a very high metabolism, so if I drink anything with caffeine in it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hosler/i-m-a-really-skinny-guy-i-m-real-tall-and-i-have-a-very-high/) [Mark Hosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hosler/) > [The hardest thing to write was explaining what anxiety feels like. Every time I'd try to really write about what it feels like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/the-hardest-thing-to-write-was-explaining-what-anxiety-feels-like/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) > [I worked myself into a frenzy. By 1996, I had a nervous breakdown just from working. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, just getting anxiety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/i-worked-myself-into-a-frenzy-by-1996-i-had-a-nervous-breakdown-just/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [“What is the difference between an anxiety reaction and an anxiety attack? Perhaps it can best be explained by degree. The victim of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/what-is-the-difference-between-an-anxiety-reaction-and-an-anxiety/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [I was having pretty bad anxiety attacks and stuff, and I think a lot of it had to do with my physical environment. Deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-degraw/i-was-having-pretty-bad-anxiety-attacks-and-stuff-and-i-think-a-lot/) [Brian Degraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-degraw/) > [I started having anxiety attacks and panic attacks. I would cry myself to sleep every night and wish I could go back in time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momina-mustehsan/i-started-having-anxiety-attacks-and-panic-attacks-i-would-cry-myself/) [Momina Mustehsan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momina-mustehsan/) > [Generally speaking, the anxiety will pass, which is easy for me to say when I'm not in the middle of an anxiety attack. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/generally-speaking-the-anxiety-will-pass-which-is-easy-for-me-to-say/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [When I have anxiety attacks, I always think I'm having a heart attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/when-i-have-anxiety-attacks-i-always-think-i-m-having-a-heart-attack/) [Charlamagne tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [If I ignore my work, I start having anxiety attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanne-cash/if-i-ignore-my-work-i-start-having-anxiety-attacks/) [Rosanne Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanne-cash/) > [Avoiding problems doesn't make them go away - you think it does, but it really doesn't. They're just postponed. Those problems just stay inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sully-erna/avoiding-problems-doesn-t-make-them-go-away-you-think-it-does-but-it/) [Sully Erna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sully-erna/) > [When you realize that you are an eternal being, you will laugh at things that used to give you anxiety attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-baxter/when-you-realize-that-you-are-an-eternal-being-you-will-laugh-at/) [Stephen Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-baxter/) ## More by Douglas Bloch > [There is no pain quite like that of a broken heart. But a broken heart is an open heart. When we allow ourselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/there-is-no-pain-quite-like-that-of-a-broken-heart-but-a-broken-heart/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [The lesson is clear: As impractical as it may sound, the safest and most secure way to lead your life is to follow your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/the-lesson-is-clear-as-impractical-as-it-may-sound-the-safest-and/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [There is a tremendous power in positive thinking. When you expect the best, you literally create a thought field that magnetizes that which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/there-is-a-tremendous-power-in-positive-thinking-when-you-expect-the/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [You are a child of the universe, "fearfully and wonderfully made." In the history of creation, there has never been anyone like you. Accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/you-are-a-child-of-the-universe-fearfully-and-wonderfully-made-in-the/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [There is only one basic desire that motivates the spiritual seeker-to make the experience of God, of divine bliss and joy, the center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/there-is-only-one-basic-desire-that-motivates-the-spiritual-seeker-to/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [What steps can I take to reduce the clutter so that I may live simply and joyously?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/what-steps-can-i-take-to-reduce-the-clutter-so-that-i-may-live-simply/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [As you begin to live in the present moment, you will experience a subtle but profound change. Worrying about the future will cease. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/as-you-begin-to-live-in-the-present-moment-you-will-experience-a-2/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [Look at your own life. Has it become overly complex? Have you found yourself burdened by too many possessions or responsibilities? Take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/look-at-your-own-life-has-it-become-overly-complex-have-you-found/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) > [Abundance is the natural state of the universe--of this there can be no doubt. Just as the number of stars in the heavens or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-bloch/abundance-is-the-natural-state-of-the-universe-of-this-there-can-be/) [Douglas Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) [Explore all 10 Douglas Bloch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-bloch/) ## More Agitation quotes > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Indifference is harder to fight than hostility, and there is nothing that kills an agitation like having everybody admit that it is fundamentally right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-eastman/indifference-is-harder-to-fight-than-hostility-and-there-is-nothing/) [Crystal Eastman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-eastman/) > [...the Government must not think that they can stop this agitation. It will go on...We are here not because we are law-breakers; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/the-government-must-not-think-that-they-can-stop-this-agitation-it/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [This position is untenable, and there can be no pause in the agitation for full political power and responsibility until these are granted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-kelley/this-position-is-untenable-and-there-can-be-no-pause-in-the-agitation/) [Florence Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-kelley/) > [“It is unworthy of great spirits to spread abroad the agitation they feel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-unworthy-of-great-spirits-to-spread-abroad-the-agitation-they/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“If lies comfort, and truth disturbs - self is being agitated as a result of prideful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/if-lies-comfort-and-truth-disturbs-self-is-being-agitated-as-a-result/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-too-are-called-to-withdraw-at-certain-intervals-into-deeper/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The wisest among my race understand that agitations of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-wisest-among-my-race-understand-that-agitations-of-social/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Mirabeau: “If you have been told to clear us from this hall, you must ask for orders to use force. We shall leave our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/mirabeau-if-you-have-been-told-to-clear-us-from-this-hall-you-must/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Agitation is that part of our intellectual life where vitality results; there ideas are born, breed and bring forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-woodberry/agitation-is-that-part-of-our-intellectual-life-where-vitality/) [George Edward Woodberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-woodberry/) > [It is not proper to project our feelings onto things or to attribute our own sensations and passions to them. Can it also be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/it-is-not-proper-to-project-our-feelings-onto-things-or-to-attribute/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Agitation is all about poetry, governance is all about prose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jairam-ramesh/agitation-is-all-about-poetry-governance-is-all-about-prose/) [Jairam Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jairam-ramesh/) > [Wherever capitalism appears, in pursuit of its mission of exploitation, there will Socialism, fertilized by misery, watered by tears, and vitalized by agitation be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/wherever-capitalism-appears-in-pursuit-of-its-mission-of-exploitation/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Patience takes courage. It is not an ideal state of calm. In fact, when we practice patience we will see our agitation far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/patience-takes-courage-it-is-not-an-ideal-state-of-calm-in-fact-when/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others by ourselves; and I have so much trouble with myself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/every-day-i-observe-more-and-more-the-folly-of-judging-of-others-by/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) [Browse all 173 Agitation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agitation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even more than the depression, it was my anxiety and agitation that became the defining symptoms of my illness. Like epileptic seizures, a series of frenzied anxiety attacks would descend upon me without warning. 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