Anxiety, Depression ?

A difficult year, relationship ended, change of job and even country for me.
Anxiety or depression : 4 am wakening, head aches, backaches, anger, despair, bitterness, pills,books, phone calls..........it went on and on?

It doesn't really matter what label it takes. What does matter is what can be done to change it all.

One thing that can be looked at as a step forward is connecting.
Its important to at least attempt to connect or reconnect to the people or things that are contributing to your life. Doing this in a variety of areas will help to take away some of the intensity of the situations .
I think examples will explain things better:

*On starting my new job some of my coworkers made bitchin and questioning comments about my competence. Are they now my new best friends? NO, but I tell myself that focusing on my newness and unfamiliarity was an attempt by them to dilute there own anxieties in our ever stressful work place. I acknowledge there is an extra work gain when a new less experience person arrives. I tell myself I will learn just like they did and I will accomplish what is need in time.
Its difficult but changing slowly, a connection is being made.

*To stop what felt like a 24/7 focus on this new job I looked up my estranged sister of many years. Do we now spend out evenings sharing our deepest thoughts and making fanciful talk of a perfect childhood? NO, but I do send her an occasional card / email revealing a minor truth about my day, a lapse in my diet (again), or a lost purse on the train. I ask how she is and she replies the same.
Its difficult but our relationship has moved in a small but significant way, we are reconnecting.

Further reading that I found useful 'The Dance of Intimacy' by Harriet Lerner, Harper Collins.