Depression Support Thread

whitevanwoman

KittyBoo wrote: »

I am really fed up at the moment.
I have depression at the moment and taking AD's and on Incapacity Benefit.
I feel as though I am being hounded by Job Centre Plus.
I go to see my adviser once a month and send in regular sick notes but they have referred me to someone from New Deal for Disabled People.
She has asked for my CV and said with my skills I will soon be in work.
I had a senior post working for the Local Authority until I was made redundant but now I feel unable to go out of the house some days because I am so low.
I keep crying and have had lots of panic attacks.
I know they have a job to do but I have a months sick note. It is stressing me out more knowing I have to keep going to these weekly appointments.
Sorry to go on so much but I feel so miserable.
I hope you are having a better day than I am.
Lots of love and hugs to those who need it (including me)

If it was me I would go back to my GP and let them know that JC+ is making your condition worse and ask for that to be recorded on your medical records. Your GP may be able to refer you to the community mental health team for support, or may be able to write a letter to JC+ explaining that you are too ill to do any work at the moment, and that their actions are making your condition worse.

If there is a Mind branch in your area, consider contacting them - I originally contacted them by email as I couldn't face talking on the phone and they were really great with me. They offer an advocacy service where a Mind rep can be the "go-between" in situations like yours and it really does make life easier.

Hang on in there - the same for Jax66 - in my experience, things do get better with time; it's the waiting for things to get better that is so tough and which, unless you've been there yourself, people really don't understand just how tough and incapacitating it can be.

x

jax66

Thanks rosepink , i suppose posting on this forum and knowing i need to see the doctor are signs i'm starting to take control. It just doesn't feel like it at the moment. It feels like everything is coming to the surface and i can't ignore it any longer. I know exactly what you mean about feeling guilty, i feel as if i should be able to deal with things but can't.

Horasio

Hi Guys

Been coming to terms with the new year, nothing compared to what Tiff had to deal with tho' - sending my thoughts and prayers to you:)

Had a cold midweek, and wasn't it COLD:eek:? I thought I had moved south to get warmer weather. Edinburgh was 12C higher at night than I was in Bournemouth :eek: and the sea froze up and ducks and birds were walking on the ice:D! Today is hissing with rain but a bit warmer.

Perked up a bit yesterday and went for a long walk by the sea. It was windy and bracing:) Had a nice meal when we got home and watched Celebrity Big Brother (CBB). It is a good distraction and I love analysing the characters.

It is my OH birthday today and our son is taking us to a nice restaurant later.

beachbeth

I know how you feel, Kitty. I also felt as though the Jobcentre Plus were on at me all the time and would frequently say to my hubby "I just wish they'd leave me alone". They definitely make you feel worse. Ignore the person who said you would soon be back to work. They aren't a doctor and were just looking at your skills. What does she know about mental illness?

The advice about seeing your GP and contacting Mind is spot on. I hope they can help.

shaven-monkey

Need a little advice and a little support.
I spent yesterday with a friend doing a lot of walking (about 7 hours of walking) and talking about his situation, in the end discovered that i can't actually help him. All fine except the walking. A bit depressing to discover that someone I thought was in control of at least some of their life isn't.
Slept through the night, turned off my alarm when it woke me, slept some more.
Woke up having missed an appointment.
Kind of sick of messing things up for myself and would appreciate some guidance about how to pursuade the doctor that while i missed the appointment I really do want the treatment. I have no idea whether this was self sabotage or just exhaustion.
Anyway, advice would be appreciated.

rosepink1984

Shaven monkey I did this once too. I was feeling depressed and tired and slept through a doctor's appointment. I waited a few weeks and made another apptm and nobody said anything about the one I missed.
If you need to see him sooner than that, the best thing to do is ring the receptionist at the surgery and apologise and explain and rebook. They might be a bit shirty with you but just ignore that and grovel!
Well done with all the walking, but no wonder you overslept today! I'm sure you have helped your friend just by listening to his problems, I bet he appreciates that you care, even if there is nothing more tangible that you can do. Listening and caring are sometimes the only thing we can do to help, and the most important.

whitevanwoman

shaven-monkey wrote: »

Need a little advice and a little support.
I spent yesterday with a friend doing a lot of walking (about 7 hours of walking) and talking about his situation, in the end discovered that i can't actually help him. All fine except the walking. A bit depressing to discover that someone I thought was in control of at least some of their life isn't.
Slept through the night, turned off my alarm when it woke me, slept some more.
Woke up having missed an appointment.
Kind of sick of messing things up for myself and would appreciate some guidance about how to pursuade the doctor that while i missed the appointment I really do want the treatment. I have no idea whether this was self sabotage or just exhaustion.
Anyway, advice would be appreciated.

Ring your surgery and ask to speak to your GP or request that they phone you and then simply tell them exactly what you've said above.

Sorry if that sounds abrupt - it isn't intended to be, but any decent GP should be able to read between the lines. I suspect that just telling the GP how you are feeling will be a huge relief. Whether it is self-sabotage or exhaustion doesn't really matter, as it seems to be that there is other stuff going on which is the cause of the lack of motivation. And don't forget that being depressed robs you of motivation - another symptom of the illness.

I know that sounds easier said than done but having posted here means that you are at the stage where you want to do something positive about how you are feeling, so go for it - what have you got to lose?;)

Let us know how you get on x

beachbeth

I agree with whitevanwoman about talking to your gp. If you simply talk to the receptionist she may not be very understanding and not have any experience with mental illness of any kind. (From her point of view it must be annoying when people don't turn up for their appointments, even though in this case it wasn't really your fault). Speak to your GP and say you missed an appointment through exhaustion and because you sometimes find it hard getting up and Im sure he/she will be sympathetic and helpful.

Because depression can make you forgetful and absentminded I once realised that I only had one antidepressant left and rang the surgery to see if they could give me a prescription for some more today. (You usually have to give them 48 hours). She was a bit shirty with me and said that I should make sure I put my repeat prescription form in next time in plenty of time and not leave it until the last minute. I didn't say anything except sorry but just before our conversation ended she repeated it again about not leaving it until the last minute. I got quite annoyed and told her that I hadn't done it on purpose and that I hadn't realised I was on to my last packet of tablets and it was just a mistake. I think she could tell by my tone that I was angry and she didn't say anything back to this. Silly C*w!!!

Afterwards I wished I'd said to her that I had depression and that one of the symptoms can be to be forgetful and she was lucky I didn't do this sort of thing all the time!!!

Amber_Sunshine

I can't believe what happened just now.

I moved flat a month ago, thought everything was fine and I could finaly settle down.

Yesterday my FM had a go, complaining about evrything and anything. Today she said she didn't think it was working with our cats and I should look for something else.

I have just come back from my hospital appt to be accused of stealing her money and using her credit card. I think she is !!!!ing nuts. I have nowhere else to go and don't know what the hell to do.

Tulip

:hello: Everyone,

Hope all is well,I am fine went out for a few hours and had lunch out too *hugs* Amber Sunshine.I am so sorry to hear this has just happened to you re FM.Hope you can sort things out with them.Hope you are ok Tiff.


love and light,

Katie xxx