Support for people with Depression

Miroslav

Tiff wrote: »

And to our miro - I'm not ignoring you angel and I'm glad you've posted how you're feeling. I'll give your post a proper reply later, miro - no, don't run!

Searches for running smiley ;)

shazrobo wrote: »

hi miro, and tiffy, and anyone else up,
thats disgusting the way the counsillor has behaved towards you miro, seems to be a growing trend of so called proffessionals ignoring those that need it.
for eg,social services never return my calls, they are supposed to by law help disabled children and provide services
caamhs, are supposed to see under 18's with mental health problems, despite numerous referals we are still waiting...
youth offending team, been asked to work with my children for a long time still, being ignored, even the courst gave danny a referal oder to them, still heard nothing.

Alot of these organizations are awful. After doing some voluntary work for a couple and looking at the amount of 'it can wait' scenarios, it doesn't surprise me

Miroslav

beachbeth wrote: »

You must feel like you are banging your head up against a brick wall, Miro. How annoying and stressful for you.

I haven't been feeling too bad lately but Im trying hard not to get stressed about Christmas at the moment. I got a few presents yesterday but I feel a bit anxious about it because I know I still have a lot to get. I also have no idea what to get my dad. He's in his 70's and has everything he wants. It will have to be aftershave, a tie, socks etc I think. Very unimaginative.

It will make a chnage from hitting my fist against the wall

I hate buying gifts too. The only thing I hate more, is wrapping the damn things!

whitevanwoman wrote: »

Miro - why not send a letter in to the counsellor, explaining the situation, that you have tried to contact her and as a last resort, are writing. It makes me so cross that everything has to be done by phone and then you can't actually speak to the person you need to speak to but have to leave a message. I really struggle with making and receiving telephone calls - they cause me huge amounts of stress - but no-one takes this difficulty seriously. I said to my CPN yesterday that if I was deaf and couldn't use the phone, under the Disability Discrimination Act, they would have to find an alternative way of contacting me, and my ability (or disability) to use the phone calls is just as much of a problem, and yet no-one is prepared to offer an alternative, eg emailing, text messages etc. I really think you need to see the counsellor with regard to your grief at the moment, and it is disgraceful that mental health service users needs are not being met because a major symptom of the illness is that you are not able to be assertive enough to overcome the barriers to accessing services and no-one is even aware of that, let alone taking steps to make access easier.

Had my ESA medical yesterday - I'd been gradually getting more and more anxious about it over the past few weeks and my behaviour has been getting more and more erratic as a result of the anxiety. The experience was very unpleasant, in fact, I would even go so far as to say I found it traumatic, and none of the questions were directly about my mental health, more like, How long can you sit still, what do you do at home all day, what time do you go to bed, what time do you get up, when did you last drive, what do you eat, how often do you go shopping etc. Having read through the guidelines for ESA assessment, I could see that by answering the questions, I would be put down as capable, eg I said that I usually pick up milk and bread twice a week when I go to my support group so it will have been put down that I go shopping twice a week. I usually do a "proper" shop about once a month as I find it hard to leave the house if I don't have to, and doing a proper shop is hard work as I have to spend hours making a list, and a plan (I'm currently being treated for OCD symptoms) and then have to go along every single aisle so that I don't forget something I need. Popping into the local mini-supermarket for bread and milk is very different, and even that is difficult on the worst days, and that's assuming that I am well enough to leave the house and get to the support group twice a week.

I was extremely anxious during the medical, with sweat running down my face, and almost in tears at one point when he was insisting I tell him what time I go to bed and get up, and I was trying to explain that it depends what time I take my meds in the evening, how anxious I am, whether I have been out during the day and am therefore exhausted, etc etc. Unfortunately my answer wouldn't fit the tick box on the computer system. I can see how people are failing this medical in droves, as it came across very much, that the questions are designed in such a way as to trick people into answering to the effect that they are more capable than they actually are.

To anyone who has got one of these medicals coming up I recommend that you go through the ESA guidelines for mental health (here's a link http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080794_en_16 ) and make notes about how each point applies to you. You MUST take someone with you, ideally a professional like CPN, support worker, - if you go alone, you will automatically be classed as having no problem going to new places alone.

It's a waiting game for me now to find out whether I am decided to be unfit for any work (put into Support group of ESA), fit to do work-related activity (put into Work Related group of ESA), or fit for work (ESA claim stopped and will have to claim JSA). I am hoping that I am put in the Support group as I know that at the moment, I really am not well enough to do any kind of work, and I need to focus on my new course of therapy which has just started. The interview was much shorter than expected and they didn't ask any questions about work or work related activity which they should have done, so I am hoping that means that the computer gave me a high enough score to go in the Support Group which means that I didn't have to be asked the extra questions.

And on top of everything, as of yesterday I am now officially redundant from work, having been made an offer which I really had no choice but to accept, the alternatives being to return to work within the next few weeks and be relocated to a different office with a 40 mile return journey, or be "retired" on health grounds. Although I am really worried about my financial situation, I do actually feel mightily relieved that I never have to go back to a place which caused me a great deal of stress and distress, and I am going to have a celebratory ritual burning of my uniform this evening :T

And to anyone who has managed to read through all this to now, well done and thank you and my apologies for such a diatribe, but I just needed to get some stuff out!

I've thought about a letter, it just seems to be a bit drawn out and i'd have to type it on the PC as can't write as hand gives up when writing. It would mean connecting a printer and I don't have on at the moment

I have e-mailed them on the e-mail address they give, but they never reply.

I've asked before certain companies who have said they called me, what would happen if the person they contacted were deaf? These days a landline can be for the sole purpose of internet connection. I don't have my phone plugged in and use it for solely the internet as I don't like phones. They never do reply to specifics though, so I never get an answer.

I hope you get through your medical okay. I had a medical in May and they tried tricking me and were very patronising. Apparently as I wasn't sweating, I was therefore not worried about being there and because I went on my own, I could get about by myself. The medical centre is literally 2 minutes from me.

confused76 wrote: »

afternoon all
miro - it's hard enough making phone calls at the best of times but when you're feeling low it's impossible. please don't give up though...keep ringing and putting it in writing is a good idea. i hope you have some luck. once you have made contact with the counsellor they'll be far more cooperative as they want to help.

I'll have to try something, but i'm getting no response at all. I may e-mail one more time and try again, but no doubt my files has been passed back to my GP.

Miroslav

~*Plushroom*~ wrote: »

I was sorry to hear about your cat Miro.

Applying to be an activities co-ordinator at a care home this week - it's only part time but it would be nice to do a job that helps people.

Thanks

Good luck with the application. A job that helps others can be very rewarding.

shazrobo wrote: »

had a good day so far, did a jewellery making course, made a couple of lovely bracelets.
tonight, ian is taking me out for a meal, and to cinema to see saw 6
thought it'd be nice to post something positive after my moan this morn.
hope everyone has a good evening

shaz xxx

Hope you had a nice evening out :cool:

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Heya guys.

It's also Sam and I's year anniversary this Sunday

A year? :eek: That has rushed by :cool:

Miroslav

Tulip wrote: »

*hugs* and *hugs* Miro,sorry I am late saying this but sorry to hear about Dopey your cat,I am so busy these days but will pop my head in occasionally.I never forget anyone

Katie

Thanks

It's a good thing you are busy for positive reasons :cool:

jenniewb

Hi,

I really need some advice- not posted on here before- instead been irritating the grabit and freebie boards instead. Right now, it doesn't really feel possible to face much.

I feel like my depression is returning. I am getting panic attacks (my main symptom) very scary and I am afraid to sleep at the moment as they are really terrifying me, I don't know how I am going to sleep but know the importance of doing so or this is going to feel alot lot worse then it already is.
I did call the samaritans, spoke for an hour and a half or so, was helpful to talk and am able to "hang on" as someone said they will call me back tomorrow. Grateful for that, but still struggling with the panic and trying to keep myself calm. I don't know how to cope with this.

I know I should see my doctor and possibly my psychiatrist some time- I was planning tomorrow for my doctor as I really think (despiting taking 15 months to come off it) I need some sort of medication. I am wary of becomming addicted in one mind, but so desperate now I think I'm past caring about addiction. I guess I'm taking it for granted I will be able to get any medication at all.

Feel so mad with things- its taken me years to get to how posative things were yesterday (wednesday for me), now it feels like the ground has disappeared beneath my feet.


Sorry to post such a random comment on here. Not posted before, not expecting a reply, just not sure how to cope or see an end to this. Really not sure how to do this anymore.

beachbeth

Hello Jenniewb. Sorry you are feeling bad at the moment. I really would make the effort to see your doctor. Some medication could make all the difference to you. Don't feel like a failure just because you may have to go back on tablets. I went on and off tablets for quite a few years and I now have been on them since about 2000 and think its more important to feel ok in myself on the tablets rather than struggle without them. Your doctor can advise.

There are lots of people here who completely understand how you feel so feel free to keep posting. All the best and hugs for you. ((()))

shazrobo

hi jennie, and welcome to the thread, i would go and talk to your gp, he will give you meds if he thinks you need them, and not all of them are addictive. i've been on and off anti d's for 14 years, and thats not because i am addicted, but because the depression comes back worrse when i stop taking them.
hi confused, saw 6 is way scarier than any of the other saw films :eek:, not recommended if you dont like gory films
hi anni, hope you get sorted out at the doctors, is it still the virus thats lingering?
hi bunnie, happy birthday hun, hope you feel better soon
hi miro, could you maybe type a letter out on a computer at the library, our has free internet use, and also has printers? if i lived closer you could borrow mine.
hi tulip, good to see you post for positive things, have a good day with your boyfriend, any plans on how you'll spend the day?

feeling tired this morning, had a good night last night, went for a lovely meal, and saw film which was really scary, was back home for half ten, as ian has early shift this morn, so not even as tho i stayed up late.
does anybody else feel permanently tired this weather, eg all dark days and dark nights?
planning on getting dress soon, and ringing surgery to see if i can see gp this morn, as my knee is very painful.
hugs all
shaz xxx

jenniewb

Thanks for your replies. Have been luckily given an appointment at 10am today. Did manage a few hours sleep- kept waking up, feel so tierd still. This is a nightmare! Am trying not to look ahead further then the next hour. This feels like madness! I have had this happen before....feel I should be 'used to it' or have somehow gotten stronger with age and experience. But you never get used to it do you, just wish I could lose that on-the-edge feeling where everything feels like its impossible, its like I've lost my stregnth.

Tulip

:hello: Everyone,

Hope all is well,I am fine today.I am out later to see my boyfriend and we are going to have some lunch together welcome Jennie to the thread hope you get the help you need.

Have a lovely day everyone!

love and light,

Katie xxx

beachbeth

shazrobo wrote: »

and not all of them are addictive. i've been on and off anti d's for 14 years, and thats not because i am addicted, but because the depression comes back worrse when i stop taking them.

This is how it is with me too. They're not addictive but I just need them.

I think this weather is so gloomy at the moment. I would rather it be freezing cold and sunny rather than mild, dark and rainy. I have been tired the past few days too although I think its the time of the month thats causing that.

Well, I must get on. Ive got cleaning and ironing to do and just want it done out of the way.