Support for people with Depression

Tiff_2

Hi gemmab!
How are you, hun? Thanks for posting on the thread - you're more than welcome here, hunnie. Mental ill health rarely involves just the person with the diagnosis - our loved ones and friends need support just as much as we need it.
Anyhoo, I've been down in the very dusty Tiff archives and found some information regarding bipolar disorder, which I hope may help you and maybe others. I'm not a professional in any way angel, so I've listed only reputable sites.
Mental health covers a wide field of situations so please use your own judgement and pick out what feels right for you and your situation.

NHS
http://www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/Pages/CarersDirectHome.aspx

MIND
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/bipolar_disorder_manic_depression
http://www.mind.org.uk/help/community_care/community-based_mental_health_and_social_care

The Bipolar Organisation
Tel: 08456 340 540; email: [EMAIL="mdf@mdf.org.uk"]mdf@mdf.org.uk[/EMAIL] and www.mdfwales.org.uk
Provides support, advice and information for people with bipolar disorder, their friends and carers.

Rethink
advice line: 020 7840 3188, tel. 0845 456 0455
web: www.rethink.org
http://www.rethink.org/living_with_mental_illness/caring/help_for_carers/looking_after.html
Working together to help everyone affected by severe mental illness to recover a better quality of life

Carers UK
carers line: 0808 808 7777,
web: www.carersuk.org or www.carerswales.org
Information and advice on all aspects of caring
http://www.carersuk.org/Information/Findinghelp/Onlinesupport

Caring about carers
website: www.carers.gov.uk
Government website offering advice and information to carers.
Carers Direct helpline
http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/Pages/Guidetocaringhome.aspx
How to get in touch with the freephone Carers Direct - helpline 0808 802 0202, email [EMAIL="carersdirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk"]carersdirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk[/EMAIL] and postal response service.

http://talk.nhs.uk/forums/51.aspx

Hope this helps a little. If not, please feel free to shout at sazzy! (Loves you millions really, sazzy hun! )
Post whenever you feel like it angel - be kind to yourself.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Tiff_2

Hi trumpton!
Thanks for your post hunnie - you certainly sent ol' Tiffy rummaging through the Tiff archives.
Yes, you're right angel - we are not allowed to discuss meds as you and others have said. By the very nature of mental ill health, we are all unique and we can also be very vulnerable to suggestion. Bearing this in mind - and because I can't afford to get sued! - we need to be very careful when it comes to where we get our information from as well. A bit of common sense needed here, as in all things. I think I've played pretty safe by getting these resources purely from the NHS, MIND and RSPsych sites. As you'll see, it's not just books listed here - I also found some recommended online links and there were also listings for audio books available.
So please feel free to jump in and browse guys -and remember that mental health is never ''one size fits all''.
NHS
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/counselling/Pages/selfhelptherapy.aspx

MIND

MIND wrote:

]Can I learn CBT techniques by myself?
Since CBT has a highly educational component, much use is made of reading material in individual therapy and this has been expanded into a large self-help literature over recent years (See Further reading). Researchers haven't paid much attention, so far, to whether these books can be helpful. There is one study of The feeling good handbook , which was found effective for alleviating depression. This suggests that it could be beneficial for other problems, in the same way, although this will depend on the severity of the problem and how long it's been going on.

http://www.calipso.co.uk/
Further reading
The anger control workbook: simple, innovative techniques for managing anger and developing healthier ways of relating M. McKay, P. Rogers (New Harbinger Press 2000)
The assertiveness workbook: how to express your ideas and stand up for yourself at work and in relationships R. J. Paterson (New Harbinger Press 2000)
Climbing out of depression: a practical guide for sufferers S. Atkinson (Lion Publishing 2005)
Depression: the way out of your prison (3rd ed) D. Rowe (Routledge 2003)

RSPsych
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation/therapies/cognitivebehaviouraltherapy.aspx

The Overcoming series
http://www.overcoming.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6242

The_Overcomin_Series wrote:

The Overcoming series is a series of CBT-based self-help books, book-based courses (also available to download) and audio resources. Our authors are psychologists, psychiatrists, CBT-trained therapists and counsellors and each of them is a leading expert in their field. The books are based on their many years of experience treating patients. The Overcoming series is recommended to thousands of people by the NHS as part of its Books on Prescription scheme (BOP).

Books on BOP scheme
http://www.overcoming.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6320
another listed site regarding CBT...
http://www.cognitivetreatments.com/

A few books that I'd recommend are:
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
Susan Jeffers, Vermilion
Provides the insight and tools to vastly improve the reader’s ability to handle any given situation, helping them move from a place of pain, paralysis and depression to one of power, energy and enthusiasm.

Mind Over Mood
Christine Padesky & Dennis Greenberger, Guilford Press
This guide draws on the authors' experience as clinicians and teachers of cognitive therapy to help clients successfully understand and improve their moods, alter their behaviour, and enhance their relationships.

Taming Your Gremlin Revised: A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way by Richard David Carson

A Master Class in Gremlin-taming: Freeing Yourself from the Monster of the Mind by Rick Carson

I hope something here will be of help - again remember, I'm not a professional in any way, angel.
Right, that should keep you busy until tea-time guys. Study hard 'cos there'll be a test later!
Be kind to yourself everyone.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Tiff_2

Hi guys!
All right, all right - I'm Tiffing as fast as I can!






Oh and by the way...






Back later I hope.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Tulip

:hello: Everyone,

Hope all is well,I am fine today,Going to Mums soon for dinner,seeing my boyfriend tomorrow which will be lovely


Have a lovely day!

love and light,

Katie xxx

shazrobo

hi everyone, hope everyone is as well as they can be.
been up to my mum and dad's this afternoon, walked up, cos roads icy. when i got back there was a man stood outside my house, and as soon as he saw me started to approach me, got a bit worried, but as i had both sons with me who are big lads, i carried on walking. the poor bloke started talking to me so fast, and looked ever so worried, so i spoke to him and calmed him down.
turned out that his car had skidded into my dads which is parked outside my house. he had been waiting almost an hour for someone to come, as he didnt want to leave the scene of an accident. he seemed more scared than i was, so i invited him in to keep warm while i rang my dad, and made him a cup of tea.
dad came and checked car over, man kept saying i hope he dosent shout at me, i've never had an accident before, anyway all turned out ok, dad's car just got scuffed on bumpers. man thanked us for being ever so nice to him. so i feel like i done my good deed for the day.
shaz xxx

LadyMorticia

Aww, Shaz. That was so nice of you.

He sounds like he was quite afraid. It's good that he didn't leave the accident scene. I know a few people who would.

x

LadyMorticia

Welcome to all the newbies.

shazrobo

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Aww, Shaz. That was so nice of you.

He sounds like he was quite afraid. It's good that he didn't leave the accident scene. I know a few people who would.

x

yes he did seem quite afraid, he had been driving a lot of years, and never had an accident, wasn't a big man either, and was scared of my dad, who is big, but a real softie.

Tulip

:hello: Everyone,

Hope all is well,I am fine,seeing my boyfriend today,hes on his way now to see me for the day.

I hope you all have a lovely day whatever you are doing.

love and light,

Katie xxx

shazrobo

morning all, was looking forward to kids been back at school today, but only one went, the other school is staying closed today cos its so icy and roads dangerous there. hopefully it will reopen tommorrow.
have a lovely day with your boyfriend katie.
hugs all
shaz xxx