Support for people with Depression

MammaT

Hi everyone - this is my first time on here. hope you don't all mind but I just feel so down today as I've just made the call to claim benefits. I thought it would be Income support but they decided I should claim ESA as I;m under my dr with depression. The lady was efficient and not rude but I ended up in tears as I 'll need an assessment etc and I find it all daunting (not alone there I think).

I'm a uni student but have taken time off due to my mental health and have claimed now as my student funding stopped at beginning of May. I knew I'd have to make the call but it's taken me this long to actually do it. I cannot use the phone as I panic and I don't leave my house alone. All very difficult for my children and for my friend who has been doing the school run etc for me.

Anyway - don't want to depress everyone and I hope to post here when I'm feeling a bit brighter too. Just wanted to say hello and ask for any thoughts/advice from those in a similar position. Wow - I'm impressed I managed to get this all out in one go!

xxxx
T

beachbeth

I can definitely identify with how you feel, MammaT and I think many people on this thread can too. I hate the phone and put off ringing a mobile hairdresser even though I was desperate to have my hair done. I also can't stand it if the phone rings and I can see my OH or daughter look at me as they answer because its someone for me.

Put in for what benefits you can and if you have to go to assessments try to take someone with you for support - my OH always comes with me. Its still daunting and upsetting but at least I have someone's hand to hold.

Tulip

:hello: Everyone,

Miro well done on passing your medical,thats great news.Cozza *hugs* welcome to the thread and hope you can get some help real soon.

Shaz,hope you and the boys are ok and happy and are having a great weekend.

I am ok and very well in myself.Was stressed the day before yesterday and I mean very stressed.I was agitated and so high and I didnt feel fine,Surrounded myself with friends and that seemed to be ok,had early night the night before and feel ok now and much better.Mum knew I was stressed when I spoke to her on the phone and she worked out I was very agitated.,Mums know best dont they.

Anyway today my parents are coming to see me this morning when they have been to get a new microwave.

Have a great day!

love and light,

Katie xxx

Meenu

Whatever u think about increases in mind, so think about good things positive experiences. if someone smiles at you think about that rather than it being a rainy day for example. It may sound cheesy but it worked for me. I used to watch a lot of true crime but now watch comedies. Immerse urself as much as you can in energies that lift you. If certain people depress you avoid them. Use all your senses as well put on perfume or cologne, make an effort with your appearance. I dont mean ignore your problems but once youve taken action let it go. I am not belittling the problem because I have been there it and its hard but have faith and belief in urself you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know it is possible to turn around and thrive because it happened to me. I wish you luck.

Tiff_2

Hi guys!
I hope everyone is as well as they can be.
You'll have to excuse me today, folks - it was one of those 3 hours sleep nights!

Sending a sincere to both cozza (cozza) and mamma t (mamma). I hope you'll both find all the help and support you need here - the gang are very warm and friendly, so pull up a chair and feel free to join in.
I also want to send extra Tiffy hugs to anyone struggling right now and also to our lovely :
sazzy, gem, shaz, lm, miro, jo, beth, may, ccstar, katie-tulip (hope you'e okay, angel.), cb2, donnie, gilly-badgie, elona, rbk, glad, savvy, wvw, qb, fairy and rose, to name but a few.

Psst!
Heads up guys - a great week has been had by all but sazzy and gilly-brocky-badgie are due back from their break imminently.
We gotta put all the furniture back, pick up all the bottles and cans - oh and beth, would you please let the llama out of the bathroom? For all those involved in the ''Make An International Phone Call'' game, please remember to study the map of arranged bolt-holes for when gilly gets his phone bill! Badgers are decidedly unpredictable. Btw, the winner of 'Who Made The Most Expensive Call?', was our mr.miro with a brilliant 5 hours 7 minutes talking to a Miss. Britney Smith in China!
And above all else, remember the Tiffster knows nothing and I was never there! After all, we'd hate anything to happen to the 'Keeper of the Smarties', wouldn't we? And anyway, if asked, we all know it was katie-tulip's idea - don't we?!
Don't worry guys, I will get a life soon...
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Tiff_2

Hi guys!
...but just not today!



Be kind to yourself guys.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Tiff_2

Hi bry!
How are you, hun? It's good to hear from you again.

bry wrote:

Heya
Long time no speak on my behalf. Been trying to keep myself busy - and its working so far!
Had a pretty rough time lately, so mind is on lots of other things.
Waiting to move into a new house at the end of june.
Re-started the odd bit of gardening - throw-back to childhood - but its keeping me busy and happy (although sometimes sad from memories)
My counsellor leaves at the end of this month - so got to change to someone new - not really looking forward to that, because my current one is the only one i've ever been able to open up to.
Just made some gorgeously gooey triple chocolate and marshmallow brownies for our staff meeting tomorrow night. Except now they're staring at me :rotfl:
Not in a very chatty mood - sorry
hope everyone is ok
bry x

Now since when did it matter whether or not you needed to be in a chatty mood to post here, angel? No apologies needed or expected. It's funny, (well actually, no it's not), but I think that's first thing many of us tend to do, to apologise for how our depression is making us feel or generally whenever we talk about mental health in any way, iykwim? I guess that's part of the stigma we feel with our illnesses - old habits die hard. (ask any monk!- !)
*Oops sorry guys, couldn't resist - guess I know which way I'll be going now!*

I'm sorry to hear things have been tough for you, bry - I remember you had a lot of big decisions to make. Now you're going to have a fresh start in a new house soon. I hope you managed to sort uni and bf out, angel or at least you are making a step in that direction that you're happier with.

You're right, keeping busy can be a good distraction. Gardening is often recommended as good therapy - gets you out in the fresh air, tending to the planty things,, and then watching your hard work pay off. Even our sazzy has been bitten by the badgie, er gardening bug. I've been dabbling in it a bit myself this week - the gardening that is, not biting sazzy! It also evoked a lot of memories for me both precious and painful when certain plants are associated with people who've gone ahead, as it were. Yet also remembering the simple childish joy of sitting in the grass and making daisy chains, quite at peace, or holding a buttercup under someone's chin to see if they liked butter.
Ahhh, I do miss being 40! Actually, that's not funny either.

It can be a jolt when we have to leave a good professional like your counsellor, hun. You did really well opening up to them for the first time. Whenever you think of this point regarding your next counsellor, try and take it along the lines of, 'I've made progress - my last counsellor has shown me how to open up. I'm grateful for that.' Of course there's going to be that settling-in phase for the first few weeks, getting to know each other and developing trust, but you've already proven you can do that and I hope it'll be the same for you with this one. Try to stay open-minded about your new counsellor, hun and if you're not happy with them, then there's usually a way to change them. In the end hunnie, the positive thing is that at least you're getting some counselling and you have someone nearby to let it all out to.


Regarding the ''gorgeously gooey triple chocolate and marshmallow brownies'', as thread cat I feel it's my duty to come right over and remove all that nasty temptation from you. It's a tough job I know, but someone's got to do it!

Anyway angel, good luck with everything - keep us posted, okay?
Be kind to yourself.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

Miroslav

Tiff wrote: »

Hi miro!
Afternoon gorgeous, how are you today? This is probably the first of about twenty replies to your posts, angel.



You're quite right miro hun - there is only the one fan.
Hey - he told me his name was Bob and that he was 25!
If I'd known he was as old as 38, I wouldn't have encouraged him. At 44, the Tiffster wanted a toy-boy , not an adolescent.
Still 38 isn't bad I s'pose - and beggars can't be choosers, can they, Harry?

You've got a great sense of humour angel. Thanks for the giggle, miro.
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

:wave:

I think the 1971 on Bob's certificate would have given it away, or was that not the first thing you looked at :eek: I also think when he was talking about the hot summer of '76 and being a little boy may have given it away:j Me thinks 25 was more out of hope than belief

Miroslav

Tiff wrote: »

Hi miro!
Awww, miro hunnie - that's fantastic news!

Is this the part where I get to say, ''I told you so!'' ?Just kidding hunnie.

Trust Tiffy, I knew you had a strong case and you deserved the help. See, things can go right for you too, sweetheart. I'm so pleased for you angel. Con-cat-ulations and well done you!

Right now then, I was going somewhere to do something...
Much Love,
Tiff xxx

:j

You told me so. :T You wouldn't tell me last nights lottery numbers though. Is that 290 consecutive wins for you now? I think Lottery HQ may cotton on sometime soon that not all is right somewhere

Miroslav

shazrobo wrote: »

well done miro, :jreally pleased for you

shaz x

Thanks Shaz.

Fish and chips again tonight is it?