Depression, Money Saving and it all becoming a bit too much!

StarLight

Yesterday I was diagnosed with Depression and went back onto the anti-depressants that I had managed to wean myself off over 2 months ago. Having depression has come as a bit of a shock as I have been in denial for the last 6 years. Even though I have been on anti-depressants for the last 12 years due to a breakdown because of stress at work.

So 12 years later, here I am being told by my DR (who was been great) that it is more normal to be on anti-depressants than not!!

I wonder how many of you out there are also struggling like myself. Trying to keep going when things are just getting a tad difficult?

I am a SAHM, currently looking for p/t work to fit in with picking my little girl up from school - not much to ask. However to get job seekers allowance I have to be available to work 40 hours a week. We can't get tax credits anymore and even though the HMRC owe me £8.40 they won't let me have it because it is under the amount that they can pay out. We have more outgoings than money coming in and we have tightened our belts as much as we can, but there is an finite amount that we can get too. I know that we are not as bad off as some but it just all seems such a struggle.

I sell on ebay and amazon but to be honest we haven't got much more to get rid of. My house is not cluttered and I am lucky that I am fairly organised. But where do I fit in? I could blitz my daughter's toys but they are hers and she loves them - who am I to take them away from her, plus she has already let some go so I think that she has done her bit.

Please tell me I am not on my own I try so hard to do the right things, cook from scratch, batch cook and meal plan but I can't think of anything else to do. But now get stressed about even throwing away an empty yoghurt pot because it could be used for something else!! :eek:

Thank you for getting this far with my waffle I just needed to get it off my chest ... x

esmf73

You are not on your own. Most of us feel overwhelmed and stretched financially. Doesn't help it's the last few days of the month and the weather is so pants. What helps me sometimes is to take stock of what I have in my freezer and cupboards, and then try to spend a few days living from the cupboards. The antid's will take about 2 weeks to kick in, so give yourself a break in the meantime. X

rosieben

I'm sure people will be along with more practical suggestions but just wanted to ditto what esmf said, you're not alone. I'm another who's been dealing with depression for a number of years. Keep posting, you will find support as well as advice here x

Northern_Lassy

You are definitely not alone, I am having a wobbly morning, just want to do the school run and go back to bed x
We had a horrible few months, threat of OH redundancy, DD ill and given 8 weeks notice by landlord, it all feels a bit much sometimes.
When the tablets kick in you will feel better able to cope, I think your Dr may have a point as most of the people I know who are living similar lives to me have taken anti-d's at some point.
Hope you soon start to feel better, lots of love x

Rowan9

You're not on your own. So glad you posted - you'll get huge amount of support here. Be kind to yourself and treat yourself as you would a dear friend who was going through this. have to rush off but thinking of you and sending a big (((hug))) to you.
W

Dippypud

((big hugs))
The tablets will take a week or so to settle down...

then you'll feel a bit better...

try to get friendly with some of the other Mums when you take your DD to school, some play-swopping from house to house helps all Mums.
Good luck

valk_scot

Is your partner working, as in do you still have some regular income? And I assume that you've claimed all the benefits you're entitled to? It might be worth checking this out again, things do change. Check about things like free school meals for your DD for example, if you've not already.

The ADs will help, they'll get you thinking straight again and you'll find you can cope better. Depression magnifies the downs of life and you sort of get stuck going around in circles at the bottom of a hole.

This is a good board too, it's amazing the ideas for savings you'll find here. Everything from cutting your heating costs to food budgeting, there are often corners of the budget you just take for granted untill someone starts talking about them here. And there's moral support too, you're not the only one in the same situation! Far too often it looks like everyone on the school gate is doing just fine, all happy and smiling and no money worries and that you're the only one with problems. It's not so, if you asked directly and they answered honestly more than half of them would be on ADs, or drinking too much, or have stress related issues and most of them will have money worries. Here we're a bit more upfront about our problems! Which is reassuring to some extent, it makes you feel less isolated.

quintwins

If you earn to much to cliam any tax credits it must be quite abit, i'd suggest posting a soa, if you want to post it here that fine but the dfw see lots of them and are very helpful, you can find a link to a soa over in dfw.Even if your not in debt.

Having little/no money and the bad weather always makes things feel a million times worse and that included people without depression, it's good you posted here atleast you can see everyons in the same (sinking?) boat.

LameWolf

Nothing useful to add; other OSers have come up with all the common sense stuff ahead of me. Just wanted to offer moral support; I've been on anti-d's for the last four decades; I would like to reiterate though, cut yourself a good bit of slack and give your new tablets enough time to kick in - as you're no doubt aware, it takes a wee while to get the full benefit from them.:o You're never alone with the OS board to turn to; have a Wolfy (((HUG))) to be going on with.;)

dandy-candy

Don't worry, plenty are feeling like you do. Try not to sit in and brood when you're at home on your own, is there a park near to you that you can walk in? Although the bad weather and season change can make people feel low, on a dry day walking can be very beneficial for depression. Exercise does something with endomorphins/seratonin (science was never a strong point with me lol) and will help, although ofc the pills will kick in soon too. Take good care of yourself and cut yourself a little slack. XX

sophlowe45

I've never been on the debt free boat but a statements of affairs would really help.

annual or monthly post tax income.

monthly rent or mortgage, and everything else. Otherwise we can't really see what is going on with bills and everything else.