Depression Support Thread

gillette147

Hi,
I have 1 min coz I'm at work.
My life is like a bus stop. Nothing for ages then 3 at once.
I have heard that a job that I didn't get but had been 2nd choice has come up again. So now I have a big decision to make. And it is a really difficult call.
One nearer, better training and maybe more pay but more mundane.
The other is 2+ hrs travel each way, interesting and I am already doing it.

Hmmm

Huga and Handshakes to you all BTW
xxxxx

Hyder_2

Thanks for the welcome, If you want to know a little more I do have a myspace, where I have tried to write it down, have found that very therapuetic.

Regarding the depression, it was a long time ago now, and I would like to believe I have come out the other side. Maybe I have or have not, have a read and see what you think.... I would really like the opinions of fellow sufferers.

Thanks

Hyder

https://www.myspace.com/hyder65

feelinggood_2

Morning everyone. I've got a busy day today - I've got the landlord inspecting the house this afternoon so I've got to get it all spotless! If the house is super clean and tidy, they overlook the pet hamster hehe.

I went to my first AA meeting last night, and something really struck me. They looked peaceful. They actually had serenity. Thats what I want, so I think I'm making the right choice. I tell you, it was so weird for people I didn't know to say the exact thing I was thinkg. I didn't know that so many people felt on the outside looking in.

According to my mood diary, my mood was the highest its been since I started recording. Thats pretty good. Feels nice to have some hope - maybe I can overcome this. CMHT Assessment on Monday, and back at my docs on Monday to get weighed. Hopefully it won't be too long a wait after the assessment till I get some therapy or new meds.

Life is pretty stressful at the moment - we are selling the house and OH has just quit his very well paid job. He has set up his own buisness and is going it alone. To top it all off, he is a bit nervous, so we aren't telling anyone!

Off to another meeting tonight, I don't think I'll do 90 in 90 days like some people recommend, but I want to try out all of the local meetings.

ILGD - hope you get a chance to pop on and let us know how you are today. Thinking of you, hope there is some sunshine there to make your day a little easier.

Hyder - Glad you find writing things down theraputic - I might try that. My mum always laughs when we are on the phone and she tells me something and I say 'I'll just write that down' and she can hear the tap-tap-tap on the keyboard. I can't remember the last time I actually wrote something! I've got a busy day today, but I'll try and read through your myspace page tomorrow.

Gillette - thats a tough descision between jobs. How have you been enjoying the actual work this week? How do you think you'd like the work at the other job? I suppose its a question of what is important to you. Is the other job as mundane as the really long journey? The extra time you'd have means you can do interesting things after work. The possibility of training sounds good. Hopefully you can have a good think this weekend. Housework always helps me think things through, so get on with the kitchen! Nice to see you posting, don't be an outsider!

Dawnylou - The doctors always choose the wrong time don't they! They always offer me an appointment that is in half an hour and I've got to run round like mad to get there on time. Will be thinking of you this afternoon. Have you written down what you want to say?

Zippy - well done on signing up for night school! What will you be doing? Hope you enjoy your weekend off, I'll keep my fingers crossed for sunshine! Is it a weekly night class? I really enjoyed meeting people at the meeting last night - I've gone so long without human contact that I forgot that it can be quite nice. Who knows, maybe I'll even make my 2nd ever friend lol.

Juno - Well done on refusing the offer of a drink. Can I ask why you've given up alcohol if that isn't too personal. Tell me if I'm being too nosey! I've not drank for 9 and a half months now, and I remember how tricky all the 'firsts' were - the first time offered a drink, the first time I had something to celebrate etc. 3 weeks is a great achievement, well done! You definately should feel proud of yourself! How long have you been living on your own? Are you nearby to family and friends you can visit when you feel lonely? Hope you have a better day today xx

Rose - Sorry to hear that you are going through a tough time. You said it yourself, you are a strong lady who will get through it. I hope today is an easier day and it doesn't hurt so much. Thank you for your spare hugs. Thinking of you x

Slowlyfading - Thinking of you today, sending you my best wishes xx

To Tiff, Ethel, QB, Sazbo, PoppyJay, BigMummaF, Carol, Miro, CCstar, Tulip, Lewt and GeminiLady, hope today is a good day for you all.

dawnylou

Feelinggood - No I haven't. That's half the problem! I don't know what to say.

feelinggood_2

dawnylou wrote: »

Feelinggood - No I haven't. That's half the problem! I don't know what to say.

I've always had a problem talking to my doctor. I get all flustered and feel rushed - and always end up missing something important out. I was getting so frustrated.

For my last appointment, I wrote my GP a letter before hand, and when I got there I handed it to her and said that I'd wrote it down as I didn't think I'd be able to say it all. I was worried that she'd react badly, but she read it and I think for the first time in the year I've been seeing her, she understood how things affected me.

I'd definately recommend writing it down. Either a letter of just a list of key points that you want to mention. You have to remember to take the list though!

If you have a think before your appointment maybe you could jot a few things down? I think doctors are used to patients doing this, as I know a lot of people have recommended the idea to me.

dawnylou

I dont even feel I could write it down, I'm sure it would just sound silly and pathetic. And I just don't know where to start.

I just feel as if I am going to walk in and be sent straight on my way.

CarolnMalky

Sending hugs and fairy dust to everyone, so you all know there is always someone thinking of you xxx

feelinggood_2

dawnylou wrote: »

I dont even feel I could write it down, I'm sure it would just sound silly and pathetic. And I just don't know where to start.

I just feel as if I am going to walk in and be sent straight on my way.

I though that my doctor would just laugh at me when I handed her the letter, but she responded really well. Remember that you are suffering from an illness, and it doesn't make you silly or pathetic.

I used to jot down a few bullet points to take with me that I wanted to cover. If there is anything you want to mention, you can make a little list and take it with you. You don't have to take it in with you, you could look at it in the waiting room. It doesn't help everyone, some people are better at just going there and saying how they feel.

For a long time I wasn't getting the support I needed, but I realised that I wasn't asking for it. My doctor would see me for 5 minutes every month, and that wasn't really long enough for her to understand how I was feeling and how things were affecting me. I feel a bit silly now, but she really had no idea how low I was - because I didn't tell her. I was refered to the Community Mental Health Team after I gave her the letter, so it definately helped me.

If you don't fell up to writing a list or letter, could you have a bath or read a book - something nice to take your mind off the appointment?

If you want to write a list, it is hard to know where to start. The first thing I wrote down were a list of symptoms. I never really communicated how I felt, I just told the doctor that I felt depressed. In the list I wrote things like:

• I find it really hard to get out of bed, and I'm sleeping for 12 hours a night
• I struggle to get washed/dressed every day
• I'm tearful and I cry a lot
• I'm very anxious when I leave the house
• I worry about things constantly

I'm not very assertive at the doctors, so doing this really helped me. Its not easy, but remember that you are a vaulable person and you deserve to be listened to and helped.

xx

feelinggood_2

I just saw that Blinky popped in here this morning and I just wanted to say Hello! Hope everything is good for you Blinky xx

dawnylou

feelinggood wrote: »

I though that my doctor would just laugh at me when I handed her the letter, but she responded really well. Remember that you are suffering from an illness, and it doesn't make you silly or pathetic.


If you want to write a list, it is hard to know where to start. The first thing I wrote down were a list of symptoms. I never really communicated how I felt, I just told the doctor that I felt depressed. In the list I wrote things like:

• I find it really hard to get out of bed, and I'm sleeping for 12 hours a night
• I struggle to get washed/dressed every day
• I'm tearful and I cry a lot
• I'm very anxious when I leave the house
• I worry about things constantly

I'm not very assertive at the doctors, so doing this really helped me. Its not easy, but remember that you are a vaulable person and you deserve to be listened to and helped.

xx

I don't have an illness, I just struggle with my emotions and find it hard to cope with them which has unfortunately led to me feeling quite low at the moment, which isn't at all helped by the fact I always feel so tired.

I feel tired and drained to the point where I can't be bothered to do anything and everything takes so much effort.

I am not at all assertive. I will just go in there and mumble something about being tired probably.
I don't feel valuable at all though, I feel like I am a waste of space and a waste of time at the moment