Depression

Claire_MUFC

Hi everyone,

I was put on anti-depressants and also high blood pressure tablets a while ago now, but stupidly stopped taking them. Basically I had a job and one day out of the blue was told the contract was being terminated due to cuts the DWP were making. I became more depressed and the tablets I was on weren't touching it, I started gambling to try and give myself a boost and got myself into debt and couldn't afford the prescriptions. Months and months have passed, and I'm terrified of going back to the doctors for anything as I know they will ask why I stopped taking them and very worried about how they will view it ?

The blood pressure is an important thing to keep my eye on as I was born with just one kidney, high blood pressure I've read can damage kidneys

Depression wise I have days where I am fine, and then the smallest thing sets me off crying. I can also go days and weeks without finding anything to be cheerful about and getting up in the morning is a struggle

What would people advise in this situation? I don't mind going back to the doctors but just worries me about how stupid I am going to look when I tell them why I stopped taking the tablets

Gingernutty

Go back to your doctor.

Explain everything.

Your health is massively important to you and you must start to look after yourself.

If you're still unemployed, then you qualify for free prescriptions.

If you require more than one prescription a month and you have a job, then a prescription prepayment certificate will cost no more than about £10.50 a month.

Take care.

Torry_Quine

Please go to see your GP. They will be used to people stopping anti-depressants. Yes they will need to know why you stopped taking them but that's so they can help you get the right treatment for you.

Torry_Quine

Gingernutty wrote: »

Go back to your doctor.

Explain everything.

Your health is massively important to you and you must start to look after yourself.

If you're still unemployed, then you qualify for free prescriptions.

If you require more than one prescription a month and you have a job, then a prescription prepayment certificate will cost no more than about £10.50 a month.

Take care.

Being unemployed doesn't automatically give you free prescriptions.

Also anyone with a low income regardless of working or not can get a prescription prepayment certificate.

skivenov

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Please go to see your GP. They will be used to people stopping anti-depressants. Yes they will need to know why you stopped taking them but that's so they can help you get the right treatment for you.

Exactly this. If you think you might find it hard to tell them, take a copy of your post to show them.

VintageLady

At the end of the day the GP has no right to judge you but to help to treat you and should be professional. Going back to see them would be the best thing though if it were me I would discuss what talking therapies are also available, where I live in Lincolnshire you can even self refer so there's no need to go through your GP for them. The last time I went for talking therapies the lady asked if I had ever done anything like CBT before. I told her that I had a couple of sessions over a year ago but never went back. She must have heard the embarrassment in my voice but all she said in a really cheerful voice was "that's all right, everyone's allowed second chances".
Take care of yourself and although I'm pretty new on here I have been bowled over with the support and kindness of the other members. Keep popping by, it's a great resource.
Big hugs!

trailingspouse

You don't have to be on a low income to get a pre-payment certificate.

jenniewb

Once you have gone back to your GP, try to look for things like groups and support networks where you can speak to people face to face (if possible) and without judgement or fear of judgement. If you can find groups with people with similar circumstances as you it can be a good start. Your GP may have some names of people you can ask but otherwise look through websites of places like Mind and Reach who may have links or even themselves run groups.

Claire_MUFC

It's telling my GP that I stopped the anti-depressants and blood pressure tablets because I couldn't afford them due to gambling which spiralled out of control that I have been most terrified of , them looking down on me. Stopped the gambling , that and the debt made me further depressed although I have taken steps and blocked all gambling websites. Thinking I need to go back on the tablets , get days where I cannot cheer myself up with anything and then days where I just have no feeling at all , try to find bright sides but it's hard

Reading some of the replies on here has helped though

I am still unemployed , but not claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit or whatever it is now anymore. A full time position is not something I feel I could handle right now , and also not something in a busy environment but unfortunately on JSA have to apply to whatever is available

Part time positions are better suited to me at the moment, applied to a little position in a small shop which I had an interview for last week , if I don't get it I know it's nothing personal , but having depression I don't find rejections easy and just dents my confidence further

maman

Claire_MUFC wrote: »

It's telling my GP that I stopped the anti-depressants and blood pressure tablets because I couldn't afford them due to gambling which spiralled out of control that I have been most terrified of , them looking down on me. Stopped the gambling , that and the debt made me further depressed although I have taken steps and blocked all gambling websites. Thinking I need to go back on the tablets , get days where I cannot cheer myself up with anything and then days where I just have no feeling at all , try to find bright sides but it's hard

Reading some of the replies on here has helped though

I am still unemployed , but not claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit or whatever it is now anymore. A full time position is not something I feel I could handle right now , and also not something in a busy environment but unfortunately on JSA have to apply to whatever is available

Part time positions are better suited to me at the moment, applied to a little position in a small shop which I had an interview for last week , if I don't get it I know it's nothing personal , but having depression I don't find rejections easy and just dents my confidence further

Sorry I can't comment on benefits and prescriptions (although I'm not sure what you're living on unless someone else is helping you out) but you don't have to tell your GP the whole story if you don't want to. Why not just say you lost your job and couldn't afford the prescriptions and leave it at that. I do urge you to go back to your doctor even if it's just for the blood pressure medication.


Good luck with your job application.:)

Catcherupper14

The doctor will not judge you for stopping the anti-depressants - poor decision making can be part of the illness, which probably contributed to the gambling.


You need to get your health sorted out to start with - so see your GP asap.


If you still have a gambling issue, that's the next thing you need to deal with - there are groups that help - your GP surgery will know of them too.


As for the job - you are probably right to look for part-time work if you feel unable to cope with full time, but what are you living on?


Being in debt or struggling for money can cause or exacerbate depression so do make sure you are claiming everything you are entitled to.


I've suffered with depression(on and off) for many years now and know that mine passes eventually. It gives me the strength to deal with the bad times.


Be gentle with yourself and find things that give you a bit of pleasure (not the right word) - don't feel pressured to conform to others' expectations.