How do I work out if what I feel is normal response or not?

[littlebluechair]

I don't know how to work out whether to go to the GP. I have been in the past when I knew I needed help, but I do not know now if I do or not.

I feel like I swing between fine/positive and then stressed/sad/lonely.

I am incredibly lonely as I have no family support anymore, I feel this profound loneliness is my main problem, I don't know how to live with that. But I am not sure that feeling lonely when one is alone is something a GP/MH professional can help with.

I also have some anxieties, mostly caused by serious illness of one of our kids.

I just have no idea if my life is shit and I am coping ok and having natural bad feelings or my life is fine and I am not coping - does that make sense?

[Nuttyprofessor]

The worst depression I have had is when I could justify the way I felt because the problems were real. My reactions were totally out of proportion.

I don't know if your reaction is normal but you have nothing to lose by seeing your GP for a professional opinion.

Sorry you are feeling this way.

[littlebluechair]

Thanks for replying. Yes, I see what you are saying - maybe my life is not going great AND I'm not coping. I think I do feel that because I can explain WHY I feel bad I can't really need help. I just don't know what to do about the loneliness. I keep myself so busy but I wonder if that is almost worse in some way. Maybe I need to feel really down at some point to come out of it.

Thank you again.