Please help.

[Chocolatefrogs]

Regular user but have namechanged.

Please, please help.

I don't quite know how to put this, but I wanted to talk to someone about this.

Have had depression/anxiety symptoms for a very long time. Have seen doctor about this and receiving some support.

Recently however, it's spiralled a little bit and I've gone a bit downhill. I've been having nightmares and feeling very nervous/uneasy at night since hearing, as most people have, about the death of Ian Brady. Have kept bedroom light on at night in effort to get some sleep. Have lost appetite more or less, and have been sleeping very badly, if at all. Please help. I'll stop reading the papers for a bit - perhaps that will help.

Any further advice would be extremely welcome.

Anyone with any advice please?

Anyone?

Bump.

Please - anyone with advice? Would really be appreciated right now.

Chocolate you need to go to your GP and ask for a mental health referral.

In the meantime I'd I were very distressed I would try and distract with fun movies, or a good book, or music if you are into that.

It may help to write all your symptoms down, and your concerns and take them to the GP.

You could also see a counsellor privately of you could afford that.researching on line who is available on your areas might help you to feel more on control.

If you have lost your appetite for everything maybe you need to start small. Work out what would give you most pleasure, or least displeasure at this moment and do it. a bubble bath, a fun TV programme, making something nice for tea? Looking after yourself with good food, exercise, sleep and fresh air are all vital.

But they cannot make up for professional medical help.

Good luck.

Hope you are feeling ok today chocolate. No advice really other than sounds like textbook depression and echo get to GP today. Thinking of you

Chocolate did you go to the GP today?

Don't wait, please, go and see GP if you did not do so today.

Hi everyone.

I'm really sorry for not leaving an update!

Just to update everyone quickly, I went to my GP a couple of days ago and discussed how I felt with them. I also emailed my counsellor about it, and we arranged a phone counselling session a couple of days ago. They've given me lots of new coping strategies, which have all been so helpful.

Thanks so much everyone for all of your advice and support! You're all brilliant :)

I'm so glad you're feeling a bit better and have some coping strategies in place now. If you start to struggle again then of course speak to your GP and counsellor as soon as you can: but I have found that guided self-compassion meditations are really helpful, and there are loads you can download online and use free of charge. They're good to use anyway, even when you're not feeling overly anxious, as they give you a good solid grounding of calm and peace.

Well done. Keep well and explore more in depth counselling if it will help.

So glad you've spoken to the GP and Counsellor! I really hope you're able to continue using those coping strategies and start to feel better soon.