if you feel those winter blues, move to our Village, spread the news!

[ThatVikRinA22]

new thread folks.....im losing track but i think this might be our 7th!

all welcome. old and new. This is a supportive place for anyone suffering with any type of mental health issue.

im on Sertraline (ADs) and have been since last December. I had 6 months off work with depression and anxiety and the ladies on these threads kept me going.

Feel free to post, to comment, to ask questions, or just to lurk and feel less alone.
everyone in the village is lovely.

philnteds - i so hear you, i can't help but wonder if im so used to being like this now that its my normal and that there is some bright and wonderful world that im missing out on. But then you should hear half of my friends whinging on i think we all have our crosses to bear.

wow lem I could have written your post. I had a good glimpse of that bright and wonderful world in September I think it was, but its been darker since then... must get dcs (grrr) take care all.

Hi all, just marking my place and stopping by to say "hello" - looks nice and cosy here, and encouraging, which I think I'm going to need to get me through winter .... but still autumn right, even after that storm still some leaves on the trees ?!

Still autumn juggling - still leaves on the trees and a fair few on the floor for kicking about, then theres the chestnuts to collect, fires to sit in front of and hot chocolates to be drunk........and a medicinal and warming brandy to be had :) Welcome to the village.

What a lovely warm welcome, brandy as well
I think I've passed by before, when you had the summer fete open?
Is that right?

Yep - gotta love a summer fete!

Welcome all the new people, and hello to all, new and old.

I feel very low, hope cpn is helpful rather than frustrated today

I hope you feel better soon - make sure you tell cpn what you need x

CPN's shouldn't be frustrated surely? Just endlessly patient and encouraging? (I was a student psychi nurse once, with a CPN on one placement - I suppose they're only human!)

My own self diagnosis ATM is long standing low level depression (dysthymia) with attention deficit tendencies and probably peri-menopause as I join Hully in approaching my 50th

Possibly I should talk with my GP more about this stuff, but I try to address things in other ways - though often forget I need to.
I find getting out for walks and seeing friends all helps - MN company good as well though probably needs balancing with RL!

She seemed calmer...it must be difficult to work with suicidal people She suggested not doing open university work this week so I can settle in to being home. She is off next week. I did get out today.

I have art therapy tomorrow, not looking forward to the weather though.

How is everyone doing?

Exhausted wave from the corner.

Hugs and thoughts to all.

Hi everyone,

I've got some lovely applewood logs for the fire - they burn really sweetly. And a stash of soft rugs to snuggle under.

Snowymouse (loveloy name) sorry you feel so low. Can you get out in the fresh air at all tomorrow? that helps me so much - a walk or run when the sun is at its highest.

In RL - DH found a box of fireworks left over from last year so we're going to set them off in the garden for DC when they've done their homework.

Upped dose last night and was comatose all day. Did very little work and no exercise but did view a house (might be moving.) I loved it. DH didn't.

Hugs Ed

That sounds a lovely atmosphere, notagiraffe I have to go out tomorrow for art therapy anyway.

Enjoy the fireworks! (same goes for anyone going)

I love the thought of burning logs (fake electric fire here ) and cosy blankets. We only have one blanket, maybe I should knit one, as I have lots of spare wool somewhere.

Hi all, it seems I am not alone in hating the dark evenings then!

Got some sleep last night but don't feel much better, guess it will take more than one night (when I say I got sleep I mean 10-3 then 3.30 to 6,30 so probably still less than I feel I need but way better than usual.

Very paranoid at work today. Felt people were talking about me etc, not a nice feeling. Also didn't manage to get a walk after due to finishing late so think that makes things worse as I am going out at the weekend so worried I will spoil my omen night by obsessing that I am fat and old! Grr I would love to be a happy positive person too. I can cope with the big stuff it seems then fall apart at the details.

Battery, I know what you mean. I often think people are talking negatively about me when I'm not around I wish I could just not care what people think.

It's miserable isn't it. I thin I come across as a bit aloof or something because i am so busy obsessing over myself, ahhh I hate it!

I think I have seemed aloof in the past too, now I work for a small company, only three other members of staff, and the two on the same level as me are very open about their insecurities, problems and fears, which helps a lot. I feel more at ease than I have before, apart from the fact that I've had a ten year period out of the business and have more responsibility than before, which has been scary. I've been there 8 months and I'm getting there, but hate the fact that I'm part time and the others fulltime, so I miss a lot when I'm not in and have to play catch up each time I go in to work.

Hi everyone,
lovely to see all your new faces
Loving the fire - thanks notagiraffe and thanks also for support last night. I did invite someone else for Thurs night and she (despite me being convinced otherwise) said yes!

I've a pile of lovely colourful fleecy blankets for anyone who needs one. I'm sat on the sofa under a yellow one.

battery and solid I know what you mean too. A friend of mine described me once as a private person - and that helped me see that I'm not naturally very open... too anxious/low self esteem.
battery glad you had a better night... like you say, you need several more... I originally went to docs after a week of v disturbed nights following a v tough year, and she said to imagine I had flu and just rest as much as poss for 2 weeks...

Waves to Ed

Snowy what did you think of the CPN's suggestion? I'd be v interested to hear what the art therapy involves - hope the rains not too bad for you...

Hi Juggling how long do you think you've had dysthymia for? I find the support on here helps - have to ration the time - but I think has given me a little more confidence in rl if that makes sense?!

lem any brandy left?

Had counselling today. Pretty heavy stuff - looking at me and dh anger, sadness, resentment, loss of respect. Don't know if I said what he said to me at the weekend - after the bil visit "I realise its not just all about me now" I am at the moment, happier, more myself, more relaxed when I'm not around him. I'm finding it very worrying tbh.

But hey he's working this eve so I have some peace.

Colouringinqueen I know how exhausting counselling is, and relationship issues are so draining. I can't talk to dh much ATM I find all my energy has to go on the children and then I crash when they are in bed. I am also a very private person, I think it makes counselling quite hard at times. Hope you have had a peaceful evening. I like the two weeks rest idea! I pretend to everyone I am ok so tend to do too much so that no one notices, should probably save energy a bit more.

Solid I am part time too, it can be like the first day back after a holiday feel every week, wondering what have I missed etc can't it?!

Yes Battery, exactly like returning from a holiday every week. But they still expect me to just pitch in straight away, knowing what's going on! I love it when I'm there fulltime providing holiday cover, it's so much easier. However, I become very anxious as I never know when my IBS will kick in and I don't want to be unreliable. I need more hours ideally and the boss is going to try and increase my hours in the new year, but I'm also very apprehensive. On top of that one day a month my painful periods leave me unable to stand up I wish I knew how easy life was when I was younger.

I am sorry for waffling on so much. I have no one I can talk to. The only person who knows about my depression is my dh and he doesn't understand how it actually feels, nor does he understand IBS or painful periods.

It is great to be able to come on here and know people understand. I wish I could remember everyone's names, but I'm thinking of you all.

not waffling at all. It's great you can be open here x

too weary to post properly....i have just worked an 18 hour shift. (was meant t)

but wanted to pop head around door and wave....x

Hi Vicar and friends - Wow 18 hrs shift no wonder you're knackered !

ColouringIn kindly asked how long I feel I've had dysthymia - all I can really say is that I think I've had issues with attention deficit tendencies all my life and since teenage years and especially all my adult life I've often lapsed into a low mood and found things difficult to cope with - more so at some times than others - life with two small children I found particularly hard going, especially when DS was a baby. Possibly much of this stems from having ADD, but it's all self-diagnosed really - though I've had some counselling support via GP and independently.
Relationship issues also have their part to play I think.

To end on a positive my DC usually lift my spirits every day - DS painted a beautiful picture yesterday after we visited the National Gallery last week for half-term. He's learning about the impressionists who I also love.

Ah juggling, that's lovely! I know what you mean, as much as the children cause stress they are also a lovely positive focus.

The attention problems sound familiar to me too, used to be much better though and in my case I worry I caused it by taking lots of drugs when in my early teens. Keep thinking I wonder what that did to my still growing brain! I definitely didn't have all the paranoia before that either. Or is it paranoia making me think that's what caused it , who knows!

Solid not waffling at all, I know how you feel, I can't be reliable at work because of my child's health but it is the same thing, its hard and I hate the letting down feeling.