"putting the SPRING back in our step - village support for depression and anxiety"

[LEMmingaround]

Heres the new thread guys. What is this, thread 9?

This is a thread that is situated in a virtual village of support for those suffering from mental health issues, or just those struggling with what life throws at them.

Please feel free to join in.

Also, using solpadol to stay calm. I know this isn't healthy!

Doing very well :) but is it OK if I hang out still?

I am cutting down hugely on butter, and switching from whole to semi-sk milk. And trying to think in a Lent kind of way about food. I'm planning to follow this up with some exercise...but I've been planning that for a long time

nhr, how old are your DC? Tis a wonder to me that nowadays everyone is supposed to fit a job, childcare, housework, and leisure into the same length of week as it's always been.

TrueWorrier I know exactly what you mean about the ups and downs of this bloody mental illness, and yes if someone could say "well it will last for x months then you will be ok" - it would be so much easier to bear. I never know what the trigger is for my bad days but have some worrying family problem going on at the moment which isn't helping of course.

Nethuns do you think you could possibly be heading for another depressive episode, as your symptoms sound a bit like that, with anxiety thrown in for good measure of course, with the health anxiety. You mention a stressful few months and you have survived the redundancies etc but sometimes we conk out after all the stress that we seem to have managed. Could this be the case.

Are you on any meds, or were you in the past. I think you maybe need to see the GP - what do you think?

Hi, thanks for those messages. Nana and pussycat

Yes I have conked. Finding it hard to keep going. Am going to the GP tomorrow, but my GP surgery is crap and I have little faith in them.

I have been on ADs for 20plus years. Tbh, I'm not convinced that they work and would be reluctant to increase the dose or change them at the moment.

I haven't told anyone in rl how I feel. Am just saying I'm a bit run down, which isn't exactly a lie anyway!

Oh, kids are 4 and 8. Good kids but 4yr old is hard going to put it lightly.

Hi nethuns sorry to hear you're having such a tough time - like others have said, we often (I did) conk out after the worst of the stressful situation has passed. My dcs are 5 and 9 so I sympathise.. it's hard work.

shimmery please do stick around, its great to hear from you and hear your wise words.

Well early night helped. Head not so bad this morning and definitely got a lot of sleep! Had to take ds to doc so only just sat down and have counselling shortly. Challenge will be to get up and do something before counselling! Realised how extensive my anxiety is - was stressed about the prospect of even booking an appointment for ds, then taking him, then taking him back to school.... no wonder I am now tired again. Hey ho.

Good luck with the counselling, CIQ welcome nethuns

Thanks for the welcomes.

Feeling really bad and a bit painicky this afternoon. The oldest one has a cold coming on and stupidly this has made me feel even more anxious. Seems ridiculous!! I am scared of getting a flipping cold ffs! Feel like that would be enough to finish me. Sorry, this maes no sense. On my own till about 3 then kids home. DH away on work this week so have to keep it together.

Not ridiculous - I find it much more stressful when one of dcs is ill - not least cos its so much more demanding of you. Be kind to yourself.
Hi snowy. Counselling was Ok thanks - more cheerful than the last few weeks which was nice! How's things with you.

Feeling slightly indulgent - have treated myself to 2 hrs of a cleaner - just arrived. First time this year so don't feel too bad tho

Dh out til 10 so long day for me too....

take care all x

Do take care of yourself huns, as NanaNina says it is often the case that we keep going while we must and then conk. And you are already conked.

This thread started way way back as support for people who often needed a nap, but either felt guilty, or felt that they were going against advice from mh professionals not to go back to bed. Remember, the duvet can be your friend - set an alarm though.

I'm up and down, CIQ. Saw my CPN recently and she was talking about trying some therapeutic stuff, but I need to be better before starting it apparently (I thought I was better).

Have some dvd quiet times, Nethuns? Don't pressure yourself.

Shimmering I love your Remember the duvet can be your friend - set and alarm though . Make a good slogan!

snowy did your CPN say any more about therapeutic what? Do you feel they've got your meds right now? Hopefully good to know they have got some plans in place though.

nethuns hope all is quiet (or nearly) at yours.

My dc are now in bed - hurrah. I just need to sew ds trousers and then I'm done. Managed to loose my phone today, but have just traced it back to the counselling people so that's a relief!

I think the meds are ok, I don't really want to increase them if I can avoid it. She was talking about cognitive analytic therapy, I need to read up on what it is.

I'm glad your phone isn't lost, CIQ, enjoy your evening after the sewing!
Talking of which, is anyone watching great british sewing bee?

Oh I've heard of that - sounded v interesting.
Did have the sewing bee on but have switched to Silk on the old iplayer...

Hi, mind if I join in? I've never posted on these boards before, but think I am starting to have some issues with anxiety and was hoping I might be able to find some help here as a first step.

Had some depression a number of years ago, after my mum died, but no real history of problems and have been fine since. Recently I've started to get real anxiety about big world stuff - natural disasters, war, we're all going to die, that kind of thing. I get a bit obsessed with it in my head and it always ends up the worst case scenario.

I'm on my own with two kids and generally I love it, but I guess not chatting to anyone about stuff at the end of the day makes it a bit tougher. Weirdly though I don't really worry about the smaller stuff - whether I can earn enough money to look after us, my kids health etc.. I think I may have a little health anxiety related to myself (and fear of what would happen to my kids, as they only have me), but it's not too bad and actually a couple of the things I might genuinely need to see the doc about.

Anyway, I don't totally know why I am posting, I guess it's helpful to write it down and I'm keen to find some ways to manage it / stop it escalating.

Thanks for listening and I hope no one is struggling too much today!

Welcome CynthiaRose

the thread disappeared off my "im on" list - panic!!!!

Caught up a bit now tsp im glad you are felling well. Ive had a good week. Been busy I think that is key for me. To keep busy.

Welcome nethuns and crystal.

Cynthia I often find myself fretting about things like that. I think its because we have no control over them and that is scary. I have to tell myself that I can't change those things and therefore is a waste of energy to worry about them. I dont watch the news. Can you maybe do some exercise? That often helps me.

Snowy and nana - I am using my fitness pal too. So is dp. I have lost about half a stone in two weeks. Am trying to eat less carb rich rood. Just generally eating three meals a day and avoiding snacking. That and giving up alcohol. I like mfp as it tracks everything for you. I do feel much better physically although I am hungry. I am on 1400 cals a day and it tells me off if I go below 1200. If you go too low it slows your metabolism.

Am struggling a bit with feeling I should be achieving more but also content helping my dp. I want to be a scientist again but realising this will never happen makes me so so sad. I do love working with dp. We are a great team.

Hello all, hoping I can join you. Been struggling for a long time recently but have spent most of the day on the verge of tears and something really has to change.

I've been feeling low for months now. Moved this time last year for a new job in a new area and I have been almost relentlessly homesick. My new job hasn't turned out to be the great challenge I was led to believe it would be, and on top of that I am really struggling financially as I was told at interview stage that tied accommodation would be available (albeit on a waiting list) and this has since turned out to not be the case. My accommodation is the cheapest I can find but it is also very isolated. I can't afford to go out and see friends, can't afford to join the gym.

I had a bit of a breakdown in my final year of uni due to family stress (father sectioned after breakdown) and uni exams causing me massive anxiety. This time I feel different - there is no anxiety, or at least I don't think there is, just this constant feeling of having no way out.

I should stress that I am not having any suicidal thoughts, thank goodness. I am reluctant to ask the GP for antidepressants because I think I need to change my circumstances rather than try to make myself feel happier with pills. I got put on Seroxat last time but that was for anxiety and I wouldn't touch the stuff with a bargepole this time.

I am also reluctant to tell close family (I live alone and have no children) because my dad and brother also suffer from depression and they have myriad other things to worry about right now. I'm just so fed up with trying to make out that everything is OK when it really, really isn't.

It sounds like you have a lot to sort out kernow - I understand why you might be put off medication after taking seroxat. There are other meds that don't have so many side effects, so maybe talk to your GP, but you don't need to have ADs. The GP can refer you for counselling which i think you would really benefit from as you may well have a lot in your head after the family issues, work etc.

Of course, you are welcome to come on this thread and offload too :)

Thanks for the welcome.

LEM you are totally right and I must try and condition myself to think like that as naturally as I can! I know it logically...I don't watch the news either and have stopped going on Twitter, but I find myself catching things on the front of a newspaper or when i log in to my email. Exercise is tricky as I currently spend 24/7 with my kids, so no time to myself, unless I do something in the evenings at home.

That's great lem. In awe of you managing to avoid snacks. By 9 this morning I'd already had a bowl of crisps and opened a box of chocolate biscuits. I've eaten the Easter presents already (and yes, that includes ones friends sent to the DC).
Hope you're doing ok snowy and dd and everyone else.

I've NC, been lurking a bit and am more than ever convinced that I shouldn't be posting here. You all seem so with it and energetic and, I don't know, focused, that I can't keep up. DH is angry with me because the flat is a mess. It is, I've not found time to clean properly. Any attempts are sabotaged by the DC who are both ill - too ill to go to groups, not ill enough to be calm or quiet, just pure whirlwinds of destruction. I can't cope with them. DH has said if we move I get no say in how things will be arranged unless I start contributing to the family. I think honestly I am just excess annoyance. The best thing will be if they move somewhere new and settle into a new life together. It's not fair on them to be with someone who can't care for where they live and shouts at them.

Oh and I am glad you are having a good week, LEM, you are definitely right about keeping busy.

kernowgirl - sorry you're having a bad time at the moment, sounds like you have been dealing with so much. Is there any opportunity to change job again? No shame in moving if it's not what you were promised?