Could we have a general mental illness support thread?

[MeadowHay]

Years ago when I used to frequent The Student Room, they had a really long mental health support thread where people used to go to share their ups and downs and just chat/distract themselves or whatever else. I would have thought a site this big would have something like that but it doesn't. So I was wondering if anybody wanted to make one?? I'm not good at starting threads though, I don't tend to get many responses when I do...

I am having a relapse of my depression it seems and I have had some pretty bad days over the last week or so in particular but I am still here, plodding along, trying my best. It is lonely when DH is at work all day and I feel trapped in my flat, unable to go outside due to my anxiety but I am trying to focus on the positives and also be somewhat productive...I just feel sleepy allllll the time but I have to force myself to stay awake because DH has to go bed early for his job so he can get up early I already am sleeping about 12hrs at night and then staying in all day doing not much so if I sleep during the day as well there is no way I will be able to go to bed at the same time as him and I much prefer to go to bed with him so we can have a cuddle and so I don't feel so lonely.

How is everyone else?

Hi, I'm another new one! I have anxiety and depression, though I'm never sure when one ends and the other one starts with me!

I've started a new job recently, it's high pressure and there's a lot to do, but because of my anxiety I spend so much of the time feeling frozen with fear and am unable to get on with anything. Which then means my to do list gets bigger and I feel more and more overwhelmed. And then I get depression that I can't even do the simple things that I know I can do. It all feels so hopeless and I'm so unhappy. And then I get chased for things and I feel even more panicked. I don't want to lose my job over this, I worked so hard to get it.

Purple could you link me to the FB group too please?

Joanna Good luck with your appointment, I hope it helps you. Hang in there.

I feel all kinds of nauseous today. I think it is my new acne medication, dianette. Blergh. I'm all dizzy as well when I move about too much, have dodgey tummy, and nausea, it's gross.

Hello all...

I was feeling okay yesterday but today am back in the depths again (bipolar). I was supposed to be working but called in sick, which now makes 8 days off.

I'm self employed so do not get paid for time off and I'm the breadwinner so will have to MAKE myself tomorrow as otherwise we will financially struggle to pay bills next month.

Unfortunately it is work anxiety that is triggering me at the moment - have been to the GP and been prescribed Propanalol. I'm a bit cynical as I tried it a few years ago and it didn't help, it's a much higher dose this time though so will give it a go.

Anyone have any experience with it?

Also handed in my notice last Weds while off sick so I can try to find another contract that i enjoy or at least don't hate as much!

Monkey,

What do you do to earn a daily allowance of beer tokens?

stumblymonkey I use Propanalol at the moment. It doesn't make the anxiety go away completely for me but it does calm the panic down a bit and stop the panic temporarily. It seems to work best when I take it during the day at intervals, but it depends what your doctor's advice has been. What dosage do you have now?

monkey I tried propranolol years ago but it didn't work for me because the lower doses didn't work and I couldn't increase it because then my blood pressure dropped as I have slightly low blood pressure normally anyway. But I have a relative who has been using it on and off all her adult life for her anxiety and finds it super useful, and DH used it for a month or too when he was going through a particularly stressful time of life events that were making him very anxious and he found it very helpful too, so fingers crossed it will be helpful for you.

Itsnoteasy...I'm a project manager (though prefer wine and chocolate orange tokens personally).

I've been given 40mg three times a day. I do seem to feel much better but unfortunately did not sleep at all last night due to tearing a ligament in my knee yesterday so I don't feel up to going in today.

We shall be v. poor next month!

Well, gym did not happen. Bed was far too warm and comfy and as I didn't have to go out, I enjoyed staying in it until quite late (fortunately I live at home and have no DC so can do this )

Went to Slimming World yesterday, before placement, and lost 2 pounds, so that's good. I've applied for some jobs, and am going to start making my healthy tea later - Diet Coke chicken, amazingly tasty :)

I am missing my usual Slimming World friends at the moment, I've had to start going to an earlier session due to placement, and the friends I've bumped into keep saying how they're missing me in the later group (11.30 as opposed to 9.30 that I'm now attending) and asking when I'll be back. It's nice to be missed, I suppose.

stumblymonkey ouch, hope the knee improves as quickly as possible, and the meds help.

Hope everyone is ok!

stumbly a torn ligament, ouch! That sounds super painful .

Lollipop It's a shame you can't go to your usual SW class. Maybe you could arrange to meet your friends somewhere and go for a coffee or something? Well done on the weight loss.

I have just got home from an exam! It was harder than I expected (arrogant lol) but hopefully I still did ok.

Oh my evening just got brilliant :) I ice skate as a hobby, and over Christmas was in my rink's ice show. Fabulous experience, made lots of friends and it gave me something to look forward to each week.

The rink is doing another show in April I'm getting involved again as it was great before :)

I'm pulling up a chair and joining here if nobody minds.

Really struggling with panic attacks at the moment; I left my job a few months ago knowing that I was so stressed, if I stayed I would end up really ill. That happened anyway.

Finally gave in and saw my doctor a fortnight ago after a very frightening episode (I can't bring myself to say what it was, I am very ashamed of my thoughts... and I know that is wrong) and he was amazing. He's given me 2mg diazepam tablets which I'm using on average 3 times a week for panic attacks. They have been kicking in pretty quickly but tonight they just weren't and it took a good couple of hours for me to calm down. Got to go back next week for a review so I'm hoping to get something that'll keep me more on an even keel.

Anyway, today was a bad day, tomorrow will be a better day. I might even do something productive!

Hi all I'm relatively new and suffering with anxiety at the moment after a car accident and my husband of not even a year using dating sites. Had a bad evening and can't sleep (hence being online!) No meds as don't want them unless really necessary and still at work as it helps to distract me. I just want to feel better but know until I sort out my marriage I probably won't. I'm starting to do more for me but feel so lost with it all

Hello to all newbies!

Not posted here in a few days. I think I've mostly been ok I think. Life in general has been going pretty smoothly recently which obviously helps. I'm feeling more motivated to get things around the house done although I'm still not quite on top of things but then again with 2 young dc not many people would be I guess. I'm also finding dc much less stressful. We are making plans for our birthdays in a couple of months time (it's a big-ish one for dp) and an old friend of mine and dp's recently got back in touch so that has been nice too. I've also lost a few pounds due to the sertraline reducing my appetite a lot so in a way that's a positive as I desperately want to lose weight. Got an appointment with the GP on Friday to see how I'm getting on, bit nervous about that but It will probably be fine.

Welcome to new people .

Wow lolli you're an ice skater? That is so awesome!! I wish I had the required coordination to do something cool like that but it's kinda impossible with my Asperger's, sigh, I can't balance normally never mind on ice !

Went back to work today for the first time after the Xmas break. Worked 6 hours which is a much longer shift than usual during term-time, my manager basically said he wants me in all day tomorrow and Friday too because he doesn't have to stick to the max work hours as teaching doesn't start again til next week. But he doesn't seem to realise that even though my classes haven't started I still have prep work for them to do before the classes. But I was too anxious to say anything/say no. To be honest the work he sets me I always speed through faster than he expects so I might actually finish it all by the end of tomorrow anyway. Got a counselling appointment tomorrow for my 'break' from work. :|

Well my earlier post about probably not staying stable long was right.

Turns out I'm pregnant, just been offered a job (first time I've been ok for work in years. To top it off my due date is the same as my late sons.

I'm fairly calm but I'm pretty sure I might be in shock been ttc for two years (DH has no children)

Unborn Congratulations! You've been ttc for two years and you've finally got your BFP! Try to enjoy it hey, think about how long you've wanted this for and all the joy baby will bring you.

My goodness Unborn... many, many congratulations!

How are you feeling?

Hi everyone, I'm new.
I've been diagnosed with anxiety after horrible break up. I'm on 10mg of citalopram but don't feel like they're doing much this time. Need to see doctor to get for tabs as only have 8 left.
I think I have ptsd rather than anxiety but don't know if I should tell doctor this or not. Feel like a bit of a fraud. Although I know I feel traumatised.
Sorry if that's a bit of a ramble

Surprisingly not sick

Just terrified something will go wrong, haven't told anyone in real life except DH's mother and sister who are over the moon as it will be their first grandchild/niece.

Congrats Unborn :)

FGS I'm feeling sad, weepy and low AGAIN! I have no reason, life is good right now but my goodness I just want to cry tonight. Am off to bed, hoping a sleep will set me right, and it's not another low mood episode kicking off.

Feeling very anxious tonight. I've been feeling quite anxious the past couple of evenings anyway. But there's been a bit of family drama and it's set me on edge. I'm not directly involved but just knowing about it is too much as I hate conflict between people I love. It's times like this where I wish I could go back to being a child again, where I could be blissfully unaware and uninvolved of any adult disagreements.

Doctors appointment tomorrow. Definitely felt I've improved since starting sertraline. I asked dp how he thought I'd been getting on and he said I've definitely been more upbeat and less stressy, it's good to know he's noticed an improvement too.

Crowreed anxiety is horrible. I've mentioned before on here but I have bi-polar and I've suffered PTSD in the past.

I think anxiety is worse then the two put together personally.

A lot of people get on well with counselling/therapy but I've always just gone with the drugs.

I know you said you were sensitive but they can offer a beta blocker (usually proproponol) which doesn't come with the AD side effects. All it does it stop the physical symptoms like racing heart and shaking.

I sympathise anxiety is horrible

Delete if the sertraline is helping and you don't want to change sometimes you can run another AD alongside it.

One for the depression and one for the anxiety. I'm not sure how common it is but I've been on two together in the past.

I think the guidelines is normally just to increase the dose your already on.

Sorry your suffering hopefully the GP can help you out.

Thanks Unborn.

It's like it has a mind of its own.
I know I can't go on like this but I'm also scared of seeking help. Which is effing crazy in itself, I know!