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?

Right, back on the thread after a bit of time away. Feeling better, which is good. Still job hunting which is just soul destroying but job centre placement is still going on and going OK.

Name is down for the April ice show - yes, I skate, weird how I manage that with coordination issues but hey, not complaining as I love it! I asked about doing a duet or solo as well as the group numbers, and my lovely coach said that maybe the better option was a solo part within a group number. I agree, in hindsight, as I'll still have other people around me so won't feel so exposed!

First rehearsal is on Saturday :)

Was going to go out today, but it's cold, miserable and I'm too toasty warm to even contemplate leaving the house.

Thank you meadow DH due back in about 10 mins. It's been a long four days!!

I need to keep vague here but hopefully you'll get the gist.

I'm training for a new job it's going out into people's homes but not specifically MH based iyswim.

Today we've been told when MH issues are prevalent to push healthy living i.e. Excercise and healthy food. Apparently medication is over prescribed and we have been told to push taking up a healthy lifestyle instead.

This is batshit right?

Fair enough for anxiety and depression sometimes.

I'm not going to advise a paranoid Schizophrenic to come of his medication and take up gymnastics.

My DH has schizophrenia when he comes off his pills he gets bloody sectioned within a week.

Surely anything that involves mania or psychosis needs medicating?

You lot are clever am I missing something blindingly obvious here?

Nope unborn completely agree with you. Sick of mental illness not being treated as a tangible thing. They wouldn't expect someone with a chronic physical problem to use exercise/diet instead of medication.........
I agree it does help; exercise helps my mental health enormously but I need medication to give me the motivation to exercise!

Echo your words Hope, had a GP for years whose repetitive advice was 'go for a brisk walk' when all I could think about was how to bring my life to an end. Like you I am sick of how lightly mental illness can be viewed, especially dangerous when it's how health professionals see things, as if all we need to do is try a bit harder and the anguish, torture and desperation will magically disappear. My saying is "you don't get it if you don't get it", unfortunately it's still the case that only other sufferers truly understand how debilitating mental illness can be

I think exercise and healthy diet are beneficial for absolutely everybody they are basic components of a healthier ,happier life. But there are many people who absolutely need medication regardless of those things, and obviously many people who are so unwell that they struggle to exercise/manage their diet even with medication but they would be more ill without it. So whilst it can be positive to encourage people to think about their diet and exercise it's obviously not going to be the current biggest concern for people who are severely acutely unwell! And for many people will go hand-in-hand with medication anyway.

I have done so well these last two days! Yesterday I did 9-4 at uni, and today 11-4.30 combination of work and uni . This is so good for me. I'm so exhausted now though, everything aches and I just want to sleep. But I need to clean out the guinea pigs, and make dinner for DH and I later, and we've got relatives coming to visit tomorrow so really I need to do cleaning/tidying etc but I don't know how I'm going to manage as I'm sooo exhauustteeddd blergh.

Hope you got all your jobs done Meadow. I know that feeling when you've been really productive but then you suddenly crash, exhausted. It's hard to keep going when you've got yet more things to do.
Had a call from the local MH team today. Got an appointment for some therapy next Monday. I'm quite impressed because I was only referred about 10 days ago. Hoping it'll do some good. Also starting back on fluoxetine tonight after weaning off the sertraline so hoping that'll help too. Onwards and upwards.........

Hope I hope that the new meds help and I'm glad you didn't have to wait too long for your therapy to start. I was assessed for counselling at uni but decided not to pursue it as the lady who was going to be my counsellor could only offer me appointments early in the morning and I really struggle with mornings and knew I probably wouldn't make it in for most of them so it's better that another student take the place who will actually be able to attend properly and benefit from it. I've been doing quite well over the last week or so I think, although this morning I couldn't get out of bed so missed two lectures :/ . But I try not to be too hard on myself and just keep swimming!

Hope everyone is ok, you've all gone quiet!

Hi. Please may I join you? I have been battling with anxiety on and off for a few years now. I have never fully addressed it, as I have kind of learnt to live with it, and I do try and do all the 'right' things such as eating healthily and exercising, which does help.
However, I've just had a particularly bad week. It culminated in an incident at the weekend while we were driving in the car. We were on a fairly long journey, and DH was driving. About half way, he asked if we could swap over as he was feeling tired. I said this was fine, and we pulled into a lay-by to change over. As I was walking around the car to get into the driver's side, I got completely freaked out by all the cars whizzing past us, and suddenly felt a complete panic that I was going to run out into the traffic. I obviously didn't want to do that, but I had a weird feeling that some other urge was going to take over and make me do it. I quickly ran back to the passenger side and started crying and shaking. I felt so scared by what had happened.
I've been feeling off ever since then, and I think I need to get some help. Has anyone else ever encountered these kind of thoughts? I probably need to go and see my GP, but does anyone have any advice on what I should say or ask for? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi, welcome. Sorry to hear you're having a tough time . Deffo go and speak to your GP, they can help you! Yes I have had thoughts like that before actually but not super often. Just tell the GP what happened and how you've been feeling anxious, and maybe what happens when you feel anxious e.g. do you worry about stuff? are there specific triggers? do you get physical symptoms e.g. shaking, fast heartbeat? If you think you might struggle to get it all accross to the GP, you could write it down first so then if you struggle to communicate it you can show them the paper, I have done this before a few times.

Can i join? Been suffering with anxiety for last 9months or so, currently signed off and attempting to return to work.

Hi eitak, anyone can join!

Sorry to hear you've been having such a tough time with your anxiety recently but it's great that you're trying to go back to work. Is your workplace supportive/helpful?

My attendance at uni hasn't been that great so far this week, I'm just soo exhausted and achey all the time and it makes it worse with this horrid grim weather we're having when it's so dark in the mornings. Got another long day tomorrow at uni, long for me anyway 9-4, need to manage that then I'm done for the week although will be in work for a few hours on Friday too but my job is easier than my uni classes!

Hello folks..
I went through the meat grinder about eight years back.. Look up two bottles of whiskey and five tins of sardines...

I know I will never be "normal", (hence my UN), but I have come to terms with myself. I am alway here to offer a hand and listening ear (well a reading eye) because I remember what it felt like.

Saying that I can't alway help because so many MH issues are closely linked to pregnancy and children. I can only offer my apologies for wearning my gonads on the outside... Please forgive me.

Hi all. I need to just get today out of ny head. Ive been.struggling with anxiety and depression on and off for a while now and have been off work for about 6 months.anyway, lots of ups and downs and have been definitely down for the past fort ight. House a tip and.ive not been brushing my hair or showering (been cleaninc my teeth though) and to me this a major symptom of my depression. Well it all came to a.head with husband this morning who just doesnt seem to get that this is part of my illness. We had a huge row and i sobbed my heart out. I find people just dont understand whats up with me. Ive tried to be more open about how i feel but i cant get this across about my hygiene and lack of motivation not being "normal" me.

Hello can I join? I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. I live abroad and am currently confined to a psychiatric hospital and have been since October. I'm really sad and upset and keep being hospitalised with overdoses. These are interpreted as suicide attempts hence my incarceration. I have 5 lovely DC who currently live with my soon to be XDH. I really miss the children and I hate that my incompetent X is raising them. I'm also very lonely. I don't want to be in this country but have to stay here to be near the DC. It's all a real mess. Last week I ended up in intensive care for 2 nights on a respirator. They are saying this time was really close and the staff here are angry with me.
Just looking for some kind words really.

I have decided to have a couple of days off because I feel terrible but now feel so guilty and worried. What if I lose my job? I keep feeling hot and cold and as if I am going to faint. Not just at work it also happened whilst out at weekend. There is pain/pressure in my ear. I feel exhausted and out of things. My doctor insists that it is stress. I don't know what to do.

Help! I've only gone and got a job interview on Monday! These make me anxious anyway but I've now got a lot of "what if" situations in my mind. Main one being what if I get the job, because with being on sanctions I've barely had any money (have sold an old mobile to pay bills) I should get a weeks JSA when I sign on tomorrow. But if I get the job, I'll sign off and it'll be end of march before I get wages. So what do I do then? Because I'll have transport costs as well as my regular bills...

Signing tomorrow with a lovely work coach but I'm seriously anxious - I didn't think the phone call I had today went well so was surprised to be offered a face to face interview.

Some days I hate my brain. On the plus side had a good skating session with a friend today and have another on Saturday to look forward to - I have a small solo in the April ice show :)

Hello

I've just come to this board feeling in need of some support and understanding and just want to mark my place here for now if that's ok.

I was posting on the relationships board before, with another name, but it feels a bit quieter, and less likely to be splashed all over the tabloids, in here.

Will have more of a read and post when I have a bit more time. But nice to see you all and hope everyone is getting through the day ok.

Hope everyone is doing well.

I've been absent in hospital with DD1 who had appendicitis.

Luckily my pregnancy and MH state are both fine.

Hello everyone :) this thread has been a bit quiet, but I'm back with news.

The interview I went for didn't work out, in fact the interviewer made me feel really anxious which wasn't good. But I had another today.

Only went and got the job! Feeling very proud as I was also upfront on the application about my periods of depression - that's a first, admitting it to someone. The job is only on a casual 0 hours contract, but they offer flexibility.

I need that, knowing that if I want it there could be 4 or 5 days work a week, but having the option to reduce my availability if the job isn't for me or I'm going through a bad patch. It's also quite a mundane job, nothing to weigh on my mind after a shift - hurrah!

Hope everyone is ok