Anyone needing support for anxiety/depression come over here! (Please)

[LEMtheoriginal]

I'm struggling so much just now and could use the support of fellow sufferers.

Right now I'm just putting one foot in front of the other - getting though the day.

studiously ignoring the piece of paper with the number of my old counsellor

Currently unmedicated and trying not to go back but not sure how long that will last.

I would like this thread to be a safe place to come and help each other through the days (and nights). I know there are other threads but feel they are well established and just would like to hear about how people got into their issues and what they do to help themselves.

I am taking my dd2 for a cream tea after school today. It's my say off work. Always a struggle but I'm getting through it.

Anyone? All welcome from those of us feeling a bit sad to those of us battling serious my issues. No judgements allowed just whatever helps xx

[SmileAndNod]

Would there be any possibility of spending any time over Christmas with your daughter LEM?

I usually love Christmas but sometimes it's just so hard. And we're all made to feel like everything should be perfect.

I wish us all some peace this December

[ilovechocolates]

Sorry to interrupt but can I join too? Have depression for years that comes n goes. Currently feeling better so I’m not having any treatment. Am on a TCA for chronic headaches/ migraines tho, but at the nerve pain dosage not the anti-depressant dosage.

[Arrietty123]

Hi, could I join too? I'm an anxiety sufferer and tend to feel quite isolated from others at times. Would be great to be part of a supportive group.

[LEMtheoriginal]

Smile - she says she is coming for Xmas dinner. I'm just hoping it doesn't turn into a drama.

Welcoming new folk to the thread. Anxiety is a bastard. It makes everything worse

[anna231a]

Hi, can I join the group? I've had depression and anxiety for a long time. Took citalopram for 3 years, decided to stop taking it and went down hill rapidly. Two months ago started taking it again but found myself in a horrible downward spiral which culminated in me planning a suicide attempt. Wonderful GP referred me to Home Treatment team at CMH where I see a psychiatrist and go daily to see CPN.

I still feel awful - now taking Venlafaxine and diazepam. Feel like DH doesn't understand at all and tries to carry on as though nothing is happening. I'm sure family are part of the reason why I feel like this so can't talk to them about it and try and hide it from them. I sleep for hours and hours, contrary to advice of CPN who says I should find distracting activities, am too anxious to leave the house, am too anxious to contact my tutors at university so am worried about being thrown of uni course and I go through periods of loathing myself so much that I self-harm.

Really would like a a safe space where I can be with others who understand what this feels like. Thanks.

[LEMtheoriginal]

I hope you will feel safe on this thread Anna x

[Alabasterangel6]

Can I pop in and out too please? I’m a bit of a mess at the moment. I’m fairly sure it’s undiagnosed anxiety. I’ve no idea what to do but am desperate to locate the ‘off’ switch. My family consider me to be a laid back person, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Work is my big trigger and I’m getting to the point that I know I am completely irrational. The basic gist is that I work in a volatile industry in terms of stability but I feel very trapped. It’s a niche job and I won’t get anything else that pays anywhere near what I earn (which we are wholly dependent on) and allows Home working and reduced hours, etc. So when another endless round of potential job losses comes I pretty much go into a full meltdown. And then that seems to trigger general anxiety - the catastrophising and ‘worst cases’ go to a ridiculous level. The potential job loss is a reality, yes, but I’m constantly putting the cart before the horse. The endless theoretical conversations in my head, the coping strategies, everything. I wind myself up to the point that we are living in a tent and foraging for food. It’s ridiculous, but I can’t switch off. I dream about it. When I’m talking to friends and they’re changing the subject, I just drift back to it. It’s like my brain has got stuck in a groove, and that the default setting is ‘worry’.

Even when I try not to think about ‘that’ worry my brain just hunts about for another worry, half of which are just plain ridiculous. I worry about my car MOT which is 10 months away. What if I’m unemployed? What if my car breaks down? What if I can’t afford birthday presents for DS’s bday next June? I KNOW I’m being irrational but nothing can get me out of the groove. I’d honestly guess that today, which is a day off work, I’ve spent 80% of the day stressing and whittling about it.

Ironically the REAL things I could stress about (my Mums health, elderly grandparents decline, etc) don’t seem to kick it off. It’s all centred about work and redundancy. I think with the health issues I just know there is nothing I can do, but with the work thing I feel a different kind of ‘out of control’ and I can’t cope with it.

My friends are sick of me talking of nothing else. I could really just do with somewhere to let it all out.

Any ideas or guidance for coping mechanisms would be much appreciated.

[Wellshit]

Hope you don't mind me jumping in too.
Finally ringing the doctors today for help. After having a panic attack at work making me feel like I'm drowning and coming home I have to now. Not just for me but for my son too. I can't live like this. I'm constantly teary and every little thing sets me off and the anger is unbelievable. Anger at myself for letting it get this bad mainly. I'm constantly snapping at my ds and then I feel this massive wave of guilt for being that way. Then the nearly permanent state of being sad. It's horrific. Coupled with stress of Christmas, doing up our house and general everyday life it's tearing me apart. Just very scared of the gp not listening to me again and being given a leaflet on how to deal with stress. Its put me off going back about it. Just need support from people that have dealt with this, I don't know how my dp has put up with it for so long. It's even worse when I have a good day, I end up doubting myself and thinking I'm fine, don't need any help, then when the sadness and anger comes back I get very wound up about it. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

[maxthemartian]

Hi everyone, can I join in too please?
I'm sorry that everyone else is struggling, it's shit and no-one should have to feel this way.

I was a somewhat anxious but fundamentally happy person until two months ago when I had an horrific adverse reaction to a medication which has left me with the most crippling, hideous anxiety and depression, as well as a plethora of distressing physical changes.

Despite asking and pleading for help from my gp surgery and local mental health teams I've been left to cope with this on my own.
I do have a prescription for Mirtazipine (as I know from prior experience that I don't really cope with SSRIs in the start-up phase) which I am trying to avoid taking as I keep hoping I'll turn a corner.

I'm in total mourning for my old life and terrified of my current one. It's a struggle getting through each day.
I'm alone a lot. I'd like to feel less alone so thought I'd post here.

[maxthemartian]

Wellshit the good days are the cruelest in a way. It's so distressing when you think you're feeling more like you and then it all goes backwards again.

[Wellshit]

Well I've had an appointment. Completely broke down but at least my gp has listened. Now on sertraline and on a waiting list for counselling. Go back to gp in 4 weeks to see if medication is working. Waiting to be seen was horrible though, shaking, sweating sickly feeling mess. But I've done it. No going back now. It's nice to have other people who are dealing with it, not because people have the same, but because you understand.

[Alabasterangel6]

Just waving to everyone today. I’m sat pondering; why is this so prevelent these days? Is it a symptom of modern life, or did we just not acknowledge it? My Granny says in her day you’d have been described as ‘living on your nerves’.... in any case, I wish it would just bugger off!!

[anna231a]

Alabasterangel6, I can remember whispered conversations in the 1960s between my mum and aunties about various people they knew who had "gone away for a rest for their nerves". I assume these were women who had bad depression and anxiety and were hospitalised for a short while. I think years ago many people did have mental health problems but there were no ADs etc so they just suffered. I recently read "Nella Last's War" (Housewife 49 with Victoria Wood was based on the book). She seemed to suffer from depression but all she had to help her was aspirin.

Wellshit - it's good to hear that you will be getting some treatment. I hope it helps.

[PolkaDottyRose]

Really struggling today. Just feel so much that everything I do/say is wrong, and that no one likes me. I know it's a lie, but it just feels very real.

[anna231a]

Hi PolkaDottyRose. I hope you're starting to feel better this evening. Is it your job that triggers these thoughts and feelings?

I'm just about to phone my mother so am having a major anxiety attack. Will be taking some diazepam first.

[PolkaDottyRose]

Thanks Anna. No, it's just interacting with other people. Some days I can handle it, other days it just sends me into a spiral. One of those days today. Thanks for the kindness

[Chloe25]

Hey everyone(LONG POST AHEAD SORRY) just looking for support with my anxiety at the min and hopefully some of you lady's can make me feel better or even worry about the same things!
So I have 2 beautiful boys Reuben and Amari 2 years & 6 months (ino some say ime crazy haha )

Anyway I've always sufferd with anxiety but it was mild until I had my first little boy then I was just constantly worrying if I was doing it right was he gonna be okay I was always checking his temperature at night to make sure he wouldn't get to hot and die then I started to have intrusive thoughts and revived some CBT witch worked great I then got pregnant with my second everything was fine until I was like 28 weeks and I watched a video on Facebook of a guy that had schizophrenia and ever since then I've convinced myself ime gonna end up with it constantly worrying that ime gonna get and if I do I'll have my kids taken of me then what will I do their my life I couldn't live without them 😔 after being told many times that ime not gonna get it and also knowing myself that ime not I still constantly worry and panic and get myself in a right mess with it it's really getting to me now I feel like just crying all the time I don't feel like my usual self because all I do is worry and I make it feel so real in my own head that I convince myself it's gonna happen currently waiting for my referral back to CBT and don't take medication but ime considering it because this anxiety is getting in the way so bad!
I was just woundering if anyone els worries about the same kinda things and what you do when your worrying?
I just wanna feel head strong and know that ime not gonna end up with schizophrenia witch I know ime not but I still worry about it
Thanks for listening hope someone can shed some light
Xxxx

[anna231a]

I’ve got the most horrible anxiety today. Taken my meds and they haven’t made any difference. My heart is beating so fast, I feel like I’m going to faint and I’ve the overwhelming feeling that I want to climb inside my wardrobe and close the door so no one can find me. It’s been going on for hours. I never used to be like this - I want it to go away.

[alicewilkinson]

Love this thread! Has anyone had any success with online apps? Are there any suggestions?