This is a pointless life

[inuet]

No enjoyment, no socialising, FB groups full of Coronaqueens telling people to "stay safe" and "it's ok to.find it hard, it is hard".
British government and the Daily Mail brigade utterly useless and now celebrating end of freedom of movement. Months more of not being able to do anything just getting more and more pissed off. My local community has turned into a vipers nest of curtain twitchers and sanctimonious busybodies. The longer this goes on the more life lost and the more pointless it seems carrying on when life is just an endless load of crap.

@Rockybooboo

Initially you did not give me that example. You said you lashed out when others belittled you. I am really sorry your baby died, that is truly horrific. There are no words to describe how painful that would be. I think when someone’s baby dies, people don’t know what to say as it is one of the most horrific things that can happen to a person. You felt invalidated, but I don’t think people were trying to belittle you. At least I hope they were not.

@southeastdweller

Quite frightening if you’re a professional and you don’t think exercise helps?

Also, depending on your MH profession, you could be coming from a social/biomedical/psychological perspective? Whatever perspective you’re coming from you sound quite narrow minded. Perhaps you should take a more integrated approach to treating MH disorders.

@Singlenotsingle

Clearly not locked down with a toddler.
It’s fucking shit.

[quote BaileyBoos]@southeastdweller

Quite frightening if you’re a professional and you don’t think exercise helps?

Also, depending on your MH profession, you could be coming from a social/biomedical/psychological perspective? Whatever perspective you’re coming from you sound quite narrow minded. Perhaps you should take a more integrated approach to treating MH disorders.[/quote]
No, I disagreed with the remark that going out for a walk is 'pretty standard advice from professionals dealing with health/wellbeing'. Because it isn't.

OP. It is shit and I’m sorry you’re having a shit time.

OK so the NHS page is wrong than @southeastdweller along with the course facilitator, dds psychologist, the people who set up the Walking Group and @BaileyBoos Uncles Mental Health professional or maybe there is no right or wrong answer. The people I have dealt with have one opinion and you have another. Are noth these opinions not valid ?

Both

@Rockybooboo

And yes Eckhart telling another adult how to express themselves more maturely is really patronising and that has been the tone of your responses to the OP. It's not blatantly rude just very. very condescending.

I didn't tell anybody how to do anything. I suggested that lashing out is an immature way of dealing with emotions, and that's true. I suggested that it might be a good idea to look into other ways of dealing with emotions, which is a good idea.

I don't mind if you're reading a condescending tone into my words. That's your choice.

@southeastdweller

But it is? Exercise is standard advice for quite a lot of mental health problems ranging from mild to severe? I have family members who are mental health professionals and they would agree with me. It sounds like you need to expand your practice.

You initially said it wasn’t standard advice for Heath and well-being? You are wrong.

Exercise (in moderation) helps everything from depression to psychotic disorders? Does it not?

Okay it’s not the be all and end all but it can be helpful when combined with medication/counselling etc. To suggest otherwise is ludicrous.

Note the you may be referred to a group exercise class like my walking group maybe.

20 years in mental health and for most people that are pysically able, excecise is part of the holistic approach to mental wellness. That's why there are gyms and exercise courtyards in mental health hospitals and social prescriptions for the very same thing.

I was referring to the 'going out for a walk' comment.

@Ferrylights

20 years in mental health and for most people that are pysically able, excecise is part of the holistic approach to mental wellness. That's why there are gyms and exercise courtyards in mental health hospitals and social prescriptions for the very same thing.

What area of MH do you work in? I'm in psychotherapy.

And is that not exercise ?

I'm not here to play qualification Top Trumps with you but if you truly believe that walking or exercise is not part of the gold standard treatment for a plethora of mental health conditions, i'm concerned.

Going out for a walk is exercise for some people, if they are otherwise quite sedentary. And it can be a useful ‘way in’ to exercise for someone who hates the thought of keeping fit or doubts their ability. I have been on and off SSRIs over the past 12 years. They’ve been hugely beneficial in managing my depression and anxiety, but exercise is the biggest ‘tool’ in my MH toolkit.

I’ve suffered anxiety and depression all my life. Quite severe, and often refractory.

Exercise makes no difference,

Welcome to the life of someone who has become isolated due to illness/disability/lack of support/misfortune/poverty.

This is normal every day life for thousands - usually those who are looked down upon on MN

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow have you walked then? The gym is not for me, but fresh air is so lovely. I just walk my dog and enjoy the peace, or sometimes I have to sing or chat to my pushchair dweller if they are awake. I've seen more new people walking listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks. But maybe there is some other form of exercise you might like- dance ? Music is also proven to be uplifting.

I've suffered from depression and anxiety for most of my life and all of my adult life. I've done a lot of exercise in my life, of many time types and for different lengths of time. It made absolutely no difference to my mental health. None whatsoever.

It’s a shame it hasn’t helped you @ArseInTheCoOpWindow. I believe there is scientific evidence that it can be really beneficial to many people with MH conditions, but it goes without saying it won’t help everyone. Still, there are other aspects of self care that can be really helpful. Good diet, meditation, good sleep habits etc. Sometimes all that stuff can feel like a huge effort and a big ask when we are already very low, I know that from experience. But the benefits can be surprising.

@LaLaLandIsNoFun

Welcome to the life of someone who has become isolated due to illness/disability/lack of support/misfortune/poverty.

This is normal every day life for thousands - usually those who are looked down upon on MN

This is something I have thought for a while. So many privileged(I hate that term but can't think of a better one) people talking about how life isn't worth living if they can't eat out, can't go to the theatre, can't go on weekends away or holidays. Deriding people whose lives haven't changed, I've even seen people saying they pity people whose lives haven't changed. Never stopping to think that poorer people for instance have no choice, eating out, going to the theatre is beyond their means and holidays are only something they can dream about.

There is something really distasteful about a lot of those posts. Like they are special because they have the financial means to go out a lot and the plebs couldn't possibly understand how dreadful their lives are now devoid of these pleasures. Faux concern about poor people and their mental health when all the poor people I know have had far tougher things to contend with than this pandemic and their resilience and ability to cope is far better than a lot of the posters I see here complaining that they haven't been 'travelling' for the past 12 months.

For me personally, sometimes lifestyle stuff makes a difference and sometimes not. SSRIs underpin it all. But exercise has been a revelation for me- I feel lucky for that.

I’ve now got a dog. I’m not a naturally outdoorsy person but obviously the dog walking obligation has forced me to get outside. We go up a muddy hill for a couple of hours a day and it does me good. Some days, taking the dog out is the only thing I manage all day. Often I don’t want to go but I have to, and then it usually turns out to be helpful because I just focus on that one thing for two hours. Not everyone wants a dog though of course or has the time to walk one. Again, I feel lucky for that opportunity.

My going out for a walk is definitely exercise. Midt days I average about 10KM per walk but sometimesmuch more . It definitely helps me but appreciate it isn't for everyone. Also it isn't a cure as such. My problems won't go away by walking but it helps me cope and therefore it is a valid suggestion.

EcKhart. How do you think I should have renacted in the example I gave.