General support thread - come on in

[Kielyflower]

I couldn’t see a recent one of these so thought I’d start one.

I just feel I need to do something positive so will hopefully share some more thoughts later that I hope will help - others as well as myself.

In the meantime, feel free to check in as, if nothing else, it helps to feel less alone.

@Ilovedogs1 that is such a good point about hidden pain. I keep trying to remind myself of this.

Managed to make it out for my first walk in a while. Have been our for over an hour and am resting on a bench for a bit listening to music. I am so glad I came I forgot how good it feels. The sunny morning helped me to get out of the house.

Hi all, I am feeling super low at the moment....and to be honest quite desperate. Sleep deprived and overwhelmed. I have downloaded bunch of apps to help myself but don't know where to start? Thinking of signing up for therapy. Does anyone have any favourites they're using that help? How are you all coping?

I like insight timer as its free. Headspace is also good. I also use a lot of YouTube.

@Greenspace81 well done you and thanks for the lovely pic!

@annabanana068 think were following each other today lol. The ladies on here are amazing x

Hey. Struggling a bit today with my intrusive thoughts/doubts. I'm well aware that I am so much better than I was a few months ago and I'm trying to do all the right things but I'm scared of what if it doesn't get any better than this. I don't want to be doubting stuff for ever . It's like I don't trust my own mind/memory. My brain is constantly doubting . Atm I feel like a huge chunk of me is a mental illness. Its exhausting. X

@Ilovedogs1 I hear you. I wonder if we just learn to live with it? I've had the thoughts on and off since childhood, not sure about you?

I'm up and down like a yoyo lately! I'm exhausted today though.

Have you done any walking or gym sessions today? X

@TinySpark There isn’t a right or wrong answer re starting does and side effects. (It doesn’t really matter which med you’re on, they all have side effects that differ from person to person so it’s the same dilemma whichever drug it is)

Ive done both (starting on low dose and biting bullet with higher dose), pros and cons. On balance, I’d say bite the bullet. If increased anxiety is a side effect Id ask for diazepam or similar.

Beautiful pic @Greenspace81 ! That’s so uplifting to see and to hear that you got out

Regarding intrusive thoughts and ups and downs, I’ll admit that I have lowered my expectations of what being better/well looks like. Ie I’m inclined to agree with @Jk24 that to there may well be a certain amount that we learn to live with.

And isn’t that the case with everything? We learn to live with all sorts of thing we don’t like or didn’t choose.

I am trying to live for each day and bring whatever positives I can into each day and each part of the day.

I hope everyone has a relaxing evening and sleeps well

Good morning. How are you feeling today?

Morning everyone. Woke back up and the dread is there. Fell asleep on the couch last night till 2am and then went up to bed. Woke up this morning completely drained, dissociated and panicked. I'm so tired of this 😔

I'm so sorry @hhk1993x

Lack of sleep never helps does it? I didnt sleep too well either but got up and did my laundry and washed my hair. Sometimes when I'm not feeling great I become a doer and other times I completely fall apart.

It's always worse in the mornings thanks to cortisol. Have you got anything that can get you back into your body and calm you?

I'm feeling a bit sad today. My partner and I recently broke up and although we're still friends I dearly miss him.

I actually think i overslept. I just crawled into bed and fell back asleep. I just feel so numb and withdrawn from everything 😔 I have the crisis team coming back out again today but I'm done, I feel like I am such a complete waste of space, time and air. I try so hard but I can't see the end of this.

I got up this morning and helped my hubby get kids ready and off to school and now I'm sitting on my sofa completely dissociated and on the verge of bursting into tears. I don't know why this is happening to me.

I am so sorry your going through a breakup, that must be incredibly difficult for you, I hope you find some small things today that bring you some joy 🩷

Mornings are the worst ladies. 😪 you're wondering of this is how you're going to feel for the rest of the day and the next day etc. Just take it hour by hour. Cry when you need to cry it often helps release.

@JamSandle is being friends with ex good for you do you think? Or is it making you cling on to hope and not move on? X

Thanks for such a lovely message.

Imo people who struggle with their mental health are often some of the kindest, gentlest and most sensitive. You are not a waste of space at all. You are a feeling human being who needs some support and help.

I'm notnsure if these suggestions are trite or helpful but a few things that can help with dissociation are:

A cold shower or drink
Holding ice in your palm or mouth
A hot warming drink
Flicking an elastic band on the wrist

Sometimes numbness protects us when our feelings are too big so don't worry if you feel numb for a while. The numbness will thaw again. Maybe for now it is something you need.

At the moment I want to keep the friendship but thank you for suggesting that. I will keep an eye on it all.

@JamSandle I've found in my experience it can make you 'getting over it' harder. For example if my ex would say oh I'm off out down town tonight, I would be thinking is he coping off etc. Also when a point came that the messages stopped and I realised its because he had met someone else, it was horrible. Its your choice completely but I just don't want things to end up worse for you x

How is everyone tonight? @JamSandle I hope my last post didn't make you feel worse x

I am actually doing OK tonight, currently lying in a nice hot bath. Got my ironing put away, got the dinner made, done the girls brigade drop off! Slow and steady and I'm going to have myself an early night. I'm just anxious about wakening up tomorrow, got some big decisions to make about uni also, need to decide against deferring or going out on an 11 week placement when I'm not 100% better yet. How are you tonight? ☺️

Hey everyone sorry for radio silence just been trying to get through each day. I’m still really struggling to be on my own with my 2 year old DD. My mum has been staying with me but she has to go back to work tomorrow so I will be alone with DD and that fills me with dread. I need to grow up. This is ridiculous. Hope you are all ok xxx

@hk1993x sorry I fell asleep. I was ok yesterday but I've woke up with horrendous anxiety this morning. A lot or physical symptoms 😞😓 I hope you managed to decide what to do about uni?

@Riley1989 I get that! Your mums been your comfort zone but you need to believe in yourself. You got this! Have you been to your gp? X

@Jk24 yea I have and been referred to mental health team urgently but she said the wait is long so god knows when I might get some talk therapy. She has put me on beta blockers to help with the anxiety which really help with the physical symptoms but not the constant intrusive and anxious thoughts xx

@Riley1989 can you ask for another lot of meds to help with the anxiety?

I've woke up with horrendous physical symptoms today I'm going to ask gp about propranolol

@Jk24 i had a serious allergic reaction to sertraline so they have put me on a point blank ban of any SSRI/SNRI so the only others I could try would be a tryclitic antidepressant but the dr said because they are very sedative and I’m alone alot with my DD it wouldn’t be practical. It’s propanolol I have been put on and I can tell you they really really help with the physical symptoms of anxiety so defo ask for them xxx

Sorry for late reply. Yesterday was an ok day. Feeling a but anxious atm but I've got a cold aswell so that doesn't help. My intrusive thoughts are banging about and I'm trying my best to not interact with them but then my mind is screaming at me 'but what if your wrong' . Why can't I just trust myself? Why do I have to constantly doubt things? 😫

@Riley1989 sorry if I've missed it along the thread but can I ask what is it about being alone with you DD that scares you?
I only ask because having OCD myself I get terrible intrusive thoughts of harm and experience so much doubt (hence the name doubting disease) and I feel like such a twonk. Obviously its horrible for anyone to feel this way but also it's nice to know others experience similar. Makes you feel a little less weird.