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Mental health

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Think I am a high functioning depressive, please advise.

3 replies

JellyNo15 · 14/08/2024 15:01

I don’t like my job but I can’t leave for a few years at least (responsible role and very lonely. I am overweight (comfort eat) but the worst is I share being a carer for my narc parent with a sibling.
I feel bad if I arrange a holiday because my sibling would have to shoulder responsibility alone.
I love my husband, grown children and grandkids but I have spent my whole adult life, am now nearly 60, putting everyone else first. I yearn to jump in a camper van and be on my own. I am lonely in my head but physically not.
Everything is hard work, feels like wading through mud. I pretend to be happy when I can summon the energy. I struggle to fit in medical appointments as the rigmarole to get free time is almost impossible. I am self employed so it’s not like I can take sick leave as there is no one to cover and I have to organise time off months in advance.
i am not looking for sympathy but if there is any coping skills that will get me through the next few years without being a misery, please share. Thank you.

OP posts:
wildthingsinthenight · 14/08/2024 15:42

Counselling and antidepressants i think.
Sorry you are going through this. It sounds really tough

dollopz · 14/08/2024 15:53

Find something you really enjoy doing to counter balance. Get an electric bike or start rambling or being creative. Can you do mini adventures so just a night away an hour away.

Superscientist · 16/08/2024 11:42

I have life long mental illness and I am high functioning still being at work when medical staff expect me to be bed bound. It's good until it's not and then I break end up off work for months and stop functioning and its a long road out. I have had therapy and counselling to help me manage and learn to take regular breaks so that I can keep functioning without burning out.

My psychiatrist gave me his 5 things to keep the psychiatrist away list every day...

  1. Be mindful
  2. Be active
  3. Stay connected to people
  4. Learn something
  5. Give back to others

I did some work on the soothing, drive threat system when I had some compassion focused therapy after having my daughter and I survive in drive mode but it's not always in my best interest. If I'm not careful entering the soothing mode is extremely distressing for me as there's a lot of buried hurt and the soothing system takes off the protective layer and it feels like someone pouring alcohol in an open wounded. Mindfulness and soothing for me has to have some aspect that keeps my mind occupied so I can be soothed but with some distance from the hurt. Colouring, puzzles, cross stitches and reading helps me. For the learning I have been using Duolingo to learn french. It's just a few minutes a day but it's nice to see progress and keeping a streak keeps me focused.

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