I am going to my first meeting soon

[Nabster]

This is through the MIND people.

Anyone give me a clue as to what will happen?

who is the meeting with?

Good luck nabby, no idea what they will do but am thinking of you hun.
xxxxxx

It is with a group of people who suffer with anxiety and depression.

and by the way..GOOD on you girl for making the appointment, took guts did that, be proud xxxx

Thanks deanychip.

is it facilitated by a counsellor or psych?

it will be kind of like group therapy, i should think, where you can share your thoughts and feelings with others, or just listen.

Don't have a counsellor.

Psych is crap and still hasn't rung me back..

Am gueesing self help as well. Pretty scared.

Thanks to Rhubarb I found them. If you see her remind her I am going please.

no, i meant is the group tonight being led by someone ?

i am sure it will be positive, scary, but positive

Yes, it is. I have to go 20 minutes earlier to see the manager.

i have no clue what might happen, but wishing you all the very best. i've been let down by mental health professional times more often than i care to remember, but i do remember how horrible it feels. i really really hope this works out for you nab.

lol no idea why that came out so garbled, not been on sauce at all!

I'm off now.

Kids are stressing me, I can't breathe so I am better off going.

Bye.

how did it go nab?

just read this thread - how was it?

There were about 7 of us, differing ages.

The leader said she had never known anyone to smile so much about depression and told me my mother had rejected me. (Never thought about it in such stark terms before.

Someone else told me it was a stupid reason to not try to get better because I will realise how much of my life I had wasted being depressed.

Someone else said I have to think positive.

About your mum - that must have hurt I know it hurts me when my counsellor points out things about my father

Good point from the not getting better person, but it's v. hard work getting better, isn't it? And impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Third point - gah! I hate it when people say that! As if thinking positive would help - do poeple not think we've tried that????

Do you think they'll be helpful, the meetings? I guess it's too soon to know.

Here you are!

Well done for going Nab. I think you really should think about open-ended counselling on a one-to-one basis with someone, though. Can MIND give you a referral? If not, your GP can. If you are willing to do it privately, it will be much quicker (usually around £45 per session).

If your GP is useless, see another one until you get someone sympathetic. In my experience, GPs are generally well clued up about depression and anxiety and know how serious it is.

I will go again. There are 2 people there that I would like to see socially and it gives me something for me away from the home. Plus DH really missed me so that was nice for me.

Seeing how rubbish the psych has been so far, this might be all I have tbh.

Hi dollius

Cross post there.

Wondering how long to wait for the psych before I ring. I am guessing she will ring when she has something to say and I suppose it isn't their job just to ring to see how you are.

The only thing about the meeting is it is just people like me. Not qualified people, so I am not sure how much they can help and understand tbh. We might all be depressed but I am assuming we all have different reasons for it.

I think you should forget about the psych. Go back to your GP and tell them what happened last week and how you have been feeling and say you want to be referred for counselling.

I really think all this is a crisis which has come about because your subconscious is ready to face up to your past, ready to process it and finally put it away. As Rhubs said, your mind will go ahead with or without you, and it will be much easier for you to cope if you are guided by someone who understands what you are going through.

I did it. It was the best thing I ever did. I am about to start CBT now to stop the endless pattern of getting too anxious about something and then that triggering depression. Am being treated by very sympathetic GP and am already much, much better.

Nab, you have had such a hard time, particularly as a child, and it is a testament to what a great person and survivor you are that you have still managed to build a strong marriage and have three lovely, balanced, happy children. Build on that - you should be so proud of yourself.

You have broken the pattern that your mother set up for you. Now you need to heal yourself.

Absolutely agree with Dollius. Sounds like you and I are on similar paths right now. Tell the GP your psych is crap and ask for counselling and/or go private if you possibly can so you can start sooner.

Isn't the leader of your group a counsellor? It's not like MIND to not use trained people.

I will ring the GP.

I don't know what qualifications the leader has. She is a manager but that is all I know.

My youngest two really made me realise they
did love me last night. Felt good.

Good! Why not ring them up and ask them her qualifications - just say you wanted to know more about the process and how it works.

No answer at hospital or surgery.