Discussion & help on depression & mental health related issues

Deleted member 28206 · July 30, 2016

May have seen this before
https://steller.co/s/3WCHEuZsZuc

flippa · July 30, 2016

Hi everyone, I haven't posted for a bit, I've been in China and not able to access most internet websites from behind the Great Firewall… I guess I just wanted to share that this year going to China was a much calmer experience. Last year was the first time in many years - and brought up a lot of bad memories from my fiance dying there. This year was so different, and I definitely think it was because of all the work I've been doing since last December in actually addressing the fact that I have depression and anxiety. Taking meds, speaking to therapists, actually putting myself first and trying to handle situations in a different way has definitely helped. I'm still a long way from the end of the tunnel yet, but I definitely could feel the progress this time.

I just wanted to share that with everyone on here, especially those who are maybe thinking that everything is hopeless. Things can change, especially if you're not to scared to reach out and admit that you are struggling, and ask for help. It's been incredibly hard for me, and goes against every instinct I have to protect myself, but I can accept now that I did need to accept that support, and I haven't felt judged either, on the contrary, it's really shown me those close to me who really do care. Hope everyone else here is able to find some positive amongst all the negative we have to deal with x

(PS to clarify, I'm not a total hippy- I feel like everytime I post on here, that's how I come across!!! :Blink:

)

wbn61 · July 30, 2016

JelavicBrate2 said:
I've started to suffer the symptoms of a particular form of cancer, I don't want to go into too many details unless it's a false alarm. I've looked on the cancer research website and my symptoms do very much apply to this sort of cancer. I am probably going to go to the GP next week, it's one of those things that you can never really get you head around. I never thought I would have these health issues at my age so I don't really know how I'm going to deal with a possible serious physical illness as well with other mental health issues.

hope it's nothing but i'm here if you need to know anything about cancer.

wbn61 · July 30, 2016

flippa said:
Hi everyone, I haven't posted for a bit, I've been in China and not able to access most internet websites from behind the Great Firewall… I guess I just wanted to share that this year going to China was a much calmer experience. Last year was the first time in many years - and brought up a lot of bad memories from my fiance dying there. This year was so different, and I definitely think it was because of all the work I've been doing since last December in actually addressing the fact that I have depression and anxiety. Taking meds, speaking to therapists, actually putting myself first and trying to handle situations in a different way has definitely helped. I'm still a long way from the end of the tunnel yet, but I definitely could feel the progress this time.

I just wanted to share that with everyone on here, especially those who are maybe thinking that everything is hopeless. Things can change, especially if you're not to scared to reach out and admit that you are struggling, and ask for help. It's been incredibly hard for me, and goes against every instinct I have to protect myself, but I can accept now that I did need to accept that support, and I haven't felt judged either, on the contrary, it's really shown me those close to me who really do care. Hope everyone else here is able to find some positive amongst all the negative we have to deal with x

(PS to clarify, I'm not a total hippy- I feel like everytime I post on here, that's how I come across!!! )

glad to hear?, see?, read from you again glad things are better for you.

anjelikaferrett · July 30, 2016

flippa said:
Hi everyone, I haven't posted for a bit, I've been in China and not able to access most internet websites from behind the Great Firewall… I guess I just wanted to share that this year going to China was a much calmer experience. Last year was the first time in many years - and brought up a lot of bad memories from my fiance dying there. This year was so different, and I definitely think it was because of all the work I've been doing since last December in actually addressing the fact that I have depression and anxiety. Taking meds, speaking to therapists, actually putting myself first and trying to handle situations in a different way has definitely helped. I'm still a long way from the end of the tunnel yet, but I definitely could feel the progress this time.

I just wanted to share that with everyone on here, especially those who are maybe thinking that everything is hopeless. Things can change, especially if you're not to scared to reach out and admit that you are struggling, and ask for help. It's been incredibly hard for me, and goes against every instinct I have to protect myself, but I can accept now that I did need to accept that support, and I haven't felt judged either, on the contrary, it's really shown me those close to me who really do care. Hope everyone else here is able to find some positive amongst all the negative we have to deal with x

(PS to clarify, I'm not a total hippy- I feel like everytime I post on here, that's how I come across!!! )

So happy to read this. Nice to hear from you again x

LinekersLegs · July 30, 2016

flippa said:
Hi everyone, I haven't posted for a bit, I've been in China and not able to access most internet websites from behind the Great Firewall… I guess I just wanted to share that this year going to China was a much calmer experience. Last year was the first time in many years - and brought up a lot of bad memories from my fiance dying there. This year was so different, and I definitely think it was because of all the work I've been doing since last December in actually addressing the fact that I have depression and anxiety. Taking meds, speaking to therapists, actually putting myself first and trying to handle situations in a different way has definitely helped. I'm still a long way from the end of the tunnel yet, but I definitely could feel the progress this time.

I just wanted to share that with everyone on here, especially those who are maybe thinking that everything is hopeless. Things can change, especially if you're not to scared to reach out and admit that you are struggling, and ask for help. It's been incredibly hard for me, and goes against every instinct I have to protect myself, but I can accept now that I did need to accept that support, and I haven't felt judged either, on the contrary, it's really shown me those close to me who really do care. Hope everyone else here is able to find some positive amongst all the negative we have to deal with x

(PS to clarify, I'm not a total hippy- I feel like everytime I post on here, that's how I come across!!! )

Glad things are improving for you and hopefully you sharing your experinces will give encouragement to others who are currently in a bad place.

As for the total hippy bit - even if you are who cares as long as you're finding your way back to being happy!

Minimeister · July 30, 2016

Not sure if many caught the '999:What's your emergency' the other night but very interesting for me as it was about Mental Health patients in Cheshire. Especially interesting was when they picked up a young girl and took her to A+E who needed help but there was no beds in any MH unit. The government might have increased funding for MH services but they have largely given that funding to the local acute Trusts and not MH trusts. Yet when a person comes in who may or may not be suffering from a mental illness they automatically try and pass that person over to a MH unit. Sick of hearing how 'it's not MH services fault, it's because they are underfunded' when the money is there but it's not distributed to the places that need it.

JelavicBrate2 · July 31, 2016

wbn61 said:
hope it's nothing but i'm here if you need to know anything about cancer.

Much appreciated mate.

JelavicBrate2 · July 31, 2016

Groucho said:
Speak to the GP before worrying too much mate. Often, symptoms that have been looked up on google can be misleading, and it's easy to diagnose yourself with the worst case scenario.

I'm not trying to give false hope, just saying that Google and feeling ill aren't always the most reassuring bedfellows. Nevertheless, see your GP.

I know, your right I'm not getting too worried about it. I think it's very easy to convince yourself you have all sorts of problems. I'll probably go the doctors on Monday and get it sorted out.

Groucho · July 31, 2016

JelavicBrate2 said:
I know, your right I'm not getting too worried about it. I think it's very easy to convince yourself you have all sorts of problems. I'll probably go the doctors on Monday and get it sorted out.

It's incredibly easy to do.

I speak from experience mate. I work in the medical field, and even us lot can panic ourselves through this, and we should know better!

Best of luck with it.

Morag · July 31, 2016

I have suffered with depression/anxiety for 5 years and PTSD for nearly 1 year. A big trigger for my depression/anxiety is work related. And a lot of people in my work place have a very small mind when it comes to mental health. You get the usual 'why don't you smile', 'what have you got to be depressed about? You have a husband, 2 lovely children, a job and a house' lines. But they never help. And I've been told those lines so much at one point I forced a false happiness while in work and it put far too much pressure on me to the point where my manager pulled me out of my job telling me I was 'unsafe to work'.

There is a colleague who I've noticed is struggling mentally. I've told them to go the Drs but I don't think they are completely aware of how bad they are and what impact it's having on the rest of us.

I've been thinking a lot lately that I want to do something to bring awareness of mental health to my work place. Educate the staff on what's it's about, how it effects people and what they can do.

Has anyone got any ideas on what I can do?? Thanks for reading.

Morag

Groucho · July 31, 2016

Morag said:
I have suffered with depression/anxiety for 5 years and PTSD for nearly 1 year. A big trigger for my depression/anxiety is work related. And a lot of people in my work place have a very small mind when it comes to mental health. You get the usual 'why don't you smile', 'what have you got to be depressed about? You have a husband, 2 lovely children, a job and a house' lines. But they never help. And I've been told those lines so much at one point I forced a false happiness while in work and it put far too much pressure on me to the point where my manager pulled me out of my job telling me I was 'unsafe to work'.

There is a colleague who I've noticed is struggling mentally. I've told them to go the Drs but I don't think they are completely aware of how bad they are and what impact it's having on the rest of us.

I've been thinking a lot lately that I want to do something to bring awareness of mental health to my work place. Educate the staff on what's it's about, how it effects people and what they can do.

Has anyone got any ideas on what I can do?? Thanks for reading.

Morag

Thanks for posting this.

Folks, as above, she's doing some sort of anxiety/depression awareness in her work place, so any suggestions are welcome.

anjelikaferrett · July 31, 2016

Morag said:
I have suffered with depression/anxiety for 5 years and PTSD for nearly 1 year. A big trigger for my depression/anxiety is work related. And a lot of people in my work place have a very small mind when it comes to mental health. You get the usual 'why don't you smile', 'what have you got to be depressed about? You have a husband, 2 lovely children, a job and a house' lines. But they never help. And I've been told those lines so much at one point I forced a false happiness while in work and it put far too much pressure on me to the point where my manager pulled me out of my job telling me I was 'unsafe to work'.

There is a colleague who I've noticed is struggling mentally. I've told them to go the Drs but I don't think they are completely aware of how bad they are and what impact it's having on the rest of us.

I've been thinking a lot lately that I want to do something to bring awareness of mental health to my work place. Educate the staff on what's it's about, how it effects people and what they can do.

Has anyone got any ideas on what I can do?? Thanks for reading.

Morag

Mental Health awareness day is on October 10th. We always used to run some sort of campaign around that day. Off the top of my head we did one on depression, one on stress and another on eating disorders. Depending on how supportive your employers are, most of the mental health charities will come and talk to you in the workplace about mental health issues and provide information leaflets for you to have and distribute. Just ask them. They are usually very friendly and willing to help. You could also put up the numbers of helplines somewhere. Slightly off topic Macmillan also came in and did a two hour session on dealing with cancer in the workplace. It was excellent.
I was also involved in a joint management/union initiative about bullying and harrassment after the staff survey threw up some fairly horrifying results.

Again depending on your employer, you could also ask if they could get people trained as mental health first aiders. There are some really good courses out there for that. All our managers were also trained on stress awareness.

Also any work related mental health issues such as stress should be reported in an accident book, the same way as a physical accident. The logic being that work has caused you to be ill.

Good luck - hope you succeed, this is a really important issue

Groucho · July 31, 2016

anjelikaferrett said:
Mental Health awareness day is on October 10th. We always used to run some sort of campaign around that day. Off the top of my head we did one on depression, one on stress and another on eating disorders. Depending on how supportive your employers are, most of the mental health charities will come and talk to you in the workplace about mental health issues and provide information leaflets for you to have and distribute. Just ask them. They are usually very friendly and willing to help. You could also put up the numbers of helplines somewhere. Slightly off topic Macmillan also came in and did a two hour session on dealing with cancer in the workplace. It was excellent.
I was also involved in a joint management/union initiative about bullying and harrassment after the staff survey threw up some fairly horrifying results.

Again depending on your employer, you could also ask if they could get people trained as mental health first aiders. There are some really good courses out there for that. All our managers were also trained on stress awareness.

Also any work related mental health issues such as stress should be reported in an accident book, the same way as a physical accident. The logic being that work has caused you to be ill.

Good luck - hope you succeed, this is a really important issue

Cheers