Discussion & help on depression & mental health related issues

[brieverton]

Fantastic post mate, you really summed up general anxiety disorder there.

I've suffered from it for over a decade now and although it's largely under control it can come roaring back when I'm put any kind of prolonged and sustained stress. As a result I now try to lead a virtually stress free life, which as you can imagine is very difficult with two kids, one of whom is disabled !.

The physical manifestation of my anxiety disorder was horrendous tinnitus and eczema in my ear canals, which has led to permanent impaired hearing due to my ear drums drying out. Anxiety can cause many physical problems, but it seems to be that health care professionals don't seem to take it seriously. It's almost like anxiety plays second fiddle to depression. Maybe this is because depression is easier to treat, I don't know ?.

One of the main ways I keep my anxiety under control is with aerobic excercise ( trail running ). It makes me feel good both during and after and also seems to push the anxiety down ( if that makes sense ).

I think trying to understand and then come to terms with the problem is half the battle, as the more you fight it the worse it gets.

Keep posting mate, you can help others through your own experiences and also get help yourself x

I agree completely, which is sad, as a lack of understanding from the medical profession clearly has huge repercussions for those of us having to deal with GAD. I went through a very difficult patch 3 years ago, and I found it difficult to admit my problems to my GP, but I did so, and even then, it was only at my suggestion that anxiety was more of a problem for me than it should normally be, that they took action. People just can't accept the sort of "put a brave face on it and pull your socks up" attitude that still, sadly, appears to be common with some professionals.

I haven't changed GP - I attend the same practice and see the same two doctors alternately but even now I can almost see the sigh of relief from them if I say I'm there because of something tangible, like a cough or sore throat.

Anything which highlights the problem of GAD/Anxiety is good - even if you feel the response may be less than optimal from your GP I still say put it before them, it's not until people start being truly honest and frank about mental health in general that anything will be done to improve the level of understanding and care.

 

[wbn61]

Hey everyone, first post here I think. From Australia, have been diagnosed with depression about 12 months ago. Been on different types of medication before but they don't seem to work too much. However I'm not sure if it's just a perception issue (like because it's affecting my own brain I can't tell the change in attitude or feeling etc). Anyo ne have a similar experience or understand what I mean in this regard?

I'm supposed to be taking escitallopram (I believe it's like lexapro if not the same thing) but it screws with sexual stuff which is not fun and makes me feel worse in some ways.

I'm not really sure what I'm getting at or why I'm posting this but yeah. I suppose it's good to vent haha. Thanks for reading.

that is the problem I had. they kept changing the drugs or upping the dosage or adding new ones. I didn't know which wer effective or which side effects were causing problems etc. I don't know what the answer is sorry

 

[wbn61]

Just a quick note to all those who have contributed to this thread, from any point of view.....

like x 100

 

[wbn61]

not been too good lately, the pain has been relentless which has been affecting my sleep and general demeanour. I gave in yesterday and agreed to go back on the morphine so feeling better today albeit a little high lol. we have also decided to have a hospital bed in the house so we will ee how that goes. that's it really, just wanted to share with my GOT friends my current situation.

 

[robtheblue]

Hello all

Just thought I'd throw my tuppence worth in, although I'm not sure what I'm hoping to achieve. I've been suffering from what I think is depression for a few months now. It seems to have been building for a while as I've been unhappy in many areas of my life - with work, relationships and with the world in general - for some time. It all really began to manifest itself a few months ago when I started having problems sleeping, and more recently everything seemed to just hit me: out of nowhere, I suddenly felt anxious over seeing people, even my girlfriend, and found that when I was putting myself into social situations I had a strange feeling of being overwhelmed. Really difficult to put my finger on, but I just didn't feel comfortable or at ease. I was finding it difficult to relax and talk; I felt nervous as I was speaking. My GP had by this point signed me off with an acute stress reaction, linked to several stress-points in my life that I had made her aware of. I've refused medication so far, and gradually began to feel a little bit better a few weeks back, but then all of a sudden again, I felt like I'd been hit for six.

As mentioned, I've felt unhappy with my relationships - for example, whilst I still have my circle of friends from my school days, increasingly over the last few years I've felt that we have less and less in common, we rarely socialise and although on the odd occasion that we do socialise we have a grin, I've began to feel isolated and in many respects lonely. Also, I have come to feel that I don't 'fit in' as much any more, either because those I'm tending to socialise with now are friends of my closest friends (i.e. not really my mates) and have different interests to me, and/or most of them take drugs, and I stopped taking any over 10 years ago. It often feels like I'm the odd one out, struggling to keep up with everybody.

More importantly, I have had a nagging feeling that my relationship with my girlfriend has no future - and if I'm completely honest, I even entered into the relationship feeling that we weren't right for each other. Nevertheless, we've been together for near 7 years (!), but increasingly I've felt down about our relationship and felt a sense of 'distance' that I think has been exacerbated by her chronic addiction to her phone...I'm sure many of you recognise that modern day problem. I was beginning to feel really down about our relationship, unbeknownst to her, and literally had a breakdown last week: I was awake all night thinking and then in the morning, after she'd left for work, I had a complete meltdown: floods of tears, feeling of utter despair, guilt, a tsunami of negativity. We've agreed to spend time apart, and now I'm struggling to 'move on', as it were. After seven years of spending almost all of my time with my girlfriend, seeing my mates occasionally and feeling 'drifted' from them anyway, I suddenly find myself now, in my mid 30s, with no real relationships I value, a job which I can't stand and no idea where to start to change my situation. I am overthinking things again, judging myself as pretty useless and thinking that everybody else who knows me probably thinks the same.

All in all, it's a pretty [Poor language removed] time at the minute - I'm trying to keep my mind occupied as much as possible with things I (sort of) enjoy doing, but those little waves of negativity and depression are never far from lapping at the shore. I'm going to try and exercise a bit more (currently go through the motions when I go to the gym) and continue to try and use mindfulness and meditation techniques to try and recognise that the thoughts are just that: thoughts. I understand they don't objectively mean anything, but I still struggle a lot of the time to recognise that.

Sorry to have rambled on. Maybe what I've been going through resonates with some of you. All the best.

 

[Abertonian]

whilst I still have my circle of friends from my school days, increasingly over the last few years I've felt that we have less and less in common, we rarely socialise and although on the odd occasion that we do socialise we have a grin, I've began to feel isolated and in many respects lonely. Also, I have come to feel that I don't 'fit in' as much any more, either because those I'm tending to socialise with now are friends of my closest friends (i.e. not really my mates) and have different interests to me, and/or most of them take drugs, and I stopped taking any over 10 years ago. It often feels like I'm the odd one out, struggling to keep up with everybody..

Experienced this myself and sure many other have as well. I would imagine its to be expected, we all change over time and so its not hard to see how you can feel detached from friendships made years before. Don't beat yourself up over it. Focus your time instead on the things / activities that do make you happy and this might be a way to make new, more relevant friends to supplement those that you already have.

I hope you manage to find some peace within yourself and a way to feel better. I would agree wholeheartedly with your own recognition about getting more exercise, something that is / has been more helpful for me personally than anything else.

 

[Jacob]

Hello all

Just thought I'd throw my tuppence worth in, although I'm not sure what I'm hoping to achieve. I've been suffering from what I think is depression for a few months now. It seems to have been building for a while as I've been unhappy in many areas of my life - with work, relationships and with the world in general - for some time. It all really began to manifest itself a few months ago when I started having problems sleeping, and more recently everything seemed to just hit me: out of nowhere, I suddenly felt anxious over seeing people, even my girlfriend, and found that when I was putting myself into social situations I had a strange feeling of being overwhelmed. Really difficult to put my finger on, but I just didn't feel comfortable or at ease. I was finding it difficult to relax and talk; I felt nervous as I was speaking. My GP had by this point signed me off with an acute stress reaction, linked to several stress-points in my life that I had made her aware of. I've refused medication so far, and gradually began to feel a little bit better a few weeks back, but then all of a sudden again, I felt like I'd been hit for six.

As mentioned, I've felt unhappy with my relationships - for example, whilst I still have my circle of friends from my school days, increasingly over the last few years I've felt that we have less and less in common, we rarely socialise and although on the odd occasion that we do socialise we have a grin, I've began to feel isolated and in many respects lonely. Also, I have come to feel that I don't 'fit in' as much any more, either because those I'm tending to socialise with now are friends of my closest friends (i.e. not really my mates) and have different interests to me, and/or most of them take drugs, and I stopped taking any over 10 years ago. It often feels like I'm the odd one out, struggling to keep up with everybody.

More importantly, I have had a nagging feeling that my relationship with my girlfriend has no future - and if I'm completely honest, I even entered into the relationship feeling that we weren't right for each other. Nevertheless, we've been together for near 7 years (!), but increasingly I've felt down about our relationship and felt a sense of 'distance' that I think has been exacerbated by her chronic addiction to her phone...I'm sure many of you recognise that modern day problem. I was beginning to feel really down about our relationship, unbeknownst to her, and literally had a breakdown last week: I was awake all night thinking and then in the morning, after she'd left for work, I had a complete meltdown: floods of tears, feeling of utter despair, guilt, a tsunami of negativity. We've agreed to spend time apart, and now I'm struggling to 'move on', as it were. After seven years of spending almost all of my time with my girlfriend, seeing my mates occasionally and feeling 'drifted' from them anyway, I suddenly find myself now, in my mid 30s, with no real relationships I value, a job which I can't stand and no idea where to start to change my situation. I am overthinking things again, judging myself as pretty useless and thinking that everybody else who knows me probably thinks the same.

All in all, it's a pretty [Poor language removed] time at the minute - I'm trying to keep my mind occupied as much as possible with things I (sort of) enjoy doing, but those little waves of negativity and depression are never far from lapping at the shore. I'm going to try and exercise a bit more (currently go through the motions when I go to the gym) and continue to try and use mindfulness and meditation techniques to try and recognise that the thoughts are just that: thoughts. I understand they don't objectively mean anything, but I still struggle a lot of the time to recognise that.

Sorry to have rambled on. Maybe what I've been going through resonates with some of you. All the best.

Youre bound to feel depressed in all honesty, Rob, as you seem to have reached a watershed regarding various issues on your life. Some people cant even handle change with one issue in their life never mind a mulitiplicity of them like you...relationship/job/social circle so don't be too hard on yourself. You obviously have the wherewithal to be strong and stay strong...this shows in your ditching and then managing to stay off the drugs for so long. Well done on that... and then some. Have you ever thought that with regard to those mates still being on the drugs that its them that are out of step with you rather than you with them ? You've probably outgrown them and lots of people (me included) have had to cut the cord with people who don't seem to be what you thought they were...even after many years of being very close mates. That causes sadness because its a loss...though a necessary one. I do think you might benefit from some medication...I know you've eschewed that so far but as the dark times have returned for you, maybe a little course may give you a lift to enable you to rationalise the way forward. Its only a crutch...not a commitment to dependence and may help you temporarily to see a bit of light ahead and regain your self-worth. This in turn may help you to evaluate the situation with your girl. If you think something isn't right for you...and give it time and still think the same, then it often isn't what you really want. Minor irritations...like the phone issue...become a big deal. Then everything becomes part of a bigger deal etc etc. You wont really be in a good place to actively change these situations until how you feel yourself manages to change for the better. The gym and meditation will help pro tem until you go back and see your GP and tell her what has happened since and the worsening of how you feel. Hope this helps...don't give up. I know personally how hard it is.

 

[blueloon]

not been too good lately, the pain has been relentless which has been affecting my sleep and general demeanour. I gave in yesterday and agreed to go back on the morphine so feeling better today albeit a little high lol. we have also decided to have a hospital bed in the house so we will ee how that goes. that's it really, just wanted to share with my GOT friends my current situation.

Good to hear from you mate, was thinking I might need to do a " How you traveling?" post . . Nothing to say that hasn't been said before, you know we're all rooting for you, take care

 

[wbn61]

well when I get my new bed I think i'll be doing less travelling lollollollol. just taken some more morphine so feeling ok at the moment

 

[Billy Dean]

Hello all

Just thought I'd throw my tuppence worth in, although I'm not sure what I'm hoping to achieve. I've been suffering from what I think is depression for a few months now. It seems to have been building for a while as I've been unhappy in many areas of my life - with work, relationships and with the world in general - for some time. It all really began to manifest itself a few months ago when I started having problems sleeping, and more recently everything seemed to just hit me: out of nowhere, I suddenly felt anxious over seeing people, even my girlfriend, and found that when I was putting myself into social situations I had a strange feeling of being overwhelmed. Really difficult to put my finger on, but I just didn't feel comfortable or at ease. I was finding it difficult to relax and talk; I felt nervous as I was speaking. My GP had by this point signed me off with an acute stress reaction, linked to several stress-points in my life that I had made her aware of. I've refused medication so far, and gradually began to feel a little bit better a few weeks back, but then all of a sudden again, I felt like I'd been hit for six.

As mentioned, I've felt unhappy with my relationships - for example, whilst I still have my circle of friends from my school days, increasingly over the last few years I've felt that we have less and less in common, we rarely socialise and although on the odd occasion that we do socialise we have a grin, I've began to feel isolated and in many respects lonely. Also, I have come to feel that I don't 'fit in' as much any more, either because those I'm tending to socialise with now are friends of my closest friends (i.e. not really my mates) and have different interests to me, and/or most of them take drugs, and I stopped taking any over 10 years ago. It often feels like I'm the odd one out, struggling to keep up with everybody.

More importantly, I have had a nagging feeling that my relationship with my girlfriend has no future - and if I'm completely honest, I even entered into the relationship feeling that we weren't right for each other. Nevertheless, we've been together for near 7 years (!), but increasingly I've felt down about our relationship and felt a sense of 'distance' that I think has been exacerbated by her chronic addiction to her phone...I'm sure many of you recognise that modern day problem. I was beginning to feel really down about our relationship, unbeknownst to her, and literally had a breakdown last week: I was awake all night thinking and then in the morning, after she'd left for work, I had a complete meltdown: floods of tears, feeling of utter despair, guilt, a tsunami of negativity. We've agreed to spend time apart, and now I'm struggling to 'move on', as it were. After seven years of spending almost all of my time with my girlfriend, seeing my mates occasionally and feeling 'drifted' from them anyway, I suddenly find myself now, in my mid 30s, with no real relationships I value, a job which I can't stand and no idea where to start to change my situation. I am overthinking things again, judging myself as pretty useless and thinking that everybody else who knows me probably thinks the same.

All in all, it's a pretty [Poor language removed] time at the minute - I'm trying to keep my mind occupied as much as possible with things I (sort of) enjoy doing, but those little waves of negativity and depression are never far from lapping at the shore. I'm going to try and exercise a bit more (currently go through the motions when I go to the gym) and continue to try and use mindfulness and meditation techniques to try and recognise that the thoughts are just that: thoughts. I understand they don't objectively mean anything, but I still struggle a lot of the time to recognise that.

Sorry to have rambled on. Maybe what I've been going through resonates with some of you. All the best.

A lot of that definitely resonates with me mate, especially the bolded part. As Jacob said it's hard when the main areas of your life are not how you want them to be, but don't give up. Re your friends, as people get older their values/interests change and sometimes that makes people who were once friends less compatible with each other than they were, and so they drift apart, it's no one's fault.

 

[Sunderland afc]

Been informed today that we are going through our 4th service review in six years.

Trying to stay positive but by God it's hard. Trying to put on a brave face when inside I'm going through hell.

Survived the last three of course and confident in my ability again but the interviews etc are like hell on earth. Determined not to let this get me down and going to throw myself in my writing to take me to other places where I can hopefullly forget all about the review.

 

[LEONARD]

Very humbling to read of people's problems and worries here. It make's me realize how lucky I am.

I'm in a stressful job, but have a good supportive wife and a teenage son to lean on.

Brave of so many here to air their real and substantial struggles.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

Lost my nan. Lost my family, lost my home and I may lose my job. 2016 can [Poor language removed] right off.

 

[Goat]

Lost my nan. Lost my family, lost my home and I may lose my job. 2016 can [Poor language removed] right off.

Ride through dat [Poor language removed] Bry.

We can start a brass and lemo shop.

 

[wbn61]

Lost my nan. Lost my family, lost my home and I may lose my job. 2016 can [Poor language removed] right off.

can't give a like for that bryan it seems inappropriate, sending you a hug instead. pm me if you want to let it all out privately if not vent on here when you are ready, we are all here for you.