Lets all be anxious/depressed together.

jammstarr

I tried the whole counsellor thing before and to be honest I had very mixed feelings about it all. I've clinical depression with anxiety so I wasn't sure if it'd be of any help to me. Now looking at my lot I'm in a right hole due to being sick and also bad personal situation - not too sure should I try talking to someone to "fix" that side of my issues.

brenglee

Thanks Princess, I never made the connection between my depression and my inability to concentrate on a whole movie until you mention it in your list of goals.

cloud493

I've been going to pieta house for a month(4 visits) and I just hate counselling. It doesn't help, but I still feel like doing something silly. Or just letting the despair have me instead of fighting it. ****ing hell 'oh look its the chekky lad from liverpool, he's always got something up his sleeve' oh its that english guy, he's always smiling' If only they knew.

nesf

jammstarr wrote: »

I tried the whole counsellor thing before and to be honest I had very mixed feelings about it all. I've clinical depression with anxiety so I wasn't sure if it'd be of any help to me. Now looking at my lot I'm in a right hole due to being sick and also bad personal situation - not too sure should I try talking to someone to "fix" that side of my issues.

Hmm, it's a different thing but I found psychotherapy very helpful in some ways in that it helped me better understand the way my thinking was making things worse for me in some instances. It took a very long time for it to set in though and medication had to bring me to a certain point before I could work with it.

Your mileage may vary etc.

jammstarr

nesf wrote: »

Hmm, it's a different thing but I found psychotherapy very helpful in some ways in that it helped me better understand the way my thinking was making things worse for me in some instances. It took a very long time for it to set in though and medication had to bring me to a certain point before I could work with it.

Your mileage may vary etc.

I used to be so much worse than this - like not being able to get out of bed or look after myself. Whereas now I can function somewhat and I'm very grateful for that but the last push to get back on track is like climbing a cliff to me at the moment.

nesf

jammstarr wrote: »

I used to be so much worse than this - like not being able to get out of bed or look after myself. Whereas now I can function somewhat and I'm very grateful for that but the last push to get back on track is like climbing a cliff to me at the moment.

Yeah the last stages can be awful. My advice, do some reading, look for more techniques to help yourself, work with your psychiatrist, psychologist etc. If you want some book recommendations I have a couple and I'm sure others can chime in as well.

jammstarr

nesf wrote: »

Yeah the last stages can be awful. My advice, do some reading, look for more techniques to help yourself, work with your psychiatrist, psychologist etc. If you want some book recommendations I have a couple and I'm sure others can chime in as well.

Yeah please, thanks

Princess Peach

Counselling can be a tricky one. All depends on timing and the counselor. I went right when I first got diagnosed, didn't think it would help me at all and I didn't like the counselor's approach so swore off it altogether. Few months later I went back, feeling better and more open minded and to a new counselor and got on pretty good. Did even better with another counselor last year.

I think you have to believe and want it to work or you won't get much out of it. It is tough going and takes a lot of effort. You have to trust the person you are working with too and like their approach. Not every counselor will work for you, or might only partially work. Loved mine from last year, we worked really well on my depression but she didn't have much expertise on helping with my eating disorders. I could barely afford to pay her and couldn't afford to see a specialist for that.

nesf

jammstarr wrote: »

Yeah please, thanks

One's that I've found good:

The Mindful Way through Depression - I got the audiobook. Good enough that I'm considering buying the hardcopy too.

Mindfulness in Plain English - What it says on the tin. Meditation explained properly and clearly.

Overcoming Depression - CBT based self-help. Also check out Overcoming Anxiety.


Those are the three recent ones I found good.

jammstarr

Princess Peach wrote: »

I think you have to believe and want it to work or you won't get much out of it. It is tough going and takes a lot of effort.

That's half the battle a times - you can be your own worst enemy. Easier and extremely tempting to just go to ground instead.

neemish

would not be where I am today without psychotherapy.

There's a debate on this over on the psychology forum, but there's a difference between counselling and psychtherapy.

Went to people for years who were very supportive, but never moved me on. Either they didnt have the skills, or I wasnt ready, or most like a combination of both.

Have been in psychotherapy for 6 years with two different therapists. Both very different. the first one was great for starting me out, but my current one is fantastic! Her skill and patience in getting slowly to core of my issues never ceases to amaze me. If you were to ask her, its the two of us working together with me doing most of the work. But I want someone to "save" me from my despair, so am quite happy to put it all over to her.

Don't believe anyone who says "you dont have to like me to work with me" imo that is complete bs. The best work for me has been done with people who I like, who like me as a person, who get what I'm going through all while keeping good boundaries and a professional relationship.

If you havent clicked with a therapist, try another one. Change, its allowed! Even within services. And any decent therapist will understand this. If they don't, they were never any good to begin with.

Aoifums

So I'm guessing I suffer from anxiety, since I've never actually had it confirmed. All I know is that I've been dealing with it since I was a kid and hoping it would go away by itself. I realised last weekend that there was no way in hell I was keeping a handle on it. I don't think I need to say how bad those few days were for me to realise that :rolleyes: Looking back on stuff, I feel like an utter moron for thinking I'd just fix it on my own, given that this has caused a couple of (pretty long) episodes of depression. The last couple of weeks have been hell. I've never been this anxious for this long before and I still haven't worked out the trigger.

Anyways, I popped my name down on the counselling list in college. I'm guessing it's not too busy since I've managed to get an appointment for this Thursday. Even though I think it's only an assessment, I'm bricking it already I've been trying to get as much information about it from my friend (the only one that knows), and while they have been helpful, it's not the right information. I think the only way I'd be less stressed about it is if I had a preplanned list of the kinda stuff I'd be asked Obviously, I know that's kinda impossible.

The college seem to be kind of mixed about how helpful they are being. You can fill out the initial form online and that one takes the longest. Then you need to go to the main office and go over your details and fill out some assesment sheet. It seemed to be checking how depressed you were but I can't say for sure. Then in the email where I was given my time, I was given a time and day but no location or name. I don't really mind not knowing who it will be with, but I'd rather look them up. There is no way I would be able to even start thinking about Thursday if I didn't know the location. Thankfully my friend was able to tell me exactly where it's on, as well as the layout of the rooms around it. Surely, it has to have been pointed out to the counselling service before that not giving the location this far in advance is pretty unfair. Or maybe it's just me...

Right, I'm fairly sure this is the longest post I've ever written on boards And I'm rambling and stuff. I just kinda wanted to get this off my chest and hopefully get some advice or something from the (many) people who have been here, done that and have a collection of the damn t-shirts.

Edit: Mini heart attack there. My post didn't show up and I freaked!! All that writing disappearing into the dark side of cyberspace. The much ignored logical side of my brain kicked in and told me to refesh the page. It worked

nesf

Yeah mood dipped again today. Noticed when music started sounding flat and lifeless to me and within an hour I had that pain you get in your chest when you feel low. Ah well, a full good day was too much to ask for I suppose.

jammstarr

Aoifums wrote: »

So I'm guessing I suffer from anxiety, since I've never actually had it confirmed. All I know is that I've been dealing with it since I was a kid and hoping it would go away by itself. I realised last weekend that there was no way in hell I was keeping a handle on it. I don't think I need to say how bad those few days were for me to realise that :rolleyes: Looking back on stuff, I feel like an utter moron for thinking I'd just fix it on my own, given that this has caused a couple of (pretty long) episodes of depression. The last couple of weeks have been hell. I've never been this anxious for this long before and I still haven't worked out the trigger.

Anyways, I popped my name down on the counselling list in college. I'm guessing it's not too busy since I've managed to get an appointment for this Thursday. Even though I think it's only an assessment, I'm bricking it already I've been trying to get as much information about it from my friend (the only one that knows), and while they have been helpful, it's not the right information. I think the only way I'd be less stressed about it is if I had a preplanned list of the kinda stuff I'd be asked Obviously, I know that's kinda impossible.

The college seem to be kind of mixed about how helpful they are being. You can fill out the initial form online and that one takes the longest. Then you need to go to the main office and go over your details and fill out some assesment sheet. It seemed to be checking how depressed you were but I can't say for sure. Then in the email where I was given my time, I was given a time and day but no location or name. I don't really mind not knowing who it will be with, but I'd rather look them up. There is no way I would be able to even start thinking about Thursday if I didn't know the location. Thankfully my friend was able to tell me exactly where it's on, as well as the layout of the rooms around it. Surely, it has to have been pointed out to the counselling service before that not giving the location this far in advance is pretty unfair. Or maybe it's just me...

Right, I'm fairly sure this is the longest post I've ever written on boards And I'm rambling and stuff. I just kinda wanted to get this off my chest and hopefully get some advice or something from the (many) people who have been here, done that and have a collection of the damn t-shirts.

Edit: Mini heart attack there. My post didn't show up and I freaked!! All that writing disappearing into the dark side of cyberspace. The much ignored logical side of my brain kicked in and told me to refesh the page. It worked

Welcome

You're doing the best thing now asking to get help. It'd be easier to hide from it but that'll get us nowhere. Hope everything goes well for you on Thursday.

stupidusername

I can feel myself coming down now. i ****ing hate this! all over one stupid thing that isn't even an issue!!

cangirl86

Not as bad as I was yesterday. I think the sun helps, does anyone else find that?

I want to try meditation but I don't think I have the concentration for it. Might make it to gym today though, hopefully.

Temaz

day 3 of not feeling well.

nesf

cangirl86 wrote: »

Not as bad as I was yesterday. I think the sun helps, does anyone else find that?

Yeah, it can lift me too.

cangirl86 wrote: »

I want to try meditation but I don't think I have the concentration for it. Might make it to gym today though, hopefully.

The gym is good. Exercise can really help. Even a 30 minute walk is good on days you can't face the gym.

You don't need great concentration to meditate, just manage what you can with it and it can help a bit.

ItsAWindUp

I just couldn't bring myself to go to school today

girlonfire

Given that I see posts encouraging to write when things are good, it's important to mention that things have been better for me of late.
There's a fair fed up and down moments but I've got a lot more perspective than I've had over the past few weeks.
I've been meditating more and finding it helpful. Getting out for some exercise too, which definitely helps.
Thinking of everyone here and hoping that all of you get through the day okay and even with some brightness if possible.
Hang in there,x

neemish

finally after sick leave after three weeks of struggling to get by. feel so relieved. Very anxious about work but relieved

cangirl86

Thanks for the support nesf and all. It is really nice to know i'm not alone in this

nesf

cangirl86 wrote: »

Thanks for the support nesf and all. It is really nice to know i'm not alone in this

We all bear the same cross.

nesf

I think I'm pulling out of this one. Second feeling mostly normal day in a row. Apart from a few hours last night I've been pretty much not depressed for 2 days now. About 6 weeks I think overall since the loss of pleasure started happening. I'm lucky, I get pretty short depressions.

LegacyUser

Had a couple of days of feeling o'k.

Starting to feel it's all too much again.

cloud493

I try not to doubt my winning... but I can't stop it. I don't think. Its going to get me.

stupidusername

not doing too good now. i was fine earlier, I was almost good actually. I had gone practicing, had planned a meal to make and made it, had gone for a walk / jog and did quite well. but then i sat down and it started going away. i wrote up about my jogging, and realised i've been doing it a while and i've not lost any weight, and with that thought everything dropped.

it's been getting worse all evening. i just feel down. not really down, more flat. flat and meh.

and then i got really bored. kinda talking to a friend, but i'm uninterested. i don't have any interest in even looking at boards, whereas i spend a lot of time on it in the evenings.

there must've been some things that got to me that i didn't notice. it's not that i'm upset, i'm just almost angrily apathetic.

nesf

Mood's been a bit lower this evening but nothing approaching depression (or if it is it is extremely mild). So that's my first full day feeling normal in 6 weeks.

Temaz

Fairly low, another cycle of depression is hitting me.

starviewadams

Depression and insomnia are back with a vengeance.Will have to procure me some valium if I'm to sleep tonight.Thoughts are racing really wildly too.