Anxiety and depression thread (Please read OP)

Kurtosis

Welcome to the new Anxiety and Depression discussion thread!

As the name suggests, this thread is for users to discuss issues relating to anxiety and depression. What it is not, is a support group as there are neither the resources nor expertise available to facilitate this.

Before posting in this thread, please read the forum charter and ensure that you post in accordance with the guidelines there, in particular relating to self harm and suicidal ideation. In the case of posts on these topics, please:

1. Report such posts
2. Don't reply or quote them
3. Think twice before posting anything of that nature, instead use the supplied resources (listed in the post below) to get the best help that's out there.

In these cases, a moderator will delete the post and send the user the PM at the end of this post.

We really need you to report such posts, so users can be directed to external supports that can help them in a far greater capacity than we can. It is important that the community help look out for one another and ensure that the charter is being followed in order to put this thread on a safe and sustainable footing. If the guidelines are being broken, unfortunately this thread will have to be deleted permanently.

So on behalf of the mods, thanks in advance, chat and enjoy!

Hi <user>,
Please know that you do not have to deal with this on your own.

We encourage people experiencing difficulties to talk to someone they trust and, if appropriate, to go to their GP. If you need help urgently and outside of GP hours, please go to your nearest A&E department.

Here at Boards.ie our moderators are not trained to support people experiencing difficulties. There are other organisations better positioned to provide specialised support. These organisations are listed below. We hope that you will follow these up so that you can get the help and support you need.

If you need immediate help:
Aware’s Support Line is open 7 days per week, 10am-10pm on 1800 80 48 48

The Samaritan’s phone line is open 24/7 on 116 123

Pieta offer one-to-one, face-to-face support. Click 'Contact us' to find the phone number and opening hours of your nearest branch on their site or email mary@pieta.ie for advice on getting an appointment.

If you need non-urgent help:
Aware have a support email service at supportmail@aware.ie

There are some other useful services that you can use also listed here.

Kurtosis

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS (taken from the Personal Issues forum sticky)


Suicide

turn2me.org - online mental health community providing peer and professional support to people in distress.

Pieta House - Suicide and Self Harm Crisis Centre, providing services for those who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm. Contact information for your local Pieta House can be found here.

National Office for Suicide Prevention - information and signposting resource regarding suicide in Ireland. NOSP is not a crisis support service.


Finding a Counsellor/Therapist/Psychologist

The Psychology forum has an excellent sticky thread on How to find a Counsellor/Therapist/Psychologist which can be found here.


Depression / Mental Health

Samaritans Ireland - (116 123) - 24 hour support organisation for anybody going through a difficult period of their life. You can also contact your local branch of Samaritans.

GROW - (1890 474 474) - mental health organisation which helps people who have suffered, or are suffering, from mental health problems. Grow also hold regular meetings throughout Ireland.

GROW Young Adult - resources specifically to help the needs of young adults.

Aware - (1800 80 48 48) - service for people who experience depression and concerned family and friends of those suffering from depression.

Shine - national organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and addressing the needs of all those affected by mental ill health.

Pieta House - Suicide and Self Harm Crisis Centre, providing services for those who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm. Contact information for your local Pieta House can be found here.

Mental Health Ireland - Information Service on issues relating to mental health and mental illness.

[URL=" http:/www.irish-counselling.ie/"]IACP[/URL] - Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy. Provides services to help you to find a therapist in your area.

(help for those under 18 years of age)

ReachOut - services aimed towards providing mental health information to help young people get through tough times.

Childline Ireland - (1800 66 66 66) - free and confidential support organisation for anybody under 18. They provide telephone, SMS and online chat services with those who can help.

Teenline - (1800 83 33 64) - freephone helpline for young adults.

Gremlinertia

Thanks Penguin, good to be home again.

Turtle_

Good to have this back!

*breathes sigh of relief*

Shall we do introductions seeing as it's been a while?

I'm the poster formerly known as scrimshanker. I closed that account because... I can't remember why

I'm late 20s, in Dublin, female, hopefully not too scary and I seem to have the labels of GAD and MDD...

I'm also around for a chat, should anyone want to chat

Lots of smileys for a depression thread!

Hugo Stiglitz

Good to have the thread back!

I'm gonna take a leaf out of Turtles book and do a little introduction too.

I'm male, 30, from Waterford City. My current diagnosis is clinical depression in which anxiety plays a huge part. I've been like this for most of my life so far. Hopefully not forever though.

I really hope we can build back up the great community spirit we had here previously.

I'm Persepoly and I'm new.

It's been a long time since I struggled badly with myself but by God were they some dark times. I've never forgotten what it was like. So these days I do my best to help those who are a bit lost, or sad, or desperate, or any of the feelings which can hit us hard.

I'm glad you guys have this thread back.

Turtle_

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm Persepoly and I'm new.

It's been a long time since I struggled badly with myself but by God were they some dark times. I've never forgotten what it was like. So these days I do my best to help those who are a bit lost, or sad, or desperate, or any of the feelings which can hit us hard.

I'm glad you guys have this thread back.

Welcome

Good to hear from someone who has managed to get past these types of struggles. Gives a bit of hope I guess.

Turtle_

Turtle_ wrote: »

Welcome

Good to hear from someone who has managed to get past these types of struggles. Gives a bit of hope I guess.

Thank you Turtle.

I still have the odd wobble. Best of luck to you

Penny Tration

Not new, but more of a lurker.

Mid twenties Dublin female. Diagnosed with anxiety and bipolar. Been happily unmedicated and not in need of therapy for about a year now, which feels fantastic, although I do still stress and worry a huge amount about unimportant things!

I'll probably still lurk more than post, but thought I should at least say hello!

Joya

just thanks. it means soo much. good luck to us all

La.de.da

First off thanks to the mods and posters for getting this back up and running.

I'm a long term lurker/poster formerly heyday30. I'm female and 30 years old.

Diagnosed clinical depression(ranging moderate to severe) and GAD with 13+ years.

trixychic

It's back. I am so delighted!!!!

So I am mid 20s living in carlow. I have 2 boys (6 and 3). There is a long long history of mental illness in my family on my mum's side.

I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and thought I would be stuck with depression forever as a former psychologist told me I had hereditary depression however I recently saw a new psych who told me I don't seem to have it any more. (What a great feeling)

Atm we are going through the process of havin our eldest son tested for aspergers and the likes.... kinda feeling guilty as it will have come from my side.... almost like I gave it to him.

Other big news... My oh is training to be a truck driver. He has stayed at home for the past 6 yrs. I have been in and out of work. But he is going back to it all now in the morning.

So massive anxieties, worried about my sons and about to be completely alone during the day for the first time in 6 yrs...

Wow so glad this thread is back!!!

get a room

I resurrected my account now the new forum is back up and running.
Male 50, recovering from broken back, broken legs (surgery 3 times), Prostatitis, Prostatectomy, wife and child hit by car outside the house, 3 stents a couple of weeks ago, two revenue audits, 4 immediate relatives dying within 4 weeks, father mother and sibling in Lukes with cancer, child with auto immune disease, loss of 50% vision in right eye (accident). And other stuff, (all in the last 18/20 months.) - culminating with breakdown before Christmas.

Doing therapy, on meds, ssnri for A and D, blood pressure, cholestrol, blood thinners, ciallis, xanax, oxycontin, zolpodine.

Constant fatigue.

God its a relief posting this in A&D instead of after hours

Euphoria Intensifies

Get a room - you are some man to still be here after all that! You're obviously a very strong person.

I'm so happy this thread is back! I missed all you guys

Intro-wise, I'm a woman in my mid 20s living near Dublin. My diagnosis is a mile long, but depression, eating disorders and BPD traits are the main ones.

Turtle_

So, new meds don't seem to be working yet. They've gotten rid of the withdrawal symptoms from the other ones, but that's it. Hope they work soon. Don't want to go back to pdoc and say they aren't working again. Bit disillusioned... And now I'm out of talk therapy and it's quite lonely being just me fighting on my own.

mg1982

Great to see the new thread up and running again because we really need it.

Im male 33 from sligo and i used to post a lot but gave boards a holiday for a while.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Gremlinertia

The patience needed to deal with different meds and treatments is incredible.. Months to see if a med even suits you. I think the slowness of the process drains a lot of our will sometimes Turtle.. It was nearly three years for me to find the right balance and amounts of stuff to take.. If it doesn't feel right always head back to the doc. My talk therapy ends soon and it's really only dawned on me now and I'm terrified. Will have to see if there's anything I can put in place for myself..

Turtle_

Yeah, I kinda want to go back to the college counselling service.. But I was there a lot last year and I dunno if I'm supposed to go back seeing as it might clash technique wise...

I think I'm just freaking out a bit, and my mood just won't come up. It's always worse at night though

Gremlinertia

There's this inherent 'the world is asleep' thing about night. It can feel lonely even though it's only evening time in the states for example. The phrase "dark night of the soul" describes it well.. Can you ask the therapist if it's ok to talk to the college support?

Turtle_

Thanks Grem. Don't think I can ask about it. I might try and actually just cope with standing on my own feet for a while. I might get used to it. If I can't get used to it I guess I'll have to do something. I suppose I could email the counsellor and ask if it's okay to come back.

Gremlinertia

Mind yourself, don't struggle too hard because there's no shame in asking for some help sometimes.

Turtle_

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Mind yourself, don't struggle too hard because there's no shame in asking for some help sometimes.

Thanks. About to head off to sleep now, sorry for being so selfish. Hope you're having an okay time of it tonight.

La.de.da

mg1982 wrote: »

Great to see the new thread up and running again because we really need it.

Im male 33 from sligo and i used to post a lot but gave boards a holiday for a while.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

I remember you mg.

Welcome back.

Gremlinertia

There's no such thing as selfish here, everyone gets to rant or complain or just list things out. I like to vent things i think are miniscule here because i still have to get it off my chest.

get a room

Turtle, great idea about the introductions.

I thought Hugo was female, Parsepoly was male (no ofence intended - its was just an assumption based on ......nothing).

While I'm on here perhaps someone can advise me, I have to go Stateside shortly for a few months. Does any one know if you can get a few months supply of meds at the same time, in advance ?
I'll phone the pharmacy later, I'm just wondering if anyone else was in this position before and how did you manage?

If I can also ask, Parespoly when your posting here are you posting from a Psychotherapist perspective or as someone who had "the illness"?

get a room

get a room wrote: »

Turtle, great idea about the introductions.

I thought Hugo was female, Parsepoly was male (no ofence intended - its was just an assumption based on ......nothing).

While I'm on here perhaps someone can advise me, I have to go Stateside shortly for a few months. Does any one know if you can get a few months supply of meds at the same time, in advance ?
I'll phone the pharmacy later, I'm just wondering if anyone else was in this position before and how did you manage?

If I can also ask, Parespoly when your posting here are you posting from a Psychotherapist perspective or as someone who had "the illness"?

No offence taken

I'll post from my own personal experience and what helped me. Years of work on myself led to where I am today, but that doesn't mean I'm some kind of teflon person. We all have our struggles. I learnt how to manage mine and ultimately accept them.

get a room

Deleted User wrote: »

No offence taken

I'll post from my own personal experience and what helped me. Years of work on myself led to where I am today, but that doesn't mean I'm some kind of teflon person. We all have our struggles. I learnt how to manage mine and ultimately accept them.

Thanks for that. (I did not want to get into a debate with someone who knew what they were talking about)

Incidentally, did anyone watch any of the programs on BBC on mental health during mental health week?
I ask because one night they had an Irish Professor based in one of the research departments in a UK University. If I remember correctly, he is an expert on depression and studies / researches it. His department discovered that people with depression have a higher threshold to pain or they can put up with pain longer than someone without depression.

If I understand it right, the test has potential to see if someone is predisposed to depression rather than anxiety.

Its probably on BBC iPlayer, if you haven't seen it check it out. I have to say I thought it was great that it was the Irish who were leading the research on the subject.

Gremlinertia

Oh introductions, i'll go - i'm 37, female, in Galway, dealing with mental health issues since my teens. Have a chronic acute pain condition from an accident since i was 21..

trixychic

Well here I am... alone. Dropped oh to his school at 9, eldest to school at 9:20 and youngest at 9:30. Did everything I had planned to do before half 10... now I've to wait til 12:30 before youngest comes out of playschool... and today i had quite a bit planned.

What do mums do during the day when the kids are in school?? Apart from shopping and cleaning... there's only so much of that I can do. I'm worried that unless I find myself something I will fall back into a pit!!!!

Joya

mid age female dublinianumer : o)
as of my therapist she thinks my depression started in my early childhood and i can see why she say that..
diagnosed 3 years ago with sever clinical depression and anxiety triggered by series of traumatic real life events one after another in a short period of time..
was 2 years in intense therapy
getting out of it since last june
went cold on all meds for a month and a half now..
sober .. still alive

get a room

trixychic wrote: »

Well here I am... alone. Dropped oh to his school at 9, eldest to school at 9:20 and youngest at 9:30. Did everything I had planned to do before half 10... now I've to wait til 12:30 before youngest comes out of playschool... and today i had quite a bit planned.

What do mums do during the day when the kids are in school?? Apart from shopping and cleaning... there's only so much of that I can do. I'm worried that unless I find myself something I will fall back into a pit!!!!

I can only speak for myself. but just recently I go back to bed (lie on the sofa), if I fall asleep for an hour Im energized till about 4.

On the funny side, a long time ago (prob., before you were born) The Sunday World did an article on Mums in Bayside in Dublin. When their kids went to school they'd meet up in friends houses and drink gin and tonics till lunch time. It was the scandal of the day!!!!

Gremlinertia

Hey Trixy, downtime can be a pain, have you picked up any of the colouring books that are around?. Surprisingly engaging - pretty sure i saw they are on special in lidl/aldi thursday, i'll double check. Outside that, any hobbies you used enjoy? Is there somewhere nice to walk?. Meet/call/email friends (even if it's been a while)

trixychic

Thanks get a room... I really love the drinking g&ts during the day. What a life!!! Ha ha.

Grem I do actually have one of those colouring books. Never thought of it. I suppose I could get back into my knitting or something.

Kind of daunting. I haven't been on my own in nearly 7 yrs. It's a scary thought. Ha

Juxtapose

Hello all,

Great to see the new thread is up and running finally!

I've been doing much better. I decided to stop going to my psychotherapist as i felt he was doing more harm than good. I felt like he didn't really understand me and had a "tough love" kind of approach that may be of benefit to some people, but definitely is not a good approach for me. Deciding not to go back was a really hard choice as i had kind of depended on a weekly session and i hate to end something that i start. Inevitably I contacted him and this allowed me to close the door myself rather than run away from it.

Anyways i started to see a local counsellor, who's fee was triple that other psychotherapist. But after our first meeting, i realised that i was wasting my time and money with the other therapist. It was hard to try a different route, but i guess some approaches aren't for everyone.
This therapist understood, listened, gave feedback and ultimately made me look at things in a different light. I didn't realise until a day or two after that i was already putting this methods into practise subconciously. I realise there is no quick fix answer for this, but i've been so hard on myself lately that any positives were being forgotten, i'm trying to refocus them again.

It's not easy and i get some really bad days, but i realise that these are days that i have to go through to find whats on the other side.

Anyways i just wanted to thank people on this forum. At my darkest moments this place was a place of comfort. To know that I wasn't alone in feeling this way and that there were people of kindness that were happy to just hear a few words of my day and to read others stories, really was a light at the end of the tunnel. So thank you

I realise now that it doesn't matter how small the step is in finding a comfortable place, they all count. I feel i've made a few big steps in the last while, hopefully I'll find some dry land soon and I really hope i can share it with a few of you

Lady is a tramp

I see we're doing introductions - most of you know my story, so I'll keep it brief. I'm 30, mother to a two year old boy, and to be honest, I've been diagnosed with just about everything the past couple of years so I think now my new consultant is just wiping the slate clean and starting again!

Most significantly it now seems I have at least one personality disorder (BPD) and probably a few more, along with alcohol issues and anxiety issues and I don't even know what else. All of these mental health issues often come as part and parcel of BPD which is part of the reason it's so difficult to diagnose.

Anyways I was admitted to St Pats (again) a couple of days ago, and I think it's going to be a long stay. Hopefully will come out a new person the other side of it!

Right now I'm on no medication. I need to discuss this with my consultant, but my own feeling is that I'd like to stay off anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs etc for at least the next few weeks so that a proper accurate diagnosis can be formed. Makes sense to do it while I'm in a "safe" environment anyways.

bridgettedon

I am late twenties from Cork. I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and bpd traits. I would say I have improved a lot over the last year and a half. I did suffer a lot throughout the preceding ten years. I am at a place that I never felt possible. I feel like an actual regular human person as strange as that sounds. However I am now experiencing life without therapy for about the first time in nearly two years. It is tough as the anxiety is still there.

daithi1003

I'm having 2 root canals done next week and the dentist won't put me under I asked my doctor for something for the anxiety as I was in a car crash head on but he won't prescribe xanax or diazepam I've 9 teeth to be canaled or pulled or straightened <snip - personal info removed> if I don't get something I think anxiety will cripple me thank you for reading I'm 32yrs old

daithi1003

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Oh introductions, i'll go - i'm 37, female, in Galway, dealing with mental health issues since my teens. Have a chronic acute pain condition from an accident since i was 21..

Sorry to hear about that was in a head on myself Dr won't prescribe pain o anxiety pills and my biggest fear the dentist an he won't put me to sleep and the Dr will not give Dana's or Valium I've 8 teeth to be done next week if I don't get anything sorted I don't think I can go but the nerve pain an anxiety is eating me up within 32 Dublin

get a room

daithi1003 wrote: »

I'm having 2 root canals done next week and the dentist won't put me under I asked my doctor for something for the anxiety as I was in a car crash head on but he won't prescribe xanax or diazepam I've 9 teeth to be canaled or pulled or straightened <snip - personal info removed> if I don't get something I think anxiety will cripple me thank you for reading I'm 32yrs old

I had root canal done last year after 2 years of pain. I paid 560, the pain never went away,
Im booked in for 10 this morning to have the molar pulled. I have 4 boxes of xanax in the press. I never thought of taking a xanax,but I might take one - not for my nerves or for the pain of the proceedure but for the fact that I will have to pay again for a job that was not done right in the first place .

Can you not change dentist? My own one always offers to sedate - its an extra 160, I like to drive home so Id never bother with it.

Lady is a tramp

I've been in great form since coming into hospital and I'm just after having one of my major sudden mood swings.

Someone mentioned that mothers day is weekend after next. I realised I'll be getting nothing for mothers day - no card, no little present or flowers or chocolates, nothing. It's likely I won't even get to see my son.

And I'm so upset over it. In tears since I realised.

I did the right thing and instead of hiding in bed crying alone, I went and told a nurse how I was feeling. I don't think it helped much but my mistake in the past has been not wanting to bother staff with the little things, this time I want to do it right. If I'm having these mood swings and irrational overreactions, at least if people know it might help with my diagnosis.

Other thing upsetting me is that my previous counsellors know I'm here in hospital and don't know the circumstances about way I'm here and don't give a sh*t. I was talking to one of them on the phone earlier about a practical matter and she made it clear she wanted the conversation kept as brief and impersonal as possible and really didn't want to be talking to me at all. It really upset me, I know I f*cked up the program I was on but I thought she'd really cared about me. I just feel like I trusted her so much and now it turns out she doesn't give a crap about me after all. And my other counsellor who I was even closer to was meant to ring me yesterday and didn't - and honestly, I doubt I'll hear from her ever again, as far as they're concerned I'm in hospital now and not their problem anymore.

I just feel sick. And totally abandoned.

Joya

some days are harder than other.... just happened to be today ...

Hugo Stiglitz

Lady is a tramp wrote: »

I just feel sick. And totally abandoned.

Joya wrote: »

some days are harder than other.... just happened to be today ...

I hope you both start to feel better soon there.

Joya

thanks hugo.. i know that "this too shall pass" so its just to hang on till then : )....................

trixychic

So been running as und like a headless chicken these last few days. Think it'll take a while to get a settled routine going!!!

Sorry to hear some of you are having a difficult time. Unfortunately I probably won't be any good these next few days as it really is mental here.

But just hang in there. The Sun is shining more and more lately... that means summer is coming... that's something to look forward to. Even just sitting outside listening to the world around you basking in the Sun.... something I am really looking forward to!!!

get a room

found out what a "trigger" is, this morning, for the first time

trixychic

get a room wrote: »

found out what a "trigger" is, this morning, for the first time

Well?? What was it. I have kinda narrowed my main triggers down to my family and the mother in law.

get a room

trixychic wrote: »

Well?? What was it. I have kinda narrowed my main triggers down to my family and the mother in law.

I'll pm you about the family and mother in law - youll laugh.

Letter in brown envelope.

So I came home from work and one of the kids tells me that she thinks the dog is "special needs"............ Jesus Wept !!!!!!

mickstupp

Joya, your signature make me feel Christmassy in a good way.

Joya

mickstupp wrote: »

Joya, your signature make me feel Christmassy in a good way.

ahh so glad to hear that : )))

i love christmas btw ... those are just my dragons, over 500 of them actually

whatismyname

Can't really get into it, but difficult appointment today.

Feeling so vulnerable.

Will be ok. Negative emotions absolutely overwhelming me and would have gone into crisis in the past, but I've been doing so well, so going to pull on all my resources and cope with it.

Gremlinertia

whatismyname wrote: »

Can't really get into it, but difficult appointment today.

Feeling so vulnerable.

Will be ok. Negative emotions absolutely overwhelming me and would have gone into crisis in the past, but I've been doing so well, so going to pull on all my resources and cope with it.

Fair play to you, i hope those resources serve you well..