Anxiety and depression thread (Please read OP)

123sheepdip

One More Toy wrote: »

Income protection denied by Irish life as expected. So ****ing mad I can't believe it

That's cruel. On what basis was it denied may I ask ?

Red Lightning

BohsCeltic wrote:

Feeling really low. Last night i did for the first time in my life think about ending it all. It was only a thought though.

SMC92Ian wrote:

I was gonna do it last Friday but I dunno I just didn't... the Manic Street Preachers stopped me I guess as they were here Sunday and seeing them as on my bucket list of things, anyways it's a scary road to go down. Try nip that early before you end up like me. You do not want suicide always on your mind.

Keep fighting. The night is always darkest before the dawn.

One More Toy

123sheepdip wrote: »

That's cruel. On what basis was it denied may I ask ?

I have no idea yet

One More Toy

banie01 wrote: »

Lads sorry to hear that Irish Life have refused the claims.

Be sure to be aware of their appeal timelines.
Also as part of their appeal process Irish Life are supposed to forward you the medical rationale for their decision.

Be sure to get it, base your appeal solely on that info.
Have your treating doc or specialist write you a report refuting the IL stance and submit it.
Try not to get it swept up in an appeal to emotion or motive in your appeal.

As horrible as it sounds, Irish Life are relying on specific "facts" in their refusal to allow your claims.
You need to refute those facts as they lay them out in their rationale and avoid making it a personal battle.

It really isn't personal, the claim for Irish Life is a box ticking exercise, it does not matter to them how much it will affect the claimant.
Only that the claimant meets the criteria laid out in their policy for payment on disablement.

Excuse the language but they are a pack of *****


My therapist said today it's OK to get angry

banie01

One More Toy wrote: »

Excuse the language but they are a pack of *****


My therapist said today it's OK to get angry

It is

I've long and hard experience with Irish Life and the one main piece of advice I'd give is this.

Use the anger as a motivator, use it to give you a focus and an aimpoint, but don't personalize that anger.
You are dealing with a company not a person, not someone who will be swayed by your anger or your story.
Winning involves ticking enough of their boxes that they acquiesce and accept that you are not in a position to work.

SMC92Ian

Red Lightning wrote: »

Keep fighting. The night is always darkest before the dawn.

Nearly a year, that's some night. :pac:

123sheepdip

Feeling deflated. Have had trouble getting to sleep since I started on the Anti-Anxiety meds. Since Feb I have relied on sleeping tabs which is not ideal obviously even though I was only taking half a tab at night. I never had an issue with sleeping before all this. Eventuallty I switched to Meletonin but it only worked on the first night and not since so back to the sleeping meds. Now the psyc has prescribed Trazodone - slept well on first night (Monday) albeit interrupted and thought I'd cracked it. But no sleep was forthcoming last night.... getting seriously worried now as I'm trying my best to function as normally as possible and get back to work. But I feel stuck in a holding pattern until the sleep gets sorted.

Gremlinertia

Sleep is a problem for me too, then I get worried about sleep, then I can't sleep because of the worry. I have found listening to some things useful, David Attenborough etc. However it's a difficult problem. My sympathies

BohsCeltic

My best friend called to me earlier after i told him about my feelings. He was off work today so had time for me. Had some tea in my home, took my dogs out for a walk with him then went and had some food.

Now my friend has a Daughter with a really rare disease but he found the time to come to me. That's how i know i am not a bad person. I have many friends and much family who think so much of me.

And he also told me never to try contact my ex again.
GP in the morning and going to bring letter from Irish Life to show her.

We have to fight for everything in this country. My friend had to go on TV , Radio e.t.c to get help for his Daughter to get a medicine not available here.

He fought and won and she is now still alive and improving.

My Sister is still fighting about my Nephew who has ASD. They are borrowing money they can ill afford just to get him private because of waiting lists.

Well that's my rant over

BohsCeltic

banie01 wrote: »

It is

I've long and hard experience with Irish Life and the one main piece of advice I'd give is this.

Use the anger as a motivator, use it to give you a focus and an aimpoint, but don't personalize that anger.
You are dealing with a company not a person, not someone who will be swayed by your anger or your story.
Winning involves ticking enough of their boxes that they acquiesce and accept that you are not in a position to work.

Well i am going to fight it. It just adds more stress though. Stress i do not need.

I am not fit to work for sure. And that's according to my own GP and work GP.

Not going to let this go.

Gremlinertia

Bohs I am so glad you have support around you. I'm also lucky with support even though I sometimes push it away they are always there.

TG1

Sheepdip, I had serious problems sleeping when I started on meds. It took about three months to initially level off and every time I upped the dose I had a bad sleep week after. Even recently when I went down a dose I struggled the first few nights.

There are things on YouTube called "sleep stories" that I find brilliant. I listen to them now if I'm struggling. There is one read by Stephen fry that I have yet to hear the end of its so soothing!

123sheepdip

Thanks TG1 . I've downloaded some meditation music - I have a fan on in the room for white noise . I think my first meds were the problem but now I think I'm the problem. I'm trying to keep negative thoughts/ intrusive music caused by the anxiety at bay. So it's a vicious circle as I get more stressed trying to do this..I hate this condition so much .

One More Toy

123sheepdip wrote: »

Thanks TG1 . I've downloaded some meditation music - I have a fan on in the room for white noise . I think my first meds were the problem but now I think I'm the problem. I'm trying to keep negative thoughts/ intrusive music caused by the anxiety at bay. So it's a vicious circle as I get more stressed trying to do this..I hate this condition so much .

Good app called Relaxio which allows you to produce white noise on your phone

TG1

It's so so hard. Even now when I'm really on the up I still every single night have to purposely slow my breathing and talk myself out of a cycle of thoughts that will get me no where.

Work is a huge trigger for me so I sit down every night before I sleep and allow myself 20 minutes of stressing where I write down everything I think of that I need to sort tomorrow. Then I do some breathing and stop the thoughts.

But it has taken me since September 2017 to train myself to do that and it's only working really well in the last month or so. it's a long hard slog of a road we all travel, but just remember you are not on it alone xxx

Red Lightning

How is everyones diet, focus and exercise regimes?

BohsCeltic

Red Lightning wrote: »

How is everyones diet, focus and exercise regimes?

I can barely eat sometimes. Exercise is just walking my dogs if i can motivate myself.
Focus is just to try getting back to the old me.

Have GP at 9am and wide awake now. Afraid if i sleep i will miss appointment but i know i need some sleep.

One More Toy

BohsCeltic wrote: »

I can barely eat sometimes. Exercise is just walking my dogs if i can motivate myself.
Focus is just to try getting back to the old me.

Have GP at 9am and wide awake now. Afraid if i sleep i will miss appointment but i know i need some sleep.

Good luck at the GP bohs

SMC92Ian

For years now I cannot go to bed until I'm tired so I can sleep, if I go to bed when I don't feel sleepy I won't sleep. And I have to have the TV on.

Red Lightning

Diet and exercise are a major role in overall well being. Eating the right amount of good quality, nutritious food for your activity levels and goals. Also, lots of exercise to get the feel good chemicals pumping through your brain. It's also help improve confidence. It's not easy when you're not in good form but you start by making small positive changes and building them up.

BohsCeltic

Well i made it to my GP. She is referring me to a psychologist to fight back against Irish life.
Also changed my medication to Sertraline and prescribed a protein supplement too.

She wanted to do a blood test but i refused as i was so anxious and also had been drinking last night. Need to stop this shi*.

SMC92Ian

Sitting at home setting up an Xbox when doorbell goes... Uncle has an hour left to live out of the blue.

BohsCeltic

SMC92Ian wrote: »

Sitting at home setting up an Xbox when doorbell goes... Uncle has an hour left to live out of the blue.

Oh so sorry to hear that. My own Mother is with my Aunt in hospital now. My Mother is 75 and recovery from a stroke but still finds the power to be with her Sister while she get's treatment for cancer.

I wish i was as strong as she is.

Gremlinertia

SMC92Ian wrote: »

Sitting at home setting up an Xbox when doorbell goes... Uncle has an hour left to live out of the blue.

I'm so sorry. Very sudden news for you.

One More Toy

SMC92Ian wrote: »

Sitting at home setting up an Xbox when doorbell goes... Uncle has an hour left to live out of the blue.

Such crappy news to receive 😣

One More Toy

Has anyone here had any experience of ECT/shock therapy?

jaxxx

One More Toy wrote: »

Has anyone here had any experience of ECT/shock therapy?

The very thought of it petrifies me. It's always been something at the back of my mind, but the risk of potential memory loss... don't even want to think of it. My head's like a sieve at the best of times. I'd also be interested to hear anyone that does have experience with it though. The same with hypnosis, is it a fad or is it actually beneficial?

vmb

jaxxx wrote: »

The very thought of it petrifies me. It's always been something at the back of my mind, but the risk of potential memory loss... don't even want to think of it. My head's like a sieve at the best of times. I'd also be interested to hear anyone that does have experience with it though. The same with hypnosis, is it a fad or is it actually beneficial?

Uff... that is so scaring... I've failed on every single antidepressant medication during 3 years and I ran out of options, but that's... too much.

As I also have ms the idea of frying my brain is completely disgusting.

Before doing that, I would research about ketamine infusions, I think is not yet available here on Ireland tough, but is very promising.

I am on oral ketamine for neuropathic pain, but the dose dose I'm on is so low that the anti depressant effect is negligible.

I'm not an expert, but I think shock therapy is something you do not want to know:(.

Skybirdjb

Don't know how I feel tonight just weird
My brain doesn't make sense at all

One More Toy

Skybirdjb wrote: »

Don't know how I feel tonight just weird
My brain doesn't make sense at all

How so? What are you thinking?