Anxiety and depression thread (Please read OP)

StripedBoxers

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Hmm. The system needs a lot of work alright, it's a massive loss not being able to continue with the group stuff. Is the plug definitely pulled on that?. Have you read the sticky for this forum? There's a few sites listed that offer support that perhaps you haven't thought of before..

Yeah it does, there was twelve million unspent from the MHB last year so you'd imagine that they would use some of it (at least) to employ more staff to help those who need help, but sure that'd be sensible, can't have that now can we....:rolleyes: Makes me sick. /rant

Yeah plug is definitely pulled, those groups are run by the OT dept. here, and as the two therapists run the groups between them, with only one therapist left they can no longer run the groups as they can't attend the groups, appointments, house calls etc. as she doesn't have the time (who would), hence why the groups were done by both therapists. There is two more groups starting before my therapist leaves, but not sure if they're going ahead now as she will be one half way through the groups.

What sticky is that? It's probably obvious by my brain isn't working at all the past few days.

Tell me how

StripedBoxers wrote:

What sticky is that? It's probably obvious by my brain isn't working at all the past few days.

It's the first thread on the Long Term Illness forum. Click on "Long Term Illness" at the top of the page.

I'm sorry to read of your news. Must be very upsetting.

Can you discuss alternatives with your OT in the time you've left? It is very worrying for you but hopefully will prove to be an evolution of your treatment plan rather than the end.

Gremlinertia

Also check the second thread which has some mental health related sites listed..

StripedBoxers

Tell me how wrote: »

It's the first thread on the Long Term Illness forum. Click on "Long Term Illness" at the top of the page.

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Also check the second thread which has some mental health related sites listed..

Thanks, is this the thread? http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055017579

I can't find/see the thread you mention Grem?

Tell me how wrote: »

I'm sorry to read of your news. Must be very upsetting.

Can you discuss alternatives with your OT in the time you've left? It is very worrying for you but hopefully will prove to be an evolution of your treatment plan rather than the end.

Thanks, it is worrying, especially the not knowing whether I'll have any kind of professional help/support outside of my GP.

I will need to speak with her about alternatives she did mention that there are only four other therapists in the clinic, the other occupational therapist, two psychologists and a CBT Therapist.

The other OT is out as she isn't taking on any more clients as she can't with her current caseload so my only option is CBT or psychology and I'd have a better chance of getting psychology than I would CBT.

Last year before Xmas I applied for counselling in primary care which is eight sessions of counselling over twelve weeks but I haven't heard back and the waiting list is over a year so I wouldn't be seeing them until next year, and they are for emergency cases apparently.

Aside from that there is nothing. I can't afford to go privately either, at €180 a session I won't be going that route without a lottery win anyway.

bridgettedon

StripedBoxers wrote: »

Thanks, is this the thread? http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055017579

I can't find/see the thread you mention Grem?

Thanks, it is worrying, especially the not knowing whether I'll have any kind of professional help/support outside of my GP.

I will need to speak with her about alternatives she did mention that there are only four other therapists in the clinic, the other occupational therapist, two psychologists and a CBT Therapist.

The other OT is out as she isn't taking on any more clients as she can't with her current caseload so my only option is CBT or psychology and I'd have a better chance of getting psychology than I would CBT.

Last year before Xmas I applied for counselling in primary care which is eight sessions of counselling over twelve weeks but I haven't heard back and the waiting list is over a year so I wouldn't be seeing them until next year, and they are for emergency cases apparently.

Aside from that there is nothing. I can't afford to go privately either, at €180 a session I won't be going that route without a lottery win anyway.

That wait for counselling in primary care is outrageous. Is there any pieta house near where you live. There are some low cost counselling around the place usually for 20 to 30 euro.

StripedBoxers

bridgettedon wrote: »

That wait for counselling in primary care is outrageous. Is there any pieta house near where you live. There are some low cost counselling around the place usually for 20 to 30 euro.

Yeah it is, and its getting longer.

There are two low-cost counselling places near me, however the counsellors are not professionally trained or qualified in anyway.

I called into one of them before (its when I realised they were untrained) and they would not be somewhere I would be going back to in a hurry anyway. A friend went to the other place and from what she's said about them and having waited in the reception area for her more than once, I definitely wouldn't be going there anyway.

Both were highly unprofessional, and I wouldn't feel in the slightest bit comfortable attending either places.

Aside from those places there is only aware, and I wouldn't feel comfortable just yet going there, I prefer going to the MHGs run by the occupational therapists if I am honest.

Gremlinertia

Coincidentally i have been looking into accreditation for therapists and it's still largely a mess but there is a framework in place. When i'm on my home computer i'll see what i had. Aware is usually well managed but private counselling services are tricky, the old saying 'if it seems too good to be true it probably is' stands true..

StripedBoxers

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Coincidentally i have been looking into accreditation for therapists and it's still largely a mess but there is a framework in place. When i'm on my home computer i'll see what i had. Aware is usually well managed but private counselling services are tricky, the old saying 'if it seems too good to be true it probably is' stands true..

To my knowledge in Ireland (not sure about elsewhere) anyone can call themselves a counsellor, with or without training and/or qualifications, however to be a therapist you are required to have training and a qualification.

Thanks Grem, I'd really appreciate that Yeah if it is too good to be true it usually is IMO.

Gremlinertia

Yeah we're not up to speed here yet, so anyone can do a six week course and call themselves a counsellor, in fact iirc there was recently an article in the indo or the times about the dangers of this.. Iacp.ie is a decent enough resource but there is a group in place that will have strict qualifications for accreditation. As it happens i've been looking at study in this area and realistically i'm looking at doing four years.

Psychotherapy and Counselling in Ireland today is complex. Unfortunately it is not formally regulated yet. However there are two main bodies which oversee the work of trained therapists and counsellors. In my opinion one is all that's required because it's a bit messy and complicated for anyone trying to understand the structure and requirements for membership.


First we have the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Established in 1981 their purpose is to "identify, develop, and maintain professional standards of excellence in counselling and psychotherapy" (IACP) In order to be considered for accreditation by them you need to undergo stringent training and clinical work. This amounts to 450 hours of client work and supervision.


Next up is the Irish Association for Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy. These are similar to the above in that they act as a professional body in Ireland for setting and maintaining standards in humanistic and integrative psychotherapy. IAHIP also require clinical hours completed and many hoops to have been jumped through. Bye Law 11 on there website will tell you in detail.


Simply put these two bodies do the same thing. Look after the standards, ethical considerations and professionalism of therapy in Ireland. When looking for a therapist it's really important that that you find one who is accredited or who is in the process of accreditation to one or all of the above.


Don't be afraid to ask the therapist about their training background. Courses worth their salt require students to undergo professional therapy themselves as well as reaching a high academic standard. In fact I think in order to be accredited today you need to be educated to masters level. Now I'm not sure about this. It's only applicable to those seeking accreditation from 2011 I think. I may be wrong. The whole thing is so messy.


Grem, be prepared to put yourself through the emotional ringer in order to become a psychotherapist. You must do a series of suitability interviews as well as having every piece of you taken apart and analysed by your trainers. They will want you to plunge your emotional depths and develop a heightened sense of self-awareness. This is so so necessary because if you don't know all of your own crap inside out and have faced it head on then there is no way you will be able to sit in the therapeutic space with another person. It's a long road. Both emotionally and academically. Really research it before you take the leap.

mansize

Everything today seem to sending me off
Can't cope

Tell me how

mansize wrote: »

Everything today seem to sending me off
Can't cope

Sorry to hear that. It's annoying how no matter how hard you try, some days everything seems to go wrong.

Anything in particular that has you feeling low today?

Hugo Stiglitz

mansize wrote: »

Everything today seem to sending me off
Can't cope

Sorry to hear that, Mansize.

Talk things out with us here. We're happy to listen and help.



Myself, I'm physically ill the last few days. The mood has dropped a good bit too. This is just silly, but the mind always does its own thing.

mansize

Ah just everything has me on edge, slept all day yesterday, then woke at 8pm annoyed at sleeping all day.

Today got up at 9, hard getting through the day, stuff on internet annoying me, them mam calls starts asking about my meds....

Just really on edge atm

Hugo Stiglitz

mansize wrote: »

Ah just everything has me on edge, slept all day yesterday, then woke at 8pm annoyed at sleeping all day.

Today got up at 9, hard getting through the day, stuff on internet annoying me, them mam calls starts asking about my meds....

Just really on edge atm

*bro-hugs*

This will pass, Mansize. Just got to ride it out in the meanwhile. Is there anything you can do to take your mind off things there?

Tell me how

mansize wrote: »

Ah just everything has me on edge, slept all day yesterday, then woke at 8pm annoyed at sleeping all day.

Today got up at 9, hard getting through the day, stuff on internet annoying me, them mam calls starts asking about my meds....

Just really on edge atm

They are all very irritating stressors. The sleep one is so annoying because as everybody will tell you, you need to sleep yet when you try to get it at night, your body sometimes refuses to let you nod off but then when it comes to getting up for the day, it decides to shutdown. So frustrating.
Stuff on the internet annoying you, is it something you can avoid?
Your mam asking about your meds, I'm willing to bet it's because she cares about you. I know it's difficult but I'm sure she's doing it out of love.

Do you have a therapist you can discuss your frustrations with? Some people find that writing them down can help as it takes it outside of the mind and something that can be challenged.

Hope things improve.

bridgettedon

I'm looking for jobs in the area that I want to pursue and even that is filling me with anxiety. I think I will put off looking for a job for another few months. I don't think I could handle the pressure of a fast paced, demanding (to me) job.

In regards to the discussion of accreditation of counselors it really is a minefield. It's hard to know who has the relevant qualifications. A bad therapist will do more harm than good. It's also hard because there is no where to find recommendations for a therapist. Also I find people will say if there are any issues, that you weren't suited to the therapist etc rather than say the therapist is bad at their job. I think that could be said in general about mental health care.

Mr Diggler

Was posting in the after hours thread but found this and after reading a few pages I see so many who are going through the same thing. This is what I posted in after hours, im a 29 year old male btw.

Had suffered a terrible bout of depression after Christmas for the first time in my life. Really scary how withdrawn and reclusive I became. Also had no interest in anything and had a feeling of emptyness and hopelessness. I began to obsess about illness and death. I began to feel worthless and my self esteem hit rock botom. I lost my interest in sex with my fiancee, didnt have sex for months. God luck to my fiancee but she has been really supportive since in confided in her. Thankfully the last month I have been feeling alot better, however the last few days ive had the repetitive thoughts, the feelings of emptyness and hopelessness again. Im really fearful now that im going to relapse, im on anti-depressants and have other tablets for anxiety if I need them. Is it normal for people to feel ok for a while and then have 4 or 5 days of relapse? I have worked so hard to get feeling better I dont want to go back to square one.

Tell me how

Mr Diggler wrote:

Had suffered a terrible bout of depression after Christmas for the first time in my life. Really scary how withdrawn and reclusive I became. Also had no interest in anything and had a feeling of emptyness and hopelessness. I began to obsess about illness and death. I began to feel worthless and my self esteem hit rock botom. I lost my interest in sex with my fiancee, didnt have sex for months. God luck to my fiancee but she has been really supportive since in confided in her. Thankfully the last month I have been feeling alot better, however the last few days ive had the repetitive thoughts, the feelings of emptyness and hopelessness again. Im really fearful now that im going to relapse, im on anti-depressants and have other tablets for anxiety if I need them. Is it normal for people to feel ok for a while and then have 4 or 5 days of relapse? I have worked so hard to get feeling better I dont want to go back to square one.

The cyclical pattern of depression is what a lot of people experience. There can be a general trend upwards/downwards over some weeks or months with more dramatic fluctuations within that period which are often as short a duration as a few hours long or lasting days at a time as you have experienced.

I think it's important to not react too quickly to the shorter periods. Of course we'd like to act and overcome those downturns immediately but that might not be the best course of action. Having a Dr or Psychiatrist who we trust to make decisions on out behalf is the best position to be in, in my opinion.

One thing I found very useful in the past was to score my mood level each day from 1-10. 1 being very very bad and 10 being exceptionally good. For example on days where I didn't get out of bed until maybe 9 or 10 at night and had dark thoughts all day were a 2. Over a couple of weeks or a month this made it very easy to see a pattern which my medical team found helpful. It was less subjective than describing something from memory.

You've done very well and can also count yourself lucky in a couple of ways, having a supportive partner is huge, having had some success with meds is positive as well. I think you recognize this which is good to see.

Welcome to the thread, lots of people find it very supportive and I'm sure you'll find lots of kind words here.

Hugo Stiglitz

Welcome to the thread, Mr Diggler

Euphoria Intensifies

Hey guys, hope you're all having an okay evening. Sending positive vibes x

bridgettedon

bridgettedon wrote: »

I'm looking for jobs in the area that I want to pursue and even that is filling me with anxiety. I think I will put off looking for a job for another few months. I don't think I could handle the pressure of a fast paced, demanding (to me) job.

In regards to the discussion of accreditation of counselors it really is a minefield. It's hard to know who has the relevant qualifications. A bad therapist will do more harm than good. It's also hard because there is no where to find recommendations for a therapist. Also I find people will say if there are any issues, that you weren't suited to the therapist etc rather than say the therapist is bad at their job. I think that could be said in general about mental health care.

Look at the websites of the two organisations I mentioned in my post. They have lists of accredited therapists. Just like other professionals therapists can be ineffective and not very good in their role. Just keep in mind that it's a co-relational experience.

Tell me how

Been quietish here over the last few days. Hope that's a good sign for all.

StripedBoxers

Been and up and down week for me. Good news is because my OT is leaving her referral for me to see their psychologist was accepted so I am now on a waiting list, so I don't need to see that other doctor now for a referral thank god as I've seen him several times and he only ever gives prescriptions.

Feeling a bit lost with my OT leaving, as I won't have any professional help/support until I start counselling with the psychologist and that won't be for a year at least.

Hope everyone is doing good x

Tell me how

Well that's good news. Obviously the length of the waiting time isn't ideal but it is good you got the referral.

I used to find that even making an appointment gave me an uplift as it felt like I was being proactive and that this next one might be the one where it all started to get better.

Hopefully the appointment won't be as long as you think.

bridgettedon

I know sometimes there are reports on waiting lists for hospitals. Is there anything on pysch services? It seems some parts of the country have extremely long waiting lists. I have usually waited a max of 3 months on a waiting list. Something needs to be done.

Gremlinertia

I try to take a week off in may every year.. Every single time for the last five or more years I've come down with a heavy chest cold.. Back to work tomorrow and just feeling crap now.

Hugo Stiglitz

Gremlinertia wrote: »

I try to take a week off in may every year.. Every single time for the last five or more years I've come down with a heavy chest cold.. Back to work tomorrow and just feeling crap now.

Same here, Grem. I was out all week due to being ill. I've got the Sunday Night Blues x10 here now.

Gremlinertia

Being sick throughout a week's holidays is just cruel. I did manage two good days early on but i couldn't leave my bed at all thursday with fever and muscle pains. Poop.. Think pints are in order.

Hugo Stiglitz

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Being sick throughout a week's holidays is just cruel. I did manage two good days early on but i couldn't leave my bed at all thursday with fever and muscle pains. Poop.. Think pints are in order.

Treat yourself, G!