Depression.

Hi snoopy1,

how are things going recently for you? :) 

Hello Haze24....I struggled to sleep last night,I woke around 1.30am and i couldn't get back to sleep...Ive been signed off work by my GP for 6 weeks and i am struggling the will to live right now...Today i had 2 panic attacks,I am trying to speak to my family but its hard just putting 1 sentence together..I know my illness won't be solved overnight but its getting to me now...Thanks for asking Haze24..

Hi Snoopy,

Well done on admitting that you were struggling and going to your GP. I too thought that I was coping but in the end I acknowledged that I wasn't and accepted help.

I was in such a dark, lonely ,frightening place before acknowledging I couldn't do it on my own any longer. The turning point was when I started thinking how easy it would be to walk out in to traffic. That realization frightened me. I too was diagnosed with anxiety depression. 

 In my darkest days I never ever thought that I would ever be happy or even truly laugh again. 

It has been a long journey but I am in such a wonderful place now. You too will get to where you need to be ; in time.

It won't happen quickly in fact you will have some good days followed by bad days. 2 steps forward ,3 steps back but stick with it.

When you feel that you have given it all you have got , dig deeper.

In time you will have more good days than bad days.

Don't beat yourself up for feeling down. Don't be over critical of yourself.

Set aside some time just for "you'; even if it is for 5 minutes. Do something that you want to do.

Embrace all the help available .

Talking helped me ,along with medication which, although didn't take away what was making me ill but it helped me to think with a clearer mind enabling me to focus on my issues.

Delve deep to discover what is making you ill.

Work out coping strategies when the anxiety/low mood starts. Don't allow it to eat in to your mind.

Breathing exercises not only helped to calm me down when feeling anxious but it also mad me focus on that instead of my panic/anxiety. I still to this day concentrate on my breathing to calm me down in stressful situations.

Being told that you have depression is the start of the road to recovery; look at it as the beginning to an end.

You really can get better; your life will be full of laughter and happiness.

Taking an active part on this group will help you on your journey.

Little by little, day by day.

Big hugs x

Pleased to meet everyone & hope we can have chat who ever fancys taking time out to have a little chat :)

iv suffered with Depression & anxiety for nearly 19 yrs now

Hi hun no worries, sending hugs, sorry its been difficult it does in theory get better though hun, just got to be patient and kind to yourself :) xx

You are so lucky to have a supportive partner,,,mine is so cold and uncaring,,I just feel sad and lonely 'ALL THE TIME' night and day....its just like one long dark endless day...I am so tired now and weary off everything...no help from doctor....so like many off us I try to cope as best I CAN....I think we all do... you know that dark lonely empty isolated place we go at our worst......its not isolated or empty at all.......millions off us are there in the darkness......I have been a depressive for as long as I can remember....and I;m 67 now........we are special we just don't know how 'special we are' blessings xxx

Hi im new to the group im 42 and struggling with depression since my early teens, i only seek help 3 years ago and on meds. Im not great at talking im very quiet so im hoping this will help some way. Im not very good at spelling i left school at early age so i hope ye dont think a 12 year old is writing this

So much for "our wonderful NHS"!!!I suffer from severe depression. In February this year, my G.P. referred me to the local Mental Health Team for CBT/Cat therapy (thank God, he prescribed me with anti-depressants himself, else I'd be six feet under by now!) Finally got a call from the Mental Health Team person at end of June- i.e. 5 months later!!- to offer me an appointment with one of their counsellors, which I accepted.  Fast forward to day of appointment, last week. Horrrendous traffic etc. so I was 15 mins late. Apologised, of course, but unsympathetic so- called "therapist" said she wouldn't be able to see me as I was late; she was discharging me, and I'd have to get my GP to re-refer me before I'd be seen again by their "service". My husband, who had seen the state I was in when feeling suicidal, is furious, but there's nothing we can do!!! Some "healthcare" system....!

Hi I don't really know what to say here to be honest. I've been reading everyone's comments and it seems like everyone goes to their GP or takes medication and I struggle to understand where the ability to go to the doctor comes from. I can't even talk to my family about it and I feel like if I go to a GP they wont understand. I don't want them to think that I'm just trying to get attention. 

Hi Shazam, For a long time I continually told others and myself that "I was fine and no i didn't need to go to the GP as I wasn't depressed".

 I have never been in such a lonely, dark frightening place as how I felt then. I wasn't one to go to the GP for anything as I was of the 'it will sort itself out or I could sort it out" mentality.

The turning point for me was when I thought how easy it would be for me to walk out in front of traffic. That frightened me enough to realize that I needed help. I hadn't even met my male GP and was so anxious about going but deep down I felt that it was the only option other than suicide. The GP was amazing and once I had said that family/friends were all saying that I needed help and then telling him what had been going on he was the one then asking the questions. He then led the consultation and listened to me. He really was understanding/sympathetic. My now ex was a patient at the same surgery and he was diagnosed at the time as being delusional /psychotic. He was the reason for my anxiety depression. We had been married for 30 years when he started living a double life.

I was offered counselling but declined it. I did however accept medication. No, it doesn't solve your issues/illness but it made my mind less frantic enabling me to focus on those issues .I was diagnosed with anxiety depression.

The medication helps to get the chemical imbalance back in sync,  in time; but the real work has to come from you. You really have to be totally open/honest/accepting of the advice and embrace it 100%.

Take time out for you; do simple things that you enjoy/enjoyed doing; walking, listening to music; anything that in turn will release your "happy hormones' thus working side by side with your medication if prescribed.

Delve deep and discover what is at the root of your illness; then work on it.

Please never think that your GP won't understand or ever think that you are wasting their time.

You have already taken the first step in realizing that you are unwell and actually need help. That is the start of your recovery/healing.

Your next step should be to your GP.

Why put off feeling so dreadful/unhappy etc when you can start the healing process now? Life is so short and precious and when you are well you too will come to realize this .

Don't expect peace within yourself immediately as it will take time. Look at it with a 2 steps forward 3 steps back attitude. 

Little by little ,day by day.

Talking is the real answer . Talk ,talk and talk some more.

Keep posting as you can really benefit from chatting on here; we can all be the family that you feel that you can't talk too because we all understand how it feels both emotionally, physically and mentally. You don't even have to face us personally.

Let us know how you get on at the GP. It really isn't as hard as you think it will be ;honestly. 

xxx