General Chat

great point ann

Thanks Liz - I'm just great this morning!
Morning all, or good afternoon, I'm sitting under my SADD light, it's a very dreary day and 20 mins under the light, while on the puter, helps. My depression is always worst in the winter months. My family know when I am feeling good as the fragrance of baking emanates from my kitchen.!! Because all 7 of us are on a gluten-free diet it's hard to find tasty cookies/biscuits which the kids will eat. I visited the bulk food shop on the w/e and came home with coconut flour (new to me) and followed their recipe. The children loved them, unfortunately we've run out now!!
Been to the garden centre and restocked with some house plants ( and had a few more from Freecycle - love that site almost as much as Flylady.) I have wide window sills in this house, and can indulge my love of greenery. When I saw this house I just KNEW it was for me, an old (for Canada) century house, which has been divided into an upper and lower duplex. We moved here in November, love the area, lots of walking trails alongside the Welland canal (which joins Lakes Erie and Ontario for shipping). On good days I go down by the canal and walk myself and the aging corgi who would rather sleep!!
Thinking of those who are considering Dr's appts today, there is an aura of caring around you, you are being supported. Please let us know you are OK.

{{{{{Hugs}}}}}
Mary

Carolina, hope you're OK.
{{{{{Hugs}}}}}
Mary

I take fluxoxetine 40mg a day ,bad thing depression,
silent killer.
Dx

I'm on 150mg of Venlafaxine a day but will shortly be cutting back to 75mg. My GP let's me do this cos he knows that I know when I'm going "down"

Afternoon All...

Leading on from my post this morning, the day's still bright n cheerful for me making this one of my 'good' days. On days like this I think to myself 'Why do I have the bad days' but I know that depression works in that way...no 2 days are alike. Had an ok for a Monday day at work, busy but bearable n have made that appointment for the GP, actually I pinched my OH's appointment because I couldn't get one sooner, so I now have his which is Thursday at 4.20.....So....that's me on the way to the first rung of the ladder of a positive n new me.

I really do hope everyone else is having a good day today.

Thanks again for this thread....it's going to be a lifeline for many.

Julie :o)xxx

Good for you Jules, proud of you. I have to say you sound very positive, pinching husbands appointment indeed, shows you really mean it, the sooner the better. Be proud of yourself and I hope you have given others encouragement to make an appointment for themselves. I think you are the first to report back with good news.

Caz xx

good for you Julie - ladies first and all that!!

Hi Caz...
Hi Anne...

I'm feeling very positive about it. I needed that initial 'get it off my chest' time when this thread appeared...I was/am at breaking point when I have my 'bad days' n I knew I HAD to do something about it before IT done something about me!

As Anne knows, I have something else I need to see the Dr about which is worring me n I'm ready to face that too....no good trying to forget things, dealing with it is the only way to stop the demons working overtime n making life harder to deal with.

I hope By talking openly about my issues it helps others open up & make a positve move too. Generally I'm more of a giver in life than a taker n to help someone out in turn helps me out, not physically but mentally. When I first joined GR 4 years ago I help out a few folk n even found a members son n daughter he hadn't seen since they were toddlers, they kept in touch n were so grateful, but unfortunatly we slowly lost contact. Was a wonderful feeling I got from that.....

I do tend to forget myself n put others first, having children young made sure of that but I now know that's not good for you.......we all need some ME time to listen to our bodies n do what we know needs to be done.

So to everyone, including myself, be strong, think positive n do what needs to be done to allow you to be the person you were meant to be.......we all deserve that.

:o)xxx

Thanks for that Jules, It would help you to write down things as well, if you are like me your mind will go blank, I sat there like an idiot with my hubby doing the talking. Even now when I see doctor I forget to tell her things and only remember when I get home, yes I do write it down but leave that at home as well.
I think by doing this today you will have helped a lot of people to think about getting some help. Would you keep us informed of your progress as encouragement for us all, I keep slipping back and it's nice to hear of others success. Well done.

Caz xx

You are wrong about the rung of the ladder, you are going to the second, the first was when you wrote on this thread.

Well done Jules, you sound really positive. i hope the doctor's appointment sort out your problems and that you are able to stay positive.
take care
Ann
Glos x

Hi All!
I've been away...in the Yemen so have only just seen this thread.

My Son is on 80mg of Fluoxentine daily which I feel is alot but to be fair he doesn't take that amount regularly as he says it gives him "trippy dreams" but thats what has been prescribed. He goes to work everyday and get on with life very well at the moment.
Hasn't always been that way though. He made a few cries for help one of which put him in ICU for ten days after he drank anti freeze....still can't understand how the Doctors call that a cry for help. It's taken 4 years to get an appointment with a Psychologist which is what they said he needed at the begining and he only got that because he got into trouble with the police through drink and putting me in A&E. I don't have any faith in the medical profession...not here anyway.
I bought him a sad lamp too, he said he didn't think it made any difference but funny how he has it on every night lol. It does make a difference.

I don't pretend to know how all you good people feel but I do see and feel the effects of this terrible illness.
Jen x

n

Up until some years ago I used to get out the house at the weekends on a very regular basis, either for shopping, going to my swimming club as well as all the galas I competed in. I also had some other sporting hobbies.

Then one day my best friend said that I go out too much (spending money I didnt have).

This made me stop and from then on I have stopped going shopping, quit swimming and other sporting hobbies. My washing machine gave up the ghost and the reason I havent brought another is because I have to make an effort to get up to go to the laundrette. If I didnt do this I would stay in my flat (on the pc) all weekend and not see a soul.

In fact the only other thing that makes me get out is my trip to Kew (National Archives) or on fh research meets/trips which I love.

Yes I do work full time, but quite frankly I could happily stay in bed if I didnt have to pay the bills etc.

Work is a huge issue in my life at the moment, but I have just applied for 3 jobs and I hope I come up trumps with at least one of them.

I hate taking tablets but am happy to take these ones because I know they are making me feel a little better and hopefully life will improve in the not too distant future.

Well congratulations to you all!! Seems some have taken the bull by the horns! Others will, but need more time. I've just read through from page 11 when I last got to look, and have seen some new names. So nice to meet you all. A couple of pm which I hope I answered.
Nice to read some positive posts. If anyone wants to get in touch privately please do, I am more than happy to listen, can't promise an instant cure though!!
Good point made on here don't forget helth shop stuff can react with any medication you might be on so please becareful and check with your doctor before taking anything ! Carole xx
Love to you all

thanks for pointing out the dangers maybe of mixing health food items with prescription ones - always check with GP first

Ann XX

n

hi dave b nice to here from the men on this subject I know it's harder for men to open up. (hubbie suffers too ) good on you! this site is great because we have all had simular feelings at one time or another we all have to walk before we run. and yes there is a light at the end of the tunnel its just some B keeps turning it on and off for us! (was that a smile see your day's alittle brighter already) hang in there your not alone

OK time to admit I was in a psychiatric ward (enforced) about 30 years ago. It's not a nice place to be, all the doors were locked (except the bathrooms). I couldn't even remember my home phone number when I was allowed the pay phone.

The psychiatrist I saw wanted me to 'go back# and talk through the problems with my father which I wasn't prepared to do. I fought the system like hell and didn't get any benefit from counselling as they were fixated on my childhood and I was trying not to be.

When I was released against their advice I managed to get back to normal (whatever that is). Truly the hospital scared the life out of me and I never want to enter a psych ward again. They are no doubt more advanced nowadays but the prosepct doesn't thrill me.

I am fortunate that my doctors will see me and let me talk for an hour or more if I need to. I can rant, cry and say whatever I want and they listen and don't judge.

I miss my brothers and sister every day and as I am the only one left in my family it does get me down.
I lost another brother in 2002 and certainly didn't expect to lose everyone else so quickly. I wish I had said more to one particular brother and suffer deep regret about that. I nursed my sister in her home until she passed away (with the telephone support of my doctors) and I am glad I did. I suffered mentally for it afterwards but it gave me a tremendous focus for those weeks.

I do also have a daughter with multiple sclerosis, as many of you know, that doesn't help my mental state. Having said that she is the most positive person you could meet.

So that's my excuse for being depressed, however, I only go through black days every now and again. I will be in Tescos staring at the produce and tell my husband I can't be bothered and we leave. I am a really outgoing, confident person with a wicked sense of humour, as those who have met me will attest to, I have a job where an awful lot of people rely on my decisions and some days I don't know how I manage it.

It would be easy to give up sometimes but I don't, I am a chronic insomniac, as most of you probably are, and when the lack of sleep catches up with me I am at my worst. Hubby hides all the knives!

We are just so complex as human beings and I don't believe any professional can appreciate all our demons. That I believe is only understood by other sufferers. Thank god for this thread then.

I wish everyone the very best and hope that some comfort can be found for all of you.

Sue xx

jenny its hard being a mum. In my house we have a roller coaster ride we all suffer hubbie and I have passed it down the line we are lucky that its been only mild but its taken me 7 years to get people to look at the fact my 14 yld son (our youngest) is suffering from depession and thats only because he lost his grandam(my mum Jan07) grandad (hubbies may07)great gran(hubbies june 07) his horse which we had for 11y a week before his 14th birthday and his school work was crap any wounder poor kid and Ive not been well got low Iron and they can't find out why been checked for eveything over past year all clear . It takes it toll don't forget to look after your self we tend to put the family first I was always the strong one in our family when i had my break down everyone was surprised and there is such a thing as carer stress for anyone looking after someone with a long trem illness if your doctor will not listen find ONE THAT WILL if not we will CHIN UP