Depression

I saw a therapist for a while who'd worked in the NHS for 30 years. He was really into this sort of purely breathing thing and now rejected all the mind based therapies he'd been using before. It was interesting, but as usual no panacea. He had nothing to say beyond do this breathing and monitor your hear then things will improve
Well the existance of the "soma", an all knowing, intuitive 'body knowledge' is a very old one in the East and vagal theory is now starting to explain it (as far as science will). It's still necessary to use some cognitive challenge techniques because Western people not of the dyed in the wool philosophy of soma traditions will struggle in the main to master it, but it is useful to try to create a different relationship to thought, that it is simply a process to be observed rather than tussle with each one when it is that tussle that's triggering the illness. It tends to cut the number of cognitive challenges needed as for some people every inter relationship between everything becomes a negative contest.
Im just starting to look at this vegal theory in any depth (have known of it for some time) but quite excited by it although as you say I don't expect it to be a panacea.
 


Well the existance of the "soma", an all knowing, intuitive 'body knowledge' is a very old one in the East and vagal theory is now starting to explain it (as far as science will). It's still necessary to use some cognitive challenge techniques because Western people not of the dyed in the wool philosophy of soma traditions will struggle in the main to master it, but it is useful to try to create a different relationship to thought, that it is simply a process to be observed rather than tussle with each one when it is that tussle that's triggering the illness. It tends to cut the number of cognitive challenges needed as for some people every inter relationship between everything becomes a negative contest.
Im just starting to look at this vegal theory in any depth (have known of it for some time) but quite excited by it although as you say I don't expect it to be a panacea.
Yeah I found it appealing, cos it was different but I still think I needed it backing up with positive thinking etc.
 
Yeah I found it appealing, cos it was different but I still think I needed it backing up with positive thinking etc.
I would agree with that in the treatment of depression. Motivation has to be stimulated and some germ of cognitive optimism is necessary to produce any volition to action and achievement. Although on occasions I hate to hear "positive thinking" prescribed for someone who is chronically depressed, its just to big a leap to take from there.
 
Just a warning for people on here. The poster Mackem DJ finds depression amusing. He has posted some messages to my profile wall on a wind up about it. I won't post the messages but I have screen shotted them before reporting them and them being deleted. Just be careful what you say to him as he is a troll looking for easy bites.
 
Venlafaxine 225mg

Been on it in the past & it’s arguably saved me but some of the side effects are horrific.

Having a wank for example takes at least half an hour, if it happens at all.

Shite.
I've never heard of Venlafaxine marra but aye the side effects of anti depressants do come with side effects.
 
So this morning I read a thread on the SMB and am now jealous of a bloke with terminal cancer.
Happy Monday everyone!
ha!
Yeah, just read that too. Great attitude to have, just a shame about the situation for him.

Been a long while since I looked on this thread. Been too busy/tired to even think about myself lately, but I can feel the need to start looking after myself a bit better.
Living on sugar, caffeine and alcohol at the moment, its never a good long-term solution. Looking forward to having the time/energy to reset things soon, once the babies start getting into more of a routine.
Would really like to get off the meds soon too, but I think that's wishful thinking.
 
Having a terrible time of it at the minute, feel like I can barely function on a day to day basis.

I am just so sick of constantly feeling this, I wake up each day gutted that I haven’t died in my sleep.

Had a sickness review with work today which was awful, they laid the guilt on thick saying that even though they understand I’m not well, it’s still a class of children without a teacher etc. I ended up crying in the meeting, which was embarrassing to say the least.

My sick note runs out soon, I see a Nurse Practitioner who is very supportive and they get the on call GP to do it for me. This time was the first time I read my sick note and it said ‘I will not need to assess fitness for work’ which has me panicking. I left a message with NP to get in touch and a receptionist rang me back to say not to worry about it he will explain it when he sees me.

I now can’t sleep at night thinking he is going to refuse to give me a sick note and send me back to work. I intend to resign in October but have to give notice until December 31st. I really can’t go back - I would jump in front of a train or similar before I did that.

Don’t think the lack of sleep is helping my mental state mind.

Sorry for the rant, not many places I can talk like this in real life.
 
Having a terrible time of it at the minute, feel like I can barely function on a day to day basis.

I am just so sick of constantly feeling this, I wake up each day gutted that I haven’t died in my sleep.

Had a sickness review with work today which was awful, they laid the guilt on thick saying that even though they understand I’m not well, it’s still a class of children without a teacher etc. I ended up crying in the meeting, which was embarrassing to say the least.

My sick note runs out soon, I see a Nurse Practitioner who is very supportive and they get the on call GP to do it for me. This time was the first time I read my sick note and it said ‘I will not need to assess fitness for work’ which has me panicking. I left a message with NP to get in touch and a receptionist rang me back to say not to worry about it he will explain it when he sees me.

I now can’t sleep at night thinking he is going to refuse to give me a sick note and send me back to work. I intend to resign in October but have to give notice until December 31st. I really can’t go back - I would jump in front of a train or similar before I did that.

Don’t think the lack of sleep is helping my mental state mind.

Sorry for the rant, not many places I can talk like this in real life.
Sorry to hear that mate. I would try to follow the advice from the receptionist and not worry. I know it's difficult but it's often better to focus on a problem if it does actually appear rather than a potential one.
 
My sick note runs out soon, I see a Nurse Practitioner who is very supportive and they get the on call GP to do it for me. This time was the first time I read my sick note and it said ‘I will not need to assess fitness for work’ which has me panicking. I left a message with NP to get in touch and a receptionist rang me back to say not to worry about it he will explain it when he sees me.
The way I would read that would be the opposite to what I think you have taken from it. "not need to" implies that it is a given already, and something which doesn't need to be re-checked.

As for the sleep bit, have you tried - really tried - sleep hygiene mate?
 
The way I would read that would be the opposite to what I think you have taken from it. "not need to" implies that it is a given already, and something which doesn't need to be re-checked.

As for the sleep bit, have you tried - really tried - sleep hygiene mate?

Thanks mate.

I try to not use screens in bed etc. What other things would you recommend?
 
Had a sickness review with work today which was awful, they laid the guilt on thick saying that even though they understand I’m not well, it’s still a class of children without a teacher etc. I ended up crying in the meeting, which was embarrassing to say the least.

Don't let them guilt you. You are poorly and should be supported not made to feel guilty. They wouldn't do that if you'd had a heart attack or were recovering from major surgery or were on compassionate leave etc. This is an illness, you're seeking treatment and you will recover in time. You're doing everything you're supposed to be doing to get better.

If it's any consolation, my daughter lost her class teacher in primary school twice. First one had major surgery and was off for a term. The second one had a terminally ill mother and was in and out of work then took a break when her mother passed. My daughter managed fine with the supply teachers and I didn't feel her progress suffered.

My sick note runs out soon, I see a Nurse Practitioner who is very supportive and they get the on call GP to do it for me. This time was the first time I read my sick note and it said ‘I will not need to assess fitness for work’ which has me panicking. I left a message with NP to get in touch and a receptionist rang me back to say not to worry about it he will explain it when he sees me.

When is you appointment to discuss it? As has been said, don't dwell on a negative that hasn't happened as there's a good chance it might not happen. Wait until after you have been seen and take it from there.

Don’t think the lack of sleep is helping my mental state mind.

It won't be. Don't underestimate how vital sleep is for all your body functions. Have a read of this: Sleep and Mental Health
and some tips: 5 tips for getting a better night's sleep

If you click through to the Insomnia Clinic, there's more advice and a free web session you can attend. She does flog her 1-1 sleep sessions, but you're not obliged to buy them if you just want to try the free advice session. I haven't used her myself so no idea what is in the session.

Keep talking marra and look after yourself. You can get through this xx
 
Been a good six months for me coming from my lowest point to where I am now. Cut all the stupid shit out like Cocaine and stopped going out on the piss all the time/drinking heavily as it was just f***ing my head up. Stopped hanging around with people who just bring me down and got myself a new job that I love, as well as eating well and keeping fit.

Still have the odd bad day here and there mainly cos I have some serious issues with my lungs which gets me down but I’m getting help for it while trying to keep as fit as possible.

Personally I got sick of trying to get help when it very rarely gets given and spending my time wallowing in self pity all the time with a drink in my hand. I decided to take matters into my own hands and I feel I’m really reaping the rewards now.

Slowly wearing myself off the seroxat I’ve been taking for almost 15 years now and down to half the dose I was on to begin with. Only way is up!
 
Just saw this on The Poke and I think it's worth a read.
101 ways to cope with stress. What do you do, or what will you do in future?

1. Get up 15 minutes earlier
2. Prepare for the morning the night before
3. Avoid tight-fitting clothes
4. Avoid relying on chemical aids
5. Set appointments ahead
6. Don’t rely on your memory… write it down
7. Practice preventative maintenance
8. Make duplicate keys
9. Say “no” more often
10. Set priorities in your life
11. Avoid negative people
12. Use time wisely
13. Simplify meal times
14. Always make copies of important papers
15. Anticipate your needs
16. Repair anything that doesn’t work properly
17. Ask for help with the jobs you dislike
18. Break large tasks into bite-size portions
19. Look at problems as challenges
20. Look at challenges differently
21. Unclutter your life
22. Smile
23. Be prepared for rain
24. Tickle a baby
25. Pet a friendly dog/cat
26.Don’t know all the answers
27. Look for a silver lining
28. Say something nice to someone
29. Teach a kid to fly a kite
30. Walk in the rain
31. Schedule play time into every day
32. Take a bubble bath
33. Be aware of the decisions you make
34. Believe in yourself
35. Stop saying negative things to yourself
36. Visualize yourself winning
37. Develop your sense of humor
38. Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better day
39. Have goals for yourself
40. Dance a jig
41. Say “hello” to a stranger
42. Ask a friend for a hug
43. Look up at the stars
44. Practice breathing slowly
45. Learn to whistle a tune
46. Read a poem
47. Listen to a symphony
48. Watch a ballet
49. Read a story curled up in bed
50. Do a brand new thing
51. Stop a bad habit
52. Buy yourself a flower
53. Take time to smell the flowers
54. Find support from others
55. Ask someone to be your “vent-partner”
56. Do it today
57. Work at being cheerful and optimistic
58. Put safety first
59. Do everything in moderation
60. Pay attention to your appearance
61. Strive for excellence NOT perfection
62. Stretch your limits a little each day
63. Look at a work of art
64. Hum a jingle
65. Maintain your weight
66. Plant a tree
67. Feed the birds
68. Practice grace under pressure
69. Strand up and stretch
70. Always have a plan “B”
71. Learn a new doodle
72. Memorize a joke
73. Be responsible for your feelings
74. Learn to meet your own needs
75. Become a better listener
76. Know our own limitations and let others know them, too
77. Tell someone to have a good day in pig Latin
78. Throw a paper airplane
79. Exercise every day
80. Learn the words to a new song
81. Get to work early
82. Clean out one closet
83. Play patty cake with a toddler
84. Go on a picnic
85. Take a different route to work
86. Leave work early (with permission)
87. Put air freshener in your car
88. Watch a move and eat popcorn
89. Write a note to a faraway friend
90. Go to a ball game and scream
91. Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight
92. Recognize the importance of unconditional love
93. Remember that stress is an attitude
94. Keep a journal
95. Practice a monster smile
96. Remember you always have options
97. Have a support network of people, places and things
98. Quit trying to fix other people
99. Get enough sleep
100. Talk less and listen more
101. Freely praise other people

BONUS: Relax, take each day at a time, you have the rest of your life to live
 
Don't let them guilt you. You are poorly and should be supported not made to feel guilty. They wouldn't do that if you'd had a heart attack or were recovering from major surgery or were on compassionate leave etc. This is an illness, you're seeking treatment and you will recover in time. You're doing everything you're supposed to be doing to get better.

If it's any consolation, my daughter lost her class teacher in primary school twice. First one had major surgery and was off for a term. The second one had a terminally ill mother and was in and out of work then took a break when her mother passed. My daughter managed fine with the supply teachers and I didn't feel her progress suffered.



When is you appointment to discuss it? As has been said, don't dwell on a negative that hasn't happened as there's a good chance it might not happen. Wait until after you have been seen and take it from there.



It won't be. Don't underestimate how vital sleep is for all your body functions. Have a read of this: Sleep and Mental Health
and some tips: 5 tips for getting a better night's sleep

If you click through to the Insomnia Clinic, there's more advice and a free web session you can attend. She does flog her 1-1 sleep sessions, but you're not obliged to buy them if you just want to try the free advice session. I haven't used her myself so no idea what is in the session.

Keep talking marra and look after yourself. You can get through this xx

Thanks for such a thoughtful reply marra, I really appreciate it.

I will have a good read of those links you sent.
 
Having a terrible time of it at the minute, feel like I can barely function on a day to day basis.

I am just so sick of constantly feeling this, I wake up each day gutted that I haven’t died in my sleep.

Had a sickness review with work today which was awful, they laid the guilt on thick saying that even though they understand I’m not well, it’s still a class of children without a teacher etc. I ended up crying in the meeting, which was embarrassing to say the least.

My sick note runs out soon, I see a Nurse Practitioner who is very supportive and they get the on call GP to do it for me. This time was the first time I read my sick note and it said ‘I will not need to assess fitness for work’ which has me panicking. I left a message with NP to get in touch and a receptionist rang me back to say not to worry about it he will explain it when he sees me.

I now can’t sleep at night thinking he is going to refuse to give me a sick note and send me back to work. I intend to resign in October but have to give notice until December 31st. I really can’t go back - I would jump in front of a train or similar before I did that.

Don’t think the lack of sleep is helping my mental state mind.

Sorry for the rant, not many places I can talk like this in real life.
Keep "ranting" mate, if it helps you, do it.
It sounds like you might benefit from a referral to secondary (specialist) services, have you spoke to your GP about it?
There's lots of little things you can do to help with sleep; try have a tall to do for the day, could be something like getting up washed and dressed or something more intense, but completing something always helps.
Try staying out of the room you sleep in until it's time to go to bed.
Cut out the caffeine from mid afternoon.
Wind down an hour or so before bed, turn the lights down, turn the TV off and gradually reduce the level of stimulation leading to going to bed.
Try some lavender oil or something similar on your pillow or bed sheet.

Hope you're feeling better soon.
 
I won't bore anyone with my back story except to say I've just returned to work after 4 months off with depression, but would like to offer some advice that helped me.

1. Think of the family, talking from personal experience (My Gran committed suicide) it really does destroy families and people (I basically lost my dad the same day as my gran)
2. There is always someone there, The Samaritans are an absolute god send.
3. Stock up on your favourite comedies, when down, stick something stupid on that will make you laugh.
4. Ask you Doctor for counselling, again great way to unload if you don't want to bother family or friends (My wife still doesn't know I was close to suicide)
5. Walk a dog, if you don't have a dog see if you can borrow a friends or neighbours. They really are like a walking stress ball. I honestly believe it was my dog that saved my life. Night I went out and bought the tablets, I literally cried for hours and could not stop, my Labrador never left my side.
 

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