Lived Experience Forum

[PeppiPatty]

I always love @utopia and @Shaz51 messages. They are very to the piont and gentle. 

I am walking around reading a message that @Former-Member gave me that I'm charming. It's getting me through.. The panic attacks are awful. So everything you are going through, we are learning ourselves.

1. Educate yourself: learning definition and that.......feelings that freeze you up. they are very uncomfortable. But you are usually safe........

2. Relax & take care of yourself

Where do you feel most comfortable ? What music do you like listening to ? Take care of You. 

As Im writing this, my husband is washing the dishes and Im having a rest,,,,,he's like : 

where's the plug ?

Throw away the rubbish you left here.........These are pionters Im also working on too.

PP

[NikNik]

Happy Monday everyone!

Thanks to@Former-Member @Shaz51 @utopia & @PeppiPatty, for your responses to the previous question!

This week's question:

 I have periods of depression (I think that's what it is!?) where I'm sad, cry a lot, don't want to get out of bed and don't want to talk to anyone. But this period usually only lasts 2-3 weeks at a time and sometimes I will go months without going downhill.

I've been considering seeing a counsellor on & off for a long time now. But every time before this I've brushed it off as it not being a big deal since my "episode" ends so suddenly.

I want to commit to it. Even if it's just one appointment. But I don't know how to push myself to walk through that GPs door and ask for a referral. Should I bother or is it okay to have your down times when you know you're going to get back up again?

[utopia]

Sadness and depression are two separate things. With yours lasting for 2 to 3 weeks and not being able to get out of bed - it is disrupting your life. That sounds like depression to me.
Yes I think it's important to walk into your gp's and seek a referral to a psychologist.
You need to be honest with your gp. If you find it hard to say how you're feeling. Write it down. Write down aporoximate dates you have had these depressive episodes. Write down what you were unable to do during these episodes. And write down how you felt.TThen if you need to, you can hand this over to your gp.
You will not be wasting their time. It's what they are there for. To support you to live your life the healthiest way possible. This includes your mental health.
And I think with some counseling, you will notice an improvement in your life and shorter and less severe periods of depression. Until hopefully, you will no longer have these episodes.
Remember; you deserve to be well.
You deserve to get help.
And depression can be overcome with the correct help.
So please - book in to see your gp this week. Take your list.
I wish you all the best.

[PeppiPatty]

Love what @utopia qrites 

May I as usual.......ask you a question though......

Are you ready to walk through the door to the Gps? 

I wish WISH I had this forum when I was 20 years old but I didnt so I muddled my way through periods of not wanting to get off the sofa..........

I Think there are a few avenues that you can go through actually.

One is to call ARAFMI ( called Helping Hands here in Western Australia now )

And see what they have to say to you. 

What has helped me the most has been to see my GP and ask for a support helper for once per week and a cleaner once a fortnight. I wasn't coping AT all about two years ago and they arranged this for me. 

The support worker comes for an hour a week and we sit in her car and listen to meditation cds by Jon Kabat Zinn. We also both have a vanilla milkshake as well. It doesnt seem much but the cd is wonderful. 

If you press  

 here

 it's a copy of the cd I listen to 

[Kurra]

It does appear that you are experiencing depressive episodes and I believe you will benefit from speaking with your GP about this.
Your GP won't think that you're weird but will be able to understand that you have had and continue to have periods when your depression interferes with your daily life. The GP can arrange for you to see a psychologist who will be able to help you understand what has been happening for you and help you to develop strategies you can use when your world becomes difficult and dark.
So how do you force yourself through that door? In reality it's just the same way as you would if you had a physical ailment. Just because you are having a problem with feelings doesn't make it any different.
You are going to the GP to ask for help. Make that appointment and go at the appointed time. You will be glad that you did.
Take care and have the courage to follow this up.

[Shaz51]

Hello @NikNik 

Hello , welcome to the forum

Your question you asked -- Should I bother or is it okay to have your down times when you know you're going to get back up again?

I agree with what @utopia said -- Yes I think it's important to walk into your gp's and seek a referral to a psychologist

write things down  , how you feel , keep a diary to show your GP , when you are feeling low ? what happens when you feel down , how long it lasts

the first step is always the hardest , but please do it

[Former-Member]

hello concerned and caring wife of husband adjusting to new diagnosis and medication.

I am a new contributor on here. I tend to rabbit on. So if you get bored half way through just feel free to read other posts.

I feel that the length of time your husband has seen the psychiatrist would be important.

Did his doctor prescribe the original medication which your husband liked taking?

Has the psychiatrist changed the medication as he is most likely the person who has given the diagnosis? He is the best person to advise which medication.

Your husband not wanting to continue with new medication may have something to do with his fear or denial of diagnosis perhaps. He might not have asked questions or read information sheet about new medication. He might be experiencing anxiety re new medication after feeling ok for a period of time on old medication. Something neededed to change because of new diagnosis.

Would your husband like you to go to an appointment with him with his psychiatrist so that he can voice his concerns, you can voice yours if that is ok with your husband and together ask lots of questions.

If his psychiatrist is a good one he will  welcome a shared appointment with the two of you to listen to you and discuss both of your concerns.

I did this with my husband when i was in hospital once. my husband does not get mental illness of any kind. he is kind and caring but does just not get it. he came along and the psychiatrist opened the meeting with "firstly, welcome and I would like to thank you for coming, for wanting to help your wife through this difficult period" My husband then asked some direct questions and left saying he still did not get it but understood a little more that he could not fix anything and it was not about him.

In my experience most specialists in any field of medicine give out little information, the bare minimum and dont always ask if you have any questions. plus you might not then. when you do though make an appointment, write all of your questions down before you go - I am a great list maker, dot point user.

Just the actual process of going together and having some answers will be helpful for you because you are doing it together.

it may simply be that the new medication has to be given time to settle in the system and then usually the dosage is adjusted as needed. there are often some side effects. refer to fact sheet with medication.Very different to normal use of medication.

if you need to go back together again after he has been on the medication for some time ask the psychiatrist at your first meeting if this would be ok.

If your husband insists on a second diagnosis, respect his wishes. Explain to him that he must tell his now psychiatrist that he is going to do this.

Perhaps he needs to hear about his diagnosis from someone else as well. It can be hard to digest and very confronting when given a diagnosis.

Most of all I feel that you are wonderful in helping him through such a difficult time. There are so many of us who dont have any support when given diagnosis or even when feeling unwell. We learn to hide our suffering from others.

[Former-Member]

oh groan I have just written another essay. I am so sorry people. I just feel such compassion and it flows. I will make a huge effort to condense

[utopia]

@Former-Member. No need to appologise. I also tend to write essays on here - especially if a post has touched me. I write how I talk - a lot. You may be similar to me.

[NikNik]

Happy Monday everyone!

A big thanks to @utopia @Former-Member @Shaz51 @Kurra and @PeppiPatty for your responses to last week's question.

This week's questions is:

I'm starting a new job next week for the first time in over a year. I do feel ready & am looking forward to being back to "reality" in a way. I am however feeling very anxious & overthinking too much. I'm just looking for any tips you might have for me to start this new chapter in my recovery.