Jon77

Sucks

Has it most of my life, particularly bad right now

Anyone understand what I mean?

eddie007

I know exactly what you mean.... Currently medicated... For depression and stress related hypertension....

I actually ceased to function.... To the point wherre I had visitors (good friends from BE) come visit and I couldnt talk to them... Just sat and cried... Then I got to the stage where I couldnt musteR the energy to cry.... Which is when HE dragged me to the GP and demanded medication.... I'm on the up now...

I've had a black dog with me for many years.... But this episode is the worst its ever been.

Jon77

Thanks, just about to start new meds soon, would rather not take them, but the other option, staying as I am right now, isn't a good one.

eddie007

so deep in the hole, recently, I didnt have any choice... It was accept the meds or be admitted.... The side effects are shite... But things are deffo betterer... Its so bloody slow waiting for them to work tho, didnt think they were doing ANY good for 3/4 weeks... Then found myself smiling at something... For the first time in what seemed like a long while....

Thats the bastard thing about it... You dont know that they are working... Or whether they will work at all for you, soon enough....

Turban Explorer

I've had both sporadically for twenty years now. The black dog is the curse of the intelligent, allegedly......

10g of seroxat takes the edge off anxiety and acupuncture (blocked liver chi) works well for me. Do you have panic attacks? There are plenty of cognitive strategies you can use - it does work. It's something I would really like to kick completely - can be imprisoning and stop you living to the full.

This stuff is so common - don't suffer in silence, there's a lot that helps out there. If you want to chat less openly I'd be happy to move to 'pm'

Dreamy

+1

paulry

Someone near to me has suffered from the above and worse. That person is trying an orthomolecular/megavitamin approach and is now on a very strong road to recovery. Anyone suffering from anxiety, stress and related problems of the mind should seriously consider this treatment. Youtube and google orthomolecular and megavitamin for more information. Good luck!

carolinephillips

My dad got serious depression when he retired, and had to be hospitalised for his own safety. My mum is a manic/depressive and my sister is on meds for depression and self harm. I was seriously depressed as a teen but have not been depressed for a while, although my doctors might say otherwise!!! (I say it's stress, not depression, and anxiety/worry.)

So I sympathise with you and hope that you can find a way to crawl out of that black hole.

paulry

+1

DeadVim

Yup, not recently but I've been there.

I find exercise a great stress reliever and socialising with people, I know it's probably the last thing you want to do but it does work. A bit tricky if you are in a new country with not many friends, maybe joining a sporting or social club is a good thing?

Blokes tend to bottle it up then explode, this isn't healthy, communication on any level (including on-line) is a good thing.

I've banged on about my nutritional needs elsewhere but I can say that I have felt a lot calmer since making some changes (including adding Omega 3 oil, Vitamin C, that kind of thing).

Exercise, socialise, eat right and avoid drugs (legal or not) is my best advice.

Good luck!

(edit) Oh, and I know you know, this but alcohol is a depressant, don't go down that route ... Better to face it than avoid it.

Turban Explorer

You're right about exercise - running is a great way of tackling anxiety. I do a little bit of yoga too on the beach (when no one can see) and although I'm not finding anything close to spiritual enlightenment it's still nice and you become very flexible. I agree with 'pretending' with friends etc - it helps you forget and focus on something else.

For panic and anxiety avoid caffeine like the plague.

eddie007

Exercise and "socialising" were my two greatest stress relievers/anti depressants..... By socialising I don't just mean chatting with friends.... Although that is the best.... i can go to work and leave ALL my problems at the door... Focus on my patients.... Concentrate on making their day special/good... Try to be the interested, caring kind of nurse most of us want when we are scared, unwell and in hospital..... Being intersted in "them" not just their appendix....

My injury took both of these away from me so left me with no way of dealing with the financial crisis, isolation and pain.

brissybee

Anxiety is my companion. Thought I try not to worry about it.

I avoid medication like the plague as would prefer to be anxious than live in a fog (which is how anti-anxiety medication seems to affect me.) Mind you a rare benzo doesn't go astray.

Would love to kick it. Over many years I have tried cbt, meds, cutting cigarettes, cafeine and alcohol (one coffee a day is all now), ending toxic associations, hypnotherapy... still IT lingers.

Do think an escape to the country would help in my case.

I know many people who live with depression and anxiety...

I guess that makes us normal.

moneypenny20

Way more common than some people realise. It's very easy to think it's just you, most people hide it or just don't want to open up about it so you're most definitely not alone. There was a great thread last year sometime about the black dog, Slapphead I think it was who started it. Worth a read.

Edit: It wasn't Slapp, it was Unfair. Here you go.http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=722217

macy

My son has it, has had it for years but only recently have things happened that have that have bought it into our lives more, he is only 13 so we are doing what we can. We have enrolled him into the gym as those natural endorphies seem to help, he is on meds (without them initially he couldn't even function) and after 6 months things are starting to improve and we are seeing the old him back, thankfully. I hope things turn around for you, it truly is awful and I hope your good days outweigh your bad....,