General Chat

Thanks for all the posts on this topic. I've been on Phenobarb, Lithium, Prozac, Amitryptylline and now Celexa (Citalopram) over the years. I like rescue remedy (bach) when I feel a little extra edgy. (I like to think of the Welsh word "bach" which means "dear", that I am caring for myself, I am dear to me. May sound silly but it's helped me.) One has to find the extra techniques which help - for me, my house plants or gardening were very helpful. Three years ago I had another crash (one of the times I stopped my meds) and could not even go out the door into the garden, let alone keep my house plants alive!When I needed to go shopping, if I couldn't cajole one of my kids into doing it for me, I would run to the car, and run back in on return. It's taken me 58-odd years to come to terms with depression being a fact in my life.
One other thing which helped me a lot was to join the Flylady (free) website. I was overwhelmed with clutter and disorganization - her mentoring system got me back on track. She has an expression - CHAOS means "can't have anyone over syndrome", it truly applied to me. Now you can drop in unannounced, it's not perfect but in much better control , and helped me feel more calm - like less of a failure. Now I am mercifully comfortable with whom I am. I wish blessings to those who are still struggling with acceptance of the diagnosis. Feel free to pm me if you need a shoulder.
{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}
Mary

Oh Marion, what a lot you have had to put up with, don't apologise for going on we all need to do it, it makes us feel better anyway to get it off our chests. I'm going now but not because of you, I want my bath.

Caz xx

Oh Marion my love, what a lot you have to suffer - you can talk all day on here - I think that was Carole's idea when she started this thread and it sure is working. Like I said earlier in the thread, if anyone wishes to pm me I'll be more than happy to give anyone my email address and phone number and will gladly listen to anyone who wants to talk. I'm no expert on depression by any means but I am a very good listener.

Thanks for sharing all your stories folks - it can't have been easy for some of you and is much appreciated.
20% of us will suffer depression at some time in our lives so, although by the very nature of the condition, people feel as if they are on their own it is a very widespread allbeit misunderstood illness. Exercise, diet ( especially limited alcohol and caffeine) relaxation and a supportive network can all help a lot - but at low times they can all be too much effort. Just hang in there folks - it does get better and as has already been said there is a great supportive network on here.

Hugs to all

Kate

can i join in a few day back i put up a thread as i was suffering really bad with anxity attack and depresion was put on diazipan now aslo put on cilitroran 20mg day havent started them yet as sounds silly but to frightend to as heard that many bad things about them have felt alot better last two days think diazipan are working somtimes i feel like im going mad imagining all sorts of bad thing if i have a pain im thinking its somthing really bad will nudge my thread up support of others does help i got so many pms helping me thanx all regards elaine

Can I join too?
i have been on paroxetine on and off for several years now but have had bouts of depression since i was in my 20's. It's awful and very scary when it first happens, now I tend to recognize the symptoms a bit earlier!! It's still scares the hell out of me the way it creeps up though, one minute you think you are coping with the c.r.a.p. that life throws at you and the next you know you aren't even coping well with run of the mill things!
carol

course you can join Carol - welcome aboard

Hi Ali - our group is growing bigger all the time - that's really good - all in it together - I feel a bit of a fraud really but know if I stopped medication I'd be on the floor so keep taking the tablets is my motto!!

nudge for a very good thread

n

Looks like you have been here all the time Ann, I've just got out of bath and come to have a nosy
. Twinkle, I never saw your thread, sorry I would have answered. I think it is lovely to have our own thread, Thanks Carole, it really does help us all if we can put our feelings down. I used to think no-one understood but if this can be kept going (nudge, nudge Ann), we have a safety line for us all.

Caz xx

I have to say how proud of you all I am, thankyou for sharing your stories, it's very humbling to see how many of you have suffered in silence.
You are all very special people. Thankyou Lindsey

thanks Lindsey - I've never suffered in silence though - got a big gob me!!

Alison, snap; I was ok tilI had my first child 10 yrs ago. Was 95% better 5 yrs ago but had a very bad 2002, and a small breakdown. But I like to think on a scale of 1-10, Im a 7 most days. Which is better than a 1! Try and stay strong, I'm certain theres a light at the end of the tunnel, so many people have come out the other side :-)

Susi, I think I am lucky in knowing what has brought mine on, doesn't make it any better though, my emotions are still all over the place like you say, and I still have my black days. The thing is I get so frustrated because I can't do anything without falling, then that gets me in my black cloud again. The black is gradually growing lighter though, thanks to my psychologist.

Caz xx

Can i just say that reading this
thread i have tears in my eyes
But i admire you all, you are such
a lovely bunch of people .
and if there anything i can
do to help just pm me
Hazelx

so Susi are y ou on the old anti-depressants too? You've had a lot to put up with from a very early age and you should never have been exposed to family arguments, nor should y our mother have treated you like an adult as she seems to have done - so good you have a supportive partner [by the way I got chickenpox at 21 - flipping awful wasn't it] Everyone on here is in the same boat so you are amongst friends - pm any of us if you want

I am in the citolapram club 30mgs have been depressed since my oh died Valxxx

well thank you for that Marion - so nice of you to say that, I do appreciate it

Feel like a fraud posting on here after reading some of the threads. Makes me feel lucky I'm ONLY on 20mg of citolapram a day. Have been for a year now but still on waiting list for counselling.

I think I'd been down for a while but it was only when I came close to walking out on job, partner, everything that I asked for help. I think I was lucky to realise that disappearing from the lives of all who cared for me wouldn't resolve the issues.

I'm also lucky in having a supportive partner unlike my sister who no longer admits to her depression after her partner told her it was all in her head.

T.O.R. xx