Depression

[Tim of the Oak]

Just in case it helps people looking for a bit more help, lots of rugby league clubs have programmes in their local communities to support people with depressions. A lot of this work is coordinated by “State of Mind”.

GP practices and local authority volunteer centres and libraries should have contacts for people coordinating local activities.

FWIW, I’ve also started going for a kickabout with a few mates on a Sunday afternoon. Hopefully, we will get enough for 3 a side this week!

 

[Protein Junkie]

I have a tendency to shoulder blame for everything and suffer a very specific fear of people dying or becoming ill. Unexpected phone calls can make my palms sweat. I also always need an "escape route" as a result of something that happened earlier in my life where I felt trapped, lonely and hated. I also assume I am unpopular and disliked despite the fact I seem to naturally attract people in social settings.

I totally understand the feeling of being disliked - paranoia is always lurking.

 

[Bigga]

No words I can say to make you feel better, just want you to know I care, along with many, many others here and your family who sound amazing. Having been through feelings like this before you know you can get through it to brighter days. Share those illustrations with us once they are done. Would love to see them.

I understand how you must be feeling Blue,all fellow Bluemooners will be thinking of you and wishing you well.

I'd like to honest, if I may? I read these yesterday and wasn't quite sure how to respond, so I chose not to. My head is all over the place.

My initial thoughts were of anger. Why? I've no idea. I appreciated the sentiments, but also felt I wasn't looking for sympathy, which I'm pretty sure wasn't the intent of the reply. I have internal battles, mentally, often the opposite of each other.

Bluemoon has meant quite a lot to me as it's kept me here on this planet for as long as it has. As a general rule I HATE being around people and the last BM meet up I went to only happened because I thought I was dying from my sarcoidosis illness. Oddly enough, that allowed me to open up and play footy with the lads some years back, fat as I was, depressed as I was from it!

BM has served as my anchor and I'm SO grateful for that as I don't think I'd be here otherwise. Yes, I know I'm a twat, when it comes to some threads, but you're a twat with family, aren't you...?!

You might find I post a lot or little or push the boundaries, but that's a microcosm of me. I don't set out to hate anyone even if their views are polar opposite.

Anyway, I'm beginning to rollercoast and rant, so I will be cracking on with my distraction in a few minutes as I very rarely stop my train of thought.

It was a long way to say thanks for posting!

 

[peoffrey]

Bluemoon has meant quite a lot to me as it's kept me here on this planet for as long as it has. As a general rule I HATE being around people and the last BM meet up I went to only happened because I thought I was dying from my sarcoidosis illness. Oddly enough, that allowed me to open up and play footy with the lads some years back, fat as I was, depressed as I was from it!

Come on, Bigga. No man is an island (unless his name is Madagascar.) Surround yourself with good people and the rest is easy.

I've been to a couple of BM meets and you must be able to get along with East Level 2 or Tim of the Oak? Both really nice guys.

You just need to go where your face fits.

 

[Bigga]

Hi Bigga, great that you have found something to focus on, keep it up mate. One Important thing I have gleaned from my sisters depression is that it’s much better to concentrate on the future and positive therapy than delving into the past for answers. Mind blowingly I have come to also understand that medication is not the answer for anything other than short term. How nhs doctors can go on prescribing for year after year to the same patient is ridiculous.

Take care blue and keep it up!

Firstly, thanks for the post, but be aware if I sound conflicting in my reply it's not personal or a rejection. Getting both sides out is not a lie to myself if it happens.

Anyway, my 'future' is difficult. I'm having to pay debts in my name my ex saddled me with whilst she galivants on holidays. I have to force myself to go back to work soon or it's half pay and I'm already trying to service an overdraft outside of this. My line manager said "I'm drowning" and I don't him to have me on his conscience. Work want to know what's up, so I tell them. So, I'm not sure what 'positive therapy' is, in my case.

And, yeah, I've on and off antidep for over 20 years and I find GPs tend to prescribe them and leave you to it. I get they're not experts, but after a review or two, they don't seem to suggest next stages of care.

It must tough for them as well, maybe?

 

[Bigga]

Come on, Bigga. No man is an island (unless his name is Madagascar.) Surround yourself with good people and the rest is easy.

I've been to a couple of BM meets and you must be able to get along with East Level 2 or Tim of the Oak? Both really nice guys.

You just need to go where your face fits.

Mate, I'm usually the problem solver for other people! BM is me being 'surrounded'! I know everything sounds like a note being left and I know I sail close to the wind, but I have some distractions to try.

And I note that I should really learn to lie!

 

[peoffrey]

When I fell ill, I was on a prescription of Citalopram and received virtual counselling from our local talking therapy services. I went through it with them but it didn't really help that much.

You're quite a sporty bloke, aren't you? I'll be getting an exercise bike when I move and aim for 25KM a day. I feel fantastic after that. I always loved to cycle so I can do it anytime regardless of the weather, traffic etc.

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

I'd like to honest, if I may? I read these yesterday and wasn't quite sure how to respond, so I chose not to. My head is all over the place.

My initial thoughts were of anger. Why? I've no idea. I appreciated the sentiments, but also felt I wasn't looking for sympathy, which I'm pretty sure wasn't the intent of the reply. I have internal battles, mentally, often the opposite of each other.

Bluemoon has meant quite a lot to me as it's kept me here on this planet for as long as it has. As a general rule I HATE being around people and the last BM meet up I went to only happened because I thought I was dying from my sarcoidosis illness. Oddly enough, that allowed me to open up and play footy with the lads some years back, fat as I was, depressed as I was from it!

BM has served as my anchor and I'm SO grateful for that as I don't think I'd be here otherwise. Yes, I know I'm a twat, when it comes to some threads, but you're a twat with family, aren't you...?!

You might find I post a lot or little or push the boundaries, but that's a microcosm of me. I don't set out to hate anyone even if their views are polar opposite.

Anyway, I'm beginning to rollercoast and rant, so I will be cracking on with my distraction in a few minutes as I very rarely stop my train of thought.

It was a long way to say thanks for posting!

So much of what you say makes sense to me. It may be different for you but for me there's a sort of awareness of all the sympathy which I didn't like, it made me feel like a child. I started with depression when about nine, which I think helped me because I just assumed everyone was the same and those difficult times were normal. Didn't know until my early thirties!

By the way, your posts are usually a good read. We had a brief exchange recently about Trump/Biden and you're always civil. Not like some on here (joking)...

 

[Holcombe bloo]

Firstly, thanks for the post, but be aware if I sound conflicting in my reply it's not personal or a rejection. Getting both sides out is not a lie to myself if it happens.

Anyway, my 'future' is difficult. I'm having to pay debts in my name my ex saddled me with whilst she galivants on holidays. I have to force myself to go back to work soon or it's half pay and I'm already trying to service an overdraft outside of this. My line manager said "I'm drowning" and I don't him to have me on his conscience. Work want to know what's up, so I tell them. So, I'm not sure what 'positive therapy' is, in my case.

And, yeah, I've on and off antidep for over 20 years and I find GPs tend to prescribe them and leave you to it. I get they're not experts, but after a review or two, they don't seem to suggest next stages of care.

It must tough for them as well, maybe?

Good luck with paying the debt pal, hopefully better times are round the corner for you. Gps and even specialist consultants in the nhs are way to reliant on medication. To be fair to them I think it’s partly a resource issue and partly a lack of belief and experience in newer forms of therapy and alternative treatments. As Peoffrey says physical exercise seems to be a big positive for most, unfortunately its hard for my sister as she has a serious physical condition that causes great pain if she overdoes it and that in turn releases hormones and chemicals in the body that kick of the depression again.

 

[Bigga]

Good luck with paying the debt pal, hopefully better times are round the corner for you. Gps and even specialist consultants in the nhs are way to reliant on medication. To be fair to them I think it’s partly a resource issue and partly a lack of belief and experience in newer forms of therapy and alternative treatments. As Peoffrey says physical exercise seems to be a big positive for most, unfortunately its hard for my sister as she has a serious physical condition that causes great pain if she overdoes it and that in turn releases hormones and chemicals in the body that kick of the depression again.

It's important for you to know, whether they expresses it or not, having a family member look out for them is their anchor to existence. It's validation and forgiveness for their perception of being a fuck up.

I'm really happy for her, strange as that sounds, that she has someone to catch her.

You're good people and a very small percentage fall into that category.