Hello

[Laura]

Hi
Not sure what to tell you about myself.
Long term depression, not working, in the process of changing meds.
Gonna be 40 next year and feeling like I've wasted half my life already.
Hoping to find someone to talk to someone who doesn't believe depression is a decision you can snap out of. (Recently had an email from a 'friend' who claims to be helping my telling me I'm being a spoilt brat and should be embarrassed).
Um, what else.....
I don't drink and find that makes socialising hard work. I keep joining classes but haven't yet made any good friends.

I've had a look at a few threads here, everyone seems to be really nice. I hope I will fit in.

[Zaf]

Hi Laura and welcome, everyone here is very friendly and helpful so I'm sure you'll fit in :)

I dont drink either but I dont really find it a problem socially to be honest, is there something you are really interested in you can join some sort of group I wonder?

[Laura]

Hi Zaf - I love your picture!!! I'm a big fan of Loony Tunes!

My 'passion' is heavy metal and live music. Which kinda goes hand in hand with booze it seems. I've been in that world so long I don't really know what else to try. I have done classes in all sorts: writing, tai chi, even studied psychology for a bit.... but not connected with anything.
My concentration and memory are pretty rubbish these days but my Doc thinks I've had a downward slip over the last few months, hence the new meds.

[Lol]

Hi Laura and welcome. It is very difficult to find support when people don't understand and think your very real feelings are something you can and ought to just snap out of. Depression, as you know, is a chemical imbalance over which you have no control other than to correct it with relevent treatment, you are taking steps to do this - I understand your current meds aren't working as well as expected - I'm sorry to hear this that is very frustrating for you. I hope you have better luck with your new meds. You are doing what you can to alleviate your symptoms and it is your friend that should be embarrassed. Unfortunately there is very little education about depression amongst the general public but one might think a friend, faced with a friend who has been diagnosed with depression might educate themselves. Alas this is not always the case.

We understand what we describe to each other in here so please feel free to get some of your pent up thoughts out if you need to and we will try to support you as much as we can.

Take Care Lol

[Zaf]

Thanks Laura!

Hmmmm, is it possible to drink alcohol free wine or lager do you think?!  I usually just go for tonic and lemon without the gin or fizzy water sometimes, a lot of people I know think I'm a bit weird but I just let them keep pickling their livers

To be honest I was nearing alcoholic 2-3 years ago and darent start again just in case I cant stop but so far I've managed to keep clear of the stuff.

lol is right,  we know that its not possible to 'pull yourself together', unless you've suffered from depression you have no idea what its like or how it affects us,  I have a friend that has the same attitude and I simply have to ignore her remarks, however well meaning on occasions.

have you thought of learning an instrument connected with your passion for music perhaps?

[danbob]

ello and welcome :)

[Laura]

Thanks all

Zaf - I had three years of music lessons. I think I have a hearing problem as I can't hear a note and then find it on the fret board. Very disappointing although my former teacher is a good (nutty as a fruitcake) friend now. I do go out and drink juices or tea if I can get it! But I find it hard work being with people who can barely stand at the end of the night.

Lol - that's my nickname too! - I was very tempted to shoot back an email telling him to be embarrassed and to do some research but I know that when I am distressed by something I can react too quickly. I don't know whether to respond or not, he's not a close friend and I can live without him.

Thanks for the support.
I did have one nice counsellor who told me to imagine depression was like long lasting flu, it takes energy out of you and needs gentle recovery.


PS - I like the smileys here. Anything that makes the corner of your mouth go up has to be a good ting no matter how little it is right? ^&^

[Zaf]

thats a shame about the music

its a very good description and your counsellor is so right - it does take your energy and needs gentle recovery

[Lol]

It is brilliant to describe depression like long lasting flu.. it does take energy out of you and needs gentle recovery. Good description!

[Laura]

Why does it say applaud and smite by people's names on here?

I've posted on a few threads but don't really have a feel for how much to read/write etc.

How do most people tend to work here? Ask questions or tell about yourself? Is everyone a sufferer or are some people professionals?

cheers

[Lol]

hi Laura - the applaud and smite system is to indicate your agreement or disapproval regarding some ones post. We don't tend to use the smite function though as it is damaging to people in here so please try to stay clear of this. The smites you see tend to come about from misuse of the site but still cause havoc with they occur as you can imagine!

You can post in as many threads as you like, get involved as much or as little as you like. We ask questions and discuss how we are feeling, you can use the site however you like. Have you posted in the new members section? People tend to do a post on themselves and what has made them arrive here, then members tend to check in and welcome those newcomers. There is also a journals section, people tend to use this as a diary or their personal thoughts to reflect on as they progress through their journey. People are welcome to comment on journal entries in the same way as other threads, if some one didn't want feed back they should announce this in the title.

Everone is either a sufferer of depression or a sufferer of some one elses. There are no professionals. The aim is to provide support in a non judgemental way and share as much or as little as you want for your own therapeutic needs.

[Laura]

Er is this not the New Members section?

[Lol]

Sorry Laura my mistake yes it is!  I accessed this post through the 'show unread posts since last visit' button and didn't see the forum title. Sorry.

[Laura]

 
Oh good, not me reading it wrong then.