Hello all

[oxocube]

Hello to you all on the forum.

I have recently been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, nice combination.

It been brewing for a couple of years,but I really went of the rails during the x-mass time.

I am a bit of an introvert , I usually like my own company.,peace and quiet as well.

However,two years  ago new neighbours from hell moved in downstairs.

Loud music drinking shouting till late,my little piece of calm in London was broken forever.

Tried to get the council to talk to them, no joy.

So,decided to sell up and move out of London.

I was living on my nerves (I have always been a nervous time,but normally keep things balanced).

Problems with selling and delays in buying added more stress.An delay of 4 weeks from leaving my old place and moving to the new place,so we had to stay in a cheap hotel.

That's when things started to happen.

Basically I could not take the pressure and stress any more,so had a mental collapse.This occurred while staying at my fathers for x-mass week.

Ended up seeing three doctors in one week, proscribed tranquillisers and anti-depressants.

So,having no real home for a month and suffering from depression,with no medical help, well little help, caused me a lot of damage.

This as well as moving to my new house still going on, I was amazed we did it.

Have a new doctor now, and at least I am more settled now.

The anxiety is the worst,any little thing and I start to panic, and when you are down as well,   its hell.

Finding it difficult to leave the house and mix with people,my partner is worried about this.
So today I went around the town myself doing some shopping,it helped.

Well thats me.

[Zaf]

I'm not surprise you have depression and anxiety after all that

Everyone here has experience of depression, will understand and help as much as they can xx

[Ezel]

 .>,

[Sweetpea]

Hello and welcome, sounds like you have really been through it.

I suffer from depression and anxiety too.  Everyone here understands and is really friendly.

Take care

S x

[oxocube]

Thanks for the welcome.

Sometimes I feel isolated,no one to talk to who understands what I am going through.

My partner helps,but does not fully understand it.

But,its good to have support.

My family has a history of depression my mother and brother suffer long term with depression.
It scares me ,because I have seen what it has done to their life's.

I am a scientist,so am/was rational about things.Well that's out of the window now,emotions seem to rule my life now.

It's the unpredictability of it that gets me. Its not logical,rational so its hard for me to deal with.

[Zaf]

This link may be of interest to you oxocube  http://www.familyhealthguide.co.uk/depressive-illness-the-curse-of-the-strong.html  my husband did at last gain some understanding on depression from it - there is also a small paperback of the same name which goes into a bit more depth

My mum has severe problems with depression and I often wonder if its hereditary

[Desperado99]

Hi

Zaf's link is excellent, I hope you take the time to read it.

I suffer with anxiety too, although I'm improving as time goes on. I know what you mean about getting out and about, I had a week or so where I didn't leave the house at all, but I do feel better when I do.

I found this useful on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ArtxNt606U&list=FLYmmaLPAF56F_NKchSWI6qw&index=2&feature=plpp_video

If you find it useful, there is a link on it to a free anti-anxiety course.

[Sweetpea]

I agree I think it runs in families too, my sister, brother and me all suffer.  My mum does not nor did my dad.  But don't know if grandparents or other relatives did.  Its not something that people talked about in the past.

S x

[Buttercup]

I've been recently diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety too. I used to be a very rational person as well.  When I read Zaf's link it made things clear and helped me a lot.

I start to panic over the slightest little thing now, I know I am being irrational but my emotions rule now. It dose get better. I've still got a long way to go but I am a lot better than when I had my breakdown in November.  :)

[Zaf]

Glad it helped buttercup, I found it very useful when I had my mini breakdown in July :)

Its a long bumpy road back to health but it can be done and with the support we get here its a lot easier xx

[Glen53]

Welcome to the forum.

Being a scientist I can imagine that all this feels very scary to you. You must have a very rashional mind to do a job like that and depression is anything BUT!

If it helps, the feelings of panic and anxiety can and will fade in time. I have these myself and would describe my illness as chronic. I get 'flare-ups' of my worst symptoms when Im exposed to traumatic life events or a build up of stress, but if I take time to rest myself in a calm environment for a while I can regain control.

I know it seems scary right now - and after all you have been through above Im not surprised! - just hang in there if you can and keep talking to us about your feelings. Ask any questions you need to and we will try to answer and share our experiencs with you too. Perhaps, if nothing else, we can make you feel less alone with this.

[oxocube]

Thank you all for you advice and welcomes.

One of the biggest problems I am having is getting motivated in the morning.

Getting out of bed is a nightmare,it's like my body is refusing to move.

However yesterday,I got of bed and functioned as normal, made coffee for me and my partner,all the normal stuff.
But,today, very difficult indeed.

This worries me,and adds to my already head full of worries.

Any ideas in how to get motivated in the morning?

I like to thank everybody on this forum, its already being a great help to me,knowing I am not alone in this nightmare,and you can get through it.

[Zaf]

I find the same, even if I've slept for 10 hours some days I struggle to get out of bed, even if I have something nice to do.

I dont know the answer I'm afraid

Z xx

[Sweetpea]

I know the feeling of not being able to get up in the morning all too well.  When I was bad I just found it so hard to make myself get up, couldn't explain it to anyone the feelings I get.  Thats when I knew i was so bad again this time.

All I can say is try and calm yourself by doing breathing exercises and when you are calmer get up and try and distract yourself by making tea etc.

Are you on medication?  I knew when my meds were kicking in when I was able to wake up and be able to get up without thinking about it.

S x

[oxocube]

I was on 20mg Citalopram for 4 weeks,this was when I first had my breakdown while living in the hotel ,waiting to move here.

Had to visit my old doctor,before moving up here,he thought the 20mg was too low for me.

So,when I moved here my new doctor upped them to 40mg.

Been on 40mg now for about 5 days,the 20mg for 4 weeks.

Also on 2mg Diazepam to help with the anxiety attacks.

Had also been on sleeping bills (one of the Z ones),but stopped taking them, made me feel bad,and I was only sleeping for about 4 hours when using them.

So,I suppose its a waiting game now.