Right, I thought I'd say hello and tell you some more about myself. As you probably guesssed, my name probably isn't Tony and I'm not really a tiger but it was the first thing that popped into my head when I tried signing up. I realised I was depressed when I started googling my symptoms last November/December (2011). I took some online surveys and they indicated that I may be severely depressed. I thought I'd better get a professional opinion.
I went to the doctor who suggested more exercise. Brilliant! A month later I returned feeling no better so I was put on Citalopram 20mg. After a few weeks, any stressful situation brought on severe headaches. I was taking paracetemol about 4 times a day which I knew couldn't be right. I went back (to a different doctor) who game me a weeks worth of 10mg to wean me off. I was then given an appointment with a district councilling nurse (?) who suggested I go on a course to deal with stress since councilling could be a good 18+ month wait. I'm waiting for the confirmation of the course start.
My relationship with my wife has deteriorated which is destroying me inside and making me even more depressed. It's clear I've been depressed for years but stress at work and some other personal factors have clearly triggered something more severe. I picked up some books that suggest a Cognitive Therapy approach. I'm writing down events that trigger a strong response and I'm noting how I feel about those events. I'm only 4 days in so it's early days but I'm hoping it's a way forward.
I'm looking forward to sharing experiences with you all and, maybe, getting some support and helpful suggestions in return. What I've written is only the tip of the iceburg and maybe my experiences with rehabilitation will help others.
