Hi, new and looking for help and support please

[endlos]

Hello there, I found your site yesterday, had a good read through and registered for an account as soon as I could.  I have not felt good since Christmas, by February after a couple of months of family problems and work I was at the stage of not been able to face going out of my home or even into the garden much. I had become addicted to zopiclone but didn't realize it until I stopped taking them, my G.P. had me on them for over 8 years - 4 x 7.5. mg per night, but I took more. I have had diazepam prescribed to stop the withdrawl symptoms which has seemed to work except now I cannot sleep very well, and am up nearly every night and will sleep in the day. I have lost all interest in my home, family and partner and myself.  I have an appointment with my G.P. tonight because I think I am suffering with depression. What can I expect my G.P. to say, and can anyone advise me about anti-depressants please. Hope I haven't bored you all.

endlos :)

[Munchroom]

Hey Endlos and welcome to the forums  :)

I too found that my depression made me fearful of leaving my home - even to the point where I didn't want to go into my garden (I am putting off doing the front garden, even now!) At my worst point, I physically could not walk to the end of my road (which is a very quiet culd-de-sac) in the dead of night when no-one was around... it is awful, and I don't know about you, but the most frustrating thing for me was that I couldn't explain why! I knew it terrified me and made me extremely anxious, but there was no definite trigger for me and I knew I was pretty safe, it was just - and still is an uncontrollable fear...

Good luck with the doctors tonight. Just be 100% open and tell him or her exactly how you have been feeling. I have found that my doctor has been a fantastic help throughout this and they really are the best people to put you in touch with other health professionals that may be able to help. I tried 4(!!) different anti-depressants before I found ones that seem to do the trick without any really bad side effects! But its worthwhile remembering that they all take a few weeks to work and if you can put up with mild side effects then they really are worth it.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat :)

Nay x

[endlos]

Well my appointment was with a G.P. I haven't seen before, I thought I'd have so much trouble explaining how I was feeling, but few mins into the appointment and the tears started, I just blubbered everything out - ok it wasn't in any particular order, but it all came out. G.P. has made me an appointment to see mental health nurse at the surgery next week, she won't prescribe anything until I've seen the nurse, but the big step was being able to tell someone. Not sure how I'm going to get through the week, and can't tell my family yet.

endlos

[em1983]

Glad you have got to the GP and told them, that's one of the hardest parts! Hopefully the nurse will be able to assess a bit more and recommend the right anti d's for you. I have tried 4 or 5 over the years too. xx

[endlos]

I am a bit worried about being prescribed anything really, I became so addicted to the zopiclone, and it seems to be in my so called nature to become addicted to things easily

endlos