topic Hi new here in Welcome and orientation

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:38:53 GMT

Hi just looking for some support and advice with staying well and coping. Thankyou

I have had depression for over 15 years and now for the last few years suffer with anxiety also. I have been seeing a psychologist for 1 1/2 years but feel it's not helping anymore.

I have overwhelming negative thoughts constantly, I am not sleeping properly and not coping very well atm.

Hi new here

Quiettall — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:42:23 GMT

Hi KAtherine

Great that you reached out to post here. Tell me more so we can help you. What is causing the anxiety? How have you coped with it before?

We are here to help and support you ina non-judgemental way, so feel free to talk.

Most of us have had issues we have had to deal with, so we can hopefully share some gems of wisdom to help you cope

Cheers and Chin up

Peter

Hi new here

Guest_322 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:54:44 GMT

Hi Katherine.

A warm welcome here 😊

Over 15 years is a very long time- it must have been/is very exhausting. Sleep deprivation can be rough; it can mess with our head.

I hope you find the forums supportive. I've found that there's a lot of understanding here.

Dottie x

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:56:11 GMT

Hi Peter thanks so much for replying.

I'm not sure about the anxiety. I started having panic attacks at my work place then driving now everyday I'm anxious.

I live in the past a lot and find it hard to move on from things that have happened. even little things. I have had a few traumatic things happen, my daughter had a near fatal asthma attack at home 3 years ago so maybe some worry has come from that. I also just after that lost my father but nobody has really asked me about what has caused it just really how to try and deal with it.

Hi new here

MarkJT — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:56:49 GMT

Hello Katherine, great that you are here with us.

There may be a chance that after seeing the same psych for so long, you may need to find a new one? If you are now suffering from anxiety, the psych should be able to treat that as well. Don't hesitate to have a look around for a new one. They are there to support and help you, never forget that.

With anxiety, mindfulness has helped me heaps to keep it under control so you should start practicing that. There are some really good apps out there to help you along with that. I use "Smiling Mind" daily and it really calms me.

Anyway, again great to have you here, keep posting and filling us in on how you are. As Peter says above, we are here to help you anyway we can.

Cheers

Mark.

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:58:51 GMT

Hi Dottie, thanks so much for your reply.

Yes it is a very long time, it's the early morning waking/anxiety that can be very debilitating also.

Thankyou so much for your kind words. Xx

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:03:29 GMT

Hi Mark, thanks so much for your reply.

Yes I think I will seek out a new one, thanks for that, I hadn't thought of seeing someone else I just thought I would stop going but nervous about that tho.

Yes I do like the mindfulness apps and was listening everyday at one stage. I will look into the one you use, thanks so much your very kind!

Hi new here

Guest_322 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:03:58 GMT

Hi Katherine,

Any time. I, as can many others here, empathise with the early morning waking (the irony is even though I'm up early, I still struggle to get out of bed). I hear you, it's definitely rough.

Dottie x

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:07:18 GMT

Hi Dottie, do you have depression and anxiety also?

Hi new here

Guest_322 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:23:15 GMT

Hi Katherine,

I have a history of depression and anxiety. I struggled with both for a while and saw a psychologist for about 4 years.

At the moment, I genuinely don't know if I'm depressed/anxious or not as I haven't seen a GP or my psych in a while; I decided to stop seeing my psych at the start of the year although- if I remember correctly- my actual last session was late last year.

Dottie x

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:30:32 GMT

Dottie, thanks for your reply 🙂

I don't want to see my psychologist anymore, he is trying to bring up my childhood which I don't think is helping. I had an ok childhood I did have a alcoholic father but I was the youngest so all I knew was my dad wasn't around and sometimes fighting. I didn't have a bad childhood and don't feel I need to go there

I had a different psychologist last year but she went on maternity leave

how do you find coping without seeing someone?

Hi new here

Guest_322 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:41:56 GMT

Hi Katherine,

No worries at all 😊

I think, at the end of the day, you have to do what's personally right for you in terms of who you want in your your professional support team. Maybe as Mark suggested, you could try another psych if you're feeling sure about your current one?

I have my better days & worse days. It's a bit up and down ha, ha.

Dottie

Hi new here

Guest_322 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:42:25 GMT

Dottie x

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:45:59 GMT

Hi Dottie, yes I will have a think about seeing someone new. When I'm well I feel like I've got this then when I'm down I'm really in the gutter. Here's to only up days!!! 😊

Hi new here

Guest_322 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:50:50 GMT

Hi Katherine,

Oh yes, the mood see-saw...up days sound good indeed!

Dottie x

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:52:46 GMT

Thanks so much Dottie, your kindness and support means so much to me 😊

Hi new here

Guest_322 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 19:18:08 GMT

Any time, Katherine 😊

Everyone looks out for everyone here.

Dottie x

Hi new here

Demi1 — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 10:51:48 GMT

Hi Katherine22, it is lovely to meet you 🙂

Thank you so much for posting! I, like Dotti hope you find comfort and support within this forum. We are all here for you and would love to help any way we can. Please feel free to post as often as you feel comfortable. I am sorry to hear that that you have not been sleeping/ are being pestered by those negative thoughts, although I want you to know that it is perfectly okay to admit you are not your best. And the fact that you have been seeing a Psychologist is an admirable step, in saying that, I do strongly agree with Mark and recommend you maybe look for someone else who can help you with your anxiety as well. There are an abundance of apps available, just like 'Smiling Mind,' that can help distract you and calm your thoughts. Personally, I love the one called 'Colouring for Adults.' May sound stupid but when your a stressed, pulling out your iPhone and doing some colouring in can be the ultimate distraction.

As for not sleeping, maybe consider seeing your GP, discussing medication with your Psychologist that can maybe help you sleep, this way you wake up refreshed/energised and may have a more positive outlook. (I found this incredibly helpful when I was first diagnosed with Anxiety and PTSD.) If you are not interested in consuming medication, there are an abundance of herbal vitamins that you could consider (such as Melatonin- a tablet (chewable) that is used for both migraines and to help you sleep.)

Sorry for the huge reply, hope some of it was helpful. Look forward to hearing from you.

Demi x

Hi new here

Katherine22 — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 09:13:19 GMT

Hi Demi, Thankyou so much for your reply and your great advice!

It really is so lovely that you took the time and reached out to me. Everyone has been so supportive and I'm a stranger.

It really gives me hope that I will be ok and lifts my spirits to go on.

Hope to hear back from you xx

Hi new here

Demi1 — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 21:31:20 GMT

Hey Katherine22 🙂

How are you going today? Any plans for the weekend? I am so glad to see you're posting/extremely proactive within this forum, it's really nice to see your courage as you reach out to others for advice. We are always happy to help in any way we can. I hope something I said in my last post was of some use 🙂 Also, I know it seems a bit odd, I was also quite overwhelmed when I first joined the site, but you're not a stranger to us anymore, just Katherine 🙂 Assuming you're under 25... just a guess... there is another forum called 'Topic: Friends Cafe - social space for members under 25,' that both Dotti and I use quite often to check in with each other and talk about our day/what's on our mind. I definitely recommend checking it out, as there are an abundance of lovely individuals who post most days and would love to meet you. (Of course, this is just another option available, I still recommend using this forum to seek advice as well.)

I hope your day goes smoothly and you can find the positive within it

Speak soon, Demi x