Advice in seeking help

[Bones85]

Hi,

It's been over a month now and not sure how to ask for help. I've been feeling anxious and now been taken over by numbness and then all encompassing depression. On top of these feelings I want my Mum (she passed many years ago) she would be able to help. This feeling came out of know where and made it worst.

I have a GP appointment in 2 days but I often cancel them and chicken out to speak up. I'm afraid if I continue to do this I will hurt myself. How do I find the courage to tell someone what I have been going through? I find it hard to open up with friends and family how can I get over this?

Any advice would be helpful at this point.

[Sophie_M]

Hey Bones85

Thanks for sharing whats happening for you. Sounds like you're struggling to open up about how your really feeling particularly to your those close to you. Youre not alone. Often we can fear the judgement about how we think they may view us if we were to open up and sometimes opening up to family/friends is the hardest given we know we have to face them again.

Some of what youve said makes us concerned about your well being right now though, so we're reaching out to you privately (check your inbox). You're also welcome to reach our support service directly on 1300 22 4636 or online.

If you feel at any time that you are unable to keep yourself from acting on unsafe urges of suicide or self harm, then this is an emergency and it's important that you contact 000 (triple zero) straightaway.

[Bones85]

Thanks I am safe and will check out the other services.

[geoff]

Hello Bones, I'm sorry for how you are feeling and I'm sure your mum would be looking down on you, so perhaps her thoughts are somewhere within you, but can I suggest you write down everything you want down on some paper, if you can manage to put them down in point form, this only makes it easier for your doctor to read rather than being like a letter, then they will know exactly what you are struggling with.

If it's on paper then this will avoid you missing out on telling them everything because what you find difficult to say is easier if it's down on paper, all of this is confidential.

Remember all of us have had to struggle with our own type of depression and can relate to what you are saying, so hope you can reply back to us.

Geoff.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Bones85,

Thank you for joining us and sharing what's going on for you. It is so so hard to reach out for help so I'm glad that you're reaching out here as well. You're certainly not alone in the cancelling appointments with the GP. I think one of our members has done it over 10 times so totally normal!

I hope that it's alright in asking this question, but what are the things your mum might say, or what are the things your mum might do?

It sounds super weird but bear with me; sometimes I close my eyes and I just imagine that if the person that I loved was still with me, what might they tell me, or what would they say if I'd asked them or told them about what's going on?

I know that you have the courage to talk to your GP because you had the courage to come here as well. If you decide to keep the appointment, you might just want to start out with something like "I'm really struggling" or "I want a care plan to see a psychologist" and go from there. You don't have to have it all sorted out; just let your GP know a tiny bit.

I hope this helps a little.

rt