Depression

[Andy84]

Over the past few months, I have been struggling with anxiety and depression. I'm 29, have a good job and an Amazing partner, friends and family. I lost my sister to suicide last year and I think this plays a big role in how Im feeling. For the past few months I struggled on, going to work everyday putting on the 'brave face' feeling ever increasingly anxious and depressed. I have been seeing a psychologist who is attributing the way I'm feeling to grief that has finally caught up with me. Having been doing all of the exercises and strategies given to me by my psychologist I find myself feeling sad, lonely, scared and just can't seem to find the motivation to do anything or see the point.

My workplace caught on and sent me home saying they felt I needed some time off. Since then, I have accessed the local mental health team and have seen a psychiatrist and had medications changed. Have been off work for a week now. Still feeling pretty awful and overwhelmed and constantly wondering will I get through this and get my life back? I've been trying to read which is something I used to gain enjoyment from and this seems to be providing a useful distraction from my negative thoughts. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[tanhal1]

Exercise - Those endorphins going through your body helps. When I'm exercising I feel strong. There's also a pile of research re depression and exercise. You could Google it.

Good Luck to you.

[Chris_B]

Hi Andy84,

So sorry to hear about the loss of your sister.  I think it's realistic to say that your life will go on and you'll eventually find your way to a new equilibirum, if that makes sense - getting your "life back" implies that things will be the same as they were before, and part of going through the grief process is accepting that things are now different.  That doesn't mean you can't be happy though, and you have some wonderful support around you which is great.

I would talk to your psychologist at your next appointment - it doesn't sound like the strategies he or she is giving you are necessarily working for you. It's important to keep the dialogue open during therapy because there are lots of different methods of therapy you can try.

It's great you're enjoying your reading, exercise as tanhal1 says is another good one. I personally love comedy, my favourite standup comedians are like a comfortable old shoe and I can return to their shows again and again for a pick-me-up when I'm feeling low.  Same with music that I love.

I'm going to post a link to a video below, I've posted it before in the forums for others - it's an interview I did with a woman in New Zealand who lost her husband to suicide.  She talks about the grief process and how she got through it, and her experiences may resonate with you:

http://youtu.be/tISwMrd4nsc (please copy and paste the link)

You're using the break from work to recover, which is great.  It's only been one week, give yourself a little more time to process everything that's running through your mind, and please keep checking in with us here.

Take care mate.

best
CB

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Online Community Manager

[sunni_gal]

Hi Andy,

I know everyone says it will get better... and you're probably thinking 'yeah right' but it does. I have struggled with Depression, anxiety and Psychosis for the last 15 years. Losing a sibling is not something I have ever had to go through, so i am not going to pretend that I know what you're feeling or thinking. I have been back at work for 2 months now after having 9 months off due to Mental Health issues. It's scary. don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I have just turned 30 and I too have an amazing partner and a fantastic support netowrk of family and friends. This doesn't mean you won't feel the frips of depression, but it will mean that the road to recovery will be that much easier.

Talk to your psychologist about Mindfulness. I found it so amazing and helpful. I was lucky enough to be accepted into a 12 week program run by some psychologist at RPA Sydney. having a face to face with a group of people that are also struggling helps. you can talk freely without the fear of being judged.

If you're only on your first week off work, try and see your psych twice a weel (if you can afford it of course) the cost of mental health servcies is one of my pet gripes!! it gives you a bit of a routine, even if you don't say anything for a whole session, you know that they're there.

Hope that some of this may help.

Sending Smiles 🙂

Tori

[geoff]

dear Andy, when unfortunately we lose someone close to us, and in your case your sister who must have been in so much pain that she couldn't believe that her situation could get any better, then we feel so distorted as to why did she, this grieving can be hidden within ourselves, and that's why your psychologist has been able draw the pain out of you.

They have been able to understand the pain that you are suffering, and slowly allow you to talk about it, and by doing this you can then express your emotions.

There are a few ways to gain some strength, but these depend on 'if you want to', or able to, or want to gain some more knowledge, and for many people these wouldn't suit them, because it may only get them more depressed, but personally I face depression in the eye, and by saying this, I mean that I am curious about those with depression and go out to tackle it with them.

In other words I don't run away from it, I can do this only now, but when I was deeply depressed there was no way possible I could do it, but this is the strength that I have learnt from my own depression.

I have to say that it doesn't mean that I won't ever have another relapse, that's something no one can predict.

There are some great books to read and they are actually kids books, so google 'Little Parachutes' where they teach little children about all sorts of mental illness plus losing someone. Geoff.