What are your triggers?

Olivia2 · ‎18-08-2015

Hello I'm a newbie to BB but not to depression having suffered from depression/anxiety for most of my life. I have been on medication for 6 years now which has been a life saver and I think will also be a life-long commitment to staying well. I am a high achiever, I am a mummy to a gorgeous 2.5 year old boy who I love to bits and who can also drive me mad, you know how it is. I work in academia, 4 days/week. In general I manage all the general day to day of life, work, housestuff, child minding etc. I have a supportive partner etc. And yet my depression or anxiety are always just 'there'. I have had years of therapy and had traumatic teenage years caused by a mum who herself was and still is seriously mentally ill. I now have minimal contact with her as a way of surviving. My psychiatrist says that my brain has simply wired itself to be this way eg thru trauma and genetics but I hate feeling like this. I am going through a depressive stage at the moment and I often just can't put my finger on what the trigger is. Life just seems like a constant balancing act which most of the time feels like it takes a huge effort to maintain. I was lying in bed last night feeling terrible and thought reaching out to BB would help, and reading the stories on here have been an amazing way to just think 'oh my god I'm not alone'. I am just interested in how others feel they manage the day to day, and if you are any good at recognising your triggers. I know the usual take time for yourself and so on, but then feeling guilty through mother guilt is so self-sabotaging too! We are thinking of moving overseas back to my husband's home country where I have lived before and am actually feeling ok about (well actually very up and down but am open to), but I worry about not having support like I have set up here with access to my psychiatrist, and I don't even know how it works with medication....I assume people in Ireland take antidepressants but would I have access to the same medication? Anyway just interested to read some more ideas.

Mangof · ‎19-08-2015

Hi Olivia2,

Welcome to BB, I'm so glad you reached out and yes you certainly are not alone!

It takes courage to come on here looking for answers and help but once your here it's great to talk to others who GET what you you're experiencing.

Triggers - for me I've been trying to figure this out to,my worst ones are certain family members, I have a lot and have been through a lot with some of them not good times to say the least so I chose to take time out from them to deal with issues individually it's helped but a long and winding road ahead. I love them but chose to love from a distance and it really helps me. Anxiety triggers more easily, shopping malls, people,traffic,etc so the less I do these the better or my trusty hubby right by my side(well me clinging to his arm that is!)

we as a family have moved overseas a few times and medication for my children and husband has always been a priority. Yes I'm sure people in Ireland take AD and if you can organise a family doctor over there before you leave will help , maybe another family member can suggest theirs so you can get your current doctor to write to them like a referral and send copies of files prior to you arriving in Ireland.

Also what we did was request at least 3 mths worth of medication from our doc to allow for settling in time eg to organise Medicare,doctors,hospital etc... It took the worry away.

i hope this has been of help

keep in touch maybe talk to BB to see if there is something like this site available in Ireland.

with technology now you could just keep in touch with us here from around the world

have a great day

stay happy

MangoF

Neil_1 · ‎19-08-2015

Hi there Olivia

And like Mangof, I too would like to warmly welcome you to B.B.

The response and advice given by Mangof was excellent and I do hope you’re able to take away a lot of what Mangof mentioned – very helpful indeed.

I know for myself, when we went on a long-ish holiday overseas a few years back, my doctor organised all my meds for me to be arranged by the chemist in bulk and that was no problem at all. The other thing my doctor provided me with, was a letter that went along with the meds (just in case there’s any inconvenience at any of the airport check-in points). There never has been, but I find having that letter is just a good safety mechanism (for me).

I think knowing triggers is a great thing – to know them so then if possible, you can avoid them. But also that is what having your psychs are for as well – to then delve into those triggers to see if they can help lessen the extent to which they affect us – big job I know, I guess that’s why they get paid the big bucks (by us).

But other triggers unfortunately will just happen unexpectedly and those are the really tough ones – well, again I’m talking “me” here again, but I suspect that others may suffer from this also. You’re just moseying along in life and something will happen – anywhere, anytime and be a huge reminder for something bad in the past and BANG, you’re affected badly. Those times aren’t necessarily good and I don’t really know how to advise about random triggers.

I like the way you’re handling traumatic, tense, stressful occasions with family member(s) – to minimise contact. That’s a very good method and I’ve done similar things also. If you can avoid such instances, then do so – it’s for your benefit and well-being.

I’ll finish now, but do go back through Mangof’s response – with regard to your potential move overseas – and the contacting of people over there who could possibly advise of gp’s etc for you. OR even your own gp here or psych here, “may” have something to offer in this respect.

Neil

Venom · ‎19-08-2015

Hi Neil first time poster, long time sufferer. Just a question about when you said to minimise contact with your triggers, that is really hard for me to do because all my triggers are constants in my life such as: current affairs and what's going on in the world, technology, work and sadly my 15 year old son, I lose it when I hear something I dont like, when I cant do something I want to do or cant do it properly, when I have to do something I don't want to do, when I'm being disrespected etc etc. Basically I'm in a bad mood all the time and when people think I'm good I'm just putting on a facade. Cheers for your ears.