Hi Hating life. welcome here to Beyond Blue forums
Good questions from LR there.
I suffer from depression and 3 orher issues. And here I am giving advice on what to do about it BUT just as you said H.L along it comes and I cant even put into place my own advice at times and then feel like a goose.
Having said that, I'll say them anyway. There are many threads on here that might assist. Keep reading them. I did a little while ago post one called "back to basics". There are others.
We know that we must manage our illness rather than expect one day that it will just go away. If we accept this then we have taken a baby step towards that management. There are a lot of baby steps but I'm living proof that collectively they form a good arsenal towards your goal.
Other "baby steps" are
correct diagnosis
best medication for you and ideal dosage
ongoing therapy and psychiatrist visits
regular GP visits.
Life changes like-
Removing toxic persons from your life especially these people that do not make any effort to understand and accept your illness.
consider tree change or seachange seeking the most relaxing environment
Set yourself a REALISTIC challenge every day even a small one
Be respectful and considerate to your carer.
If you identify there is a cycle of your depression dont over do it with positive thoughts and expectations as we now know that when you fail to succeed with them you can plummet again. Wait till you are getting out of that cycle then implement your strategies.
Put in place a list of rules for you and your partner/carer to stick to. Some of these could be - when down or in arguments dont leave the property, dont drive, allow each other space for a short time then offer each other a drink to quell the tensions. Stick to these!
Dont expect strangers or acquaintances to understand nor enjoy your condition as a talking point. Best to be "birds of a feather". Family, good friends and Beyond Blue forum is best.
Work- one of the worst places for conflict. Consider a change preferably with the least customer service.
Social media- if you are sensitive or vulnerable to bullying cancel your accounts. I did and after one week I felt great.
We cant rely just on medication, not medical professional care, nor positive thinking or lifestyle changes. But collectively they can be quite efficient for managing your illness.
