How are you coping?

[Sawyer]

Hi everybody,

Just a quick post to see how everyone is doing? Lifes been pretty hectic for me lately with uni and work, and i've regretted not being online on these forums more. I'm looking forward to being available more once my thesis is submitted, but in the mean time i'm going to do my best to set aside some more time to come onto the forums and be available to anyone who would like to talk through whats going on with you, coping strategies, or advice. 

I'm not yet a professional clinician, but I have a degree in psychology, am working towards a clinical masters and I'm willing to help in any way I can. So on that note, how are we all going? lets talk about what's going on for you.

Cheers,

Sawyer

[Spakcat]

Hell Sauers. I am going much better than only a few weeks ago. I was so suicidal and I would have actioned my plan but for, as I described it to my CP, I had a tea candle of hope in the full galaxy of light that there may be just a speck of reason for my staying around.

 I have found e-learning modules I am working through, have had a lot of physical damage from a horseriding accident at speed which I am healing from. I have been at a Physio as well, to rehab my wrecked knee, and the pointlessness of this has diminished as I have become physically and mentally healthier.

 My physiotherapist has enabled me to see I need time off work for my knee and , subsequently, I have had a rest from burying myself in demanding work. I immersed myself in work to exhaust myself and keep from actioning  my suicide plan but it had me worn out.  My rescue remedy was also a cause for mental fatigue and depression too. All I was good for was work. I didn't feel entitled to any time to relax , let alone demand my boundaries be defined, let alone protected. I am beginning to see differently.

 I am learning to reflect on my reactions and choose differently, not react as I usually would to confrontation, conflict in the family etc. I am only a little further ahead but that is still wonderful.

thank you for asking.

[geoff]

dear Sawyer, well I thought I needed to reply to your post as no one has at the moment, hopefully this will change.

You must have so much on the table to cope with at the moment, work and uni, getting your thesis completed which I suspect would be to become a qualified psychologist, whow, it's completing something which you have always wanted to be, so well done.

Would I be too pertinent in asking you whether or not you had any personal experience with depression yourself or any family members have suffered from it.

Rather than me talking about myself I am really interested in how you are going. Geoff.

[Guest_9466]

It is lovely that you want to help but, same as Geoff, it would be nice to know if you have any personal experience dealing with depression? 

I do realise that everyone has to start somewhere but I rather not be a guineapig.

[Sawyer]

Dear Spakcat,

I'm happy to hear your recovery seems to be moving in a positive direction. I hope your physio therapy continues to improve your physical state and you continue to figure out what works for you and what you need moving forward.

Everyone needs time to relax, after all, what are we working for if not to be able to have time away from work? I can't think we are born into this world purely to work for others. However, it seems that this is very much the kind of age we live in at the moment, if you aren't busy all the time, you must not be doing enough.

Thankyou for taking the time to reply to me, I found personally that the lowest point in my life showed me what I needed to be different, and as such is almost solely to thank for where I am now, which is happier and more confident than I ever was before I hit that absolute low. I hope that similarly you continue to turn this negative part of your life, into more positive outcomes for you, not anyone else, but for you personally. 

Kind Regards,

Sawyer

[Sawyer]

Hi Geoff and Morning,

Thank you for replying to my thread. Yes I have had experience with my own mental health, its part of what drives my approach to psychology. I believe I have already talked about my past experience with depression and anxiety in other threads, in fact Geoff I think you have been part of one of those conversation. Thank you for asking how I am doing, I am stressed, but otherwise pretty good actually.

Let me be clear that i'm not looking for "guinea pigs" or people to practice on. I have a history of my own mental problems, but i'm coping much better now. You may see it differently, but I feel this gives me insight into what I study that goes beyond what the textbooks say as i'm sure your past experience with mental illness may make you skeptical about people who don't have first hand experience. Its hard to understand mental illness until you have lived it. My only goal here, is to be available for anyone who wants to talk about what they are going through, and I will do my best to help them however I can.

I posted this originally, in the hope that it might prompt people who may be on the forums but reading others stories but maybe daunted by the idea of posting, to take that first step whether that is talking about what they are going through for perhaps the first time, or even simply saying "i'm not doing okay". Similarly I would be thrilled with responses of how well people are going, and how these forums are facilitating that. Not everyone is comfortable or confident enough to just post their story on a thread, so I thought I'd start by asking "How are you?" that simple question that people so often forget to.

Kind Regards,

Sawyer

[neleke]

hello,

i am not coping to well this week. Had bad news with my car, not safe to drive and will cost alot to fix. We tried for a loan and got rejected, which made me feel real let down, Have to save for repairs now. Got my frustration out on saturday and did some gardening. Just as we feel we are getting on top of things something else happens, does it ever get better. So i am feeling quite low this week.

[Sawyer]

Hi Neleke,

I'm sorry about your car, they really can be so expensive to fix and such a massive inconvenience when they are out of action. I know it can seem like the moment you are on top of things something happens to knock you back down again, we all feel this way from time to time, but try to stay focussed on the positives in your life, accept that you can't change what has happened with your car, but you can chose to not let it bother you in the long term.

It is a massive inconvenience, I have had the same thing happen and I know how stressful money can be. It sounds like you know what you have to do, even though its a bad situation. Vent your frustrations by all means, its a perfectly healthy process, just try not to ruminate too much about how it would have better for you had this not happened, you cant change what you can't control. The most important thing is to look after yourself, you will get past this, you can do it.

Best of luck with the car and whatever else you may be dealing with.

Kind Regards,

Sawyer.

[Sparkles183]

Thanks Swayer for asking.

for me I just take one day at a time.

it makes it harder when I try to reach out for help and keep on hitting a brick wall. 

I am hoping that my mental health doctor has sent my mental health plan to the psychologist she   Referred me to ( it has been a week now and still no word) and I can make an appointment next week. 

Thanks for your kindness 

sparkles 

[Sawyer]

Hi Sparkles,

Sometimes all you can do is take it a day at a time and there is nothing wrong with that. I'm glad you are seeking help for what you are going through. But what do you mean by hitting a brick wall? 

Hopefully your mental health plan has been put through to the psychologist, but if that is not the case, or you need someone else to talk to I will be here. If you have any questions or want to talk about what you are going through I will do my best to help.

Kind Regards,

Sawyer