Hello

[surfingbunny18]

Hi everyone

It's nice to be part of a group supporting people. I am new here and looking for some support since I've been quite unwell lately with depression and anxiety. I'd appreciate any tips on how to deal with endless lethargic low moods where I literally cannot move. Also my self esteem is practically non existent so I'm finding it really hard to like myself at all!

thanks heaps 😊

[white knight]

Hi SB,welcome

This is a special safe place. Its also a place where we have an enormous number of threads to read and personalities you can connect to.

We also have the bbcaffe so look out for that thread, a lighthearted place to chill out if thats your thing.

Listed below are some threads I commenced you can read. Even if its just the first post. Reply there if it helps.

Use google

Topic: the best praise you'll ever get- beyondblue

Topic: what lifes like at the end of the tunnel- beyondblue

Topic: the balance of your life- beyondblue

Topic: how I eliminated anxiety- beyondblue

Tony WK

[Croix]

Dear Surfingbunny~

I'd like to join Tony WK in welcoming you here, it is a very supportive place and I hope you are going to feel at home.

Depression and anxiety are horrible things to have (I've got them too) and very often end up sapping all energy and also hope. Just getting out of bed can be difficult or just about impossible, doing the things we used to do is just not on. This of course leads to feelings of failure and lack of worth. A vicious circle.

Do you mind if I ask if you are undergoing any treatment? I found I only went further downhill until I was properly diagnosed and given medical help. Medication and therapy made a real difference. It took a while but I'm in a much better place now, with occupation, energy and accomplishment.

If you are under treatment then I guess you ought to see you doctor and ask about getting your regime adjusted, it certainly does not sound as if it is working.

Of course if you are not seeing anyone now would be an excellent time to start. You could go see a GP and say what has been happening to you and how you feel. This can lead to treatment which can make life so much better.

How are things otherwise in your life? Is there something you can think of that is making you depressed and anxious?

I found, apart from medical support, I got a great deal from my family. Being able to make my partner understand what was wrong and having her care made an awful lot of difference. Is there someone like that for you?

I'd recommend you follow the links Tony has provided, his advice is usually spot-on. You might also like to have a browse around this Forum to see how others have got on. For general information The Facts menu above is pretty good.

Please feel you can talk here as often as you want

Croix

[geoff]

hello Surfingbunny, it's been a couple of days so I hope you are still your post, but I'd also want to join Tony and Croix in welcoming you to the forum.
There's not a great deal I can add to what has already been said, except for one point, I know that's it's so difficult for you to even be inspired by adding onto your comment, because you feel as though you don't have any strength to do so, but it's amazing what this can achieve for you, there are so many well experienced members here that have so much knowledge on depression, simply because we have all been through it ourselves. Geoff.

[surfingbunny18]

Hello Croix

Thank you very much for your suggestions. So I think the bulk of my anxiety and depression was caused by an overload of stress at school and my extremely high standard on school grades (I just finished year 12) I've actually been taking medications for about four months and regularly see a psychologist. It is definitely keeping me more stable than I used to be. For me the main problem is motivation to get better - I don't even have the strength to do anything about my low moods anymore. I have a very supportive network of family and friends who try to keep me on my feet and I also still live with my mum. I'm also very anxious since I'm going away at the end of the year for indefinite time.

Manuka

[Croix]

Dear Manuka~

I'm very pleased to hear both that you are having treatment and that there are kind supportive people in your life. That's certainly the basics you need to improve.

One of the side effects of anxiety is being a perfectionist -I'm one. This means an awful lot of time, energy and worry goes into doing things as perfectly as possible, even if 50% of the effort is devoted to the top 5% of the result. It's called diminishing returns and is not that good an idea in most circumstances.

It may sound a silly question, but if going away is really troubling you , then can you alter your plans?

I guess there have been a couple of things that have helped me when in situations similar to yours.

The first is it is very easy to set yourself up for failure. By that I mean setting ourself goals that are fine in everyday life but quite unachievable when you are ill. If you then don't meet those goals you feel so much worse - something depression feeds on. Giving yourself targets that can be met is really good, you have a good chance of reaching them and feel better for it.

At times mine have been getting out of bed, making a phone call, doing laundry, talking to someone - all sorts of things that in better times would almost be done without thinking.

Using small treats or rewards are very handy here. From a chocolate square to a tv show.

The other thing is regular activities that do two things, distract the mind from everyday life, its gloom and problems, and at the same time are enjoyable, something one can look forward too. Provides a bright spot in the day. I mainly use exercise (going for a walk) books and movies.

Surprisingly this can also bolster feeling good about oneself, though I'm not sure exactly why, perhaps because one is important enough to deserve good times.

Croix