Hi....this is my first time here.

[65]

My nick name is... 65  🙂  I'm aged in my mid 60s  🙂  I've been married to an amazing person for 25 yrs, my rock and my strength. We have a little dog who we dearly love.  🙂  I was diagnosed with severe depression about 25 yrs ago, but I'm sure I had it all my life. I take... wait for it... 82 anti depressants ... a week !!!  Yeah, even that surprises me, I still have "episodes" from time to time, but I do my best to stay strong.  I attend a weekly support group which also helps me.  I have joined Beyond Blue in an effort to find even more help.  I try to be an easy going person most of the time, I don't drink, smoke or take drugs.... apart from my prescriptions ones.  I'm a breast cancer survivor of 5 years.

[Scotchfinger]

hi 65

plenty of oldies here, you'll be glad to know.

Like myself who turns 58 next month.

Welcome. I think you'll like it.

[65]

🙂  well, I won't be 65 till next month, but I figure I'm close enough 🙂

Thanks for your reply.  🙂

[BKYTH]

Stake your claim to be 64 until the calendar robs you of that opportunity. I'm 62 and will remain so as long as I can.  Philip.

[65]

🙂 ya reckon.....   🙂  I'm looking forward to my birthday, we're going to our favourite restaurant.  🙂

[Guest_5218]

Welcome 65 (even though you're not yet).  I am 56, but will turn 57 in May.  I suffer from severe anxiety also ptsd and OCD.  Not currently on any medication though.  82 anti depressants a week sounds like a hell of a lot.  Has your GP or psych reviewed your meds recently?  Sometimes when on lots of different meds, they can work against each other, so it could be worth having a look at that.  Just a thought! But if you are currently coping pretty well, without too many 'episodes' then I understand that you would be reluctant to change anything.  

I am glad that you have a fantastic support network with your 'rock' of a husband and your loveable little dog, it can make such a huge difference.  I have a little dog too, who you can see on my profile photo.  She is a little mini foxie cross just turned 7, named Holly because her birthday is christmas day.  Pets are such wonderfully supportive little creatures arent they?  

Well done going through breast cancer and coming out the other side! I'll bet that knocked you around a lot though both mentally and physically?  Is that when you joined the weekly support group, and is it for breast cancer survivers or depression?  Or both perhaps?  You are obviously a very strong and determined woman, and I admire you greatly.  I dont take drugs or smoke either, and never had.  Cant say the same about drinking however.  There have been times where I have turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism.  Needless to say, it doesnt work!  I wish I was like you and didnt drink at all.  But more recently I have moderated it somewhat.

What type of restaurant is your favourite restaurant that you will go to on your 65th birthday?  Do you have other family 65 - eg children from a previous marriage, step kids, parents, siblings?  Do you get along well with them?

Okay, I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to the BB Forums.  Have a browse around and start posting to any threads that you have an interest in.  You will find everyone here really friendly and helpful.  Just be yourself.  I hope that you find the experience both helpful and rewarding.

Sherie xx

[Kazzl]

Hiya 65, welcome to the forum. Great to have you here.

You sound like you have a really good approach to this depression business that besets us. I'm keen to hear more from you, especially about your weekly support group. How does that work and how did you find them?

You'll find plenty of support and friendship here too.

Cheers

Kaz

[65]

Hi  Sherie and Kazzl,  thanks for your replies, I'll try to reply to you both at once.

Even doctors say that 82   ....maybe it's 84, not sure... anti depressants a week is a lot, some are the same that I take at different times of the day. I've discussed the amt  I take but they won't change them, it doesn't really bother me.  I don't see a shrink at the moment, haven't seen one for several years.

I moved from the city to a country town just over a year ago. The depression support group was advertised in the local paper and that's when I started to go, after I got here, so I've only been going since we moved to the town. There was nothing like it in town, so a sufferer decided to start the group about 4 yrs ago and is now getting Govt grants. We meet in a local hall. It's a peer support group for adults, we have a total of about 25, but on the day I go, there may be 1/2 dozen or dozen.  They're open Tues, Weds and Thurs. It's relaxed, we just talk about ordinary stuff mostly, but sometimes members need support too, we pay $2 for lunch. Some go on walks, or have meditation, it's very nice. It's nothing to do with cancer.

Our fav. restaurant is a steak house.  🙂

Sherie, my dog looks like yours but furry, he's a shith tzu x, and also black and white.

I got cancer when I lived in the city. I refused chemo which they weren't happy about. I had a right mastectomy. It was a shock, but I had plenty of support. It's something you learn to live with. BC is as common as a cold these days.

I have an adult son and daughter, I'm estranged from my daughter, they both live interstate. My husband is 80 so his family are a lot older than mine.  We are estranged from some of them, but are friends with one daughter and his son.

I used to smoke a lot and drink when the kids were little, but that was before my depression diagnosis, now I don't think it's wise to drink with all the meds I take, though I'll have a glass of wine at a restaurant sometimes. Smoking is too expensive.

Please, please, don't admire me....I'm a struggler like every other mentally ill person. At the moment I'm not at all well, and hope to see my doctor soon though he's booked up all this month, I'm hoping he'll still see me. I've written him a letter explaining what I'm going through, and will take it to his surgery tomorrow. I sometimes express myself better in writing than I do by speaking.

I hope that has answered your questions.  Thank you for the welcome.

65  🙂

[Guest_5218]

Hi there 65.  Thanks for all the info you just sent.  I hope you didnt feel like it was a Spanish inquisition or something, due to all the questions?  Just a bit of a get to know you thing.  Is your husband in good health?

The support group you go to sounds like a wonderful initiative for a small town.  Somebody off got off their backside and made it happen, which is fantastic.  It sounds like a nice group where you can go for support and to just chill out.  One of the problems of living in a small town is the availability of GP's.  I often have to book way ahead to see mine too.  I live outside a country town with a population of about 1,800 people. But its within a council area with a population of about 23,000. So its not such a small town really.  I hope you get in to see your Dr soon.  Sometimes they will squeeze in an additional appointment, or you may be lucky with a cancelation.

I've seen a few posts from you over the last couple of days, so it looks like you are finding your way around the BB site pretty well.  

I know you consider yourself a struggler like all other mentally ill people, but I still admire you!   ( - :

Sherie xx

[65]

Hi again, I have no problem with anyone asking me questions  🙂

I had my last doctor for 20 yrs and moving away from him was very difficult and trying to find someone new. I found a nice one, but he moved, then I found an awful one, but the lass at my support group suggested one who specialises in mental illness, so now I'm going to him and he's marvellous. On my first visit to him he gave me his private mobile number so if ever I'm desparate and can't get to see him, he'll speak to me privately, which is really wonderful. He's actually booked for the whole of the month, he's extremely popular. I decided not to give him my letter today, I'll see if I can stick it out a bit longer on my own. But I have the letter saved on the computer if I need it.  I spent yesterday in bed, but feel a little brighter today, still exhausted, but better. These things, as I'm sure you know, are very draining. Thankfully I have no family to care for and hubby and I are very gentle with each other.

My husbands health is... ???? OK. In March he collapsed at home, first time he'd been sick in his life. He had to be flown by Flying Doctor Service to the city and had a pace maker fitted. He collapsed again in September, but is ok. I do a lot more driving now, and he can't walk or stand up for as long as he used to.  80 isn't young, so we have to expect these things, but he's not what you'd call.... ill !!!  He's always been my carer, now we kind of care for each other.  🙂  He's a wonderful man, I'm very blessed to have him.  🙂