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GP straight away Swamp, no delaying get there ASAP !!

I lost a friend a few years ago to depression, he kept it bottled up and no one knew how much he was suffering until he was gone.

Being big enough to admit you have a problem is the first and biggest step and I applaud you for it, just need to take the next one now.
 
Swamp said:
clingo, thanks for that.

now that i've 'put it out there' to a certain extent the weight has been lifted a little off my shoulders.

will reply soon.
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There's depression in my family. My brother suffers from chronic depression and is addicted to alcohol, a very messy mixture. One leads to the other, downward spiral etc. Very difficult to get out of. He wasn't diagnosed for years but I alwas knew there was something wrong.

I have two or three other friends who have bi-polar disorder, to varying degrees. This can be pretty ugly, but once diagnosed, tends to be treatable, as long as the medication is taken.

Mental illness is mental illness. It's not your fault, although there are things you can do to help. As stated, in this nad previous posts, booze is BAD, physical activity is good. Talking it through with an expert is all important.

Good luck, it's a big thing to face up to, but you can live with it. Very good book here that I know is highly regarded and accessible. best.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Blac...7431/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1347924651&sr=8-2
 
swamp chin up dude like the others said......its the seeing it yourself that is most important step and now youve done that its onwards and upwards from here on in>>>>>tell that doctor 2 leave out the chems tablets they like 2 get people hooked on<<<<<<try herbal stuff first>>>>after all it cant harm you like the chems do.


and swamp take no notice of john hughs my medication is the best of the market>>>>>>:afro:


swamp other than that your age dont help and the way society is set up really adds extra pressure>>>>>>>first things first make sure money isnt the route of this problem cos it really isnt money that makes you happy in life>>>>>family and friends r free and give you much more than your ever could get from material stuff
 
First please go to your G.P , and access the services available , medication for me was a short term fix, I have suffered from depression all my life , but have only seeked help in the last 3 years .
Not all people are the same so it's a case of finding out what works for you, I found exercise and a mixture of talking to a health councillor what helped me the most ( he was able to give me a discount on a gym pass , not sure if the scheme is available in Wales ) .
A book I personally found very useful was The Rules of Life by Richard Templar , it's not heavy and each page is a separate piece of advice .
Personally I have good days and really crap days ( have been diagnosed with bi polar ) but I kind of see it as what makes me - me , if you need to talk please message me , best of luck and remember your not alone
 
Swamp, I'm no expert and can't offer meaningful advice but can share a personal experience and wish you all the best.

I've not had first hand experience of someone with depression but a close family member had 'issues' over a certain aspect of their life which spilled over onto all other aspects. I can only describe their behavior as irrational. The 'experts' wanted to be able to put them in a 'pidgeon hole' and because they couldn't lost interest. Family support and time saw them out the other side. Their life is now back on track though underlying traits remain. What goes on in an individuals head is very difficult to deal with and to everyone else it does seem irrational. I know that's how I looked it. However, rational doesn't come into it. The way we dealt with it was not to try and rationalise and 'fix' it, but to find an alternative path around it. Every scenario is different and individual situations encourage or obstruct ways through this (I deliberatly didn't say a FIX).

Having had first hand experience of the system, I was amazed at how many people of all ages experience difficulties of varying degrees. I certainly put myself in the category that experiences anxiety from time to time, occassionaly quite severely. That is a mild form that I've learned to deal with but can't prevent. One acronym I found useful was FEAR. False Expectations Appear Real. Doesn't always work but helps me think about the situation.

We all feel down from time to time but when it gets beyond that it must be a burden. I hope speaking about it helps and knowing that a lot of 'unknown friends' posting on here are supportive. Do share this with people you can talk openly to but not those who are likely to say 'pull yourself together'. It's never as simple as that.


Keep posting, keep talking and best wishes.
 
Swamp...like many of our fellow posters have said, the first port of call is your GP. He or she will be able to point you in the right direction. Don't do anything until you make this appointment. Your GP will be able to make an initial assessment, which is based on a tried and tested questionnaire, and this will determine what initial treatment you might need. I emphasise the word "might" because, until you are assessed, you will not know whether or not you may be ill as you said in your OP you "think you have depression". And thoughts are a core issue with talking treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which focuses on negative thoughts and actions. The NHS has access to various counsellors which will be recommended by your GP although you may have to be prepared to wait a while as there are literally hundreds of people in Cardiff with similar illnesses. Also organisations like Cardiff MIND offer a great service.
Like others have said as well you have taken the biggest initial step by actually bringing this into the open as keeping things bottled up is not the answer. So please go and see your GP and commit yourself by letting all your mates on here know how you get on. Best of luck.
 
irishbluebird said:
And thoughts are a core issue with talking treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which focuses on negative thoughts and actions.
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CBT was a course of action that followed in the experience I had. It seems to have good results in most cases.
 
You are already half way to sorting out your problems m8 by recognising the signs and talking about them, even if it's on a public forum. As most have already advised get down to your GP's and open up a bit to establish the root cause/s.

I assume from your age that you are physically fit so I would suggest you get involved in a sport if you are not already doing so. Walking is a brilliant stress reliever. Focus on the things that have impacted in a positive way in your life. <ok>

Medication should be a last resort. Monitor your alcohol consumption.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3EacQ4GfiU from a few years back.

i read an article with stephen fry recently and it was fascinating.he said he felt overpraised overpaid and how he's generally a lucky man but how one cant help but to want cut ones throat..love him or loathe you have to respect someone of that stature coming out and doing this documentary.i personally love the guy ands its very important for people like him to help others like you with dealing with such things..all is not lost and there is very good help out there swamp.<ok>
 
Not really anything I can add that hasn't already been said, but thought I'd pop in and wish you the best dealing with this, Swamp! <ok>
 
You need to think what is making you feel this way, Life's pressures can come from many avenues, and hopefully yours will be a simple one to find and address. Get to a doctor straight away and answer the questionaire as accurately as you can. But most of all try to stay off the many anti depressants that are prescribed. Find the Route and you will find the cure. Good Luck
 
swamp looking at the posts dude you have gained a lot of respect on this forum and from that comes the support needed from us lot>>>there are many who have first hand experience of this subject on here and im sure speaking with them will help out in a positive manner.

keep your head up butty ur a good un
 
swamp looking at the posts dude you have gained a lot of respect on this forum and from that comes the support needed from us lot
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spot on aber <applause>

Swamp, at the risk of repeating a lot of the above, you've taken the first huge step in acknowledging it yourself <ok>

i know its not my fault but i also, rightly or wrongly, view this as a weakness, a fault in myself
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The brain is a complex little bastard so the one thing I will say is that this ISN'T a weakness on your part. I've recently finished a report on irrational fears and phobias and, although depression is a lot more complex, the above mentioned CBT formed a big part of the treatment process. I can copy/past it into an email if you want to read through it and see how you feel about it.
Dont be afraid to speak to family though... you might be surprised at the level of support you get and definately dont be afraid to speak to a GP. It may not feel like it right now but you can get through it mate. <ok>

.... plus you've always got us bunch of idiots to fall back on :)
 
I echo the above sentiments... Don't be a bloke and go get yourself checked out at a doctors. It isn't a nice thing to suffer, no matter on what level. Although I'm not the oldest or wisest on here, there was a time I was on medication which made me feel down as a side effect... What that led to when you're young and impressionable is still there to remind me not to get to that place again... Help from people is there if you want it, and youve done the difficult part of admitting you may have an issue.
 
The mind is a very tricky business. The fact that some members in your family have it can lead you to believe that you have it, which in turn will bring you down and make you believe it. As others have said, go see a gp, it may actually be nothing. All the best dude.
 
Swamp, I cannot add anything more but wish you good luck. Many on here say go to the GP and I would only add to that with force. Help is availbale but you got to ask for it. My wife has sufered with this for years (since she was 17) and is now permanenetly on tablets.....we wiorked out8 eventually that a very small dose regularly was much better than the ups and downs of going onto and off tablets. Each situation is diferent but you have done the right thing to start to talk abou8t it. now talk to the professionals as well
 
Swamp

You have done brilliantly to ask for support on here ..... well done

Many young people suffer from depression &/or anxiety .... you are certainly not alone

Mental health problems are nothing to be ashamed about (1 in 4 people suffer from them at some stage of their life)

Here are some further options for you

http://www.youngminds.org.uk/for_children_young_people/better_mental_health/ask_for_help
please look it up for suggestions about how & who to ask for help



The sooner you find someone to talk to the better .... preferable an adult .... doesn't have to be family

Another option would be to use:

Rethink for advice
0300 5000 927
Monday to Friday, 10am - 1pm
Our number is the cost of a local call (and if local calls free on your tariff, the call will be free). We are not open on Bank Holidays.

If you ever feel extremely down & need immediate help
Samaritans have a 24 hr help line
08457 90 90 90
& a useful website
http://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-us
 
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