The Mental Health thread

[WarwickWolf]

Have to say I'm nearly in tears here. I've not suffered with MH issues but have family members and friends who have. I can't imagine what it's like but have the utmost respect for all of you dealing with it. For what it's worth, I'm sure that there'll always be a sympathetic ear here. Don't be afraid to talk.

 

[Trips]

Really poor couple of weeks for me. No real underlying reason why, it's just that way sometimes. Same old issues. It's not an easy thing to fix - I can't just take a tablet and feel better in a few hours. The best way (I think, anyway) is to try to carry on as normal as best I can and fight it, locking myself away and not interacting with anyone is the easy way out but solves nothing.

I think the worst of it is over but it's been proper shit. Apologies to anyone I might have been snippy to lately. It's delayed some writing I had planned but it's not the end of the world, it'll still get done.

You offered me an ear before, just so you know the offer is always there in return. Feel free to drop me a line on here or on my mobile anytime mate! I'll even let you you buy me a pint next Saturday

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Thanks guys (and Trips, how can I refuse that kind offer). It's still not very good but I'm doing everything I can to fix it.

 

[AndyWolves]

I found the gym / physical exercise helps me whenever things felt like they were getting a bit much.

Running especially, after the first 5-10 minutes my brain just seems to empty of all thoughts. It doesn't always work but I do get the feeling that I'm doing something positive that benefits me, and my stupid brain can't tell me that I'm not.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I can't run any more to any great degree, I'm held together with sticky tape. Don't play football for years through pretty bad injuries, kids.

I do try to get out every day and have a good walk, my regime normally works ok. Every now and then everything falls apart though and this time I haven't been able to put it back together very well.

 

[playtheace]

Getting out of bed and downstairs is a massive deal when suffering mental health issues let alone the thought of running.

I can't recommend some CBT enough to be honest.I read quite a few books about CBT (some from the 70's) and listened to tapes of those books to 'recondition' my mind's thinking.
Might sound like some trippy hippy dippy shit but it helped me massively.

 

[Johnny75]

Getting out of bed and downstairs is a massive deal when suffering mental health issues let alone the thought of running.

I can't recommend some CBT enough to be honest.I read quite a few books about CBT (some from the 70's) and listened to tapes of those books to 'recondition' my mind's thinking.
Might sound like some trippy hippy dippy shit but it helped me massively.

I second this, works brilliantly.

 

[Del Woppio]

What's CBT?

 

[Boozad]

Cognitive behaviour therapy.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Stop Thinking, Start Living, by Richard Carlson, is a really good book - in fact, going to read it again later, as I've fallen off the rails recently - basically, get out of your head (your brain generally feeds you a lot of tripe), and join in with the world instead.

 

[lemonjelly]

I'd strongly recommend this book for aiding managing personal anxiety:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-More-Less-Everything-Absolutely/dp/0593076192

 

[James]

Looking at this thread is very bouying and I’m glad theres so much love and support out there for people who need it.

 

[playtheace]

Stop Thinking, Start Living, by Richard Carlson, is a really good book - in fact, going to read it again later, as I've fallen off the rails recently - basically, get out of your head (your brain generally feeds you a lot of tripe), and join in with the world instead.

The Clare Weekes books were the Bible for me,yes they may seem dated when describing certain settings (the housewife cleaning etc) but the overall positive message about dealing with a tired mind saved me to be honest.

I used to know the passages word for word and it would give me the self belief to get through days until it became my only train of thought*

Im not the only one who believes she was way ahead of her time with her treatments.

*this ain't no David Koresh cult brain washing shite incase anyone's worried.

 

[Jabbawolf]

The Clare Weekes books were the Bible for me,yes they may seem dated when describing certain settings (the housewife cleaning etc) but the overall positive message about dealing with a tired mind saved me to be honest.

I used to know the passages word for word and it would give me the self belief to get through days until it became my only train of thought*

Im not the only one who believes she was way ahead of her time with her treatments.

*this ain't no David Koresh cult brain washing shite incase anyone's worried.

Spot on - her books were fantastic - Face, Accept, Float, Let Time Pass - a simple mantra that has worked in the past.

 

[Johnny75]

I'll try both of those authors gents.

 

[SLA]

My wife and daughter both use the Headspace app to help with their depression and anxiety. They both say it helps.

 

[The Saturday Boy]

What's CBT?

Dan described it fairly well - it is working out what is happening and your response to it rather than why it is happening. Dan's example is not locking himself away recognising that this doesn't help so he does something else instead. CBT looks at they way you think and the impact it has on your behaviour. Sometimes, changing the way you think about something can have a positive impact on what you do because of the way you are thinking.

I was a CB Therapist for a while and it can have life changing outcomes and these can be achieved in a relatively short space of time. Anxiety and depression messes around with your coping strategies and CBT is a helpful means of rebuilding them or creating new ones. I use it on myself now, both in my personal life and in work...not on here though.

 

[Boozad]

CBT was the answer for me in my one real slip into deep depression, and I still use it now when things start to get on top of me. The only downside for me that I’ve found over the years is that the more I shun problems and deal them in a way that doesn’t get me down, the more I’ve found myself caring less and less about things that used to excite me or entertain me such as music, socialising, playing guitar, gaming, reading and the like. I still do it, but it seems like I only do them because it’s what I do, not because I get any real sense of enjoyment out of them anymore. Strange.

 

[playtheace]

CBT was the answer for me in my one real slip into deep depression, and I still use it now when things start to get on top of me. The only downside for me that I’ve found over the years is that the more I shun problems and deal them in a way that doesn’t get me down, the more I’ve found myself caring less and less about things that used to excite me or entertain me such as music, socialising, playing guitar, gaming, reading and the like. I still do it, but it seems like I only do them because it’s what I do, not because I get any real sense of enjoyment out of them anymore. Strange.

You still feel fully in control in this sort of state though?

One part of anxiety i suffered badly from was derealization,although i went through all the motions of doing everything i would have normally done, none of it meant a thing to me.....attending gigs,football and socialising especially.
It was as if i was watching a film of myself do stuff and not being able to have control of it......it was the trippiest part of felling ill but i felt at ease with it (and just kinda numb) and sort of just went month by month with it and at least it wasnt the other side of anxiety that made me think i was gonna die every 10 minutes.

 

[pavlosmacwolf]

Last year, when I became such an angry cunt on the forum, and everyone though it was cypro, it wasn't, me life style or lack of one here due to economics finally got me. I thought I was in such control, not being a great worrier about things I can,t fix, but I was kidding myself.
I found walking in the forests and on the beach was my salvation, although I always gave myself a reason to go walking, looking for firewood, certain weeds here, that double as vegetables, looking for wood for my lamps. Having a reason to go took my mind off the real problems and eventually got me out of what was for me, a huge slump and the first time in my life I ever seriously thought I had blown it all.
Anyone who thinks they would find my wilderness and beach a help, there is a based ready and waiting for as long as you need it. Not speaking the language will help too, as you won't have to listen to all the shit I have to put up with, ha ha. Except from me of course.