Dealing with depression - suicidal thoughts - Join the conversation (including helpline details)

…….. and here's another problem; I was divorced in 1981 and moved in with my current partner exactly 20 years later - - - - I enjoyed my freedom, immensely and I want it back.

So you want change and you know what you think you want?

I'm not sure I understand what is stopping you trying move forwards. I'm sure if you are so unhappy your partner must be as well.
 
Another share from DPJ yesterday on how asking for help helped!


Farmer/ Contractor
37/ Male
When my mental health was at its worst I could not see a way out, every decision was erratic and my body was spiralling out of control, constant panic attacks, cold sweats and at the very worst no sleep for four nights. My mind was making decisions based on little or no thought. I even self harmed to take the mental pain away and replace with physical pain. And looking back I was quite near attempted suicide
It all built up over a number of years and just exploded when I couldn’t take any more. It was the end of harvest and is been quite stressed throughout it and it just came out on the farm office. That was the lowest point on my life.
To ask for help took me about 15 years and it was at my lowest point I remember shouting out please help me I can’t live like this anymore. I went for counselling but the low points returned about 3 years later and I looked for help myself with the DPJ. I can not believe how bad I’d got again.
The counselling I received initially taught me how to live with the illness and give me tools to help. My second round of counselling took me to the very core of myself and find out how and why I’m mentally ill. It was fantastic to find out why it started and where it led to from there. To understand the illness was a great help and led me to cope with the illness as it was there and then. I was putting myself under pressure to do everything to such a high standard and if I didn’t achieve it I’d punish myself internally. I was taught to take each job as it comes and don’t set yourself up for failure.
Having a better knowledge of my illness has been the keystone to a better life
I’ve had many sessions of councilling and it’s been the best spent hours of my life, I’m in such a good place now I’m enjoying every bit of my family and work. Sleeping well and eating well. And I’ve put on weight. I’ve even told all my friends and colleagues about my illness something I could never do before.
My advice to anyone out there struggling is please seek help - there is nothing to be ashamed of. Help is only one text message or phone call away. You are not alone and you never will be.
Mental health is something we all have it common in varying degrees.
Image may contain: text that says IT ALL BUILT UP OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS AND JUST EXPLODED WHEN I COULDN'T TAKE ANYMORE DJ

 
The final share from yesterday. Sorry they didn't get shared yesterday - I need laptop time to do the copy and paste.

27/ Male
Contractor
At my worst I felt like I didn’t want to be in this world any longer.
There were many times where it really hit me and it would be weeks before I’d kind of get back to being my normal depressed self.
I had been telling myself for a while that if I was to get in to a really bad place again that I would reach out for myself, I couldn’t keep on going as I was after being in a bad place for many years, enough was enough!
When I finally asked for help - man where do I start?! It changed things in many ways, not just from being able to talk to a counsellor, but after seeking help I wasn’t ashamed of my depression I no longer felt that I had to hide it, I was sick which is totally normal. Made me realise how good it can be to talk about things. Went from not really talking unless I had been asked questions to not being able to shut up!
These days I’m so much better, I wouldn’t say perfect but compared to how I used to be I’m more or less back to regular me.
If anyone is struggling the hardest part of getting better is asking for help, once you’ve done that the rest is easy! The sooner you ask for help the sooner you can go back to being you, it’s easy to forget how happy you were before.
Mental Health is two things, an absolutely horrible thing to go through, it’s also totally normal to go through it.
Image may contain: one or more people, text, outdoor and nature

 
For today please check out the counsellors' stories.

I'm not going to post everything from DPJ as I don't want to take over the thread. Please think about joining the webinar at twelve.

The DPJ Foundation



Bore da...
Photo credit:
Bethan Davies
On Day 3 of Mental Health Awareness Week. Yesterday we looked at the story of 3 people who had received support from DPJ.
Today we are going to look at the support you can get. Counselling can sometimes be a daunting idea so we have spoken to some counsellors who can give you an idea of what you can expect.
Also look at at 12 for a 10 minute webinar you can access all about self care.
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SMILE
Smiles Relieve Stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress.
Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.
Smiles are contagious.
It’s a universal sign of happiness: While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance.
Photo Credit: Carys Thomas
Image may contain: 1 person, outdoor

 

Juggler

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Anglesey
SMILE
Smiles Relieve Stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress.
Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.
Smiles are contagious.
It’s a universal sign of happiness: While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance.
Photo Credit: Carys Thomas
Image may contain: 1 person, outdoor

Seeing the 'Smile' quote reminded me of something that happened a few months ago, I had a slipped disc pushing on my sciatic nerve that had been problematic for a few months then suddenly escalated resulting in an ambulance trip, a few nights in hospital, various drugs and a few weeks off work, I believe it was a period of bad stress that I had suffered earlier that caused the onset of my back problems, and that eventually resulted in the ambulance trip... this was confirmed when I attended a physiotherapy session, the first thing the therapist asked was had I been under stress, explaining that mental stress can manifest as physical problems, he then asked me to try and touch my toes (this was a couple of months after being in hospital so didn't involve screaming..) I managed to get my fingers to just above knee level.
He then did something remarkable, he told me to close my eyes and picture a particularly happy moment in my life, I picked one and put myself back there, in that moment as he put it, I reached for my toes again the difference was astounding.
So basically, making myself feel happiness had an immediate effect on my physical capabilities, in a nutshell, yes smiling does make you feel better!
 
Seeing the 'Smile' quote reminded me of something that happened a few months ago, I had a slipped disc pushing on my sciatic nerve that had been problematic for a few months then suddenly escalated resulting in an ambulance trip, a few nights in hospital, various drugs and a few weeks off work, I believe it was a period of bad stress that I had suffered earlier that caused the onset of my back problems, and that eventually resulted in the ambulance trip... this was confirmed when I attended a physiotherapy session, the first thing the therapist asked was had I been under stress, explaining that mental stress can manifest as physical problems, he then asked me to try and touch my toes (this was a couple of months after being in hospital so didn't involve screaming..) I managed to get my fingers to just above knee level.
He then did something remarkable, he told me to close my eyes and picture a particularly happy moment in my life, I picked one and put myself back there, in that moment as he put it, I reached for my toes again the difference was astounding.
So basically, making myself feel happiness had an immediate effect on my physical capabilities, in a nutshell, yes smiling does make you feel better!

What fabulous story. Please do share it on the DPJ Foundation Facebook page.

It's a bit like finding the patronius moment in Harry Potter!
 
So many cracking pictures on the FB pages yesterday, picked this one as it links quite nicely to the smile one.

#BEKIND
#3 GIVE SOMEONE A HUG
Do you know that hugging someone reduces both their stress and yours?
It can reduce blood pressure as well as making someone feel comforted and safe.
When we hug, our body releases oxytocin - the cuddle hormone. This reduces stress.…
See more
Image may contain: one or more people and text
 
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nelly55

Member
Location
Yorkshire
After weeks of stress,heartache and worry a family member is gaining strength .Make that call ,help is there not to judge but to listern.Talking to a stranger ,a friendly caring voice on the phone who only if you wish has your name.Don’t ever be afraid to ask ,we were at first but mental health eats at you until you see no way out.There is a way ,it’s a slow walk not a sprint only you can start the journey but others who help, finish it with you.
 
After weeks of stress,heartache and worry a family member is gaining strength .Make that call ,help is there not to judge but to listern.Talking to a stranger ,a friendly caring voice on the phone who only if you wish has your name.Don’t ever be afraid to ask ,we were at first but mental health eats at you until you see no way out.There is a way ,it’s a slow walk not a sprint only you can start the journey but others who help, finish it with you.

I'm loving the way that sounds @nelly55 . Been thinking of you all.
 
This last week I have been home schooling my child in "mental health" and the like. The resources were bobbins. Their whole phse course is complete junk and we have resorted to just having a bit of a chat.

Unfortunately, I think there is a fear that by talking about mental health, depression and suicide with young people that they will then "feel the need to do it" as opposed to giving them the tools to cope with the whammies life might deal them.
 
I have just watched a video of a farmer spreading slurry all over a car parked in one of his fields; whilst filming his actions for internet posting. Whilst I can fully understand his frustrations and annoyance at an unthinking public and having committed worse actions my self, I do fear for the repercussions that may follow his actions. No doubt, there will be health and safety questions over his carrying a young child, unsecured, in a working tractor cab and his actions will have an affect on the child's thinking and probably set off some of his own self recriminating thoughts to struggle with.

Maybe the child-care people will be soon knocking on his farmhouse door!

I write, not in criticism but in considered empathy and hope that you will all stick by him when the proverbial poo hits the fan.
 
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For those of you in Wales - if not further afield as it is all part of raising awareness about mental health and the DPJ helpline is available every day all day regardless of where people are.:-

From DPJ


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