Hi there. I am a new member, and could do with some support. I have only very recently been strong enough to admit to myself that I have a big mental health problem. This has been going on for years but until now I have been able to put up a facade and hide my symptoms from the world around me. I have now reached the point where I can't go on like this. I feel I will have a mental breakdown if I don't do something about it now.

I've compiled a list of my main MH worries:

a) depression; feeling paralysed and suffocated
b) inability to concentrate at work/do my job
c) sleeplessness, constant tiredness
d) acute loneliness
e) no motivation to do anything/feeling lethargic

Today I have been to see a doctor at my GP practice (I live in England). I was in tears the whole time. She was lovely though. She prescribed me a medicine called Fluoxetine. I am very anxious to start taking this. The side effects sound awful. I will be assessed by the mental health team in three weeks time, which sounds an awful long time.

I am not sure what the etiquette is on these forums, but I think I would like to keep this thread going as a kind of open diary. I feel it will be helpful while I am coming to terms with the depression etc.

Thanks for reading, and I'm looking forward to interacting with people on here.

Liz