[Fuzzybear]

I know I've mentioned meds before, as in I can't tolerate them. I'm sorry for saying this again. I know they help most people, and can change their lives (as part of their "tool box" ) especially when depression is severe.

I also know for some people they only help a bit

I'm really losing hope. I'm trying to force myself to accomplish baby steps etc. But I'm feeling even worse

I do try exercise etc when I can ... today I could hardly get out of bed and brush my teeth

One minute at a time

Some days just don't let us conform to all the little healthy habits we try to build . Hang in there, my strong bear friend.

[Shazerac]

So sorry, fuzzy. I had one of those days today. I stayed in bed all day, not sure if I slept or was in some sort of fugue state. I'm trying to talk myself into brushing my teeth, but not sure if it's gonna happen.

[CepheidVariable]

(some simple wisdom a bear tried to teach me, but I'm a little obtuse and sometimes slow to change)

[Carmina]

How far have you got with psychotherapy or some other sort of therapy in the past - even just someone to vent to can be therapeutic? I am there with you at the moment, major depressive period on top of decades of depressive illness that has resisted all antidepressants, struggling to keep enough together to function at work, possibly (according to CPN) bipolar but still getting my head around that possibility. I have also had days where I could barely function even in basic tasks.

I am also highly skeptical of the mental health system and medication so am resisting that. One problem is the sheer inadequacy of how it deals with mental distress (I question the concept of illness) - everything is focussed on risk management and containment, human responses to distress are minimal and cursory, generally people get drugs thrown at them, and the only alternative, and that itself is harder to access, is IAPT (access to 'talking' therapies) which in my experience is often too low level, too brief, too CBT focussed, and too often delivered by inexperienced practitioners, to have been of any value to me.

On the other hand I have managed to get some really good psychotherapy twice through external sources, once during the period of my marriage breakup and severe clinical depression I was able to join a gestalt therapy group which was marvelous, and as I said before I also accessed a really good art therapist through MIND (I tend to prefer 'doing' therapies like art and occupational therapy to 'talking' therapies anyway). Maybe if you are cautious about drugs (which I would agree with personally although I am not knocking how they work for some people) then that could be a way forwards? I suspect if you have had experience of the low level 'therapy' available through the NHS it probably wasn't worth writing home about and may put some people off.

[MickeyCheeky]

It's ok, Fuzzy, everyone has days like that. The important thing is that you keep trying, I think.

[Winterbritt]

Originally Posted by Carmina

How far have you got with psychotherapy or some other sort of therapy in the past - even just someone to vent to can be therapeutic? I am there with you at the moment, major depressive period on top of decades of depressive illness that has resisted all antidepressants, struggling to keep enough together to function at work, possibly (according to CPN) bipolar but still getting my head around that possibility. I have also had days where I could barely function even in basic tasks.

I am also highly skeptical of the mental health system and medication so am resisting that. One problem is the sheer inadequacy of how it deals with mental distress (I question the concept of illness) - everything is focussed on risk management and containment, human responses to distress are minimal and cursory, generally people get drugs thrown at them, and the only alternative, and that itself is harder to access, is IAPT (access to 'talking' therapies) which in my experience is often too low level, too brief, too CBT focussed, and too often delivered by inexperienced practitioners, to have been of any value to me.

On the other hand I have managed to get some really good psychotherapy twice through external sources, once during the period of my marriage breakup and severe clinical depression I was able to join a gestalt therapy group which was marvelous, and as I said before I also accessed a really good art therapist through MIND (I tend to prefer 'doing' therapies like art and occupational therapy to 'talking' therapies anyway). Maybe if you are cautious about drugs (which I would agree with personally although I am not knocking how they work for some people) then that could be a way forwards? I suspect if you have had experience of the low level 'therapy' available through the NHS it probably wasn't worth writing home about and may put some people off.

Hi, I just saw your comment while I was reading through and it sounds so much like me. I also question the concept of illness.

Have you heard of "The Work"? If not, check it out. The Work | The Work of Byron Katie. Or search byron katie on youtube. She has like a six step thought process for relieving depression. Meds and therapists didn't work for me. "The Work" was my answer to depression, and it's so simple and easy. It's not so much theory as actually a step by step process that you can do. I'm so glad to be happy now, I just keep telling everyone about it.

[Winterbritt]

Sending you lots of hugs

[Sunflower123]

Thinking of you and sending big hugs.

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by Winterbritt

Hi, I just saw your comment while I was reading through and it sounds so much like me. I also question the concept of illness.

Have you heard of "The Work"? If not, check it out. The Work | The Work of Byron Katie. Or search byron katie on youtube. She has like a six step thought process for relieving depression. Meds and therapists didn't work for me. "The Work" was my answer to depression, and it's so simple and easy. It's not so much theory as actually a step by step process that you can do. I'm so glad to be happy now, I just keep telling everyone about it.

Thanks Winterbritt for the information. It look very promising.