Where do you go when you can't feel any lower?

[Dan126]

I feel incredibly low at the moment, I don't know what to do? I feel like I can't speak to my family and my job prevents me from going to the doctors. I feel in so much pain inside and went it to stop and the only thing thing eases it is alcohol. I have 3 lovely children and should be happy, what is wrong with me?

[Hidden]

Hello Dan126 and welcome to our supportive Community.

I am sorry to hear you are so low and in so much pain.

It sounds like you may know why you are feeling so low and need some help and support with this. Is there anyone close you feel able to confide in, for example a close friend?

Dan126 you are not alone and you can 'work' through this difficult and trying time. The only way is through. Alcohol as a coping mechanism can appear to ease things but usually only for a relatively short time. It is a known depressant too and often leads to more alcohol to hide the pain. Please think about an alternative activity to help you cope, maybe writing, reading (depending on your concentration levels), is there perhaps a sport you enjoy.

I know you say you are unable to visit your Doctor but if you are worried about how you are feeling please do see a Doctor. Take a look at the other resources below which you may find useful.

We are always here to support you so please do stay in touch, take care

Lottie

Other Resources

CALM

If you are a man experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you.

Tel [phone] They are open 5pm - midnight, 365 days a year.

They also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.

Rethink Mental Illness supports almost 60,000 people every year across England to get through crises, to live independently and to realise they are not alone.

Tel [phone]

Open Monday to Friday 9:30am - 4pm.

Samaritans

Listens to anything that is upsetting you, including intrusive thoughts and difficult thoughts of suicidecand self-harm.

Freephone 116 123

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Email them [e-mail] or visit them at your local branch.

Samaritans also offer a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (from 7pm - 11pm, 7 days a week)

SANE offers emotional support and information from 4:30pm - 10:30pm, 365 days a year

Tel [phone]

Papyrus - are a national charity for the prevention of young suicide. They offer a specialist telephone service staffed by trained professionals who give non-judgmental support and practical information to children, teenagers and young people up to the age of 35.

Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]

Text 07786 209697

Opening hours are

Mon - Fri 10am - 10pm

Weekends 2pm - 10pm

Bank Holidays 2pm - 5pm

[sue_b]

Hi Dan126,

Sorry to hear that things are getting on top of you Dan and well done to you for reaching out to this forum. Can I say, why do you feel you can't talk to your family? They may surprise you and acknowledge that they realise there is something bothering you, especially if they have noticed you are drinking more than usual? The last thing they would want is to find out you are suffering and that you didn't feel able to go to them for support. Am I right? I'm assuming that Dan isn't short for Danielle, so you might feel that you're a man and you're supposed to just cope with everything. Wrong, that's not the world we live in these days.

If you are having difficulty getting to see your Dr during the day, most areas have an 'out of hours service' you can go to. I think you call your surgery and it directs you to the out of hours service. Or look online for your local services. I think you could even see someone in an area you don't live in, if you travel with your work. Xmas, however, is going to make it much more difficult to see someone.

I speak from experience, our thoughts can create a downward spiral in mood which like anything, can become habitual. Our minds keep regurgitating the same old thoughts and effectively, we are our thoughts.

When I realised that you don't have to be the same person tomorrow as you are today, that each day is a new opportunity to have different thoughts, everything started to change for me. I still get a bit weepy when I allow myself to think about something that made me unhappy, however, I acknowledge, yes, that hurt but I don't let it take hold, I move on.

Just know, you can change your thoughts and that will change your feelings and your appreciation of your life for the better. You don't even have to resolve the thing that might be making you unhappy, you can just change how you think about it. This might seem crazy but give it a go, you have nothing to lose.

Lottiesweb has loads of links for people to talk to about how you are feeling and the Internet is a tremendous place to find support also.

I hope something I mention helps you to break out of your downward spiral. I wish you well