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[andrun123]

It's very difficult for me to reach out to other people, especially since I've gone through this roller coaster of a disease for so long and have experienced how destructive It can be to relationships. Lately I have been having a hard time leaving my bed, let alone my house, and to know how it is affecting my friends and family makes me want to disappear even more so. I can't function. When I force myself to, it is physically painful and tiring.

I am in counseling and do take medication. Have for a long while. But I am new to trying any kind of support group. I've always felt so, so alone going through this. Knowing this support is out there is a bit encouraging.

[tomhealy]

Hello,

First of all, it is positive that you are involved in the two main forms of therapy, that being the use of prescriptive medication and counselling (which in the UK we call psychology or therapy). The only other main types of support that you could try is peer support - It may be social, emotional or practical support but importantly this support is mutually offered and reciprocal, allowing peers to benefit from the support whether they are giving or receiving it, finding local groups that are geared towards mental health, drop in services or even groups that are not localised towards mental health but would provide you with a network to build relationships that are positive influences and will allow you to feel a sense of achievement and might make the tiring sense of getting out and do something feel worthwhile. These are often referred to as therapeutic communities and beneficial to people with a large number of mental health programs. Being from the UK I am unable to offer any recommendations on services similar to what we have here such as that of social care, hospital treatment and crisis intervention.

[andrun123 in reply to tomhealy]

I appreciate your words and advice. I spoke with my counselor today about finding support groups - or as you referred to as a therapeutic communities - for additional help. Again, I thank you.

[tomhealy in reply to andrun123]

Maybe you should try to source an occupational psychologist, they would be of great benefit for meaningful activities

[andrun123 in reply to tomhealy]

Great idea - thanks! Honestly I'm willing to try anything to pull myself out of this.

[tomhealy in reply to andrun123]

You can do it!! I volunteer 43 hours a week unpaid helping people 18+ with mental health difficulties and everyone can do it <3

[samjon1]

Hello andrun123, sorry for the pain you're going through. Personally have gone through the same situations with my family and friends. Now days I see no charts on whatsapp for individuals but from groups and I access how I have no one to talk to. I see I have no friend, hard to everyone and feel worried for my future. Don't know whether things will change in future but what calms me down sometimes is to know that it's not my making, it's the disease causing all that, it's not me it's not you. For us we want the best for our selves and our neighbors but, ......

[andrun123 in reply to samjon1]

Thank you for your words. It really does help to recognize sometimes that I am never in the wrong for what I am going through - that it is the depression pushing people away. I wish you the best in this, as it is a struggle. Keep fighting.

Again, thank you for your support.

[dorothylarson2015]

I've been where you are so many times. I was diagnosed as Bipolar Type 2 in 1996 and have recently been diagnosed with Type 1 and very serious PTSD.

I've spent days and sometimes weeks in bed due to depression. I isolate myself all the time. I have pushed all my friends away and don't socialize except by Facebook. I am also on disability due to my physical as well as mental health, so not having a purpose to get up, shower, and get dressed isn't a priority for me. Over the last few months, they have gotten so bad that I'm having them at night and its causing me to have more insomnia that I have ever had. I talked with-and Elder's wife at church yesterday that also fights depression. As a goal, she told me to get up, take a shower, get dressed, put (and keep) my shoes on, fix my hair, and put my "face"/make-up on. That way, I feel better both physically and mentally by being clean and dressed up. I have my clothes (instead of pj's) and shoes on so that I'm ready to go somewhere. Anywhere. She told me to start by coming to church early and put myself out there and introduce myself to someone new every day I'm at church. (I'm new at this church, but feel God's presence there more than any other church I've been in.) She also said to get more involved with the church, such as, Bible Study groups.

A tool I use that really helps with the panic attacks, insomnia (most of the time), and the anxiety of just facing another day of depression is called "mindfulness" and breathing exercises. I have purchased an e-book and downloaded the cd's that go with it called Catastrophic Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn. There are 4 "CD's" that you download together for like $8.00, if I remember correctly. I think the book was around $15. I got them from google play. This is the 2nd edition of the book. I bought the 1st edition years ago when my counselor was copying some of the chapters for me for "homework" and it really got me interested in this type of coping mechanism. It has really helped me relax and concentrate on the basics of me instead of all the stuff rolling around my head.

I know this is all easier said than done. Take one step at a time. Set your alarm and make yourself get out of bed everyday. The next day do the same thing, but shower, etc. Baby steps: It's the only way your going to be move on from your day-to-day depression.