G'day

[Cookie101]

G'day folks,

Wanted to introduce myself, I'm Loz, got diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders in my early thirties although when I went through therapy, we worked out that I've actually had it since my teens. I guess it just wasn't severe enough to get picked up earlier. In the years since I was diagnosed, I had therapy to start with and then self-managed by avoiding things that triggered it and doing hobbies and such. That changed recently when my managers, noticed I was stressed with something and decided to intervene. As a result of there concern for my welfare, I ended up on drugs for the very first time a few months ago, I had just gotten through the side effects stage and had established what I needed to do to get back on track, then yesterday, they derailed me again. After this less than wonderful event, I headed home on my motorbike only to get rear-ended. Fortunately I wasn't badly hurt. I'm at home today in a lot of pain but the crazy thing is, it actually cheered me up. I was lying in the road and once I'd worked out what had happened, and that it was safe to move, I just started laughing.

[Hidden]

Welcome Loz, I'm glad you're here. Yeah, I know in my case depression and anxiety had a place in my life prior to diagnosis, but it just seems they got worse as things became more difficult/growth in life. I'm sorry to hear the struggle, but glad you're working through it.

I'm really sorry about that accident but it's good you have a sunny disposition despite a situation that might lead to negative thoughts. Most important, I hope you're truly okay and aren't in too much pain.

Treatment can be difficult and derailments are apart of it. Doctors often spitball medications to see which one "sticks" or works for you. Try to remember that if one isn't working....there are more and even some off-label ones that can help. I'm sure you're aware of all this having seen the doctor and all.

If it helps in the mean time, there a lot of cool resources out there such as mindfulness, meditation, and CBT practices that you can work on from home. Glad you're here and hope, if you ever need an ear or just some thumbs up on a good day, you reach out. Take care and recover from that accident!

[Cookie101 in reply to Hidden]

G'day Aequitas1983, nice to hear from you. As for as motorbike accidents go, I know that what I had was best case scenario. My brother has been through far worse. I'm dealing mainly with stiffness, bruises and sore muscles. Thanks for your concern. It's really kind of you.

I started following Buddhism a year or two ago. I found it made a huge difference to my Dep and Anx beasties. There are changing meditation that I do when my head is full of anxious thoughts. I find it helps to drown them out. quiet meditations for when I am stressed and need to settle. The philosophy is primarily about taking charge of your own well-being rather than other religions (I was raised Catholic) which seem more about putting yourself in someone else's hands. For the most part, I've found that this approach has really helped me as I can make choices for myself and use the guidance Buddhism offers to deal with each situation as it comes. It's always an on going struggle. Sometimes you think you have it figured out and it ends up turning upside down and doing a little dance just to throw you off balance. But these days, I just try and pull at one thread at a time to get myself untangled.

The meds I'm on are Sertraline which the Doc said have the least issues. I'm not keen on trying anything else because It makes me more anxious to think about what I might have to go through it I change to something else. Had there not been outside interference, I likely wouldn't have ended up on the meds. It's a frustrating situation that feels like the people who can help me make it better are sticking there fingers in there ears, closing there eyes and humming really loudly. Anything I say is being ignored. Apparently this is how they 'care about my well-being'