Depression & coping with illnesses

[AllthatGlitters]

Evening All

Since I have become not well with Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, along with other illnesses, I find that my mood is low and I am close to tears quite a lot of the time or I am in tears sobbing my heart out. I also lost my job because of my employers behaviour towards my illness so I feel I have to cope with a lot mentally at the moment.

My head feels like i have so many things going on and i don’t know where to start.

I am also extremely fatigued at the minute too as I have my period and it feels that everything is emplified at this time of the month.

Does anyone else feel like this? How do you cope?

I try to speak to family but they just tell me I need to be “strong” all of the time. That’s easier said than done.

Appreciate any advice you can give me x

[amy100]

hi, I also have several physical and mental health conditions. I get depressed a lot, and feel tired and dont sleep all the time which doesn't help. Sleep is so important for mood. I need to try to keep busy because when I do nothing it make me feel more tired and depressed. What do you do for you? I started going swimming which is good for breathing/mindfulness and prefer it on my joints. someone to talk to can be helpful ie counsellors, you can find low cost ones, but I just felt like people didn't understand me. I find it hard to make close friends who I feel I can talk to too. my aim was to join some social groups, or go to a support group, do endo do them?

[AllthatGlitters in reply to amy100]

Thanks amy100 for sharing your personal experience of feeling down, I can struggle to sleep at night time then come morning I could just sleep for hours. My body is so sore some days and it is a struggle to keep myself motivated physically and mentally. I have good friends and maybe I should talk to them but I don’t want to be a burden. I enjoy going for walks so i do that quite a lot. It helps me to clear my head.

I hope this gets easier with time & I am not sure if there are any Endo groups out there. I suffer with other illnesses too so that all contributes to the way I feel i suppose. X

[EUKSupportTeam Partner Endometriosis UK in reply to amy100]

Hello amy100.

There are Endometriosis UK support groups all around the country, you can find the one closest to you on our website endometriosis-uk.org/suppor.... The support groups are lead by volunteers who have endometriosis themselves, so they will understand what you are going through.

Best wishes

Lynne - Endometriosis UK

[Moodle214]

Oh lovely it's such a horrible place to be isn't it!! I'm so sorry to hear of your struggles and it's one I can massively relate to. I've had endo for approx 19 years and newly diagnosed with adeno too. I waited way over what we're meant to on the nhs waiting list (over a year for a date here) and felt myself slipping downhill mentally and physically slowly at first and then by the 'end' of it I felt so awful mainly with the fatigue and felt very depressed. I did go and chat with my gp as I couldn't work out what was causing what ie is the depression making me more fatigued or the other way round. In the end I was prescribed antidepressants and with a bit of tweaking around found one that suits me and I feel more mentally resilient to deal with this bl00dy awful condition. The nice thing was when I chatted to the gp she was really supportive and said it's really not surprising to feel that way with all we deal with. She did also recommend counselling but for me the people who really help are those endo ladies who totally understand. Sending you huge hugs.

[AllthatGlitters in reply to Moodle214]

Thanks to all you wonderful ladies for replying to me, so glad I have found this site & can speak to people who are going through the same thing. I am glad to see that how i am feeling is normal and that it’s okay to feel low at times! Hope you are all having a good day x

[lizalily]

Hi there I just saw this and wanted to reach out to u . I to have endotremitis and I’m going through a breast cancer scare at the moment . Had to have 2nd biopsy today my head is trashed with it all I’m so scared I also suffer with depression and anxiety really bad at the moment . I don’t have many people who are there for me. Which is hard when going through this . This site is really good and it really helps me as some lovely people on here with some great words of advise . Just remember you are not alone here. X

[AllthatGlitters in reply to lizalily]

Thanks lizalily sounds like you are going through a hard time too, sending you a hug & pm me if you need a chat x

[lizalily in reply to AllthatGlitters]

Thanks very much yes it’s a horrible frightening time . X

[Moodle214]

AllthatGlitters - you've made such a valid point in that it most definitely is ok to have a down day and I really had forgotten this. Years ago I worked with very ill patients in hospital who felt guilty for being down as it upset people around them and I used to say hey with what you're dealing with you are more than entitled to feel sad, angry, low, any emotion you like. I think sometimes we're not kind enough to ourselves. My other half said something to me which I hadn't thought of before in that I hide how I'm feeling very well and that really struck a cord. I think because you 'look' well people think you are well and so you (meaning I) hide how I'm truly feeling. So in short absolutely we will all have low days and we will find the best way we can to get through them be it through a gp, chatting on here, enjoying just sitting watching the world go by, etc.

[AllthatGlitters in reply to Moodle214]

Yes Moodle24 you are so right, I often look well too but inside wether that’s physically or mentally I am not coping that well. I think for me it’s about having things to look forward to & not moping around. I hope all you ladies have a good day & so grateful for all of your support.