anxiety, panic and depression and working.

[tdawgg123]

After having a huge dip in my anxiety and depression this last winter season, I got layed off work. Which ended up in me losing my job due to missing work. Just wondering how anyone else struggling with these and more specifically panic disorder and agoraphobia hold down a job. Work from home? Part time work? Medication? Just curious and looking to hear from others and their experiences as I am worried about winter coming up and how I will cope now that I had to start another new job.

[UnwelcomeVisitor]

Hello,

I am sorry that you have hit a rough patch. Depression can be a horrific thing which both dominate and take over out lives.

When I lost my dear wife Lorna in January last year that I really sank to the very bottom in depression. Lornas family were all there for me.

But they told me that I really needed counselling because it I had sunk so low.

I took their counsel and saw a excellent counsellor who over a period of time slowly but surely got me back up to the top again. My counsellor told me that she would help me but I would have to help myself to get up to the top again.

I was very fortunate in that I could afford to see a counsellor privately, however if you cannot afford to go to see your GP and asked to see a counsellor on the NHS. Usually this process can take 8-10 weeks to start to see a counsellor.

I still feel extremely lonely, but I fully realise that life doesn't stop for any of us.

Sometimes one tries to get by on ones own, but there are times in life when we all need help. I leave you decide whether counselling is for you.

I also suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy (which I personally believe can, in my case case be pre-empted by anxiety and depression alike.

My epilepsy can put the fear of God into me, causing me to shut down my television and radio, and sit here waiting for the next clap of thunder and lightning to strike. Horrific!

However I know that I have to beat this or this will beat me and simply take over my life. This is a no go, I simply have to think positively and start to lead a normal life again. Extremely difficult but it can be done.

Remember on ITunes you can download some very good Relaxation CDs which can also help all of us a lot.

All that you have to do is simply lie down, preferably in a darkened room and put your headphones on and listen to this marvellous therapy.

I strongly recommend it.

Whatever decision you make I wish you all the very best.

Take care

Richard

Author of epilepsy-theunwelcomevisito...

[ladeda]

Hi great thinking x. Don't wait to go further down but keep searching for new techniques that will help, draw on your inner strength and never give up the fight.

There are so many self help books around now, if you download a reading app. You can find lots that are free as well.

I got a lot from reading Paul Gilbert, he talks about tackling depression and several fronts and the importance of socializing even though it is something that is so difficult when spiralling into a bad patch.

There are also techniques like the Sedona method which work very well.

There is an abundance of material on YouTube for relaxation and anxiety as well.

But it's maybe important to put in place a support system that is very close to home for you, talk this over with your health providers, they can help find what is best for you.

It's tough losing your job and rebuilding self confidence, but there will always be better jobs round the corner, and much better times to come.

Take care xxx

[Hidden]

Hi I have suffered from depression all my life which sometimes made working very difficult. I had quite a few jobs, many of which I left when I couldn't cope any more and my depression and stess levels rose too much.

I found the secret for me was to have jobs where I wasn't under too much pressure and I had some autonomy - easier said than done these days. My last job before I left London fulfilled that for me and I stayed there by far the longest of any of my jobs, nearly 10 years. I did have bad spells but my employer was good and I managed reasonably well. I was lucky.

My last job however was at a contact centre which I found much too stressful and my depression came back full force. I have always had to work though and managed to stay there for 5 1/2 years and I hated every day. Fortunately I am now able to draw my private pensions so don't have to work any more.

The downside for me is that my depression has stayed worse since then and I cannot deal with any type of stress at all now, but part of that could be just getting older.

It's very difficult to work with mental health issues and especially these days when so many jobs are target driven. I don't envy you still having to cope in this job market.

What might help you is to think about the type of job you either quite like or at least don't mind doing. Then think about what type of company ie a large one or a smaller more friendly one would suit you best. Have a think about whether you want one with some control over your work hence more job satisfaction or maybe a more mundane one. That's is you have a choice these days.

Use this time now to think about all this and to build up your confidence levels, and to get yourself as fit as possible. Take care. Bev x

[gillym]

I think winter months do not help those who have anxiety and depression, however I can remember having panic attacks when my children were young and we were not well off, so it really helped if I could work if only part time. I felt less guilty and as if I was contributing something.

I am not sure how you feel about Job sharing, but this is just what I did and if there was a day that I was feeling really bad, I could phone a colleague and ask if I could swap days with her. I am not sure if there are many job shares around but it might be worth the look. Yes of course you could work from home. Are you creative? Sometimes making things can sell. Try to look after your diet and welfare whilst going through this time in your life. Good luck!

Gillian.

[rosie-2015]

I'm sorry to hear about your anxiety depression and agoraphobia. I've had all of the above for over 40 year's the worst being the agoraphobia, antidepressants helped anxiety and depression but the agoraphobia was totally different I couldn't work because I couldn't go outside even at home I hated being on my own. With all the bad side of it said there is help out there phycologists councillors etc. I can now do so much more I even managed to get back to nursing but I started taking my work home emotionally so I gave it up. I wish you all the best with everything you try aI've realised with agoraphobia it's really down to me they can give you the tools but we have to use them. I'm sorry for ranting on but I truly feel an empathy with you and hope you get all the help you need hugs x