Living With Depression and Associated Mental Health Issues

[Chloe2057]

I have managed very well for most of my life to live with Depression with very little mental health input (just a considerable amount of those nasty little tablets that have horrific side effects) I know where my Depression came from. Recognise Trigger points, have adopted an Ayavedic and totall Organic lifestyle making few changes really. Diet, Exercise, Meditation and Mindfulness being the major ones. Also worth noting, a massive de-cluttering of my home, using light and bright colours and learning extensively about nutrition (l am a passionate cook so this came easily to me) and where alternative therapies have their place, and THEY DO! Some are very successful used alongside medication and some natural herbal remedies and “off the shelf” harmless old fashioned remedies used correctly and in the right amounts can replace the need for YET MORE pharmaceuticals and the toxicity that goes with their use. I am thinking of one specific one here, Epsom salts! Yes, l know your Grandmother had some in her medical cupboard! They work on many levels if used correctly, as a treatment for constipation (only if this happens irregularly, otherwise seek medical advice) they contain Magnesium which most of us lack, l have long soaks in baths containing Magnesium. There are so many others too.

I am a dog and horse “crazy”, have played Squash, Tennis, Badminton, love Riding, love water and snow skiing, Swimming, Walking, Travelling, Cooking, Sewing, Knitting, Homemaking, Gardening, love setting up groups, l have worked for many years within a department of the Home Office was trained as a Psychologist and also am a qualified in Counselling and CBT Therapy. I worked for many years in both Probation and Social work. However, today Photography is my passion and l seem to have some talent as “people actually bought my photographs” at a recent exhibition l have at a friends Farmhouse (she is an artist who holds them regularly for her work) in Wales.

I have been exceptionally lucky as l have been able to travel the world and have lived in many different countries across all the main continents. I have been able to embed myself in local culture, values and some traditions!!! This has taught me so much. We never stop learning and l continue to do so each day.

I love Theatre and Film, particularly “arthouse” film. Love to read, Paint, play my flute and guitar and write lyrics too. I am lucky that l am never bored! Tragically, exposure to Pesticides have robbed me of nearly 5 years of my life during which l have spent much of it bedridden.

I love to be around and working with people and was asked a while back to become an OT Assistant at a local Mental Health Hospital. I was really excited about doing this. So many of my professional skills are transferable and l looked forward to assisting in creating an inspiring and motivational creative environment. It is something l hope to be able to do if l can recover from Pesticide Poisoning. So there is a little about me! I am looking forward to learning lots about you all!

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Chloe2057, and welcome to the forum. You have achieved so much. It is true, we never stop learning and we continue to do this. I also have musical interests and enjoy art. I wish you a good recovery. I am sure other members will be inspired by reading your post. I like your dog. He is lovely. Take care. Thank you and best wishes.

[Chloe2057 in reply to MAS_Nurse]

Thank you for that lovely welcome! Really means a lot! Yes, l do try enormously hard to “fight back” and post as positively as possible. I am so fortunate that l have so many “distracting influences” though. I believe there is a huge “gap” in local communities l believe for OT day centres to be set up where people can drop in and try different things, from knitting to artwork to instruments to painting. Also a great place to teach basic living skills like cooking healthily and budgeting. My husband and l have thought of setting up a group in our local village hall. So many events can naturally “morph” such as hiring a bus for days out, evenings with projected film shows, and other activities group walking, lunches and even weeks away. I saw a superb model of this in practice once and the group eventually ran themselves and WHAT a difference! Even visited people who were too unwell to leave home with shopping and company. It is truly amazing what we can do when we get together! Depression and Anxiety bring with them the dreaded isolation and social exclusion which feeds into lack of personal care which feeds into lack of self esteem and confidence ... the viscous cycle. This group broke right through all barriers of social and economic class and were a fantastic achievement! Even ended up with two allotments! Thank you again for welcoming me, l hope l can bring something to the site! Kind regards Chloe 😊👍❤️🐾🐕🐶🐾

[Florida1959]

Amazing post thank you, I too use lots of alternative therapies, which definitely have their place, well done x

[Stilltrying_]

You are a breath of fresh air Chloe Please stay with us. Gemma XXX