Depression

[days70]

please share your coping mechanism for depression and what techniques help you feel better.

A response would be very much appreciated.

[piglette]

I just keep active and do things I enjoy and people I like and share silly jokes.

[days70 in reply to piglette]

Thank you for responding, l will certainly try and see if l can try this and hopefully see an improvement.

[York54 in reply to days70]

You are not alone feeling like this Days70. Well done , just asking for help is the first step. People on this forum listen and will pass on their knowledge. X🌺

[days70 in reply to York54]

Thank you so much. xx

[Blearyeyed]

I try to search for the silver linings in any situation, it can help to see that one positive ray of light in the darkest times , even if it is just a tiny chink .I give myself a pat on the back for what I manage to achieve each day , even if it's only getting out of my pyjamas . Telling yourself that you are doing well by just coping with your illness , or if you ask for help you prove you are capable of being strong , sensible and honest helps.

Not bottling up negative feelings helps a lot. That doesn't mean blowing up at things or people , I actually practice stepping back from angry feelings before I react to a situation and think before I speak so I don't end up beating myself up for a mood explosion later. But , if something still hurts or upsets me I get it out either on paper in a journal or if it is someone's else's negative behaviour making me feel worse I tell them in the most positive , simple way I can. I don't hide the times I feel bad I prepare others by letting them know I am having a low day and ask for a bit of consideration or space.

I give myself Me Time each afternoon when I would be suffering the most Fatigue which can also cause my lowest mood. A little stroll , listening to relaxing music with a cup of tea in a comfy chair or reading something non health related and do my deep breathing exercises with eyes closed first.

Light meals , nutrition and hydration helps fight off the body and its effect on causing stronger physical symptoms , especially listlessness and Fatigue.

Light exercise in your comfort zone also helps. Especially walks in the nicest but quietest places near you so that you get chance to appreciate the simple things around you.

Planning your time making sure you do what you need to do or want to do , not , what you think you have to do or should do wipes out half the stress , guilt and crippling activity of daily life.

Keeping up little interests and projects keeps the mind busy and creates a feeling if wellbeing.

Watching favourite films or TV can be a tonic.

And keep up those social contacts with chats rather than texts with people whom love and understand you even if you can't go out. Tell them you rang for a chat because you are feeling rubbish but rather than going into details tell them you could really do with a good chat on any subject to get your smile back.

Joining forums to chat just like you have here , online support groups or face to face ones and trying talking therapy can help if you find yourself tunnelling to far back into the depressive thoughts or unable to get out of the house.

Hope that helps , Depression and depressing feelings from long term illness can be the hardest of symptoms to cope with but you can get past it , and when you do it once you know you can do it again . You asked for help so that shows you have the strength within you to get you through , take care , Bee

[SheffieldJane in reply to Blearyeyed]

Lovely Bee. I am often tired when my mood dips and if I go for a sleep, I do tend to wake up in a different headspace.

[York54 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Bee , what a lovely read. Thankyou for the time you put into your reply. It helped me too xx🌺🌺

[Blearyeyed in reply to York54]

Glad to help , take care Bee xx

[days70 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you so much for responding.

I will certainly refer back to your message whenever I feel a dip is coming with my mood, thank you again, this is a wonderful forum for sharing with other people our feelings and emotions.

[Blearyeyed in reply to days70]

Glad I could help , I hope it does improve things for you , take care , Bee x

[SheffieldJane]

Remember you are not alone days70. Here we battle the same thing, one day at a time. X

[Kendrew]

Hi days70,

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing some depression and I hope that any further responses together with the ones already posted will combine to help you manage your situation more effectively.

This condition and all the limitations it brings along with it will for many be a burden hard to carry, and ultimately may lead to feelings of loss, inadequacy, disappointment, hopelessness, frustration, despair, anxiety...to name but a few. This in turn can culminate at best in very low mood and at worst in full on depression.

In the early days after my own diagnosis, I too experienced many of those feelings but I was determined to not let it bring me down completely.

I set about researching my condition and the medications I was taking and devised certain strategies to avoid my low mood escalating into something more.

Firstly, instead of dwelling on all the things I could no longer do, I looked at what I could do.

So....I could no longer go out walking on the hills for a whole day, but I could go for a 30min walk around the meadow and the river on my own front doorstep.

I could no longer go out for dinner in the evening because of the increasing fatigue that increased as the day progressed, but I could go out for a lovely lunch instead.

I had to look at things differently and accept that for now my 'normal' was different.

As soon as I stopped yearning for all the things I thought I'd lost and started recognising and embracing all the things I could actually still do, my demeanour improved significantly.

I also now accept that I will experience bad days or health 'glitches' when I feel unwell, but they won't and don't last and I'll also experience better days when I feel more energised and 'able'.

I've made a concerted effort to eat a healthy diet which aims to address any potential weight gain issues, digestive issues and other health factors that might be influenced by improving what I put in my body.

This has definitely helped how I've felt both physically and mentally.

Put simply, I now accept my limitations, embrace every 'triumph'...however small, and try and take some responsibility for my own well-being.

It sounds easy, but it takes determination and fortitude and when you're in pain, confused or anxious then that's extremely hard to engage in......and that's when this forum proves to be a godsend.

I'm not saying that my strategies for coping will work for anyone else, but it's important to be reminded that it really isn't all gloom & doom.

You have to look for the joy in things though and seek out your own happy place.

I truly hope you begin to feel a little less 'down' soon and that all our suggestions collectively help in some small way.

All the best.

[days70 in reply to Kendrew]

Thank you so much for responding.

Your advice means so much, l really appreciate it and l will try and be a bit more positive and find things that will help lift my mood.

[Seacat30]

Are you on corticosteroids for PMR days70? I couldn't see that in your profile. I was going to say that I haven't given up on myself and keep telling my mind and body that things will get better and that I can get off my medication one day.

[days70 in reply to Seacat30]

Hello,

Thank you for responding, l take Duloxetine and l am on Hrt patches, so not sure if Menopause is causing the low mood or something else.

I appreciate you responding to my message, any advice is greatly received.

[Koalajane]

I just remember that I am still alive and can still do a lot of the things I like to do. My life has changed but I don’t have a life threatening illness so that keeps me going

[autumnlass in reply to Koalajane]

SO POSITIVE 🙏. Thank you!

[days70 in reply to Koalajane]

Many thanks for responding, l like your positive outlook and will try and practice this a bit more when l feel down.

[Pixix]

If you feel really down & ‘stuck’, Google ‘The Wren Project’, they offer help to people with autoimmune diseases who are suffering..in this particular respect only, not a bunch of rheumatologists, but help people! Good luck, S x

[days70 in reply to Pixix]

Thank you so much for responding. xx

[winfong]

Citalopram, 20 mg, qd

[days70]

Thank you for responding to my post. I will speak to my Gp as maybe a review is needed of my medication.