New Members Introduction: Part 2

LittlePenguin

I am so glad you are here and open up and vent or talk and share or ask for help.  that is what we are here for.

Stick with us my friend.

Kitt

Hey All
I am Lyn.......54 yrs old and I do suffer with
bouts of depression.....
The last was due to operation and worrying about Cait
Lil sis and others on HW got me thru
Lil sis and I would talk almost daily and she knew
when I needed to hear to pull up and you will make it

I have 2 kids
Caitlyn who is a "delightful TEEN"
Ya okayyyyy
And
Rick my oldest is now 35 yrs old
2 GK's who I love and a DIL I do not like duee to
Many issues

I really like being on healing well
and trying to help as many as possible
PLUS
I get so much support and luv in return

Good Thread Lil sis ....Love....Big sis

Thanks again for the welcomes. I have been thinking about what I should post next, & one of the reasons I have been getting "writer's block" is that I don't have a lot of specific things in my life to bring me down. I don't suffer from serious medical conditions that interfere with my ability to work or care for myself or do things around the house. My job (funding for my research) is secure at this point. Sure, my boss has very high expectations for me, and it is true that there is a lot of pressure in the lab. But overall, my job is challenging and most nights I can honestly say that I think that I have worked hard and reached some kind of tangible goal(s) over the course of the day. I have a very close and good relationship with my mom, and my younger brother and I get along well, too.

It's not that I don't appreciate all this! The problem for me right now is that in spite of all these wonderful things and people in my life, I often feel empty and like a loner - but when I spend a lot of time with my friends I feel overwhelmed. One of the big difficulties for me in establishing much of a social circle among my fellow students is that by the time the weekend arrives and maybe they want to go out for dinner or drinks in the evening, I am completely exhausted and all I want is to hide away from everybody! But then when people realize that I decline the invitation every time it's offered, they stop calling, and not just on the weekends. And I get this, because honestly it is easy to leave a person out of your plans when she has chosen not to be included when you did try to make her a part of them in the past. Just to be clear I am not bitter about this, and definitely I am not thinking that people are being unfair or mean to me. I just feel hopeless about it, because I understand the reason that I am being left out now is not because people are unkind, but like I said the reason I have not spent much time with people is that I am so worn out. Also as I said in a previous post, even one or 2 drinks interfere with my ability to sleep, so obviously that kind of ruins it for me, especially when I am already feeling exhausted and run-down. Part of the problem with my sleep is something that has been true my whole life, since I was an infant according to my poor mom who had to try to calm me when I was a kid!, is that even when I am "relaxed" all my systems are on edge, so it doesn't take much to startle me and/or overstimulate me. Sometimes if I am in a bar or club, or even a crowded restaurant, I get freaked out and sometimes even disoriented from all the noises and smells and stuff converging on my senses. :P So I guess this is my vent for the day.

LittlePenguin

Many of our members with depression do not know why they are depressed as they cannot identify anything in their life that would cause the depression.  It feels to me like you have some anxiety going on too as it often goes hand in hand with Depression.

Have you seen your physician lately for a good physical to R/O any medical cause for your feelings.  I would be honest and tell you physician exactly how you feel.  Perhaps a bit of therapy would help you understand what is happening and your could learn techniques to deal with your issue.

I wish you the best and keep talking to us.

Kitt

Hey all,

I actually found HealingWell a couple of years ago, and it helped me through a depressing winter.  Then I discovered the Colitis forum, and that has been my focus since.  So I've been around, but am new here...make sense?

My brief bio:  I'm 36 years old, male, and have been suffering from depression off and on since I was about 15.  I know that depression runs in my family from both parents families, and it seems that I picked up the worst of it.  I've been taking anti-depressants since I was 18, although there have been periods when I went off them for one reason or another.  I've been taking them steadily now for about 3 years, and I guarantee that they help my mood.

I've always been a loner, and moved around from state to state both as a child and adult.  Back in 2001 I started doing seasonal work in a national park, which meant that I was spending my summer/falls there, and then either returning to my "home" state for winter/spring, or I'd go wander around in the desert of UT, AZ, and NV for a couple of months.  Needless to say, I spend a great deal of time alone.  In the summer I'd be off backpacking by myself every weekend, and in the winter I'd commune with the cacti.  I did this until 2006 when I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, which put a serious crimp in my ability to do my previous level of physical activity.  I have since quit the seasonal work and found myself a respectable career, and picked a place to plant some roots.  I like my job, I like where I live now, but I am so socially isolated I find it pathetic.  I have the unique ability of living somewhere for two years and not making a single friend.

Since my colitis dx, I haven't been able to do the things that kept me sane before.  And since I've been a loner for so long, I kind of let my social skills drop.  So now, not only am I unable to get out exercising like I used to, but I'm lonely and can't seem to remember how to connect with others.  HealingWell has been a great support system for me.  Since I can't seem to meet people in the real world, at least I'm getting some socializing done in the cyber world.

That's me in a long-winded nutshell.  I look forward to getting know the members of this board like I have on the UC board.

Hello everyone,

I just joined this forum tonight in the hope that I will benefit from hearing of other's stories of depression, anxiety and othe mental health related issues.

I am currently battling depression, but need the support of others.

I hope to get to know you all better and will share my story with you soon.

Oh how wonderful, 3 new members.  Welcome each of you to HealingWell.  I am Kitt and I am sort of out of town and have limited access but I did want to welcome you.

I should be back at the puter full time tommorow.

"May you always walk with peace and love"

Kitt

Hi Ashley,

Welcome to HealingWell. You are right, everybody here is kind and compassionate and I think that you will like it here.

Anxiety and depression have a lot of us and you definately are not alone with that. I think that worrying is anxiety. I use to be an obsessive worrier. And an obsessive thinker. I still have problems with that at times. Depending on the situation.

What kind of health problems do you have other than the anxiety and depression? Are you haveing pain or fatigue? Often that goes along with both anxiety and depression.

We do have a wonderful anxiety/panic forum also. Just so that you know. If you feel you need to, check it out. It is a wonderful forum also.

Take care, keep posting

Hugs, Karen

Wow Ashley,

You sure have had a lot to deal with. I think that alone takes a toll on you. No wonder you have anxiety and depression. But you sound like you have a lot of it under control.

I do a lot of deep breathing and meditation for anxiety. I also take xanax. I take abilify for the obsessive thinking. That really helps. Also take effexor for depression. But relieving the obsessive thinking and worry really takes a weight off of your shoulders. It is a lot of work to worry.

I hope that you feel better soon. Keep posting, we are all here for you.

Hugs, Karen

Hi Ashley,

Wow, sweetie, you have had some major challenges in your young life.  I am so glad you found HealingWell as I know you will find lots of members to talk with and support each other as well as share your feelings with.

We do have an Anxiety Forum and you will find me there too.

Be sure to just ask if you have a question.  My eamil is open so if you click on the blue envelope on the left that will access my email.

I hope you remain a part of HealingWell and I look forward to getting to know you better.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Hey all, I'm new to this site. I have not been clinically diagnosed with depression, as I have hid it from everyone I know until recently, and the psychologists I went to see did not help. Unfortunately what I have been feeling for the last 4-5 years has become almost impossible to hide, namely ever since my house burned down 3 years ago. I feel down, and hate myself pretty much everyday, and often think about suicide. I even have lost interest in women( I'm a male), which has really hit me hard. I'm just looking for some help, and I guess some guidance to the basic steps. Hopefully the support will make a difference because my school is really suffering as well.

yeah i told my mum and she says it will get better with time, but i worry to much and pretty much 24/7 and feel its only a matter of time untill i crack, no therapy yet have to wait another 2weeks or so. I wish i could turn my brain off...and my uc is really bad i bleed every day, life sux pretty much all the time for me.

i went to doctors today and told him about my fear of not being able to sleep without tabz and all he did was give me another month of sleeping tablets, to my present thinking and way im feeling, its pretty much means ive got 1 month to live then its pretty much over, its night over here and ive just taken my tabz and i feel pretty happy that i got 1 more month this is just how i feel.