Depression

[Docca]

So I don't think that point of the thread was to furnish poor quality, unchallenged decisions. That's unhelpful.

A lot of the services are broken, but even if everything was 100%- there will still be occasions for people going to the wrong place for the wrong reasons.

Which is evident on occasion here. That's not a criticism.

[Yorick]

After I collapsed at work, McAfee had to take me seriously.
After about a month they sent me to a specialist to make sure I wasn't putting it on. Penny came with me.

After about half hour he was totally sure I'd had a biggy.
He explained that it wasn't cancer and wouldn't kill me.
It was just my brain going into overload and needed a time-out.
He said don't fight it. Go with the flow.

Then I saw photo of his bike on the wall. So I brought it up and the obvious conversation ensued.

He asked how I was when track instructing. Penny said that was my most relaxed and confident time.

He told me to go do more of them and he'd put it in his report.

And he told me not to stay at home. Pop to the pub occasionally to see my pals.

It seemed too good to be true. But why should I be denied 2 things I love in case work didn't approve?
They caused it.

[Potter]

There is a bloke on the Steven Bartlett Diary of a CEO podcast who reckons he can predict when you die.
I started listening to it because I was interested in the psychology of business models rather than the actual subject, but I ended up listening to it because it piqued my interest in the actual subject.

He talks about medical issues and how (he claims) a lot of it is because some people can't methylate or convert certain raw materials that the body needs. So, for example, if you have "depression" then maybe there is a break in your body's ability to process something, in a chain of processes, that eventually creates serotonin, so you can supplement for it at whatever point in the chain it's needed and generate the right amount - rather than take an SSRI which just tries to make the most of what little serotonin you have.

Supplements are not a new thing, lots of people take various potions, vitamins and supplements every day, but this is targeted supplementation at the right point in the chain, instead of random supplementation with things that might not work or even make you worse.

I'm not qualified to say if it's right, wrong, poor quality, good quality, or anywhere in between, but IMHO it's worth a listen.

Just to give an example - S-Adenosyl Methionine SAMe and their relation to depression, supplements of L-methylfolate vs folate, etc.
I'm only on the edge of understanding some of it, but it seems to make sense if you are interested and willing to spend a bit of time researching, reading some peer reviewed journals, etc.

[Taipan]

One thing in this thread that is very apparent, is the complete lack of support available from the NHS. Given suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, that is very worrying...

[MrLongbeard]

Given suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50,

Only 7 months and 7 days until I'm safer but then I like to roll the dice, I'll be at the Manchester Arena on my 50th

[Cousin Jack]

One thing in this thread that is very apparent, is the complete lack of support available from the NHS. Given suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, that is very worrying...

Yeah but, suicides cost the NHS nothing. Preventing suicides is expensive

[Docca]

One thing in this thread that is very apparent, is the complete lack of support available from the NHS. Given suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, that is very worrying...

This is a funding challenge.

This is a stigma challenge.

This is a workforce challenge.


The trained staff don’t exist to man the pumps.

The cancer and hips wins votes - check in your local authority to see where government funding is apportioned.

NHS services are stripped to the bone. We have the lowest number of beds, staff and support in history. Thank the current government for that ( to give you context; there is a £500m contract currently up for grabs for ‘federated data platform’. Which in the current environment is gong to a Tory donator).

£500m would be a lot of therapy

[Mr Moofo]

One thing in this thread that is very apparent, is the complete lack of support available from the NHS. Given suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, that is very worrying...

This is a funding challenge.

This is a stigma challenge.

This is a workforce challenge.


The trained staff don’t exist to man the pumps.

The cancer and hips wins votes - check in your local authority to see where government funding is apportioned.

NHS services are stripped to the bone. We have the lowest number of beds, staff and support in history. Thank the current government for that ( to give you context; there is a £500m contract currently up for grabs for ‘federated data platform’. Which in the current environment is gong to a Tory donator).

£500m would be a lot of therapy

And the other 179.5 billion?
How many Chief Execs in the NHS?

[darthpunk]

Got a doctors appointment for next week. Not feeling any worse, but I did start looking in to side effects of the tablets I take - Venloflaxin (most likely spelt very wrong) and I think a change is needed

One of those side effects was weight gain, a common complaint of this particular tablet. Now before I started these, I had lost 70 pounds in weight, I had done well and was very pleased that I might not have to buy a Diavel to haul my fat ass around and I could buy some classy threads like supermarket jeans straight off the rack. Since starting these I've put 35 pounds back on with no real increase in food intake and maintaining the same exercise regime I was already doing.

Secondly, and something I only found out about this morning, but based on my previous post, makes a hell of a lot of sense:

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Induced Indifference: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), commonly used to treat depression, are associated with loss of motivation, energy, and lack of curiosity often referred collectively as apathy.

Only recently realised that the apathy and general disinterest in everything started around the same time as I started these tablets.

I had planned to come off tablets altogether for a while, I can't honestly say that I've functioned in the real world without anything for years now, and to be perfectly honest, I don't really think I am depressed anymore, at least, no where near the way I used to be.

[tricol]

I had some terrible side effects with various meds over the years. I was moved from SSRI's to SNRI's for a time, but nothing worked. Good luck with them.

[MyLittleStudPony]

When I told the NHS I was suicidal, it wasn't that interested. When I told them I was getting the urge to kill others, both random people and key actors in my situation, they became very joined up and attentive.

[MyLittleStudPony]

From my own (limited) experience, mental health issues can be different for different people.

SSRIs did work for me; but that was me in my situation.

Something I was told - which I didn't realise was very wise at the time - is that things often move slowly with mental health. I remember thinking "I need to get this sorted by the end of the week". That was never going to happen. I think it took a good 12 months to start to recover and maybe three years before I'd have said I was really ok again.

Over five years on and I think I've never been better. Much better than I was before. There was a time when I couldn't have believed it was possible. I'm not claiming any credit for that; I've been lucky and got good support and help.

[Cousin Jack]

Over five years on and I think I've never been better. Much better than I was before. There was a time when I couldn't have believed it was possible.

I think that is worth repeating. When I was (very briefly and mildly) depressed I felt there was no way out of my problems. There was, for most people there is, it just takes time and help.

[darthpunk]

After a docs appointment I stopped my medication last Wednesday. He said it was a small amount so stopping it dead wouldn't be an issue.

Cut to Friday and I was rattling so bad It felt like my skeleton had detached from everything else, the vertigo was insane and by Saturday night I had the heating on and still had to wear a hoodie to combat the shivers. Felt sick all weekend and last night woke myself up with acid reflux.

Ended up taking a half yesterday morning to take the edge off, not sure the doc was 100% in his opinion of "it'll be fine"

[Yambo]

Well, I've been hovering close to the edge for a few weeks now. Lots to do, no motivation to do anything. Last week there was a sort of change, I was still prevaricating but I was quite happy about it. Shouldn't ignore this positive development!

I got some fibreglassing done on paddleboard No 2 and then fell into a conspiracy - M and my friend Steve (we went trekking in Nepal together) thought it would be good idea if I went off with Steve to the far side of Fethiye and help Steve's friend tidy up and prepare his camp site.

So right now I'm drinking beer in the lovely evening sun getting 'therapy'. I've sorted out toilets, sinks and showers (it's the first time they've all been operational apparently) with no tools and my head is definitely better. Still sort of fucked but better. I'm here till Friday. No-one minds if I don't do anything but I'm finding things to do where Osman would normally have to pay someone so he's happy with whatever I do.

I'm hoping that the lethargy stays here in Kabak when I leave and I can get on with things when I get home.M has been a rock. I know I've been able to avoid the fall back into depression but she has been hugely instrumental in that. I really have been lucky with the women in my life looking after me.

[Potter]

After a docs appointment I stopped my medication last Wednesday. He said it was a small amount so stopping it dead wouldn't be an issue.

Cut to Friday and I was rattling so bad It felt like my skeleton had detached from everything else, the vertigo was insane and by Saturday night I had the heating on and still had to wear a hoodie to combat the shivers. Felt sick all weekend and last night woke myself up with acid reflux.

Ended up taking a half yesterday morning to take the edge off, not sure the doc was 100% in his opinion of "it'll be fine"

"It'll be fine" in doctor speak, in relation to dependency, usually means you won't die from it.

I've seen lads go into prison with serious methadone addictions and go cold turkey because the doctor said so, they spend a month quivering in a cell shitting themselves inside out and having delusions. Then one day they pop their head out of the door, three stone lighter, looking like they've been to hell and back, and wondering where they are. The only consolation is that they know their doctor is a dickhead and they're now on the right side of that particular chemical dependency.

It's grim but try and hang on, the rattle will end and then hopefully you'll never have to do anything like that again.

[Ant]

One thing in this thread that is very apparent, is the complete lack of support available from the NHS. Given suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, that is very worrying...

This is a funding challenge.

This is a stigma challenge.

This is a workforce challenge.


The trained staff don’t exist to man the pumps.

The cancer and hips wins votes - check in your local authority to see where government funding is apportioned.

NHS services are stripped to the bone. We have the lowest number of beds, staff and support in history. Thank the current government for that ( to give you context; there is a £500m contract currently up for grabs for ‘federated data platform’. Which in the current environment is gong to a Tory donator).

£500m would be a lot of therapy

And the other 179.5 billion?
How many Chief Execs in the NHS?

Plus the millions spent on diversity and inclusivity and handing out sex changes.

[darthpunk]

After a docs appointment I stopped my medication last Wednesday. He said it was a small amount so stopping it dead wouldn't be an issue.

Cut to Friday and I was rattling so bad It felt like my skeleton had detached from everything else, the vertigo was insane and by Saturday night I had the heating on and still had to wear a hoodie to combat the shivers. Felt sick all weekend and last night woke myself up with acid reflux.

Ended up taking a half yesterday morning to take the edge off, not sure the doc was 100% in his opinion of "it'll be fine"

"It'll be fine" in doctor speak, in relation to dependency, usually means you won't die from it.

I've seen lads go into prison with serious methadone addictions and go cold turkey because the doctor said so, they spend a month quivering in a cell shitting themselves inside out and having delusions. Then one day they pop their head out of the door, three stone lighter, looking like they've been to hell and back, and wondering where they are. The only consolation is that they know their doctor is a dickhead and they're now on the right side of that particular chemical dependency.

It's grim but try and hang on, the rattle will end and then hopefully you'll never have to do anything like that again.

This morning has been particularly bad, dizziness like i've never felt and minor mental breakdown. Took a half.

Been looking it up online and the general consensus is "give yourself a break and come off a little more gradually. So i'm aiming for a half every couple of days right now and see how it goes. First day off completely seems mostly ok, second day is a shit show

I'll get there, might just not bother trying to operate heavy machinery at the moment

[Potter]

This morning has been particularly bad, dizziness like i've never felt and minor mental breakdown. Took a half.

Been looking it up online and the general consensus is "give yourself a break and come off a little more gradually. So i'm aiming for a half every couple of days right now and see how it goes. First day off completely seems mostly ok, second day is a shit show

I'll get there, might just not bother trying to operate heavy machinery at the moment

I don't know what the half life of it is, but if I were you I'd find out and manage the tapering, you don't want to yo-yo yourself into extra days of it.

For example, (and this really is just an example, I'm not in any way medically trained) you might be better off taking a quarter a day than half every two days, then taper from that.

Minor mental breakdowns are just par for the course for the average person if you're not medicated, I have them every few days

[the_priest]

Daughter was looking to quit her uni course, had meeting with Form Tutor who told her that she had done so well with her work in the first part of the year that she has already passed, so no pressure on her to have to be there. She is able to do stuff online and the practical stuff I can drive to the uni once she has completed it. They are listening to her and not brushing it off as nothing. Seems like they have a better plan in place than the NHS in coping with students who are really struggling with mental health issues. Her private appointment is happening in June, she has questionnaires to fill in and lots of details to go through, which is good. She has regained a bit of focus.