Paula. I suffer with anxiety and depression

pm174
pm174 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
Hi I suffer with anxiety and depression

Comments

  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Hi @pm174

    Welcome to the community and thank you for telling us a bit about yourself :) 

    Do you receive all the support you need to manage your anxiety and depression?
  • pm174
    pm174 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    I am currently having psychotherapy. I work full time. I live alone and have been on antidepressants for a few years now
  • pm174
    pm174 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    I’m not entirely sure if there is any more help I should be getting… I have had a lot of trauma in my life. I’m now 48 
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Hi @pm174

    Thanks for getting back to us and providing more information.

    How are you finding the therapy? Hopefully it is helping you, but if it doesn't or if you ever feel as though you need more or different support it's always recommended to contact your GP and talk it through with them.

    Sorry to hear that you've had a lot of trauma in your life, I hope that the therapy is helping you to come to terms with some of that a bit and helping you to better manage your mental health. I'm sure that being a part of this community will be a positive outlet for you, we're a supportive and diverse bunch of people :) 

    Feel free to have a browse around and get involved wherever you'd like, and if you have any questions then don't hesitate to ask.
  • pm174
    pm174 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    The therapy is on NHS I did CBT first and it helped but my therapist thought I d benefit from the psychotherapy once that course ended. It’s very different and it’s hard to get my head round how it actually works but somehow it does help bring memories from the past to the surface so it must be doing some good. It doesn’t take away the anxiety and depression but helps me understand why I feel the way I do and put things into context. Anxiety and depression for me can be debilitating. I function when I have to and have a demanding job but apart from that I’m a different person completely.
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    I'm glad that the therapy is helping @pm174, it is a really good way to discuss things that have happened in the past in an open and none-judgemental environment, and as you say it can really help people to realise why they might be feeling the way they do.

    Keep at it and fingers crossed it continues to help you for as long as your course lasts. 

    Regarding your job which you say is demanding, have you discussed any concerns you may have with your employer? If it is impacting on your mental health then it might be worth having a chat with them to see if they can support you at work at all.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Have you started any Psychotherapy sessions yet?

    I’ve also been referred for Psychotherapy and I’m interested in your experience, as to whether you’re finding it helpful. 
  • Pollycasper
    Pollycasper Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    It’s what I need ! My local mental health team gave me an LBT waste of time I asked on many occasions for this help x hope u are ok I suffer with PTSD I worked over 19 years with it, till I couldn’t cope anymore xx 

  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    It’s what I need ! My local mental health team gave me an LBT waste of time I asked on many occasions for this help x hope u are ok I suffer with PTSD I worked over 19 years with it, till I couldn’t cope anymore xx 

    Have you given up work because of PTSD?

    My doctor thinks I have PTSD too from my childhood. It can linger for many years with you. 

    Hope you’re okay
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,456 Championing
    Would you be able to tell us a bit about what LBT is @Pollycasper? I'm sorry that you didn't find it helpful. 
  • Pollycasper
    Pollycasper Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    @Tori_Scope apologies it’s CBT cognitive behavioural therapy !  He had me writing a day to day diary (  hence telling them I don’t go out etc etc xx 
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    @Tori_Scope apologies it’s CBT cognitive behavioural therapy !  He had me writing a day to day diary (  hence telling them I don’t go out etc etc xx 
    CBT can be really challenging to do. I had a course of it in December-March and found it tough. 
  • Pollycasper
    Pollycasper Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    I started my own charity when I was 26 years old and gave up when I was 40 ish but I could work from anywhere ( I worked all over the uk ) I started my campaign to change laws and regulations to make sure no one else suffered like me and my family after the death of my son so i never classed it as work it was my life, ❤️ But my health was getting worse so we had a meeting to shut the charity ( I was the charity and without me it wouldn’t work ) I had other companies wanting to take it over but I declined and wanted / needed to start looking after myself for once in my life xx
     sierrafox said:
    It’s what I need ! My local mental health team gave me an LBT waste of time I asked on many occasions for this help x hope u are ok I suffer with PTSD I worked over 19 years with it, till I couldn’t cope anymore xx 

    Have you given up work because of PTSD?

    My doctor thinks I have PTSD too from my childhood. It can linger for many years with you. 

    Hope you’re okay

    @sierrafox I ran my own charity across yorkshire and the Uk about the awareness that killed my son, to save as many people that I could, and changed gas regulations laws and lobbying parliament ( I had my own parliamentary group ) in the uk during my crusade, I was an alcoholic for best part of 15 years and still worked with my condition, I stopped drinking a few years ago, my trustees and surrounding work colleagues decided my health was more important than work and I agreed, ( my charity was closed ) 
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    I started my own charity when I was 26 years old and gave up when I was 40 ish but I could work from anywhere ( I worked all over the uk ) I started my campaign to change laws and regulations to make sure no one else suffered like me and my family after the death of my son so i never classed it as work it was my life, ❤️ But my health was getting worse so we had a meeting to shut the charity ( I was the charity and without me it wouldn’t work ) I had other companies wanting to take it over but I declined and wanted / needed to start looking after myself for once in my life xx
     sierrafox said:
    It’s what I need ! My local mental health team gave me an LBT waste of time I asked on many occasions for this help x hope u are ok I suffer with PTSD I worked over 19 years with it, till I couldn’t cope anymore xx 

    Have you given up work because of PTSD?

    My doctor thinks I have PTSD too from my childhood. It can linger for many years with you. 

    Hope you’re okay

    @sierrafox I ran my own charity across yorkshire and the Uk about the awareness that killed my son, to save as many people that I could, and changed gas regulations laws and lobbying parliament ( I had my own parliamentary group ) in the uk during my crusade, I was an alcoholic for best part of 15 years and still worked with my condition, I stopped drinking a few years ago, my trustees and surrounding work colleagues decided my health was more important than work and I agreed, ( my charity was closed ) 
    I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your son. Sounds like you’ve done some amazing work to raise awareness. 

    I know how alcohol can be like a medication for many. I myself have drank to medicate my anxiety and low mood at times. 

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,456 Championing
    No worries @Pollycasper! When I looked online, I saw that LBT is also a type of therapy, so I just wanted to check. CBT definitely isn't for everyone, and it can be tough, but many people do find it helpful. 

    I'm glad to hear that you were able to put your health first, and stopped drinking a few years ago now. That's something to be proud of :) And you too @sierrafox
  • Pollycasper
    Pollycasper Online Community Member Posts: 16 Listener
    In my pip report from the examiner from my first pip form they also started that it it is the wrong sort of therapy It does help been on here knowing there are others around xx said:
    No worries @Pollycasper! When I looked online, I saw that LBT is also a type of therapy, so I just wanted to check. CBT definitely isn't for everyone, and it can be tough, but many people do find it helpful. 

    I'm glad to hear that you were able to put your health first, and stopped drinking a few years ago now. That's something to be proud of :) And you too @sierrafox

    No worries @Pollycasper! When I looked online, I saw that LBT is also a type of therapy, so I just wanted to check. CBT definitely isn't for everyone, and it can be tough, but many people do find it helpful. 

    I'm glad to hear that you were able to put your health first, and stopped drinking a few years ago now. That's something to be proud of :) And you too @sierrafox

    No worries @Pollycasper! When I looked online, I saw that LBT is also a type of therapy, so I just wanted to check. CBT definitely isn't for everyone, and it can be tough, but many people do find it helpful. 

    I'm glad to hear that you were able to put your health first, and stopped drinking a few years ago now. That's something to be proud of :) And you too @sierrafox

    No worries @Pollycasper! When I looked online, I saw that LBT is also a type of therapy, so I just wanted to check. CBT definitely isn't for everyone, and it can be tough, but many people do find it helpful. 

    I'm glad to hear that you were able to put your health first, and stopped drinking a few years ago now. That's something to be proud of :) And you too @sierrafox

    Thank you for that I should chase it up and sort it out ! My doctor is that course ended. It’s very different and it’s hard to get my head round how it actually works but somehow it does help bring memories from the past to the surface so it must be doing some good. It doesn’t take away the anxiety and depression but helps me understand why I feel the way I do and put things into context. Anxiety and depression for me can be debilitating. I function when I have to and have a demanding job but apart from that I’m a different person completely.

    @sierrafox best thing I did was stop dri
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,456 Championing
    It doesn’t take away the anxiety and depression but helps me understand why I feel the way I do and put things into context.
    I think you've hit the nail on the head there @Pollycasper :) Gaining that kind of understanding can be really valuable. 
  • Jo_2022
    Jo_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering
    Hi @pm174:) A warm welcome to you on Scope! Thanks a lot for sharing your feelings with us all. You are so brave and intelligent to carry on working despite suffering with anxiety and depression. I hope you have a strong support network of people who are supporting you. How are you feeling today? Look after yourself  <3