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10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
7 years of depression

I have a smell and physical feeling of fear from childhood I suppressed these fears in my late teens and became a larger than life character hiding my anxiety behind wealth. I was told at school to do well , be a success but never taught how  to cope  when you fail. in 2006 my partners own anxiety which she controlled with anger finally broke me and seeing the possible future off loosing the children, house etc  all the things I had worked hard for slipping away was too much.
I had stayed devoted to her and my children regardless of what she could throw at me, she new how to play me and the final nail was her having an affair which I witnessed that terrible night. I was now diagnosed clinically depressed and was on the run in my head. we sold the house car and planned a new life in Australia packed up and left in april 2007.
you can run from your fear like I did but it soon found me again. suicidal thoughts total panic and now on the other side of the world. classic symptoms of fight and flight  I ran again back to the uk ! I was financially secure and looked at material wealth as my security. not being able to think straight I got involved in many bad business deals and lost my money which I know sounds shallow over ones health but it was what I had created . 2013 feb I had enough of meds and went cold turkey , I felt really strong being clean from pills every day, 4 months later and after a heavy drinking session I awoke with fear ! it was back. 60mg duloxetine week 7 been a nightmare of side affects and still not sleeping. will never give in to the depression and will fight it all the way. just need some people to talk too who can understand what my head is saying . first time I have found this site and will try CBT . 
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
7 years of depression

thanks for the support. I know nothing about cbt, but as regard s to mind memory mine is extremely good. I remember everything and can relive situations places arguments down to where when and what people are wearing as I seem to have a photographic memory. as a thinker I assume this is a problem for me as I relive the bad situation over and over, past and future create fear but I know here  and now is all that I really need to deal with. had a good day and feeling strong again I think my medication is finally levelling out.
 
Richard
 
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
duloxetine working

I finally have rational thinking back and can take control over my feelings . if anybody needs information on this medication and side affects feel free to ask about my experiences.
I still get anxiety on the morning drive to work but I am now able to question the thoughts in my head and see them for what they are, negative sabotage! I have still not managed to get a proper sleeping pattern back yet but I know in time I will make it.
    
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
duloxetine working

I have researched creating the correct environment, dark , cool and quiet and say to myself a  normal sleep pattern will return in time. I have changed my meds time to morning instead of the evening. I do wonder how I continue to function with the cat naps I get.
 
my week days are consumed by working hard, with no time for my thoughts to wander, I know I have to go to work like every body else in the world but question the meaning of my lifestyle  or life itself . its when I get home I don't know what to do with myself ? people tell me to get a hobby but this fills me with fear at something else to do. when I am at home I become a part time acrophobic ! the weekends are the worst as I am  like a lost sheep, anxiety comes over me, I find my self looking for pleasurable experiences, watching a film but consciously analysing my feelings to see if I am happy. in the past I have drank so I get a  relaxing feeling but know this is not the answer and kicked this habit and lost a stone in weight!
I had a discussion today about how do we change the mind  patterns ?  when I look at the way I have behaved for so many years  changing the way I look at things is going to be hard.
the start of the day contains fear of what lies ahead even more looking to far in the future when actually its the moment I should concentrate on. I have satisfaction at the end of my working day which is a financial gain but this does make me feel shallow for associating happiness with money? then it gets dark and night sets in, a time for calm as I know I cant do anything else today but have a feeling of dissatisfaction as im wishing my life away from dawn to dusk.
im a bit lost with the cbt and don't know what I should be doing or in what order? 
 
thank you for all your help
 
 regards Richard
 
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
duloxetine working

very correct, its not situations that cause my anxiety its the negative thought patterns I have become to believe to be true rules of my life!
as a 16 month baby I was left in an isolation bubble with suspected small pox, this is where I learnt fear and anxiety, my early years were spent to and from doctors with an undiagnosed blood virus which caused all over body sores,( 4 to 5 times a year)
as a shy withdrawn child from a  one parent family ( separated when I was 4 )  I always wanted to please people in what I did.  I don't think I had any other abnormal issues as a teenager than any of my friends except i remember I did live with fear. i learnt my trade when i was 17 and wet out on my own on construction sites, by 19 i bought a house and a year later had a son. i built things up bigger worked harder and amassed my fortune, all my fears were gone i seemed to be able to control every thing with money. my mother is very hard working and yes i see a likeness to her in how she would always be active even now at 71 she still does the painting and decorating.
my farther in law was a surveyor and introduced me to time and motion, a way of optimizing your performance,  i created a method of working where i did not move whilst i worked unless it was productive! if i drive some where i have to do lost of things on the way to maximize the time and fit it all in in one trip. no body told me not to waste time i just realised i could increase productivity this way, no stopping for lunch or tea breaks, from 7 in the morning when we get on site until 2.30 in the afternoon a solid 7.5 hours of maximum output. the building industry was always about getting it finished yesterday and i am known as the man who can deliver the results. i still enjoy the hard work and smile to myself when the fluid of my work  motion is being created.
i never used to work on weekends and enjoyed my family time, holidays were fine and i love nothing more than watching the wind blow . i don't see sleep as a waste of time as i know i need the repair time for my body.
 
now i ruin holidays and cant relax i worry about time and that it will pass me by. i have searched for happiness but just don't know what its meant to feel like any more, hence the ''light searching''
i created this in my head i know  its not reality just thoughts so why cant i repair it?.i have a great insight of my mind but no tools to fix it.
i have made the first steps of change, i ended doing any of my own contracts as this meant after my onsite work my time was spent in the evening doing paper work (wages, estimates etc) i am now working for a company who has given my security of work through to january and when i get home i don't have to do anything. i have always promised myself to lean tai chi and have looked at local classes, don't know how i am going to push myself to go yet?
i still have these core beliefs which i write down on paper but cant face the fear of them yet and still where my virtual blinkers.
 
regards Richard
 
 
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
perfection

from my own experience you can not find perfection, how to become contented with your life i cant answer but will keep searching or is this  where im going wrong?  
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
perfection

maybe I am looking to deep? I have indeed questioned myself weather I created this anxiety in my quest for happiness.
but what I do know is that I have experienced physical and mental pain through my own self dissatisfaction . the trigger in 2006 of my partners affair left me numb and if as you say '' am I trying to fix something that is not broken'' why would I have wanted to end my life ?
I have a passion for interior design and indeed create beautiful rooms in my house and garden but even this gets sabotaged  by negativity, but I am slowly looking at things in a different light. I have three beautiful children who are all healthy my relationship between my partner has  never been better, we finally understand each other . I don't think I was ever cut out to handle stress, the modern world of ''needs, wants and desires ''  I pushed myself too far which medically created '' clinical depression''. I am trying to reduce financial outgoings to create a smaller life .
I can only hope my values in life change for the better.
 
Richard
 
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
duloxetine working

your comments are very helpful. all my life I have been very good at hiding my inner self and never let it affect anybody else in my family. its only been (2006 the break down ) and recently when I was climbing the walls with fear and anxiety, crying and hiding in the duvet did they see it. thankfully the medication is working great and I feel strong again. the anxiety is still there in the background but I have time to look at it and form rational solutions. I wont stop taking it ever again like I did in February and just come to terms with the fact that its for the best.
 
Richard
10 years ago 0 9 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
perfection

the only place I see true perfection is in mother nature, the flowers and trees that re grow every year are all so beautiful.
 I smiled this morning whilst looking at the morning sunrise, positive thoughts are so nice to experience again.
quote of the day happiness is a journey not a destination.
 
richard