Any working professionals have depression?

[Miss Sylk]

I do! Not a taboo subject for me, I fully understand it, accept it & don't mind talking about it.

Anyway I work 5 days a week, not full time. I must admit my depression took a turn for the worst lately and I'm struggling to keep professional. Smile and talk about clients worries, issues. lives etc not mine!
Need reminding to shut up and fake a smile every now and then...right?
Sometimes it's so hard I feel like quitting but that would mean it's won! Also I pay for more than half for the family so it's not a choice for me.

Working with public is hard with depression. How do you cope?

 

[K~Anne]

Me too sweetie.

I work full time in an office job and evenings and Saturday doing my therapies. It's hard but keeping busy helps me. There's also silly little things like a "happy folder" on my phone. It contains photos and Sayings that make me smile.

Xx

 

[Miss Sylk]

Bump

 

[Ali_d2003]

I'm not working but I suffer from depression I'm suppose to be trying to work from home but when I feel low I don't advertise. I drop my son to school go back to bed and set my alarm to pick him up. Tomorrow my friend has asked me to come up to hers so she can practise gel nails on me. All I wana do is spend the day in bed

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[sarahpoppy24]

How I cope is buy taking my medications. And making sure I go to bed on time. People can sometimes be Anti medication but there is nothing to be scared of. Anyone reading this that's had a bad experience with it but still suffering don't give up. Try another. Like the OP said you have no choice. If you need it you need it. Find a good doctor. I've also had CBT therapy that helped a lot. To me it is a bit taboo and I don't like to discuss the ins and outs/symptoms too much but i just want to say you won't be like this forever. It can be controlled xxxx

 

[MissLou]

Hello. Yes I'm also suffering and have been battling it for years but I have only just admitted it to myself as I felt/feel guilty for feeling this way when there's so many ppl out there worse off than me.

I went to my doctor just last Tuesday, the very first time I have ever said it out loud, I just broke down in tears. She was great gave me citalipram and cbt number. I've started the mess haven't felt great on them but just getting on with it hoping they'll work soon.

I was working on Saturday and really struggled, I just couldn't be bothered to talk to anyone, smile, nothing I would have given anything to go home curl up in a ball
On my own. I think also for me it's such a big deal that I've actually took the step and admitted it to myself and got help finally it's kind of shocked me if that makes sense. It's been so bad recently I had no choice.

I can speak to anyone about it no one knows apart from my doctor so I still feel alone but so many ppl let me down on a regular basis I would rather just fight it myself get stronger and be a better person.

I don't know how to get through work yesterday I somehow got through it but I wasn't the normal stylist I I hardly spoke, was polite obviously but no spark from me I just couldn't find any.

Tips welcome!

 

[dootsybaby]

Hi guys, I have been on medication for nearly 10 years and I'm only 28! I used to be on 4 x 75 mg tabs a day but with the help of my doctor reduced it to one. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain so I will be on my tablets for the rest of my life. At the moment I'm doing really well but I still have my down days/weeks! During the down times I actually pretend sometimes I'm an actor and that I just have to get through the next treatment! The depression disease can be so debilitating and there are no right and wrong ways to cope, you just have to figure out what is best for you! For me I would love nothing more than to never leave my bed but if I go to work I actually feel better xx

 

[hazelb]

Depression is an odd one. It is a type of 'brain chemistry malfunction' so my approach is two fold. First get some sort of coping strategy in place to help deal with the bad days.....then do what you can to fix the chemistry!
Coping can mean eating ready meals from the freezer, spending the evening wrapped in a fleece blanket and seeing each trip out ( to the shops, to meet friends) as a small victory. But make sure not to over do it.
Then try and fix it. I use a SAD lamp when I need it and take fish oils (one desert spoon a day of seven seas strong liquid ). See a councillor or therapist. If things get bad...off to the GP's!

I've suffered with bouts of depression since I was a teenager. I had a major bout in my late 20's. And maybe had a couple of bad ones since ( if you have to ask... I'm nearly 50! )

So I try to keep myself fit and healthy, lots of daylight in the winter, acupuncture when I need it. I try to remember that my mind and how it feels is just part of me.....not the whole me.

 

[squidgernetball]

I really appreciate you all talking so honestly.
I'm a very up person and find depression hard to understand. I have a 'snap out if it' mentality but I know this isn't the case.
Reading through these has helped me a little as one of my daughters can get very low moods and I often struggle to help her. I can now often see it coming and she is learning her own coping strategies as she gets older and understands her condition more. Being a mum with my baby girl away at uni, I just want to get her home and look after her but she is becoming more able to cope.


Thanks all

Vic x

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[surf girl]

What sort of coping strategeys have u found? I have a teen who's up and down like I don't know what, but when he's down it's quite concerning, I'd love to be able to help him more

 

[Oasis]

I know that negative thoughts aren't the whole problem with depression but they make up a big part of it.
When I'm struggling this is what I do: when each thought comes into your mind don't judge it, thoughts are neither negative or positive, it's our reaction to them which is.
Imagine the thought floating into your mind then back out, don't resist it or dwell on it, just let it come and go again. When you realise that it's your resistance to the thoughts that makes you feel bad, you can choose your reaction to them.
If you find yourself stuck on a thought or it's causing you to feel bad, just remind yourself that the thought is neutral and it's your emotions making it seem terrible, choose to take the power back and let it go.
I know this all sounds a bit odd but it works and anything is better than just doing nothing and letting it win. Hope this helps. Xxx

 

[smallandcute]

I suffer enormously. At points thoughts can be so bad that not being here seems the best option. I have never done anything but it does play in my mind alot.

I have tried so many meds but all leave me the same, spaced out feeling sick and drugged and so off point im scared i would wet myself as i feel i have lost all tension in my body.

I have suffered around 10 yrs now and currently going through a bad spell. All i can manage is sleep for about 20hrs a day. A hot bath or shower depending on how im feeling and parking myself in front of the tv. Cant bear to do any housework, rarely eat let alone cook and only go out to buy food and even then it takes me a good day to build up to going out.

My two little cats keep me going. I have to move to get them fed and they give me lots of cuddles and listen when i need it. They dont judge and are happy to tuck up with me whever i am. Pets truly are therapy.

Sometimes i think you just have to ride through things. I think i am very slowly starting to come out of this spell but its hard when there are silly things that need doing and i really enjoy like having a pedi but i dont have the energy. Hell i dont even have the energy to reply to texts right now.

I live on my own which in someways is great. When i have a spell my mum thinks im just being lazy and useless and just shouts never listens nor is there for a hug. So at least being on my own i dont have to put up with that but sometimes all that is needed is a hug and a shoulder to cry on.

Vic i would say with your daughter never tell her to snap out of it she will only get bitter and resent your words, i know i do with my mum, just tell her if she needs a hug there will always be one there for her tears or no tears and dont probe why she feels down, she will tell you when she is ready.

 

[squidgernetball]

Fortunately I have never told her to snap out of it and have done exactly what you've said. Her coping strategies are keeping busy and the gym but she can become overwhelmed if she does too much and then it's bed for a day or two. I always tell her we're at the end of the phone but if she wants to come home we're a train ride away or I'll just come and get her. That hasn't happened yet!

Strange you saying about pets. She misses the dog hugely and I think it's that unquestioning love she misses. If I'm honest I also think she resents my work and the time I'm out of the house when she's back from uni so I try and book time out when she comes home. I often feel she's quite intolerant of me and I seem to annoy her. I don't know if that's just because I'm her mum so the one she pushes against the most.

I just want to wrap her up and make all the bad feelings go away like you do when they scrape a knee but I know it's not that easy. She's just had a bad episode and spoken to two good uni friends to explain that she's not being rude, she just can't bear to go out and socialise.

Thanks for your kind words and good luck. If a big hug would help I'd give you all one. I just wish it was that easy!

Vic x



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[lucyjane17]

I have had depression since 2003 with severe bouts when my life has become extremely stressful I.e losing my baby girl, emergency hysterectomy at 30. Tbh some of my life events have been unbearable at times, however somehow I have remained in work since 2010. Until Xmas just gone when it hit me full pelt. Since Xmas I haven't worked and being realistic I've probably lost most of my clients . I only set up my own beauty studio in June 2014. I'm completely at a loss as to what to do, although I think I am unable to go back self employed. I walk into my studio sometimes now and feel so sad but there comes a point when enough is enough. Ive put so much into my business but now I've lost my spark, my passion and feel I will do more damage working than not working. I wish someone would tell me what to do for the best but I guess that's up to me. So hard when all I want to do is hide in bed, sleep and shut out the world.

 

[courtjb91]

I've suffered from depression probably since the age of 13. I'm now 23. To begin with there was no real reason but at age 13 I felt like I had no friends ect ect. fast forward 3 years to 16 and struggling was my first visit to a psychologist and medication. Between 17-21 I got worse and worse Due to personal and family situations and illness. Endless talking therapy and visits to the psychologist did me no good as I didn't take it seriously. The final blow came when I was 21 and I ended up in hospital. I left my job after this and started my beauty training in college then hair extensions. Luckily now I have a very understanding gp and I go every month for a review and prescription of a medication that finally works for me And I love my job which means everyday doesn't seem like such a daunting experience.

I exercise and cook which I find therapeutic but the big helping factor for me was hypnotherapy. I've tried all therapies under the sun but hypnotherapy really sorted out my head I still have days where I struggle but mainly I'm on the up

 

[Ceelznbailz]

I have suffered from bi polar since an early age. It has taken doctors a long time to diagnose properly and medicate with the right combination, but now they have, I feel pretty good. My problem is 'I feel ok, so I don't need the meds anymore' then spiral. I have bouts of manic episodes, where I'm over the top happy, then serious lows where I just want to crawl in a hole and die, but the longer I'm on meds, the easier it is to stay on them, as I know I need them. I can cope without, but it's hard. I keep a journal where I write down answers to a few questions every day, I also get my daughter to do a variation as bi polar and mental illness is hereditary. I ask myself: what are the good things that happened today? What are the bad things that happened today? How did I treat my family and friends? What was my mood like? What can I do to make things better for me? It seems to work, but I don't think I could work full time, I'm currently doing my diploma of beauty therapy and some days I just don't want to study. I also do nail tech from home, but that's been put on hold, I've turned my phone off because of my moods. I think I'll wait until I'm stable for at least six months.