Mood swings?

[chilistrucker]

Is there a medication to control them? Rather than go to the doctor about this I'd prefer any form of natural remedy if there are any available? I've managed to deal with them myself and avoided my doctor over the last couple of years but in the last few weeks I think I have realized I may need something to help.

TIA

[chilistrucker]

Thanks, I'm seeing GP Tuesday so will see what they have to say. Not really sure myself TBH on what the "actual" issues are, I just know I don't seem to have any control over it anymore. Can go from top of the hill to rock bottom in the click of my fingers, just can't control it.

[chilistrucker]

Sadly my only option currently would be NHS. I know exactly what the root cause of my moods are but it is out of my control, if that makes sense. It frustrates me to have to hold my hands up and face the fact that I do have issues and that I have no control over them anymore but I know I need to address it. I just don't want to get put on some form of medication that becomes a long term thing. If certain things were to change tomorrow I know these mood swings would very quickly disappear. Crazy I know but most of it is out of my control, other than trying to control the mood swings.

[chilistrucker]

fttm said:

Can I suggest some form of counselling referred via your GP ? Don't know if you've already tried this , if so and found no benefit try another one .Certainly with what you've been through over the last few years I'd strongly suggest it , could help you to learn some triggers and how to control your feelings . Best of luck mate

You can, and I think it may be what I need? I honestly don't know?
No I haven't tried counselling as I have always deliberately avoided it, (which I now see as a mistake.) Back then it would have felt I had admitted failure and as a proud man back then I couldn't of done that. I always said to myself and those around me that throughout all of this they would never beat me. I now realize they did, but not just beat me, virtually destroy.

I had kind of walked away from it in March this year as I had EXHAUSTED every possible avenue, and my Mrs and friends were telling me it was making me ill, they were right. Things went back to some form of normality as I could deal with/hide my anger at my situation and try and carry on with some form of normality.

The ironic thing is that due to the recent ombudsmans report that has now filled me with some hope of finally getting getting some form of justice, so the mood swings have come back, but this time with much more intensity. Perhaps it's because I may now finally be so close to getting all of their wrongs put right.

I sat here the other night with the Mrs and explained to her exactly what I was feeling in detail, this was the first time I have ever done this and it was very hard for me to do. Its hard to admit to your Mrs how much of a failure you feel you have been through no real fault of your own, and when you have put so much effort in to just trying to succeed. I told her I'd stared at the floor many times wondering what the point was in carrying on, sometimes I just wanted to curl up in a dark room and hope it would all go away. Luckily for me she gets it, and I would never have got through this without her by my side and I know how lucky I am that she has stuck by me throughout. The whole thing has cost us dearly but its not so much the financial side of things that bother me anymore, they can't take what we haven't got, its what they have cost us emotionally that angers me so much. They have turned me into a nasty person of late I literally feel like I could snap at the slightest issue. I really have to bite my tongue at work on a daily basis and that has never been my style, I never used to be this way.

I deliberately avoid phone calls from friends, and going to meals, parties etc as I hate off loading my st on to them when they ask, "Hows things?" They've all heard it, why should I keep off loading it on to my friends? (Easy to do it here, no one really knows me but I really appreciate the good advice.)
My closest mate phoned the other day and I answered as it had been a while, chatted about random st and he asked what was happening? I just said I was plodding along, didn't tell him about the recent chauffeur job interview or the latest developments on the whole DVLA/DMG story. I just wanted him to think everything was normal. It hasn't been normal for 2 and a half years. I've been invited to London on Sunday. My old tour friends are in town on the Chili Peppers tour so they want me to pop up for a drink and I should be able to blag a free ticket for the show, which is handy because I can;t afford to buy one After all this is my favorite band so I should really go.
The sad thing is, again I'm a bit apprehensive about going as in the back of my head it will just remind me of the good old days when life was normal and I had a job I was quite good at and loved.
Funny the cards we are dealt at times and the path it can lead us down and the way these things can affect you as a person.

[chilistrucker]

Thanks all.

I am at the quacks Tuesday to get the DVLA forms sorted, £75 that surprisingly the DVLA say they "may" pay if I get a receipt. Hmmmm, how odd that they are offering to be so helpful for a change.

My Mrs is insisting on coming with me and I will have a chat with the doctor about where my head is at the reasons behind it and see what they say? Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated.

[chilistrucker]

Dr Jekyll said:

chilistrucker said:

I'd prefer any form of natural remedy if there are any available?

Why?

Probably showing my ignorance here but for some reason I have this idea in my head that I don't want to become long term reliant on any form of medication. I also have concerns, (ignorance again) on if this could possibly cause yet more issues on me trying to get my LGV licences back?

I'm sure the doctor will tell me all the pros and cons.

[chilistrucker]

popeyewhite said:

Generally counsellors listen to one person per session. There are reasons for this. If you're the one who wants to talk then go on your own. You will not talk in the same way with her present.

Or get a word in

Willy Nilly, I did suffer some injuries in May 2014 after slipping over and the rear of my skull taking the initial impact. The injuries were not picked up on at first and I was released from hospital. 24 hours later I was back and after they did the tests it was discovered I had fractured my skull in 3 places and had 3 bleeds on the brain.

[chilistrucker]

toohuge said:

OP - I empathise with you completely. - mood swings etc.

I have a traumatic brain injury (tbi) having had numerous bangs to the head and a very serious bicycle accident - I hit the back of my head too.

I've recently started treatment, after denying for 10 years that I had anything wrong with me.

Please try and contact your local headway charity. These guys are fantastic and will get you the help you need fast.

The NHS has been ok for me, but the local charities in the area, along with a few specialists that we found have been fantastic.

Please feel free to drop me a PM and I'd be happy to have a chat

Chris

Thanks very much, PM sent.
I was due at doctors this evening to get the forms the DVLA sent me filled out, 'AGAIN.' I was going to raise the issue with the doc, but it was cancelled as doctor Isn't well. I am going Friday now, but will spend more time looking at the headway charity website.

[chilistrucker]

Super Slo Mo said:

While not having the experience of a severe head injury, although I did bash it heavily a few times as a kid, I've suffered from depression on and off for 30 or so years.
I've more or less got a grip on it these days, although I'm not quite sure how I would explain how I do that. Some days I just have to ride it out, then I will be ok for months. I find that there are a few things that trigger an episode, although I get stronger as the years pass.

Actually, I've been reading up on stress recently, it's something you should actively try and avoid in the main, it has massive repercussions in terms of physical health and the body's healing process. It's easy to say, and difficult to do, but focusing on the positive rather than the negative can only help.

Things that work for me are, in no particular order:
Diet: fruit and veg, particularly red fruits, seem to give me a lift, or stop me dropping in the first place.
Exercise: even just walking a few miles a day makes a big difference to my mental wellbeing
Music: I've quite recently re-started playing and learning the piano, I cannot really quantify the difference it's made, but it's huge. I would recommend trying to learn something if you don't already play.
Learning: Any kind of study or reading helps keep your mind fit and active.

I don't know where you're based, but I'm in the South West London area a few times over the next few weeks, I'd be happy to meet for a coffee and a chat if it might help.
Don't know if you recall, my industry is similar to yours (TV though, rather than tours), so more often than not I'm sitting in a Travelodge of an evening when I'm not at home or pounding the motorways.

The offer's there, I won't be offended if you don't take it up, I have plenty of good books

Hello mate, and thanks very much.
Some things I've done right this year, I managed to shed 2 stone in weight and have a decent diet now ticking the fruit, veg and salad boxes. Cut drinking right back, (it was bloody expensive) but I do probably drink to much coffee. The chauffeur thing in the summer kept me fit and the rather dull job I have at the mo involves a lot of loading/unloading, (only a van though) but it helps and I feel quite good fitness wise.

I think I know what the exact main route of my problems are, (or rather who they are) and I sort of had it under a bit more control this year because i'd given up the fight. Recent events though mean that 'the trigger' is back again and although I feel I am definitely doing the right thing in fighting, it does bring all the stresses back again. Well that's how it seems in my head right now, although I could be wrong?

I guess many people may be thinking, stop going on about it or well give it up and walk away then. Maybe they're right.

I can't, I'm a proud man and try to fight for what I believe is rightfully mine, (or perhaps I'm just stupid, who knows?) and it seems I may finally be within touching distance of finally getting all the wrongs put right.
The whole sorry affair and all the knock on affects of it have rolled on for just over 2 years now and I've certainly had some big ups and downs in this time, financially, mentally and relationship wise. I even avoid phone calls from mates and talking about it anymore as I hate to carry on being a broken record. Having no positives, no matter how hard you've tried during the fight can be a bit soul destroying.

I do definitely feel I've failed and can admit it now, I also know I have some issues that although I struggle of late to control them, I now know they need to be addressed.

People have or may say, "Oh you haven't failed."
That's not how it feels in my head when my mood is down and things are dark, but it can change from high to low in minutes. People say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, or every cloud etc, etc.

Sorry, fk off please don't say that to me, you have to have lived it.
I hope that makes sense.

Thanks for the offer, I'm based to the East of London, but do get round the West side 1 or 2 days a week on average, but in work hours. Do always stop for an hour for lunch though if you're free and want a quick brew?
Thanks for the offer.