How to deal with depression?

[I.miss.my.old.cars]

Hi mates. Ilk be objective on this one.
I'm depressive, and in the worst days I always had a shrink/psychiatrist helping me. This happened in another country. As I'm living in UK now, I don't know where to look for help, and I'm seeing the black dog coming for a stroll...
Im happy to do it via NHS or privately, but I do not know where to head and which kind of professional i should search for in UK.

Any help is welcome!

Cheers

[markiii]

start of talking to you GP they will give you a refferal

[deckster]

markiii said:

start of talking to you GP they will give you a refferal

This. Ideally you will be assessed by a clinical psychiatrist who will then be able to determine a course of action based on your diagnosis and needs.

On the NHS, getting these appointments may take a while and the treatment likely will be short-term, going private will get you seen much faster and they'll keep going as long as you want to keep paying them. There's a good chance you'll be seen by the same person in either case.

[Pistonheader101]

If you don’t have access to a GP you can self refer to local services too

[anonymous-user]

As someone who had suffered for years following a traumatic life event I feel I can help

After countless referrals, therapies, medications (a cocktail of 4) I concluded all that st is just a quick temporary fix that is short lived.

The MAJOR change for me was starting boxing. The benefits of physical exercise are often mentioned as an afterthought but I cannot stress enough what a life changer it is.

I also appreciate that the thought of physical stuff when feeling low is about as enticing as a cup of vomit but you need to take a small sip!

It's such a small thing that you may assume is not going to work and talking and meds are the answer - they are not,

Get that blood pumping and the brain takes care of itself - I've never ever been better. You've got to trust me on this.

Please, please give it a try - any cardio work will do.

Start easy and have a go here if you need direction https://www.daleyfiveminutes.co.uk/get-started/

[MOBB]

As above but cycling for me

Provides exercise, routine, interest. Focus, goals

All of which keep my black dog at bay

[98elise]

lord trumpton said:

As someone who had suffered for years following a traumatic life event I feel I can help

After countless referrals, therapies, medications (a cocktail of 4) I concluded all that st is just a quick temporary fix that is short lived.

The MAJOR change for me was starting boxing. The benefits of physical exercise are often mentioned as an afterthought but I cannot stress enough what a life changer it is.

I also appreciate that the thought of physical stuff when feeling low is about as enticing as a cup of vomit but you need to take a small sip!

It's such a small thing that you may assume is not going to work and talking and meds are the answer - they are not,

Get that blood pumping and the brain takes care of itself - I've never ever been better. You've got to trust me on this.

Please, please give it a try - any cardio work will do.

Start easy and have a go here if you need direction https://www.daleyfiveminutes.co.uk/get-started/

It's also worth pointing out that exercise is recommended by doctors as part of combating depression. It's not just hearsay that it helps.

Lethargy is one of the symptoms of depression so doing something that pumps a bit of blood and oxygen can only be a good thing.

[anonymous-user]

98elise said:

lord trumpton said:

As someone who had suffered for years following a traumatic life event I feel I can help

After countless referrals, therapies, medications (a cocktail of 4) I concluded all that st is just a quick temporary fix that is short lived.

The MAJOR change for me was starting boxing. The benefits of physical exercise are often mentioned as an afterthought but I cannot stress enough what a life changer it is.

I also appreciate that the thought of physical stuff when feeling low is about as enticing as a cup of vomit but you need to take a small sip!

It's such a small thing that you may assume is not going to work and talking and meds are the answer - they are not,

Get that blood pumping and the brain takes care of itself - I've never ever been better. You've got to trust me on this.

Please, please give it a try - any cardio work will do.

Start easy and have a go here if you need direction https://www.daleyfiveminutes.co.uk/get-started/

It's also worth pointing out that exercise is recommended by doctors as part of combating depression. It's not just hearsay that it helps.

Lethargy is one of the symptoms of depression so doing something that pumps a bit of blood and oxygen can only be a good thing.

Agreed...but at the time exercise was the last thing I felt like doing.

You've just got to bite the bullet and start slowly.

Just to add I'm totally med free and have been for ages since boxing.

OP....try it as the answer lies within not in a bottle

[tim0409]

MOBB said:

As above but cycling for me

Provides exercise, routine, interest. Focus, goals

All of which keep my black dog at bay

Everyone is different but I also find physical exercise really helps too (for me cycling or swimming). The trick is to start slowly as it's quite often the last thing you feel like. I tried three different types of anti-depressants but none have worked, and all had fairly debilitating side effects. That left me searching for alternatives (depression can be so crushingly consuming I am prepared to try pretty much anything reasonable); exercise, and most recently adjusting my diet; drastically reducing sugar intake, refined flour, caffeine and alcohol (I stopped drinking altogether three years ago). It has all helped although some days are pretty bleak. I really want to ramp up the physical exercise this year. I tried CBT through the NHS; I had to wait quite a long time and whilst I found the weekly sessions cathartic, I think it was really more the opportunity to talk about stuff with a complete stranger than altering my approach to "thinking". Saying that, the next book I have lined up on my kindle is a highly rated CBT self help course so hopefully it may help.

For me this is the worst time of year; rubbish weather and short days, although at least we have turned the corner. My mission this year is to change my job which is pretty solitary, and do more of the stuff I enjoy.

OP; keep you chin up and I hope you get the help you need.

[I.miss.my.old.cars]

Thanks all for the answers and support.
I will indeed look for doing some activities. Jogging is free but I have below zero motivation for it.
Got an appointment in the GP for next Tuesday.
At least since I posted the life threatening thoughts were reduced, so I think I am winning and the black mastiff is losing.

It is interesting to mention that is Piston heads and petrolhead community in general is not only about cars. In a moment where the wife is not helping and I don't want to worry the family overseas, people here that sre complete strangers gave me a very important support. So a big thank you for all who posted!

[MYOB]

I.miss.my.old.cars said:

Jogging is free but I have below zero motivation for it.

The motivation ought to be the fact that jogging, or any exercise, can contribute to good mental health. Even walking will help. Just get outside in the daylight and get some sunlight (yes, even in winter) on you for at least 30 minutes a day. Sun light is also beneficial too!

Good luck chap.

[Wacky Racer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCd6LPzWscc

[anonymous-user]

I.miss.my.old.cars said:

Thanks all for the answers and support.
I will indeed look for doing some activities. Jogging is free but I have below zero motivation for it.
Got an appointment in the GP for next Tuesday.
At least since I posted the life threatening thoughts were reduced, so I think I am winning and the black mastiff is losing.

It is interesting to mention that is Piston heads and petrolhead community in general is not only about cars. In a moment where the wife is not helping and I don't want to worry the family overseas, people here that sre complete strangers gave me a very important support. So a big thank you for all who posted!

Start with brisk walk before running. You are not ready for that yet.

Don't ponder over it either...get a coat on now and get out for 20 mins - Now...

cmon get cracking

[grumbledoak]

Exercise is good for depression, already mentioned.

Red meat is another one - are you eating enough/any?

[Pistonheader101]

Seek and get help don’t hide it. It will eat away at your life otherwise.

[Roofless Toothless]

During my son's training for a degree in mental health nursing he did a dissertation on his research into the role of exercise in the treatment of depression and other conditions.

He helped run a football team for patients in his local trust. Believe me, he has a few good stories about those days! Of course team sports offer other bonuses for those having trouble socialising.

As far as I can recall, he told me exercise actually releases natural endorphins, so there is a sort of self generated 'drug' treatment going on that is preferable to the medication otherwise resorted to.

I think it is a common experience among all of us that a good walk can make you feel top of the world. Perhaps joining gyms, with all the kerfuffle about memberships, equipment, the right clothes, etc. is not what is needed. Do what comes naturally - and cheaply. Go for a walk somewhere pleasant and take it from there.

[johnxjsc1985]

The most balanced and productive years of my life occurred whilst I was cycling or doing anything physical that made the effort hard enough to put the brain asleep.
I learned that you need to ignore the brain saying "don't bother tonight I am tired" and 10 mins into a cycling turbo session you would feel so much better and rather than being tired you feel alive. I am not saying this is going to help depression but the fitness benefits and getting into disciplined routines can only help

[I.miss.my.old.cars]

Once again, thanks all for the support and answers.

Had the appointment yesterday at GP, started with the anti depressive to a short term reaction, and im trying to go for short walks everyday. Got back to work from holiday, and it's nice to have the mind occupied. Next week I'll go back to the gym to pump some blood...

Interesting point about red meat up there, I'm not eating much...might be a point to consider!

Thanks guys

[DaveTheRave87]

Sign up for your local parkrun and download the couch 2 5k program. It builds you up to running the full 5k and you'll meet a lot of good people, many of them will be in the same boat as you.

And keep talking about how you feel, even if it's just on here.

[98elise]

I.miss.my.old.cars said:

It is interesting to mention that is Piston heads and petrolhead community in general is not only about cars. In a moment where the wife is not helping and I don't want to worry the family overseas, people here that sre complete strangers gave me a very important support. So a big thank you for all who posted!

PH can be an odd place. Threads can be full of angry insulting posts (NP&E) or useful advice and support.

Fortunately when someone genuinely asks for support the help offered is very good.