Poor old Sarah Vine

Yes Gillybob " circumstantial depression " is about the worst feeling, indescribable and also incurable except through change only, which in part can be impossible. As the years progress, instead of feeling like an impending volcano it ends like a fizzled out banger and you're left with " those feelings from the past " that have sapped every part of your energy if you're unlucky. In other words your past catches up with you, healthwise.
It's taken me years to get over the turbulences that life brought and fortunately my mental state remains intact ( how ?? ) but because of my " stiff upper-lip " attitude I display the physical symptoms that bodily stress brings-------knackered !!
I feel for you Gillybob x

I love it when the wives try to help their blokes get on. Can't wait for the ex. Mrs Johnson to announce
"Boris can't keep it in his trousers but he'd make a good PM"

gillybob ???

You can't always separate reactive depression from clinical. You can have depression lurking in the background and life happenings can bring it to the fore

How very true Gonegirl.

I am pretty sure that I suffer from reactive depression brought on by my own circumstances. I have always tried my best to do everything for everyone whilst inside I feel like I am trying to contain a volcano that could erupt at any time. I spend my time wishing my life away from Monday to Friday and only feel like I am alive 2 days of the week. I know this does not count for "real" clinical depression but often it is very hard to see the light at the end of a never ending tunnel. Sometimes I walk alone on the beach and just cry and cry at the hopelessness of it all.

No tablet or treatment could help me overcome how I feel. Just a change in circumstances.

Please excuse me posting this response from a reader of today's Mail. "Maybe they should be asking themselves why Britain prescribes more anti depressants than other countries. Look at the social fabric of our country, breakdown of family and community support, hugely overstretched mental health services, breakdown of the benefits system leaving thousands at breaking point and reliant on food banks. Who wouldn't be depressed ?"

You can't always separate reactive depression from clinical. You can have depression lurking in the background and life happenings can bring it to the fore. It's all depression basically.

I haven't either Callistemon but it gets right up my nose hearing about " celebrities " et al with their supposed mental health issues, when in this case it would seem that it's more beneath SV to put her bin out than any mental health problem-----God help them !!

There are no better avenues than antidepressants. CBT only works for a fairly short length of time.

I don't think her article helps anyone.It's just personal to her. Not interested.

I don't think the article is anything at all about getting publicity for her husband's bid for Con. leader. She just writes a column. For better or for worse.

I haven't seen the article by Sarah Vine btw.

I suppose now, with this kind of publicity, and the new proposed NICE guidelines, doctors are going to think it is the right thing to not prescribe these meds. People will suffer unnecessarily.
An interesting point, Gonegirl
I wonder how much medication is prescribed unnecessarily when other avenues should be available (but are probably not!).
Being depressed because of certain prevailing circumstances is not the same as clinical depression or other conditions.

Do I applaud the wider discussion of depression and mental health issues of course I do
Me too, trisher.
A close relative of mine was prescribed medication to get her through a bad period in her life which resulted in her being unable to get off it and seemed to make everything a lot worse. It is only about 20 years later that she is beginning to embrace life again.

I think it is stooping very low to poke fun at anyone who does share their stories in the hope of helping others, OP.

KatyK I'm with you there on mental health and bandwagon. Half of them don't know the true/real meaning of the word nor the illness. It annoys me greatly that the illness can be used " lightly " and even as an excuse !
Many years ago after becoming an SRN I had a stint at working in an ( asylum ) as it was known in the late 50's. An eye-opener doesn't come close. It was mental illness in its raw state and when anyone mentions " mental illness/issues " I have flashbacks to the 50's when this sort of thing was REAL.
I think I only lasted for 1 year as seeing poor depressive women locked up with psychotics wasn't my ideal.
It's a miracle I didn't end up with a hump on my back at the weight of the bunch of keys I carried around with me---------plus " mental health issues " myself. Like a prison.
No doubt those who experienced such a place today would have PTSD with counselling thrown in !

I have suffered abuse because of my husband's choice of job - I found it pathetic.

I agree with your point katy.

EV not related but TV is the brother of the obnoxious Jeremy Vine. I knew their dad - he was nice.

I've heard of Tim Vine the comedian who was in Not going out " , he's hilarious. Probably related ?

I suffer from severe anxiety so I'm not 'having a go' but there do seem to be a lot of 'celebs' jumping on the mental health bandwagon. Of course it's a good thing to bring it out into the open but sometimes I wonder..

EllanVannin SNAP!

I'd be on anti-depressants if I was married to Michael Gove ! I was unaware of that too.

OK I didn't know who SV was until I read this thread. Do I applaud the wider discussion of depression and mental health issues of course I do. Many years ago anti-depressants got me through a really bad period in my life and I think anyone who critcises them should do so with care. You never know who is using them and who really needs them and what effect your criticism might have on their current situation. The timing of her comments is questionable. On a lighter note if I were married to Michael Gove I think I might well be depressed.
But there could also be a discussion on how if you build your life purely on personal ambition with no social conscience you might find that things do eventually rebound on you. Altruism and concern are not only important to others they are important to the self.

Oh yes, the sanctimonious Guardian! Spare us from that!

I don’t want or need your concern Urm genuine or otherwise. I detest the hypocrisy about SV writing about MH issues and the inadequate care available without addressing the underlying causes and contributions when she’s part of the political system that basically doesn’t give a flying fig about the NHS apart from nice little sound bites. As I’ve said, I think this celeb metoo can do much more ham than good. I’ll chsnge my mind when services really improve and the benefits system. Hypocrisy makes me sick

maryeliza can I ask if you are alright? You seem very het up and sweary, out of all proportion in my opinion.

Genuine concern.
Not a dig.
?

I don't see anyone "mocking mental illness" for goodness sake.

I just dislike the fact that SV is effectively using her column to big her husband up for "the job" which is what I assumed this thread was about????