The Black Dog Gang

How's it going folks? I am able to get out and about which is such an improvement on how things were.

Doris19....I try not to reverse into a space if I can help it. Like you, I cry at almost anything lately. Yesterday I cried at the sight of a woman walking her dog. I didn't know her (or her dog!) and had never seen them before. Just a nice lady, with her handsome dog, but I cried for 10 minutes (why??!).

Doris, I have been driving a long time and have never reverse parked in my life ha ha.

Well Doris19 you are doing fantastically well to actually drive, I never had the courage to do it! As for the symptoms I never know for sure what they are perhaps a mixture of med side effects, giving up booze, viral or anxiety and depression because when I came across them on Google couldn't believe how similar they were to mine! Great to share these feelings.

Hi Bluesky Physical symptoms same for me especially the lack of appetite. I'm always anxious when I drive a car and everyone else on the road seems so confident and desperate to get everywhere in such a hurry When I park the car I'd do anything to avoid reverse parking so I'm often miles away!! I cry at the drop of a hat too Music ? does it Listening to something on radio 2 just now which is so lovely I'm having a wee bubble. Keep on keeping on everyone Off to check out the Heads pace App

Thanks oldbatty. The car thing was so daft. I was shouting and swearing to myself, wondering why the damned car wouldn't move. It was in Asda carpark, so I got a few looks haha

that's good Lynne ( apart from the car thing)

Well, I started off feeling good - did 4 lots of washing and drying, got a load of shopping, tidied up, mad a curry from scratch with all fresh spices and stuff. My new tablets (10 days in) seem to be working, although I've still got drowsiness and a slow reaction to things.

Then.... I tried to reverse the car whilst the handbrake was on. That set me off with my anxiety. A song with specific memories was played on the radio, and that set me off blubbing for a bit.

Onward and upward. On the whole, I'm SO much better than I was a week ago.

Hope you've all been getting on OK TODAY

Headspace app is quite good.

Well I've now got actual stomach symptoms, poor appetite, indigestion, knot in the stomach, feel rather hot, which I don't know whether they are due to something like a virus, side effects of BP tablets or anxiety!

I agree with you about the Daily Mail though it's interesting to say see what the health scare of the day is! It's a glorious sunny autumn day here and it's good to feel good. Hope all is well with you and the rest of the gang members.

Good news, Doris. Don't think the Mail is really the place to look for a balanced article.

Feeling much more positive after 8 weeks on medication. Reading horrible addiction stories in the Daily Mail hasn't helped but I suppose we're all different. My G P says that a lack of seratonin is a medical condition which can be dealt with a d is happy to prescribe them for me. I don't want to take them forever but I can't go back to the way I felt before. It's a difficult balancing act so I suppose you pays your money and takes your choice.

BlueSky...I sympathise. You need some proper help. You know that alcohol is a DEPRESSANT? So that will make you feel low when the effects have worn off.

See a doctor -perhaps a different one to the one you've seen. Write down the symptoms you have, the feelings you have.

We are all in the same boat on here.

I can honestly say that today, I feel really well in myself...I hope it's not an "up" day before a low day, but I think my new tablets are beginning to work.

BlueSky, I understand self medicating but I promise you it is not the answer. Alcohol is a depressant and will undo any thing medication can do. Recovery will never , ever, be found in the bottom of a bottle x

Some people I know share a litre bottle of vodka between four of them on a night out!

Not shocked. Its extremely common.

I'm not schocked. Sometimes we have to do what gets us through although obviously excessive drinking is probably not a good idea. I confess that I drink more wine than is probably good for me.

You are really right, now that I've given up the cure for all alcohol I will need some help. And I'm afraid that at the moment I'm on cold turkey too. You would be shocked to hear that I managed to get through a litre bottle of whisky in a week! But help it did till I was sick on it and stopped there and then!

Yes I agree oldbatty but sometimes it shakes me out of myself to 'give myself a talking to'.

I'm sorry but I don't think the idea of looking around at other people who have problems helps. It just makes the guilt, the shame and the general bad feelings worse.

Everybody has a right to feel well. MH issues are no less valid than anything else.

Bluesky I have suffered with, let's say 'nerves' all my life due to an awful childhood and subsequent bad life events. I have coped, but it's been hard. Just this year, I have started with this health anxiety. I think it's just a build up of my ongoing anxiety issues. I have a nice life but rarely enjoy anything as I live with this feeling of impending doom. I wear 'the mask' as someone mentioned above. Every day I tell myself to look around and see people who are suffering terrible things but somehow I am stuck. My DH has cancer (in remission thankfully) and I have never heard him complain. I don't know what's the matter with me. Good luck to you.

BlueSky, if you have had something all your life and you still have many years left, it really is time to perhaps have a rethink.
Perhaps back to the GP, don't dismiss the counselling worth a go?

You deserve to have a decent life and enjoy it.

(Sorry if this sounds harsh)

KatyK I have all my life and again have always tried to cope but you are right it's an awful feeling to live with. Are you a sufferer ?

I'm not feeling too bad sticking to my medication...the worse time for me is last thing at night when the anxiety kicks in, just as I'm trying to get to sleep and then when I wake up....feel so dreadful but it gets better as the day goes on often hiding behind that mask. Love to all gang members....!