The Black Dog Gang

"Piglet?" said Pooh.

"Yes Pooh?" said Piglet.

"Do you ever have days when everything feels... Not Very Okay At All? And sometimes you don't even know why you feel Not Very Okay At All, you just know that you do."

Piglet nodded his head sagely. "Oh yes," said Piglet. "I definitely have those days."

"Really?" said Pooh in surprise. "I would never have thought that. You always seem so happy and like you have got everything in life all sorted out."

"Ah," said Piglet. "Well here's the thing. There are two things that you need to know, Pooh. The first thing is that even those pigs, and bears, and people, who seem to have got everything in life all sorted out... they probably haven't. Actually, everyone has days when they feel Not Very Okay At All. Some people are just better at hiding it than others.

"And the second thing you need to know... is that it's okay to feel Not Very Okay At All. It can be quite normal, in fact. And all you need to do, on those days when you feel Not Very Okay At All, is come and find me, and tell me. Don't ever feel like you have to hide the fact you're feeling Not Very Okay At All. Always come and tell me. Because I will always be there."

Hellsgrandad hello! Are there any support groups you can get in touch with? You’re not alone, surely?

I too have had dysthymia since childhood. Then numerous Major Depressive episodes starting in my 30s. The underlying dysthymia and anxiety is always there.

hellsgrandad Although you're situation is not going to change at least hopefully on this forum you've found a group of people who can just chat to and share, sometimes that alone can be an enormous comfort . Tell your story no one will judge

I need to join your club too please. After a traumatic incident in my childhood I always felt 'different'. A psychologist told me I have Dysthimia (sp) which is a mild underlying form of depression that's always there, so when I get depressed it's like a double wammy. The cause is usually from trauma sometime in your life...mine was from childhood.

I have taken numerous ads for years & years. Citalopram helps but I still long for inner peace & happiness.

What an incredibly helpful thread. I have a family history of people with severe depression including involuntary admission to long term institutional care and ECT in the bad old days of mental health "care". I don't have depression but am aware at times of warning signs that prompt me to make changes in my life.

Reading poster's vivid descriptions of their depression, the impact on their lives and also the various approaches to manage the problems is really informative. The honest discussions about what has and hasn't worked also shows how individual we are and if one approach doesn't work it is definitely worth trying another treatment. This provides hope for those who, at times, may see no light at the end of the dark tunnel. The discussions also offer insights for friends and family of those suffering from depression. Depression can be very isolating.

This thread really is a great example of using the internet as a therapeutic tool for healing and creating a virtual community of support. Oldbatty what a great idea. ?

I've suffered from depression on and off since I had my daughter over 40 years ago.
Last winter was the worst ever.
Dr gave me all sorts of blood tests and in the end with nothing significant found concluded it was a serious depressive episode.
I was planning my suicide,and there would be no coming back.if I'd told the doc he would have had me taken away and sectioned.
He's upped my medication to max dose and it's now manageable,but I'm scared of what will happen when he reduces it.
I don't tell friends.Im embarrassed and ashamed I can't manage it.one friend knows but we don't discuss it.

There is no need for it to be secret. Its a nasty thing. Please all folks feeling low, go to the GP. If you don't like him/her try another. It's very common and you will feel better.

Phoenix, can I ask if the death of your son caused your depression, if you don't mind answering?
I'm still trying to sort out in my head where I go from here, really.
I'm sure I will never heal from my daughters death, and that I will always be prone to getting depressed about it.

Please can i join. Its a secret from everyone except my H who i feel so sorry for. Some mornings i just want to hide under the duvet.

Brilliant girls (?) we can be kind friends

PS. Apologies for jumping in, and not having read the whole thread.

Evening all, and sending every good wish.

My black dog is mostly in the kennel (touch wood) but does come out sometimes.

I'm on a low dose of anti depressants, but can still feel it if I miss a dose.

I find this time of year a bit of a low point, but am currently throwing myself into a bit of DIY and some low cost changes/improvements around the house, although the mess involved does rather stress me.
However, it's the old omelette & egg thing, I suppose.

I don't know if others have the same problem, but I am prone to dreams, especially about my late son, who died 10 years ago this December. Some are lovely, others not, but either way they leave their marks.

sourcerer that's my thinking too. Maybe the impetus to do something instead of just worrying about it.
I have a few health issues and a couple of upcoming appointments so am wondering how to introduce this latest concern. Gp is running blood tests to find cause of my total exhaustion so that might be the obvious lead-in.
Thanks from me too batty for starting this thread. I feel it may help me to have all these understanding posters around as I try to find out just what's bugging me!

Just a couple of comments on things that have been said:

- ironically I’m also a ‘glass half full’ person. Always been pretty resilient and can see the opportunities even in v difficult situations. But this doesn’t seem to have protected me from the big D (or maybe it has - maybe I would have been even worse without that ??)

- loneliness : I am surrounded by friends, family and colleagues but I can honestly say even with them all around there is absolutely nothing so gut wrenchingly lonely as a bout if depression. It’s like there is an invisible screen between you and everyone else which means they just can’t reach you.

- a few people have mentioned the menopause and this really frightens me because my first problems started post natally. I’m only at perimenopause stage at the moment and v concerned about the impact of changing hormones again.

Things that have helped me at different times:
- ads (but as I mentioned in my first post I really wish I could stop them after nearly 20 years! I think they are affecting my memory.)
- fish oils
- relaxation exercises
- walking
- rubbish tv (it has to be rubbish )

Mic yer in kid

I'd like to join too, please. Not entirely for myself but to try to understand my husband more who has suffered from thyroid issues for the last 4 years which means, along with other things, he goes away for long periods to get way from everything. I am really fed up with this now and feel anxious and stressed myself and very near to leaving him.

can I join too please

Right lovely ladies. You’ve joined!
Time to talk and share. In my (humble) opinion.
It’s what you’re all waiting for..... Time to share now at a deeper level.
What have you got to lose?

What's really scary is the number of you on this site alone who suffer from depression. One has to wonder what the statistics must be for the rest of the UK.
I've had a cyclical black dog for years, who creeps in snapping and growling at my heels, his fetid breath and black bulk blocking all light from my life.
Ironically I was a Samaritan, I know how wonderful they are and it's often easier to talk to a stranger because no-one who has never suffered can ever understand what you are going through - family especially.
Good to know I am not alone, and perhaps this is the impetus I needed to see the doc and get some help. xx

Thanks for the shout out. I do several shifts a week for Sams. Thing is...you just have to hope that your listening ear is enough to steady the boat as you very very rarely get to hear of any outcome.

I'll join you if I may, been on various anti-depressants over the last 25 years, but am now on Citalopram, which suits me perfectly.
I feel really guilty at times, as I probably have nothing to be depressed about, but I know that's a ridiculous way to think about it.
It's nice to know there's support here if any of us need it, so thanks for starting this oldbatty.

Thanks for that posh paws
Anyone feeling rough please phone Samaritans. Excellent people.

It’s how insidious I remember it being,creeping upon you,feeling irritable with loved ones,unable to express how you feel.Thank goodness not had it for years……but to scared to come off my low dose citalopram.Will take it forever I think.Love to all of you who are suffering.?

Samaritans can be a (literal) life-saver when you're at the lowest ebb. Telephone number is 116 123