Hi there from me

[suzi]

Hi everyone i thought i would introduce myself. My name is Suzi and i live in Surrey with my 3 children and my partner who suffers with depression.

He has had depression for almost as long as i have known him. He has tried various anti depressants and other therapies too.

I have been offered no help and no support in living with someon who has depression. I have felt alone and tried to work my way around a system that is confusing at best and a nightmare at worst. I have tried to find my way round treading on eggshells with my oh, and trying to explain something that i didnt (and still dont although i am getting better) understand to my 3 children and other family and friends. I have scowered the net for answers that i just havent found.

So that is me... hi and welcome to you all

[Ellie]

Hi, I'm Ellie - my dh (Drew) has lived with me for 11 years and has dealt with a lot of depression and mental health issues in that time! I hope that I can offer support to both sides here - its a hard long road, but it Does help to talk. I have know Suz for a while, and she's a wonderful girl who has a lot of knowledge and an amazinging amount of understanding under her belt. I hope you can all find some support here - with much love, El

[bikemad]

Hi only little me-Emma-dp has had depression and still gets it at times and ive had depression sincebefore I had ds and am on lofepramine for it.

[darwins_reject]

im marc, ive suffered with depression since meeting suzi hands,1, not really sorry.1 ive had depression for an unknown period of time. i developed elopicia (hair loss) when i was 16, this condition is often caused by stress, depression etc. whether the elopicia or depression came first i do know, i dont even know if they are linked.

i worked for a few years as a SHW (supported housing worker) this elvolved helping people with mental health problems, with benefits, housing issues and dealing with the mental health service. so i ve had a fair bit of training in these areas. i really enjoyed the work, untill i had a border line breakdown due to the job, ive never really been completely 'normal' since.

i am here to listen, offer advise and help if i can, i dont get offended, if you have something to ask, just come out and say it!

i am hoping that this site will help all its members, i have had conciling, CBT, ive seen ocupational therapists, and phychiotrists. and if im honest they did very little to help, but, i have found (for me) the best way to deal with it, is to treat it as a seperate enterty, someone who is trying to give you a hard time. talk about it, the more you talk the easier it becomes.

depression effects people in many ways, from your relationship with your family and friends, and you job, to your sex life, to just being able to go out.

in short, ive been there, got the t-shirt, and getter better day by day. im currently on 40mg of prozac a day, and the gap between bad days is getting longer, and the bad days, are becoming less of a problem.

one last thing, why i am telling you all this? on the hope that you or a loved one speaks out, and share the problems. one thing i will say for a fact (feel free to try and prove me wrong) once you start being open about it, the easier it becomes

[lizzie]

hello smirnoff and hubby

[lisa1980]

hello to you both

[jerseygirl]

Hello you two ~ good to see you both here.

Kerri x

[wkdfraggle]

Hi you two *waves like a mad thing*

Simone
xxx

[suzi]

*waves back