Anyone have any tips?

Every day seems to feel slightly worse than the previous and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to leave the house unless absolutely necessary (for example this morning my fiance suggested we go to curry's and the mere thought of going out into the world almost brought on a panic attack) so far I've been managing to get myself to work everyday but I feel sick the entire time I'm there and I keep spacing out and feeling like I'm not myself. The weekend away with my family seemed to help but already feels like a lifetime ago, I just wondered if anyone had any tips on how to get through the day while I'm waiting on my doctors appointment because honestly every day is such a struggle right now

Hi Caterpillar girl

Some things that may or may not be useful or helpful

- there are breathing exercises ( to breath abdominally rather than chest) to do for stress/anxiety to. Google NHS breathing exercises
- Journaling and write down your feelings and thoughts. you can always review this and take to the GP .
- I liked watching the ACT video online the unwelcome party guest ( looking at accepting the feelings are there)
- yoga ( if able to physically)
- and the general self care and be kind to yourself

It is difficult to offer advice and I don't wish too because everyones path and issues are different.

It sounds like you are really looking after yourself and have set up seeing the GP to look at getting some help as you recognise you are not feeling well.

This is great and I wish you well and all the best

Julie

Something that helped me, when I could, but does require a change in lifestyle was getting my dogs. Having them need me to walk them every day forced me out of the house. I can’t walk them anymore and I really miss that.

Try not to overreach and take it step by baby step. Walking to the local shops may not be doable yet but walking to the end of the driveway without panicking might be.

The biggest help I ever got was a nurse telling me (after I’d collapsed in the hospital reception) that it won’t go on for ever. The body’s ability to keep producing the adrenaline caused by the panic attack is finite (about 25 minutes) so it WILL end.

It will end....
Baby steps lovely. Be kind to yourself and take 1 step then go in, then 2, then 3 and build it up one step at a time if needed....

Those are all really helpful, I'll definitely try those breathing techniques, thanks guys

How's it going lovely???

Not too bad, I was at my dad's yesterday before work, I always seem to feel better when I'm around people I just won't go out of my way to arrange to see people

That sounds familiar!

My daughter confessed to me today that she feels sad a lot for no reason, so we're going to try and get out of the house together more often to see if it helps us both

You are Lucky your daughter feels that she can tell you difficult things like that, I am really happy for you both. I am sure you can help each other better since you can understand the darkness that comes with depression. It took me way too long to be able to tell my mom. And that led to massive problems no one realised were probably mostly caused by being depressed. I was diagnosed with depression at age of 15 but have been depressed since childhood. I hope you both feel better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CaterpillarGirl

My daughter confessed to me today that she feels sad a lot for no reason, so we're going to try and get out of the house together more often to see if it helps us both

---

That’s a very good idea and Sissy’s right, it’s great that she is able to talk to you. How old is she? Would she be willing to ask for help from school?

Absolutely agree, talk to the school too - get some help and support for there too..

I've been depressed since I was about 13 and my mum and dad still don't know, my daughter is 11 and has just left primary school (although they were really good for encouraging children to be open and talk about things, the school was the reason I'm getting the help I need now) we've established that leaving school is the reason my daughter feels sad (a handful of her good friends are going to different high schools and she probably won't see them again) and I think some of it is because we got a puppy last year who was unfortunately very sick and passed away after 3 days, we got another puppy not long after (she turns one this month) but I know my daughter is still hurting about the first one (I am too but I try not to think about him too much) I think she just needs to be busy and keep her mind off things which in turn forces me to keep busy too

(panda) The change in schools is so disrupting to children. I've been through it with each of mine - 2 of which have Aspergers and change is a huge trigger for them... I found it helped to talk about the new school - do some research with her about what buildings are where, where the loos are, what happens at lunchtime, where she goes in and comes out and we also gave them the chance to have friends over in the summer holidays or gave them the chance to meet up in town etc... Also make sure she's got contact numbers so they can all stay connected if they want to... Just because they are going to different schools it doesn't mean they can't stay in touch ;)

We've been to her new school a couple of times to look round, she has some friends already there and some going with her, unfortunately only one of her friends that is going to a different school has a phone so she has no way of keeping in touch with the others

I think, from my experience, most kids gets phones when they move up to senior school. Perhaps that one friend with a phone could keep your daughter updated with He new phone numbers when her friends get them?

That's a nice idea but they're all going to completely different schools! If I had known before she left I'd have told her to write her number down for each of her friends then when they got phones they could text her but she didn't tell me until after they finished

Oh no! Can you get in contact with any of their Mums via something like FB?

Not sure of any of their names but I'll ask my daughter and see if she knows (although to be honest I have a feeling they're not very tech savvy and might not be on social media)

But their Mums might be?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Suzi

But their Mums might be?

---

Sorry, I meant their mum's

Ahh OK...

How are you today?