**The Mental Health Thread**

[Tired9]

CPTSD, Had it all my life, cause was my family abuse.
32 and don't have any troubles, I spent 10 years correcting myself in a deeply depressed / introspective way. Got through my trauma internally. Never been on meds for it but was on meds for ADHD as a child which almost killed me when I had a really bad epileptic seizure.

 

[wingman]

This year is just getting worse and worse. Dad died at 58 in Feb, my Nan died 10 days ago. Grandad obviously devastated, married for 60 years. Had 3 falls since she passed away. In hospital now, found a tumour on his spine, lost feeling in his legs. Oxygen levels dropping… not looking good.

Just feel like everyone in my life who I love is leaving all at the same time. I wish I could turn back the clock a year. I hate feeling like this.

Sorry for both of your losses. I've lost all my grandparents years ago, and my mother in January this year, she was in her mid 60s. I know what you're dealing with.

Life is cruel; certainly the biggest element of that is losing the ones you love.

Only way forward is to continue living and carry their memory, wisdom, and their love in your daily life.

 

[Scottland]

Friends are absent. Just wanting to stay in and never come out. We started doing stuff online during covid. Now there's always an excuse not to meet up. "yeah I'm up for that".. "OK let's pencil in this date".. "um, I can't because... "

I've really started to feel this in the past 12 months or so, and it's really caused me to have a bit of an existential crisis. Friends all have their own families etc, so will priorities that over meeting up or whatever. That's completely fine and I get it, it seems to be something with age where you get to a certain age and family becomes it - but it's left me wondering where my priorities lie, the state of my relationship etc when I don't actually have that.

It's also so hard to go out and find new friends when you're a bit older.

 

[413x]

I've really started to feel this in the past 12 months or so, and it's really caused me to have a bit of an existential crisis. Friends all have their own families etc, so will priorities that over meeting up or whatever. That's completely fine and I get it, it seems to be something with age where you get to a certain age and family becomes it - but it's left me wondering where my priorities lie, the state of my relationship etc when I don't actually have that.

It's also so hard to go out and find new friends when you're a bit older.

I've given up trying to get people out who don't want to do it. Never works.
Thinking of binning off two friendship circles as its entirely online. And I just can't be bothered.


So I'm working on joining established groups. So I know these people already want to go outside. And are not just looking for a partner.

 

[koolpc]

Been really bad lately. Anxiety and depression. I also get severe burning pain. Not nice.....

I got bulging discs too which cause bad back pain.

Health def makes my mental health worse. Docs have been useless.

Today was in tears. 58 and been suffering for over 20 years now.

 

[silversurfer]

This year is just getting worse and worse. Dad died at 58 in Feb,

58 is far too young, my dad died at 76 and that felt entirely unfair as he was in bad health despite fighting it constantly, so 58 is just tragic imo. Do your best for your granddad in his illness for as long as possible is all you can do I hope he finds a solid path to recovery.

 

[Scottland]

Been really bad lately. Anxiety and depression. I also get severe burning pain. Not nice.....

I got bulging discs too which cause bad back pain.

Health def makes my mental health worse. Docs have been useless.

Today was in tears. 58 and been suffering for over 20 years now.

Yep, I was in a pretty bad state about 18 months ago when I was having issues with my physical health. I did work out later the 2 were actually a little intertwined and one making the other worse and so on. Can't really offer much advice other than try and talk to someone (professionally) if you can.

I would say try and put pressure on the doctors to pursue what they can do for your back, but I've been down that road and they'll do naff all, even if they recommended surgery it would be years most likely
Best option could be to get in to see a specialist and get an epidural or nerve block; private options on this are a lot more affordable than surgery but you'd need to know if this would be a suitable option for your particular case. I did find with my own health issues (sciatica but not disc related), once I had a plan of what I could do to help make it better I found myself mentally picking up. But there was a long time where I thought there was nothing I could do and it was rough...

The sciatica subreddit can be a useful resource, but it can also be a bit of a pity party so use wisely.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

When my back is bad my mental health gets hammered especially when it naffs up my sleep. Even seeing a physio on the NHS is months of waiting I’m sure the government are on purposely destroying it so privatisation is their only answer to fix it.

Im currently trying to push through the 3 month relapse that coming of escitalopram/Lexapro generally causes. It’s not been the best but thankfully not as bad as has been before.

 

[koolpc]

When my back is bad my mental health gets hammered especially when it naffs up my sleep. Even seeing a physio on the NHS is months of waiting I’m sure the government are on purposely destroying it so privatisation is their only answer to fix it.

Im currently trying to push through the 3 month relapse that coming of escitalopram/Lexapro generally causes. It’s not been the best but thankfully not as bad as has been before.

I tried coming off of Escitalipram. Was hell. Had to go back on it.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

I tried coming off of Escitalipram. Was hell. Had to go back on it.

Yeah it’s a nightmare to get off as it has a rebound effect after about 3 months of stopping it, A lot of people and Dr’s think it’s a relapse of mental health issues but it’s a horrible side effect of Escitalopram that’s never talked about other than on recovery sites or by specialist doctors.

 

[koolpc]

Yeah it’s a nightmare to get off as it has a rebound effect after about 3 months of stopping it, A lot of people and Dr’s think it’s a relapse of mental health issues but it’s a horrible side effect of Escitalopram that’s never talked about other than on recovery sites or by specialist doctors.

I was thinking of trying a different med as i been on it 20 years!!

 

[MOOGLEYS]

I was thinking of trying a different med as i been on it 20 years!!

Wow no wonder your having a hard time getting off it. It might be it’s just no longer effective have you spoken to a Dr about a dose change at all ? It might also just not be any good for you anymore so a change might be better. It’s something you need to speak to a Dr about as some work better than others when swapping. Tbh I have found one of the hardest parts about mental health is finding a good Dr who understands and does not try to just throw drugs at you.

 

[Armageus]

Yeah it’s a nightmare to get off as it has a rebound effect after about 3 months of stopping it, A lot of people and Dr’s think it’s a relapse of mental health issues but it’s a horrible side effect of Escitalopram that’s never talked about other than on recovery sites or by specialist doctors.

Admittedly I'm only on it for around 4 months at a time (and only 10mg at that), but never had a problem when coming off it - I was advised then when I do want to come off it, to move to only taking it every other day, and to do this for at least 3-4 weeks before completely stopping.

 

[koolpc]

Wow no wonder your having a hard time getting off it. It might be it’s just no longer effective have you spoken to a Dr about a dose change at all ? It might also just not be any good for you anymore so a change might be better. It’s something you need to speak to a Dr about as some work better than others when swapping. Tbh I have found one of the hardest parts about mental health is finding a good Dr who understands and does not try to just throw drugs at you.

Its the doctors. They are not at all helpful. I have been on the max dose, 20mg for 20 plus years!

I am scared of trying a different medication.

Extremely stressed at the moment due to work, buying a house and my bad back and mental health issues. Not a nice time. And all this on my own. Nobody to turn to.

 

[ethan]

It may sound like a stupid question but can anybody tell me how they went about getting the appropriate psychiatric help? I've received CBT treatment a number of times but this hasn't helped. I suffer from a couple of functional neurological diseases which don't help my mental state either. I've Currently been waiting over 12 months for a neurological appointment but it's the mental aspect that is currently concerning me the most. Thank you.

 

[alexisfab12]

hope pandemic ends now..

 

[One More Solo]

Yeah it’s a nightmare to get off as it has a rebound effect after about 3 months of stopping it, A lot of people and Dr’s think it’s a relapse of mental health issues but it’s a horrible side effect of Escitalopram that’s never talked about other than on recovery sites or by specialist doctors.

I had a very similar experience coming off Sertraline so now I’m back on it. Almost exactly at the 3 month mark. That’s interesting.

 

[tres]

Yeah it’s a nightmare to get off as it has a rebound effect after about 3 months of stopping it, A lot of people and Dr’s think it’s a relapse of mental health issues but it’s a horrible side effect of Escitalopram that’s never talked about other than on recovery sites or by specialist doctors.

Escitalopram has one of the lowest rebound risks of any antidepressants.

 

[tres]

Its the doctors. They are not at all helpful. I have been on the max dose, 20mg for 20 plus years!

I am scared of trying a different medication.

Extremely stressed at the moment due to work, buying a house and my bad back and mental health issues. Not a nice time. And all this on my own. Nobody to turn to.

Have you been offered, or asked, to try a different medication?

 

[tres]

I would say try and put pressure on the doctors to pursue what they can do for your back, but I've been down that road and they'll do naff all, even if they recommended surgery it would be years most likely

Paracetamol, ibuprofen, physiotherapy, CBT.

That's all NICE recommend for chronic back issues, slipped discs (without nerve compression) etc. When it is severe and life changing, it's a referral to the spinal team for consideration of surgery.

The clinical guidelines say to not offer stronger painkillers like opioids . There any no other magic pills to fix this.

Sometimes it's useful to know what to expect that GPs can offer, as having unrealistic expectations can make everything much more difficult.