**The Mental Health Thread**

@secretspy

Hi :) Thanks for your reply. I have a physical job where I do get a work out, but not your typical gym workout routine. I have only really suffered with these panic attacks/anxiousness these past 10 months or so. Being a hypochondriac is what brought it on and led me to health related anxiousness, despite having a multitude of medical tests etc. ( I'm not overweight, a non smoker, and even quit the odd social drinking side of things due to alcohol making me feel worse)

I never thought of audio books? do you use the likes of audible?

I try to distract myself but the problem is, is that I know that's what I'm trying to do so my mind races back to its original thoughts of feeling anxious. I'm a bit reluctant to going down the medication route and would certainly like to find something that's a natural way of helping the matter. Sometimes watching a bit of YouTube or counting backwards from 100 works, but I'm slowly finding the same result (mind racing back to why I'm trying to distract myself)
 
@Cosmic182

I've only really used audible on occasion when I was having a bath, never really for trying to get to sleep but I'm sure there are probably some sleep stories on there :)

Sometimes getting your worries "out in the open" can help. You don't have to necessarily tell them to anyone. You could write them down.

I completely get what you mean. Sometimes I feel like my heart is beating too fast and so I try to calm myself but I'm too conscious of what I'm doing so I get worked up even more and then panic even more. It can be a vicious cycle

Rescue remedy is a herbal option but there are pillow sprays like lavender etc that apparently help with relaxation. I've always steered clear from any medication for sleep etc.

I would suggest trying to avoid watching YouTube etc or looking at any screen for too long before you're going to bed as the blue light can affect your sleep. I use a sunrise/sunset alarm clock and I used to turn it on to read for a bit and let it dim down when I was trying to sleep. I found though that I struggled to nod off easily so now i use it as a low light for reading and then when I'm finished I turn it off so I'm in complete darkness
 
spleenharvester said:
I'm very much in the same boat actually. My bipolar II diagnosis was last year and I was only diagnosed with ADHD last month. A lot of clinicians believe you have to treat any mood disorders before the ADHD, but there's an increasing amount of evidence to suggest it is actually vice versa for many people. So I got assessed for similar reasons to you, I was still repeatedly going into depressive episodes despite being on mood stabilisers.

Sorry to hear vyvanse isn't working well for you. I haven't started yet as I'm still on a waiting list, but they're wanting to put me on atomoxetine due to hypomania risk associated with stimulants. Which is frustrating as (a) I haven't had a hypomanic episode in forever and (b) atomoxetine is generally considered to be less effective than stimulants. But got to start somewhere!

I'm actually on an SCA for my bipolar medication - unfortunately hasn't helped much in my case as the NHS refuses to cover most psychiatric drugs that aren't ridiculously cheap generics, and the ridiculously cheap generics I am taking are cheap enough that I don't need an SCA lol.
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Yep I mentioned ADHD years ago and was brushed off the Dr pretty much scoffed at me like my suggestion was completely absurd and anti depressants were increased.
Which did little to help and eventually lead me to going off them cold turkey for a while only to be back on them months later.
I accepted their judgement until I found myself in the same cycle...
Hate to be a self diagnose but when I researched the symptoms It was like a bingo moment.

If anything I wish I got referred years ago when I first asked I probably would have been done with education by now and be living a much better life.
But currently I'm in the same position struggling with university again.

Hope you get medicated soon and NHS pulls their socks up!
 
secretspy said:
Do you workout at all? I've found following a fitness regime has really helped me.

Thankfully I don't suffer with anxiety at night that much anymore but on the odd occasion I do, I tend to use a rescue remedy spray or if I find I really can't relax I either play relaxing music and focus on the different instruments I can hear or the lyrics. I also bagged a free subscription to the Calm app which has a fair few options to choose from. A few weeks ago I couldn't seem to switch off so stuck a story on read by Matthew McConaughey and i don't think I was listening to it for long before I nodded off.

There is also the Headspace app which I've used in the past and found it helpful.

There is also a 'tapping' technique which I've seen mentioned more often recently for helping. I've only tried it a couple of times in the past when I was really stressed out so it didnt completely calm me but distracted my mind for a while.
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This really helped me. Then I had a health issue. And I think the gym is now more detrimental to me. And it really sucks.

I dunno about any of you guys, but I'm terrified of getting too old to do stuff. I see how bad my mum is with mental health and can't help but think the only thing holding it back for me is my physical health. Which obviously won't last forever.

I don't dwell on it. But it is a worry for the future.
 
Helen Barber said:
Anyone tried taking 5HTP?
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I tried it for a bit as I'm very prone to serotonin burnout and it's meant to help. I was in quite a deep phase of depression at the time though and didn't feel much different/couldn't tell if any difference was due to the 5-HTP.

I think it can't hurt to try but wasn't a magical difference so, ultimately I couldn't be bothered to order more.
 
I was on 5HTP for a while. Can't say I noticed a difference but perhaps I wasn't taking it for long enough. I'm currently on CoQ10 as recommended so I'm hoping that helps with the fatigue.
 
Cosmic182 said:
Hi guys,

To the people who suffer with anxiousness. What do you do at night time? This is when I really struggle, I struggle to sleep and struggle to stay calm. I get anxious at being anxious which then leads to being anxious!! This is a near every day occurance (at night) what do you find works best for calming yourself down at bed time and trying to get more than an hours sleep? :)

Hope you're all well and managing okay.
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Im experiencing some 'challenges' and its affecting my sleep.
Typically I over analyse things and have experienced drug related paranoia in the past. I go through a great deal of anxiety through out my day.

When trying to sleep, typically I might try to imagine something nice, like for example imagine being on holiday, anything you know would enjoy.
I don't try to get to sleep specifically, I try to just enjoy lying in bed and having positive thoughts. I understand that this could be easier said than done for many people.

If I can sense that my anxiety has been triggered, I will just accept it. I wont try and 'force it', if I think it will end up being hours before I sleep, I just accept it and this acceptance seems to have helped make it easier to get to sleep in general.

I guess what Im trying to say is, I try to lean what Im thinking towards things that relax me and away from things which make me anxious.
For example I will be very very conscious to avoid angry thoughts, anger will increase my heartrate and essentially 'wake me up'.

I think everyone has unique subjects/topics which they should avoid and this can only be discovered over time.

Also there are some minor considerations to consider such as.

Comfortable temperature, personally I sleep more easily if Im cool.

Pillow comfort.

Breathing considerations if you have sleep apnea.
 
Helen Barber said:
mirtazapine is amazzzzzing for sleep if anyone is struggling. 7.5mg-15mg is best
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Generally I tend to avoid medications, but I once tried something called GABA, it did seem to have the strange effect of stopping me from thinking about anything. I literally couldn't concentrate on anything, just lay there with 'empty thoughts' then got to sleep. Its worth a try for anyone with problems sleeping i bought it off ebay.
 
I take 1/4 tablet at night helps me sleep really well with no side affects I have noticed. Was advised to try by my Dr as my Steroid tablets played havoc with my sleep.
 
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Don't forget to steer clear of medical advice per forum rules, specifying dosage might cross that line :)

I learned that mirtazapine knocked me out too, had to take it very near bed as I'd not be much use trying to wash up, tidy etc.
 
Mirtazapine has very strong anti-histamine effects, so no surprise it knocks some people out!

I'm doing much better on phenelzine, big increase in serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, melatonin and GABA so no wonder!
 
For sleep i tried Melatonin (circadin), Amytryptaline and Doxylamine. Atm i just use the Doxy every 3 days or so to catch up a bit - and to stop it becoming ineffective like the other two.
 
Gfs condition is starting to tear at the relationship by affecting both our mental health conditions.
It's becoming hard for her to be positive and I have to say it's zapping any excitement I have for life and future as well.

For example I was hoping to plan holidays this year but I'm too scared to due to the unknowns of its progression.

I have mental health issues myself. I think basically only thing I have keeping me upbeat is my bike and getting out on weekend rides.

My mum also told me she's having very very dark thoughts of not wanting to be here. (I'm sure it's genetic both my parents have it) so more Worry. My step dad is finding it hard to cope with her apparently.

But the gfs condition is always hanging over me and us.

Big fears:
She can't work anymore = money issues, mental health issues
She can't get around without pain = says it all really
Her hope of 'getting better' is fading = mental health nose dive on this one
Thinking of future is no longer appealing

Only really clocked the decline this weekend. I went out on my bike. But struggled to motivate myself to do it.
I had interviews for new job, but no excitement about it.

Just a vent I guess. But yeah last couple of weeks has been a significant mental health drop for both of us.
 
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