:agree: very good point, and looking at the forecast nothing is getting any better.
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I use this one:-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186461393386
Most of my work is from home, so I can have it on all morning. However, even just sitting with it on over breakfast will give you a boost.
I work outside think the lack of sunshine has caused my usual mood drop time of year to come early this year.
I also take vit D but not usually during the summer but think
I will start taking it now.
I’m the same, been struggling earlier than usual this year with health anxiety flare ups. Once I’ve stopped worrying about one thing it hops to another seemingly uncontrollably. Anyone else deal with HA?
So it's September. A lovely time of year in many ways but also a difficult time for people as the equinox approaches and the dark nights draw in. After a disappointing summer the prospect of a long winter ahead is not very appealing.
How's everyone doing?
I find its important to get out and soak up as much natural light as is humanly possible this time of year.
So tonight has been the first time since February I’ve needed to get out the SAD lamp and sit for an hour with it on, anyone else use one during the darker months? Find it does help me to a certain extent but I still need to get plenty natural light during the day. Hope everyone is doing well, cheers
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Health anxiety isn’t a term I’d heard of before but now I think about it it does accurately describe a lot of the thoughts and emotions I go through most days with my own health. Particularly when I’m on my own my thoughts inevitably wander and I recount conversations with doctors and consultants over and over again and what the future might hold for me health wise, once it’s in my head very difficult to think of something more pleasant. I did read a post on here about a recommendation for a book on how to deal with unwanted thoughts, forgive me if I got the title wrong, which I might try to find again. But I’ve always find trying to stay busy and keeping myself occupied helps.
I’ve been struggling a bit since the clocks changed, low mood and a bit of a continuous headache. Got a gym in the garage which is great but doesn’t help with getting daylight and I’m out the house a lot at the moment so not getting out for runs as much as normal.
It’s easing off now but I think I’ll invest in one for next “gloomy season”.
Hope it eases off for you.
I’m double dunting vitamin D tablets each morning.
I haven't felt the need for my lamp this year yet, partly as it's been quite sunny this month.
Still taking industrial-strength Vitamin D, though.
I think I'm going to get back into meditation, as it's helped in the past with "stuff".
I’ve tried meditation so many times and can’t stick with it. Try as I may, my mind wanders off constantly, sometimes literally within three seconds of me trying to focus on my breathing. I can visualise in my head me pulling myself back from a train of thought and breathing again and within seconds there I am, bounding aimlessly towards the next random thought.
It's a difficult thing to do, that's for sure.
That said, 3 seconds is a good start. My suggestion would be..... start off counting to 3, whilst breathing deeply. When your mind wanders, bring it back and start at 1 again. Don't beat yourself up for not staying any longer, just accept that you're doing it
In time, you'll increase that to 4, and then 5, etc etc. Your subconscious will start to think "I like these quiet bits. Let's do more".
And you don't have to be on a yoga mat or anything like that. I like doing it when I'm stuck in traffic, or on the bus.
As an alternative, there are plenty guided meditations out there that might work better for you.
As of 921 this morning, the light is returning.
Good news for anyone out there with SAD, as well as all Hibby Hippies.
Happy Solstice :flag:
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https://youtu.be/f33LafLQp8Y?si=k4eqemdJtvR_Jr3e
Just watched this excellent interview with Dimitar Berbatov about men’s mental health. Worth a watch if only for the fact that he comes across as an incredibly smart guy.
Shes also got a Hibs video on her channel that’s worth a watch.
Have to say, I’m struggling severely with low mood (depression) and anxiety at the moment it’s been getting steadily worse for year's. Broke down today.
Antidepressant dose doubled and not working. Been exercising but also not cutting it.
I’m actually scared.
People will care more than you expect. You are valued and valuable to others. Reach out contact friends and family and ask for help. Samaritans and NHS direct. Get an appointment with your GP asap. I’m not in any sense a professional and cant offer much tangible help but please don’t suffer in silence.
Judas as hibsbollah has mentioned in his post you need to seek more help to get you through this mate, can I recommend this place https://www.edinburghthrive.com/ they are based either at Craigmillar medical centre or on Leith Walk. Early last year I was at my lowest to the point I did not want to be here anymore and to the point I was planning to put myself and others out of their suffering.
All you do initially is drop in, no appointment needed and they will have a quick chat with you and will assign you to the correct person who will support your needs. The initial drop in is at the wee church place at the back off hibs main stand.
I felt it really difficult to speak to people, not because they were strange to me but mostly I think was where do I start. Everything going through my mind was like a bullet train and to me nothing made sense, everything was going 100mph and nothing was clear.
I was assigned to a CPN who I would sit with for an hour at a time, we would talk openly and we would “strategise” and try target the cause/triggers and we would gradually work out strategies and coping mechanisms. I can honestly say my fear of talking soon became more relaxed as I unravelled all or most of my issues and I must say getting that professional help absolutely helped me on my journey.
Today I havent felt better mentally, no anxiety and no depression, I can think much straighter and if I do have a “down day” I just strategise, try and identify the reason and then get on with my day. My GP speaks to me regularly via telephone call and we discuss my medication levels, 100mg Sertraline and they appear to be keeping me on the straight and narrow.
Please dont suffer in silence mate and please seek professional help, its out there and you just need to do the hardest thing and connect with them, the first step is the hardest but you can do it.
This thread is fantastic too mate and there are a lot of helpful suggestions from people who are all going through or have been on that dark path, we are all here to support you if you ever need it and if you need to talk then please send me a message.
Stick in and stay strong bud, we are all here for you 💚
I can’t thank you guys enough. Heart warming to know I am not alone.
I am seeing our Mental Health Nurse tomorrow and will most likely approach iThrive as our GP also recommends them as a resource.
I have also ordered Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts by Sally M Winston, because I am having a lot of them just now.
Distracting myself with work has been useful. Crazy that work could be so helpful in that way, but it has been.
Good stuff mate and its great that you are seeing your MHN tomorrow, first steps are difficult mate but you have recognised you need professional support and now hopefully you can sit and plan coping strategies and take those important steps to recovery.
Good luck mate and remember we are all here for you.
Thats brilliant news and well done on taking the initiative, it can be tough to do.
I totally relate to distraction as a strategy. I did it myself when i was going through some difficult times, whether you’re using work or hobbies to distract you from negativity; it’s all totally valid, whatever works for you, works so go with it and remember to be kind to yourself:aok:
Hope you're getting along ok Judas and good on you for taking the initiative even of posting here when you're feeling so low.
I'm going through a bit of a rough patch with anxiety manifesting in health symptoms. I've had muscle twitches on off for about 6 months exacerbated by stress, particularly in calves and feet. I've accepted this is just a symptom of stress as it's most noticeable when triggered by something so not worried about anything sinister but it's starting to wear me down.
In some ways I'd rather be dealing with standard physical manifestations of anxiety rather than weird bodily symptoms that I can't determine if they're real or psychosomatic like pains or aches or weird feelings. Anxiety / stress is a bitch isn't it!
Anyone else dealt with something like this?
I get this too mate I completely understand what you’re going through. It’s gotten to the point where I have ended up with calluses on the end of my toes from curling them inside my shoes repeatedly, usually when something is worrying me. My home life has been a bit of a nightmare recently with my mrs going through testing for cancer and having to pick up the slack with housework etc. as all the scans along with the illness has left her pretty much bed bound for the past few weeks, which has been compounding my stress levels. I’m not complaining, I understand that she’s not well and I’ll have to do what I can to help but it’s a lot to take on s well as a busy work schedule
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