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ORIGINAL: Limulus

Hi all,

I'm not really sure if this is the correct place for me to be posting on the forums, but here it goes. I suffer from severe depression that I've had since I was a teenager. I am not as sociable as I used to be, in fact I rarely go out of the house. I find it hard to trust people after being hurt so many times. One of my friends recommended that I join a support group or seek therapy. Most of my therapy appointments have been missed because I have days where I crash emotionally. My friend also thinks that I am co-dependent. Bi-polar, depression, suicides and other mental illnesses run in our family history. By the way, that friend is the only one left in my life as I seem to have pushed all others out.

I came to know Christ as my savior in 1996, shortly before my divorce. God gets me through many many things and has spared my life on more than one occasion.

That's all for now.

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ORIGINAL: agapetos
While it's not easy to go to therapy (and can in itself be the reason we 'crash' emotionally) it is worth going. It's possible that you don't feel you're achieved much in a session like this ~ but the fact that you've been able to show up is a great start. You really should discuss with your therapist how you can deal with this ~ over the phone if necessary, but preferably face2face.

Something that I learnt in therapy was that it wasn't just somewhere to cut open old scars. My therapist was also interested in how things had been for me in the previous weeks ~ during the time I was seeing my therapist, I had a virus and 2 aunts died. All this affected me emotionally and it was useful for her to know. I don't think a decent therapist would push you on your past if you were struggling in your present. I'd suspect that they'd like to try and help you cope with your present before looking at your past ~ and in looking at your present, you may find that some of your past is more bearable.

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ORIGINAL: agapetos
But do I tell her now or later that I've bipolar?

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ORIGINAL: agapetos

No. My thoughts would always be to tell ~ as there is never a good time to tell something like this to. Having said that, she's a psych nurse and I'd hate to her to think that I'm wanting to reconnect because of that.

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We did a lot of crazy things at school (including putting talc in the salt cellars once ) and after and it would just be fun to catch up, whether that would be just a few emails before we find out our paths are too different or keep in touch for a while...

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If I thought that my bipolar would have a serious effect on a relationship, then I'd rather get it out in the open as soon as possible.

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It does upset me that she thinks that I would ever consider free therapy from her.

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ORIGINAL: MyCatSmokey2006

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ORIGINAL: Limulus

Hi all,

I'm not really sure if this is the correct place for me to be posting on the forums, but here it goes. I suffer from severe depression that I've had since I was a teenager. I am not as sociable as I used to be, in fact I rarely go out of the house. I find it hard to trust people after being hurt so many times. One of my friends recommended that I join a support group or seek therapy. Most of my therapy appointments have been missed because I have days where I crash emotionally. My friend also thinks that I am co-dependent. Bi-polar, depression, suicides and other mental illnesses run in our family history. By the way, that friend is the only one left in my life as I seem to have pushed all others out.

I came to know Christ as my savior in 1996, shortly before my divorce. God gets me through many many things and has spared my life on more than one occasion.

That's all for now.

Hi, Limulus and welcome to the boards! I also know how's it's like to crash emotionally and not have many friends because of it. I've dealt with psychiatrists who didn't believe that my medication was causing suicidal thoughts, resulting in actual attempts, before I found one that helped me and is still doing so. I've also been rejected by ignorant churches and people because of my mental illness. At one time, I thought I was being victimized by society as a whole. It's hard being a Christian and having mental illness, since there is a lot of stigma attached to it.

One way to make new friends is to seek out those who have similar mental health issues. There are many ways to do this, including day mental health rehabilitation programs, social service programs, and local mental health agencies, who can give you a referral to other sources.

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ORIGINAL: DenimDiva

I've never told my SIL that. I guess I'm kind of holding a grudge there.

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ORIGINAL: DenimDiva

I've been told by a couple of professionals that I'm "too nice." I suppose I am at times. I have to tell someone something for my own mental health. Basically, I have to tell my sister and BIL that I need more privacy and sleep. Basically, since I sleep on the couch, I can't have people in the living room watching TV and playing video games until 1 or 2 am and then have others getting ready for work at 4:30 am. It's not enough deep, solid sleep for me. I don't think it really is for most people.

My BIL stays up late playing the games or watching TV. If he's not up, then their girls are. He gets up at 5:30 am and leaves for work at 6 am. I don't know how he does that!

Sis goes to bed at 8 pm and gets up at 4:30 am and leaves for work at 6 am.

So, how do I nicely but firmly, tell them that I need a change in the night time routines?

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Agapetos, I just had a thought. Is there a possibility that your friend already knows that you are bipolar?

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ORIGINAL: agapetos

Roberta, I think that it's important that you don't let this drop. Yes, you may have people mad at you, but if they'd been considerate of you and your needs to begin with then there would be no need for it. Even if you didn't have a mental health issue, you'd still be needing more than a couple of hours sleep. And I'd be requesting the 'power' to kick the girls out of the room when you go to bed.

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I can't remember what I have said about me recently. I requested that I be removed from my nurse's care last month. I received a message (after nudging once or twice) last week from someone on the mental health team to say that she had been asked to meet with me. She's just phoned again and is coming out on Wednesday to meet with me. She sounds nice. She also noted that my care plan is close to needing a review and so is bringing my old one so we can discuss it and what needs I have ~ which is pretty much what I'd been thinking!

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Where ever they feel like it. J-8 usually in her parents room or the recliner. J-10 usually in her bed for a little while and then she moves to the living room.

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I've decided that I'm going to treat myself to a couple of hours of solitude afterwards. I have no idea what I'm going to do or where I'm going to go. I think I'm going to go to a deli and get a sandwich and take it to the nearby dog park and just watch the people and their puppies for a while.