TAFKARM Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 37 minutes ago, KugaWestie said: Howcome you are not working? Took voluntary redundancy and having a career break. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Richard (OldStager) Posted February 2, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 2, 2021 Hi all, I have wanted to post on this thread for quite sometime now, actually since Adam first started this thread. As others have said it a credit to Adam and the forum members for this awful affliction to become as normal to talk about as the weather. My own issues started way back in 2002 ( actually was instigated in 1970 !!) when I tried the most stupid thing of trying to end it all, fortunately all that happened was a night in hospital and a stomach pump, I tried counseling immediately after this as my GP fast tracked me to the correct department. Sadly however, the guy I was given ( as I found out later) was just out of training and I simply could not connect with him , I was learn that he left the NHS shortly afterwards. This put me off getting any further professional help for quite sometime. Then another rather sad affair saw me in hospital again wearing an oxygen mask after trying to do the same trick using my car exhaust ( actually, it is rather embarrassing to see those words in print here for me !) Fast forward to 2014 and I had enough of feeling like this all the time and went to my GP again, I was once again given some help in what they now called CBT, and I have to say after many many sessions over two years, it really did help. There really isn't one session or one thing I was told to think about that did the trick, I think it was perhaps the opportunity of just simply telling 'my story' to someone who not only listened , but understood - and the most important aspect was that they had empathy, a word that is lacking these days ( or was). So an an ex 'service user', PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do get help should you going down the slippery slope of self harm or worse. I never ever thought I could be cured as it were , but the brain really is just a rather wet computer and as such can be reprogrammed with new instructions, it may well take time to delete those unwanted files but once done you end up with a nice organised system, capable of dealing with any problems that its given without crashing all the time. All I need to do now is start working again, as that all stopped in 2002, this Covid has somewhat delayed that as I finally felt able to cope with a work environment again , but I will get there. When we can all meet up again Adam, remind me to buy you a beer at the Green Man for starting this thread, yes we have met before at a Lancs meet once. Richard 5 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Mace Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I'm full of admiration for you Richard and everyone else who has contributed their stories to this thread. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard (OldStager) Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Thank you nick, but life isn't easy and some folks cope better than others when bad stuff happens, I wasn't one of them. Even in the early stages back in 2002, I had a Auntie who told me "You just need a good kick up the ( you know what)". Now quite frankly of all the people I knew, she was last person I expected to come out with that. She did admit many years later she should never have said that but the point is that perhaps the illness is turning a corner and becoming more of an excepted thing to talk about openly - because it hasn't always been like that and be viewed in the same way as talking about any other subject. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 19 hours ago, OldStager said: I think it was perhaps the opportunity of just simply telling 'my story' to someone who not only listened , but understood - and the most important aspect was that they had empathy, Richard @OldStager this statement ^^^^^^ is the gamechanger (the empathy) that I have seen bring people back from the brink.. thank you so much for telling your story 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard (OldStager) Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Thank you, the first guy I saw back in 2002 I said I could not connect with, and it was empathy he lacked, he was new to the career and I think it takes more than passing exams to be a good counselor. The second guy in 2014 was just fantastic, in fact during that period one of my dogs passed away, I recounted the story of what happened to him and HE burst into tears. Now that is a person with empathy. I should have written this in my main post, but if you feel you aren't 'clicking' with the person you are given, DO go back to your GP and tell them, DONT do what I did and sit on your hands for over a decade wasting your life away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Barlow - Show and Events Co-ordinator Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Exactly Richard, the empathy of others I have found to be very helpful, with no disrespect to the doctors and various professionals and even family who love you, if you can talk to someone who has experienced the same as you and can empathise it can be very very beneficial 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jude - The Mad Widow Posted March 3, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 3, 2021 Brace yourself I'm back! It's been a difficult year and I let my membership lapse. Lockdown 1 triggered a bipolar episode during which I dumped a boyfriend it had taken 2 years to find. So I was yet again alone which gave me ptsd from the loss of Brian. Its been utter s1t. I've had another episode half way through last year and seem to have cried for a year. The good news is, thanks to legal drugs, a vaccine, my family and friends I've popped back up like a champagne Cork in a jacuzzi! I found a family classic car restoration business near me and they serviced the Westfield and put right some long term issues. Nearly 6 years now since Brian was killed and at last I found a place I can take the car! It took me 2 years to create a new life using my Westfield as a way forward. Suddenly it was all taken away and I was plunged into loneliness. Absolutely horrid. I'm back now, it's been tough on us all and I can't wait to see you all again. Carpe diem 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 We’ve been worried about you @Jude - The Mad Widow - it’s great to have you back and know you’re so much better. 😊 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 Good to see you and your car back with us. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard (OldStager) Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 Welcome back Jude, so glad to see you got through it. Never nice to read those stories and worse if you experienced it also. Despite my history with depression I seemed to have coped reasonably well in respect of Covid, unlike an Auntie of mine who threw herself in Leeds canal during lockdown 1. Lets hope we can all get and play soon , nothing beats my bad thoughts more than a darn good run out in the car - all at legal speeds of course ... Keep safe please. Richard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jude - The Mad Widow Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 11 minutes ago, Scott Young said: We’ve been worried about you @Jude - The Mad Widow - it’s great to have you back and know you’re so much better. 😊 That's so kind. It's been torture hasn't it. I've got my car on the road for essential shopping 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 Glad to see you back Jude, it had gone worryingly quiet. Glad to hear you’re feeling a bit more up, now! Long may it continue. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard (OldStager) Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 As long as he sticks to his word ( a big ask in politics) Mr Hancock has promised 79 million will be given to mental health services. Not a second too soon, as when I went through the system, the cut backs and lack of staff were far too easy to see. Maybe waiting times will come down and they can pay for good staff again. Although he also mentioned that some of this money will be spent on the 'online' help - this worries me as my sister tried this last year and it was hopeless and you get no sense of the other person showing empathy as easy. Lets see what happens, but a good promise given anyhow. Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard (OldStager) Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Pure coincidence this evening saw me watching one of my favorite Youtube channels, and an apt discussion on today's video. If you have ever listened to BBC Radio 4's The Infinite Monkey Cage with Prof Brain Cox , then his side kick on that is the presenter of the Cosmic Shambles Network, Robin Ince. Please note the following video contains discussion about suicide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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