What is your diagnosis?
Depression and social anxiety.
What is that?
Depression is a basically constant low state of mind, while my anxiety surrounds my fears within social situations and interacting with others.
How does it affect you?
Low moods make it hard for me to get up and do simple things on a weekend (where I don't 'have to') and the anxiety can prevent me from feeling comfortable when I am around others.
Depression and social anxiety.
What is that?
Depression is a basically constant low state of mind, while my anxiety surrounds my fears within social situations and interacting with others.
How does it affect you?
Low moods make it hard for me to get up and do simple things on a weekend (where I don't 'have to') and the anxiety can prevent me from feeling comfortable when I am around others.
"It only took one appointment for my doctor to put me on anti-depressants"
How long have you been diagnosed?
I've never been officially diagnosed. I first spoke to my GP about depression in 2009 and my former counsellor suggested I suffer from social anxiety in 2012.
How long did it take to get diagnosed?
It only took one appointment for my doctor to put me on anti-depressants and, in counselling, only a few sessions spread over weeks (less than one month).
How did you feel when you were diagnosed?
Depression didn't surprise me (I went to him) but I wasn't fully aware of my anxieties before I started seeing a counsellor.
I've never been officially diagnosed. I first spoke to my GP about depression in 2009 and my former counsellor suggested I suffer from social anxiety in 2012.
How long did it take to get diagnosed?
It only took one appointment for my doctor to put me on anti-depressants and, in counselling, only a few sessions spread over weeks (less than one month).
How did you feel when you were diagnosed?
Depression didn't surprise me (I went to him) but I wasn't fully aware of my anxieties before I started seeing a counsellor.
"I 'gave up' and took a break from counselling in November
when I ran out of things to say and found myself unwilling to go on"
Have you ever been hospitalized due to your condition?
Never.
How do you feel about your overall experience with medical healthcare professionals?
Given the right funding, I know that my GP (along with the NHS) could have done and still do a lot more. He suggested a course of CBT to me previously but, it is something I would have to pay for. I'm going to see him again very soon but I only expect to be put back on those tablets (I don't see it as his fault).
What treatment if any are you undertaking?
I 'gave up' and took a break from counselling in November when I ran out of things to say and found myself unwilling to go on. I'm looking for new things in 2013 and hoping to start with CBT.
Never.
How do you feel about your overall experience with medical healthcare professionals?
Given the right funding, I know that my GP (along with the NHS) could have done and still do a lot more. He suggested a course of CBT to me previously but, it is something I would have to pay for. I'm going to see him again very soon but I only expect to be put back on those tablets (I don't see it as his fault).
What treatment if any are you undertaking?
I 'gave up' and took a break from counselling in November when I ran out of things to say and found myself unwilling to go on. I'm looking for new things in 2013 and hoping to start with CBT.
"Counselling made me aware of my anxieties and, since I
walked away and stopped doing my meditations, I've felt them
come back stronger and more severe than ever before"
Does your treatment have any negative side effects?
Counselling made me aware of my anxieties and, since I walked away and stopped doing my meditations, I've felt them come back stronger and more severe than ever before.
Have you tried any other treatments?
Not yet but, I intend to. If one doesn't work, we should try another, I believe.
Did you share your diagnosis with family and friends?
Some family and only very close friends, who I mostly know from the blogging world!
Counselling made me aware of my anxieties and, since I walked away and stopped doing my meditations, I've felt them come back stronger and more severe than ever before.
Have you tried any other treatments?
Not yet but, I intend to. If one doesn't work, we should try another, I believe.
Did you share your diagnosis with family and friends?
Some family and only very close friends, who I mostly know from the blogging world!
"I think it's very hard for anyone to understand
unless they've been in a similar situation"
Did any of your family or friends have a negative reaction?
Not really. Some don't understand what depression really is; how they need to be more careful with their words and that it isn't something you can simply 'snap out of'.
Have you lost any friends or family due to your mental health issues?
I'm shut myself away from many potential friends, I'm sure, but not so much family, in my opinion. I find it very hard to connect with new people, most of the time.
Do you think your family and friends understand your condition?
No. I think it's very hard for anyone to understand unless they've been in a similar situation.
Not really. Some don't understand what depression really is; how they need to be more careful with their words and that it isn't something you can simply 'snap out of'.
Have you lost any friends or family due to your mental health issues?
I'm shut myself away from many potential friends, I'm sure, but not so much family, in my opinion. I find it very hard to connect with new people, most of the time.
Do you think your family and friends understand your condition?
No. I think it's very hard for anyone to understand unless they've been in a similar situation.
"I tell these people because I trust them enough to
know that they will understand so, it's a mutual feeling"
Do you tell new people about your condition?
Only people I meet online (through blogging). Apart from women I met last year through internet dating.
If so, what kind of reaction do you usually get?
I tell these people because I trust them enough to know that they will understand so, it's a mutual feeling.
Do you think people perceive you differently once they know of your mental health issues?
This is why I keep it quiet from all but one person at work. I missed only two days in 2012 because of depression but, I wouldn't expect my bosses to sympathise.
Only people I meet online (through blogging). Apart from women I met last year through internet dating.
If so, what kind of reaction do you usually get?
I tell these people because I trust them enough to know that they will understand so, it's a mutual feeling.
Do you think people perceive you differently once they know of your mental health issues?
This is why I keep it quiet from all but one person at work. I missed only two days in 2012 because of depression but, I wouldn't expect my bosses to sympathise.
"Being able to distract myself but keeping myself busy, as much as I hate my job and the company I work for, it does help me to get from one weekend to the next"
Do you feel your mental health has an impact on your self-esteem?
Yes, definitely.
Is your self image affected by your mental health?
Again, I think this relates to self-esteem issues.
What’s important to you when you’re struggling?
Hope. Being able to distract myself but keeping myself busy, as much as I hate my job and the company I work for, it does help me to get from one weekend to the next.
What keeps you going?
Thoughts and hopes for love, in the past eight months. The 'guilt' of leaving family behind, I suppose. But, I've also recently realised that I do have two real-life friends I can trust, along with several other bloggers. :-)
Yes, definitely.
Is your self image affected by your mental health?
Again, I think this relates to self-esteem issues.
What’s important to you when you’re struggling?
Hope. Being able to distract myself but keeping myself busy, as much as I hate my job and the company I work for, it does help me to get from one weekend to the next.
What keeps you going?
Thoughts and hopes for love, in the past eight months. The 'guilt' of leaving family behind, I suppose. But, I've also recently realised that I do have two real-life friends I can trust, along with several other bloggers. :-)
you can check out his blog here:
Brandon Bored
Or follow him on Twitter here:
@BrandonBored85