Mental Wellness Support Group

[Sibyl]

I'm so sorry!

It really sucks that sometimes even the tasks we love induce random panic attacks! And then come those sudden losses of confidence that seem to come from nowhere.

Ugh! Why are our brains so stupidly programmed!

 

[Nakita Akita]

I was having a good day but then started a random panic attack. I say random but it’s all work related.

It can’t be normal to sweat through the knees and shins can it? It’s weird.

Is there anyway that you could change careers?

I'm looking at doing that. It's giving me fits to even imagine having way less money coming in. But I think it will be worth it.

I live in the USA and I guess my personal big worry is Health care costs.

 

[TribbleFeeder]

I’m so sorry @Butters

I hope the rest of your day turns around.

 

[Butters]

Is there anyway that you could change careers?

I'm looking at doing that. It's giving me fits to even imagine having way less money coming in. But I think it will be worth it.

I live in the USA and I guess my personal big worry is Health care costs.

I’m l working on it, and at ways to spend more time at home with the family. It’s going to take a while though.

I’m sorry about the healthcare costs in the USA. That just makes no sense to me.

 

[Butters]

I’m so sorry @Butters

I hope the rest of your day turns around.

Thanks Tribble. It’s ups and downs, and I’m getting to the point where I want to do something constructive about anxiety/depression. Even if it’s just raise awareness among those lucky enough to not know.

 

[Steven P Bastien]

Even if it’s just raise awareness among those lucky enough to not know.

There are three groups. Those that experience these feelings directly and "know". Those that experience them indirectly through loved ones and "kind-of know". And, those that have no experience with them at all and "don't know".

I'm in the second category. My feelings tend to be rock-steady, which by the way is not necessarily ideal either. But, I can only assume that the last group is rare because, if most of the people I know have periods of debilitating anxiety and depression, how can it be that some people don't have any friends or family that experience this?

This idea that these feelings are rare and those experiencing them are misfits is actually backwards. This third group must truly be the ones on the island of outcasts.

 

[Armus]

Is there anyway that you could change careers?

I'm looking at doing that. It's giving me fits to even imagine having way less money coming in. But I think it will be worth it.

I live in the USA and I guess my personal big worry is Health care costs.

I changed careers to save my knees, now I want to change careers to save my mind. Having too much downtime can be a curse as much as a blessing, although it enables me to thoroughly plumb TrekBBS!

If you do change jobs, would you ever consider moving to a different state? I live in Massachusetts and this state has some decent healthcare options.

 

[Nakita Akita]

There are three groups. Those that experience these feelings directly and "know". Those that experience them indirectly through loved ones and "kind-of know". And, those that have no experience with them at all and "don't know".

I'm in the second category. My feelings tend to be rock-steady, which by the way is not necessarily ideal either. But, I can only assume that the last group is rare because, if most of the people I know have periods of debilitating anxiety and depression, how can it be that some people don't have any friends or family that experience this?

This idea that these feelings are rare and those experiencing them are misfits is actually backwards. This third group must truly be the ones on the island of outcasts.

I have never really spent time with anyone with severe depression, but it doesn't mean I don't empathize. It's an illness just like a lot of other illnesses any person can get. But I'm not an outcast or outlier.

 

[Nakita Akita]

I changed careers to save my knees, now I want to change careers to save my mind. Having too much downtime can be a curse as much as a blessing, although it enables me to thoroughly plumb TrekBBS!

If you do change jobs, would you ever consider moving to a different state? I live in Massachusetts and this state has some decent healthcare options.

Yep, I have a boring desk job. Zzzzzzzz
But before this I worked in a sausage company!
The work, I could see, would be really difficult to do when I got older.

If i was going to move, it would be someplace with less people.
I think Wyoming has the least number of people of any state in the USA.

 

[Butters]

There are three groups. Those that experience these feelings directly and "know". Those that experience them indirectly through loved ones and "kind-of know". And, those that have no experience with them at all and "don't know".

I'm in the second category. My feelings tend to be rock-steady, which by the way is not necessarily ideal either. But, I can only assume that the last group is rare because, if most of the people I know have periods of debilitating anxiety and depression, how can it be that some people don't have any friends or family that experience this?

This idea that these feelings are rare and those experiencing them are misfits is actually backwards. This third group must truly be the ones on the island of outcasts.

Unfortunately, I’ve encountered many in the third group recently,

 

[Steven P Bastien]

I have never really spent time with anyone with severe depression, but it doesn't mean I don't empathize. It's an illness just like a lot of other illnesses any person can get. But I'm not an outcast or outlier.

And no panic attacks or anxiety either? It's just amazing to me that you are out there. I don't mean it in a derogatory way to call you an outcast, but like I said "i can only assume" you are rare because of the high percentage of people I know. (certainly more than half of family and friends). Maybe I'm just a statistical anomaly.

 

[Nakita Akita]

Unfortunately, I’ve encountered many in the third group recently,

Well I don't think anyone with mental issues is anymore if a misfit than someone with cancer, shingles, arthritis, blindness, deafness, missing limbs, brain injury, diabetes, heart disease.........
The list goes on.
None of us is perfect.

 

[Steven P Bastien]

I changed careers to save my knees, now I want to change careers to save my mind.

You are covering both extremes. My problem is in the middle and I'm wondering if I should change careers to save my belly. It is getting too big from sitting at a desk all day. They say sitting is the new smoking and I'm starting to see what they mean.

 

[Nakita Akita]

And no panic attacks or anxiety either? It's just amazing to me that you are out there. I don't mean it in a derogatory way to call you an outcast, but like I said "i can only assume" you are rare because of the high percentage of people I know. (certainly more than half of family and friends). Maybe I'm just a statistical anomaly.

I guess in my family we are pretty mellow.
I think it's normal to panic if like you or a loved one is in an accident or sudden severe illness but other than that I've never felt panicked myself.
Same thing with depression, sure, the death of a close family member, friend or even a pet puts me in a funk for a while but I am able to move on.

 

[Nakita Akita]

You are covering both extremes. My problem is in the middle and I'm wondering if I should change careers to save my belly. It is getting too big from sitting at a desk all day. They say sitting is the new smoking and I'm starting to see what they mean.

I have two dogs that I "walk" mostly they take me out and yank me around down the road. And I took up fencing as an "organized" "group" sport.
Have to try to stay active if possible or as much as possible.

 

[Armus]

I honestly don't know where I am on the mental health spectrum. I've never been diagnosed with anything and I've never been prescribed anything. A co-worker once told me I was tri-polar when I was acting cranky and I couldn't disagree with him. The next day I brought him cookies to make up for my behavior. I may be "tri-polar" but I know how to make up for it!

Seriously, I have been experiencing more sorrow and anxiety than usual and as I get older I feel pressures and fears that force me to make changes in my life before it is too late. People need to know when it's time to reach out, seek a support system, and make meaningful changes.

 

[Armus]

You are covering both extremes. My problem is in the middle and I'm wondering if I should change careers to save my belly. It is getting too big from sitting at a desk all day. They say sitting is the new smoking and I'm starting to see what they mean.

If you like your job, I'd stay. Find ways to compensate for all that sitting. I used to find a spot at work to do pushups if I was a little too liberal with my chocolate intake that day.

 

[Steven P Bastien]

I guess in my family we are pretty mellow.
I think it's normal to panic if like you or a loved one is in an accident or sudden severe illness but other than that I've never felt panicked myself.
Same thing with depression, sure, the death of a close family member, friend or even a pet puts me in a funk for a while but I am able to move on.

Yes, those are normal reactions and I'm the same way myself. Those feelings serve a purpose and, when the mind is working well, there is a feedback system that allows the brain to return to good feelings.

I had a girlfriend who had panic attacks. She told me about them when I met her, but I had no clue what she meant until one day I went to her apartment in the middle of an attack. I won't try to describe it, but I had never seen that look in someones eyes before. It just came out of nowhere with no trigger or reason to be panicked.

I once had to hold the hand of a mentor in the middle of an anxiety attack, as it was the only thing that could keep him calm enough to not break down in tears. I was not even aware he had to struggle with this.

A close family member spent about 1 year unable to leave the house. Therapy and medicine got him back on track.

My sister, who has passed away now, had manic depression. I once stood outside for 2 hours in the middle of a winter night while she went through the process of burying her x-boyfriend in the back yard. It was a total break with reality after the stress of her breakup. I could describe 20 other strange incidents like this with her, but I would rather not relive them all. Most of them ended up with her in the hospital and then months trying to recover. In the end, she beat her disease and learned how to use medicines and exercise and lifestyle choices to stay grounded. But, all those medicines probably affected her liver, as she died of liver cancer at too-young an age. Or, I like to think that she was put on Earth to battle this problem and prove her worth, and then was taken when her task was done. She faced death with no fear and the stress of her final battle could not break her spirit or her mind.

My Mom has battled depression her whole life. She does well mostly but I remember periods that would last over 6 months, coming home from school and finding her on the couch with no motivation to do anything. That's not an easy thing for a kid to see. She was a single Mom, so that's not easy for her to be. But, I noticed how truly strong she was and is. She never gave up and in the end raised 4 kids as well as anyone could.

I could go on and on, other girlfriends, other family members, etc. I used to wish that I would have these problems in place of those I care about, but I'm wiser now and know to be careful what I wish for. Maybe only those with true strength are meant to fight these battles.

 

[Steven P Bastien]

If you like your job, I'd stay. Find ways to compensate for all that sitting. I used to find a spot at work to do pushups if I was a little too liberal with my chocolate intake that day.

Yes, you are right. I'm in the process of doing those things. I skip lunch and walk now. Started to do pullups too with a doorway bar and I can do leg-lifts to help the tummy muscles.

 

[Steven P Bastien]

I have two dogs that I "walk" mostly they take me out and yank me around down the road. And I took up fencing as an "organized" "group" sport.
Have to try to stay active if possible or as much as possible.

Good point. My dog is actually one problem. She is 15 years old now and can't walk. This makes it hard for me to do a lot of activities. Although, my arms are getting very strong from lifting her 90 pound body. I have made an effort to take up golf again which helps greatly (I walk, carry the 30 pound bag and don't ride a cart). The golf course is down near my x-wife. So, I can drop the dog with her and then pick her up after. I have to say no to bike-rides with my friends and even kayaking on my lake is tough because the dog starts barking when I'm gone. But, I plan to sneak away a few times when she is sleeping.