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Mental health Questions

Depression and Bereavement My mother died five weeks ago after having a stroke and then a seizure. I have been her carer for a number of years and especially more so since my father died four years ago. Both my parents made wills to try and make everything as easy as possible when they died but when my mother's will was taken to a solicitor they realised it was wrongly worded so they is a lot of problems arising from that especially as I have three sisters who live a long way away. My question is that I have a number of health problems I have been taking Mirtazapine for over a year but they are not helping me now and my GP has prescribed Trazodone I presume to take as well. I also have a lot of back pain caused by arthritis of the lower back facet joints and for this I am on Paracetamol, codeine, and as these are not helping enough Naproxen with Omeprazole. I have just been back to the orthopeadic clinic and they want another scan to see if things have changed in the last two years and whether a fusion operation is needed. I have other things to cope with too and I am finding it so difficult to keep going and scared because I am now on my own and afraid of side effects or what I may do I am so mixed up and it is difficult to find motivation. I have also had a hysterectomy for cancer six years ago. The thing is that my GP has given me all these medications but I am afraid to take them all but I needed help and it gives the impression that I am asking for help then refusing it when it is given which I don't mean at all.

Anxiety Issues I have issues with Anxiety which I have had from as long as I can remember. I get Anxious very easily, I worry about irrational things like when my boyfriend goes to work is he going to have an accident and die or will he have a heart attack or something unlikely like that. I worry about little things like going to my University lessons and my friends not being there in the class with me, or if I am late will everyone in the room look at me and then I end up not going to my lesson. I would say I am on edge 70% of the day and my worries distract me from doing everyday things, I physically feel butterflies in my stomach when I am worrying. I am also quite jumpy at the sound of loud noises or sirens and I tend to expect the worst. I get angry or irritated quite easily and find the easiest way to deal with this is to self harm. The only thing I could possibly narrow it down to is that my father died quite suddenly when I was 7 and since then I have a constant worry that the people who are important to me in life will dissapear. I am worried about going to see my GP as I don't want them to think I am crazy or just dismiss me by saying there is nothing wrong.

Help with certificate Hello, I've been off work after suffering fro Job stress. I was signed off then I went off the rails and have not returned to my gp for 6 months. I wasn't leaving my house and in that time lost my wife due to me not dealing with my issues. I shut myself off and did not care what happens. Ive turned it around slightly but My work are trying to help me return to help me get back on track they need certification for my time off to prove. What can I do? I'll loose this opportunity to return to normal. Life

depression I have had bouts of depression for many years and treated with librium years ago to citralapam now I had surgery in may gall bladder removal and didnt get a repeat prescription and havent taken them from may this 2010 the problem is they helped my deppession but I also gained weight and had no interest in.sex I have been married for 34 years it put a strain on our relatioship I know I need help as all the old negitive feelings ,life isnt worth living , tiredness and a feling of dread and dispair I cannot shake, but I am reluctant to go to the Dr as I dont want them to prescribe these again but is there anything else that would work but wont cause these side effects and how can I approach my doctor who will fel they worked before and who may see my worries as trivial ******

Anxiety Hi, Have decided to use this service as I have been unhappy with the NHS advice over this issue. I am a healthy 24 year old male. I currently take anti-seizure medication (sodium valproate and carbamazepina) for epilepsy. I have not had a seizure since 2006 and my epilepsy is well controlled. I have been experiencing for some years real problems with social and general anxiety. The main symptom and problem for me is blushing when in social situations as well as a general feeling of dread. I have always been this way, but now I am at a stage in my life where this is really starting to affect me and am stuck in a cycle of feeling bad about it and thus making my symptoms worse. I have been to the Dr's about it and have been given various CBT advice and a couple of counselling sessions. However waiting lists for CBT training and counselling avoid allowing any real time with a professional. I have decided I want to go down the route of medication in the hope that I can at least get help with the blushing, which in turn I think will help me deal with my general anxiety. In short I would like advice on what medications might be effective, their various side effects and how I would go about obtaining a prescription. Thankyou in advance for your advice. Kind regards, *****.

I think i may have health anxiety but I can't be sure About two months ago I noticed a really tiny bump on my left breast and panicked. I then ran to the local GP who checked it and reassured me that everything was fine. But now I find myself two months later googling everything I feel and I think I am really really sick. Some of the symptoms I have felt and still feel are: fatigue and lightheadedness (gone) depersonalisation (gone) derealisation (gone) pins and needles in limbs (gone) itching (gone) creepy crawly sensation (gone) insomnia ( still have that) bad nightmares (they have gotten less but they still take place) dry skin (still there) depression (especially so after i went off the pill) frequent urination (when nervous or in office) thirsty (when nervous or in office) lump in throat - globus hystericus (less but happens from time to time) sore chin and teeth (gone) three bruises on thigh (disappeared in a week) more campbell de morgan spots appearing on skin (doctor said it happens with age) nausea (in the morning or when depressed) mild headaches (sometimes) dry cough (could be acidity?) aches and pains in arm and leg joints (is this dangerous and these were worse before my periods) Pulse passing through legs (sometimes) I sometimes feel that i have a swollen neck gland but i got this checked by a doctor and nurse who both said that this isn't so.(generally i feel this symptom is gone) i do constant body checks (trying to do less of those as i don't know what i am looking for) I take my tempreture constantly (we are throwing away the thermometer) I generally have a low body tempreture (36.2 - 36.5) cold intolerance restlessness (still there) tearfulness (less so) What worries me is the joint pain as it began about a couple of weeks ago. Should i get some tests done or find myself a good psychologist?

alternatives to antipsychotics I have been suffering with hearing voices for about 5 years now. I have been previously section and forced treatment . I have tried various oral antipsychotics most of which didn't work. I struggled with taking them and usually stopped due to the horrid side effects. Six weeks ago i was experiencing some acute symptoms and agreed to take a depot injection, piportal, the side effects were very bad for 4-5 days but then I had a good few weeks. However the symptoms are now returning and I can not face the side effects again, I have responibilities and can't just go to bed with the side effects. Are there any alternatives to thse horrible medications?

Depression I have had episodes of depression since I had Encepheliptic Chicken Pox as a teenager. At first I was given many different types of antidepressants but none helped me and I only had a lot of side effects with no benefits. In the last three years since my father died and I have been caring for my elderly disabled mother I have found things very difficult. Newer antidepressants were tried again without success and I am afraid to try anything else. I also have arthritis in my lower back facet joints for which I am taking Tramadol and paracetamol. I had a hysterectomy for cancer, and do have problems with my bladder after a TVT operation for stress incontinence which makes emptying my bladder difficult at times so I do get a number of infections. Both this and the pain from my back means I have to get up two or three times a night. I am at the end of my tether now and cannot see anyway out or anything that is going to make any difference. I am desperate with no one to turn to as I am so afraid to take anymore drugs.

My 86 year old mother My 86 year old mother lies on her bed all day not watching tv or reading just starring into space. She says she is quite happy as she is and does not want to sit in the lounge or go outside when the weather is good. She has lived with us for 7 years and has only been like this for over 2 years. She seen the doctor some time back but will not accept that she needs help for possible depression. She rarely goes out as her mobility is not good and I am unable to drive at present which has made taking her out more difficult. I have tried to get a GP into her when she is unwell but they usually speak to me on the phone and are not very willing to come out to her. I find it very sad to see her leading such a life but do not know what else to do. Am I doing the right thing to leave things as they are?

am i suffering from depression? Last november i lost my beloved nana who, due to my parents divorcing when i was young, was like a second mam to me. 4 weeks after my nana's passing, my mam was diagnosed with secondary cancer. Due to the nature of the cancer, there were weeks worth of waiting before the treatment plan was finalised and 6 weeks of radiotherapy and chemo commenced. At the time of diagnosis I felt like my world was caving around me, having just lost my nana, there was now a risk that my mam would leave too. However, I remained strong to everyone on the outside, continued to hold down my job as a school business manager (which was stressful in itself due to deficit budgets and redundancy situations). All through mam's treatment I continued working even when she was admitted to hospital and the nurses implied she had not been receiving proper care at home which resulted in her becoming heavily dehydrated as she was weak and hadn't been taking enough fluids etc. My sister took time off (the nature of my job I can not take holidays when the school is open to children) and looking back, I feel disgusted with myself that I did not ask for compassionate leave. I guess I was on autopilot. Mam completed 6 weeks of radiotherapy and chemo and slowly gained strength, at which point my 3 year relationship broke up. Again, I remained strong, only taking time off work to take mam for her check ups at the hospital. 6 months later, mam is doing well, and hopefully the cancer has been beaten although it is very early days. However, I am now finding myself a complete emotional wreck. I was always a fun loving lady, working hard and playing hard and loved socialising with friends. The last night out I had, with friends 2 weeks ago, I consumed 2 drinks, broke down in tears and left for home (never have I done that before), since then (some 2 weeks later) I am constantly tired, am avoiding all aspects of socialising to the point where I am even distancing myself from my friends, I find I am teary, irritable, and am feeling stressed at the tiniest of things which ordinarily would wash over me. I don't understand why I feel like this - I should be so very happy that my mam is alive and still by my side???? Is this normal after seeing someone close go through such tough treatment?

help me Hello, I am 24 and have been self concious for most my life however its now extreme!! i have not left my house in years i live with my parents. i cant look in the mirror i hate what i see, i look ill i feel everyone stares at me like im an elephant woman!! i hide away and everyone knows. im alone and no one can help. whats wrong with me?? i have a extremely pale face, puffy eyes!!! i have been taking cipralex for four years now , nothing is helping me..... ive missed out on eerything because of it im a hermit! i just want to be normal,

Manic depression, sleeping pills, weight gain and menopause. i been diagnosed with bipolar 2 at the age of 47 but i have a problem with sleeping pills because all of my life i had this problem so i am not sure if its bipolar and need seorquel which makes me ill and i have put on 3 stone over three mouths and also been refused disablity benefit so in my eyes that means i am not disabled can some one help me as i think its ths menopause

Central retina vein occlusion - bag of nerves! Hello My mother has been diagnosed with central retina vein occlusion in one of her eyes and has lost her vision. She is very depressed and a "bag of nerves". She has tried various antidepressants but could not tolerate the side effects (blurry vision in both eyes for a few weeks) so stopped them. She is a bag of nerves. She said not a day goes by when her stomach is not cherning and is very anxious and is hardly eating and having nightmares. She is starting a counselling session next week so we hope this helps. She said at least the antidepressants stopped the nervousness! She has valium from the doctors but says its very habit forming and does not want to rely on them. Please could you recommend anything that can be of help? I dont think she wants to carry on taking antidepressants because of the side effects. Can you suggest anything? I really do think she needs help. Thank you (PS also my father has prostate cancer so she has this added worry also).

Getting someone sectioned Hello. I have a friend, 'N', who 9 months ago fathered a child with 'L' after a one night stand. 'L' is in her mid- late- 20s and has a long series of mental health issues ('depression and cannibis-induced pyschosis' according to 'N'). Social services were aware of her history and tried to take the child into custody, but N won the legal fight to keep her on condition that he was the prime carer. N also agreed with L that she should move in with him. He has only occassionally left baby girl 'O' with the mum unattended. The situation has worsened recently as he is worried that the mother, L, is harming the child. He has applied through the courts to get sole carer status, but, as a result, L has threatened to commit suicide and also to, falsely, accuse N of beating her (L) and drug abuse. So I would like to advise N about the the options for getting L sectioned. I understand it will need 2 doctor's signatures and 1 social service person signature, but how would N go about getting L evaluated? She is unlikely to volunteer to go into hospital. N thinks his only choices are to call the police or call the social services and in both cases, this could result in his losing the child. So here is my question: What options are there to get L evaluated for a possible section under the mental health act? Police? GP? Social Services etc? How might one practically go about doing these things? Thanks, *******

Depression I have had depression since the middle of October last year, I had been on 20mg Fluoxentine until fairly recently but experienced several side affects so my dr changed me to 10mg Citralpram, i have not had any side affects on these. I have been on Citralpram now for i would say a month-2 months. In October i felt extremely tired and had little energy. Then after the fluoxentine kicked in after several weeks my sleep improved and i was starting to feel less tired. However in the last two weeks i have felt extremely tired and have little energy. Admittedly i have had a week last week where i felt stressed at work but have spoken to the department manager about that and as im off this week holiday im hoping that things will be better when i go back Monday. However Friday last week eg i had gone to sleep thursday night at 9:30pm and didnt wake up until 12 pm Friday got up for a hour and a half and went back to sleep. (I like sleep but even for this is extremely excessive) I didnt feel refreshed still felt tired, went out local shops but fgelt bit weak on my knees/legs feeling like my knees were gonna buckle but they didnt move just felt like that. IS THIS RIGHT TOO BE SO TIRED? i am really worried about it. I still work 39 hrs and also notice my concentration isnt brilliant. Do i need to see my GP about this or not?