Depression

[bovril]

oops wrong thread, the danger of multiple tabs....

 

Totally agree on the exercise by the way...

Edited 21 January by bovril

[FoxesDeb]

Next weekend is going to be my first time back in the UK since my son left me.

 

I'm looking forward to spending time with my oldest son, and me, my husband, daughter and her Charlton supporting boyfriend are going to the match so I'm looking forward to that, as much as I can with our current situation anyway. 

 

But fvck me it's going to be hard. If Ellis was still here we would be seeing him too, and his absence is still like an actual hole in my heart. 

 

He was the first one of my children who I took with me to the KP, he had his first beer there, and it was the scarf I gave to him that we laid when Vichai died. 

 

I think some time in the remembrance garden will probably be spent, but not too much that it takes away from the people who are still here.

 

I hope every single on of you is doing ok

 

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, FoxesDeb said:

Next weekend is going to be my first time back in the UK since my son left me.

 

I'm looking forward to spending time with my oldest son, and me, my husband, daughter and her Charlton supporting boyfriend are going to the match so I'm looking forward to that, as much as I can with our current situation anyway. 

 

But fvck me it's going to be hard. If Ellis was still here we would be seeing him too, and his absence is still like an actual hole in my heart. 

 

He was the first one of my children who I took with me to the KP, he had his first beer there, and it was the scarf I gave to him that we laid when Vichai died. 

 

I think some time in the remembrance garden will probably be spent, but not too much that it takes away from the people who are still here.

 

I hope every single on of you is doing ok

 

 

You too. Hopefully all the positive and happy things this trip will involve will lessen the pain.

[Zear0]

On 21/01/2026 at 13:15, lcfc sheff said:

I suffered from health anxiety and panic attacks for two years.

 

One night sat at home, I thought I was having a heart attack; my brother drove me to the hospital and after a few checks, (went on longer than it should) I was told there was nothing wrong with my heart.
 

For the next two years I would struggle being in a constant flight or fight mode. I couldn’t sleep in my bed as I felt my heart beating through my chest; I later found sleeping on the carpet on my floor the only way to sleep. I couldn’t sit still and left many meals and cinema trips due to it.

 

Sadly my only escape from this was sleep, or so I thought.
 

ever since I took up running it has completely changed my life, I feel like I did before this horrible time of my life. It is not easy but I notice small changes and moments when I didn’t think of my heart, and now as I type this I do not struggle.

 

please if anyone is reading this and thinking about starting exercise, do it 

Glad you've found a remedy. 

 

I've said here before that a few years ago I was waiting for a potentially significant diagnosis (that thankfully was fine) and suffered severe anxiety as a result of waiting and expecting bad news. 

 

One of the things that stuck with me from  counselling during this time was that your body is still stressed even asleep. It might be an escape, but it's still wrecking your body. Like you did, running, hiking or literally anything to help with mindfulness is far better than trying to sleep through or tackle it by other means. 

 

It always begins with a small step. 

Edited 25 January by Zear0

[lcfc sheff]

44 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

Glad you've found a remedy. 

 

I've said here before that a few years ago I was waiting for a potentially significant diagnosis (that thankfully was fine) and suffered severe anxiety as a result of waiting and expecting bad news. 

 

One of the things that stuck with me from  counselling during this time was that your body is still stressed even asleep. It might be an escape, but it's still wrecking your body. Like you did, running, hiking or literally anything to help with mindfulness is far better than trying to sleep through or tackle it by other means. 

 

It always begins with a small step. 

Absolutely, my sleep at times didn’t seem to do much. Sometimes it’s really hard to work out if it’s in your mind or not; but I noticed at the time seemingly if I didn’t get 8 hours sleeps I was anxious and in fight or flight mode most of day. 
 

it’s only now in my current state of mind that I can have one nights bad sleep and not feel any issues besides obviously being tired.

 

A key thing I forgot to mention is I had 3 hypnotherapy sessions, which I was initially skeptical of but seemed to work a little bit; but then seem to start a positive chain of events where I started running etc 

[STEVIE B]

On 13/01/2026 at 19:34, Fosse93 said:

I have a 1-1 scheduled on Thursday, and plan to bring this up. Don't want to come across as 'flaky' which I don't think will be the case, as my output has been strong for months now, it's just a difficult balance to strike - it probably doesn't help I'm a skeptic by design so if someone else were in my shoes, without knowing the full context, I'd probably think they were milking it.

How did your meeting go ? 

I really hope it went well & had a positive outcome. 

[chrishlcfc]

Changed my meds. Only a couple of days in and it’s proper tough going, hopefully settles down after a week or so. But literally sleeping like 15 hours a day and can’t wake up atm. 
 

Anybody else had escitalopram before?

[HowardsBulletHeader]

On 21/01/2026 at 13:15, lcfc sheff said:

I suffered from health anxiety and panic attacks for two years.

 

One night sat at home, I thought I was having a heart attack; my brother drove me to the hospital and after a few checks, (went on longer than it should) I was told there was nothing wrong with my heart.
 

For the next two years I would struggle being in a constant flight or fight mode. I couldn’t sleep in my bed as I felt my heart beating through my chest; I later found sleeping on the carpet on my floor the only way to sleep. I couldn’t sit still and left many meals and cinema trips due to it.

 

Sadly my only escape from this was sleep, or so I thought.
 

ever since I took up running it has completely changed my life, I feel like I did before this horrible time of my life. It is not easy but I notice small changes and moments when I didn’t think of my heart, and now as I type this I do not struggle.

 

please if anyone is reading this and thinking about starting exercise, do it 

I know we are going back a page here and I am always wary posting in this thread, I am by no means the best person for this as fortunately for me I have not had to suffer with depression, but the exercise part of this message is 100% right.

 

During COVID I really noticed how much my mental health and exercise were linked, it really is as simple for me as if I don't exercise, I'm unhappy/stressed/carrying whatever the day has thrown at me into the remainder of it. However, the minute I go for a run or a walk or to the gym or play a sport all of that just evaporates.

 

The Friday just gone for example, I had a hideous day at work and mentally I was so fed up, 7.5km later my mental state had completely changed.

 

I know to some people going from zero to 7.5km would be too much, but honestly if anyone is struggling mentally I would recommend getting outdoors and do some form of exercise. Find a park and walk round it, or take up running or a sport or whatever takes your fancy. It doesn't have to be much, start small with a 20 minute walk at your pace, the benefits are incredible. 

 

I think a lot of people are put off by thinking they have to do X or Y or something drastic to see the benefit, I'd challenge that as even my 15-20 walks during my lunch hour at work make me feel so much better for the remaining time.

 

I'd love you all to exercise and feel the same. As Sheff says, please consider it, it can and it will change your life. 

[spacemunky]

On 26/01/2026 at 15:42, chrishlcfc said:

Changed my meds. Only a couple of days in and it’s proper tough going, hopefully settles down after a week or so. But literally sleeping like 15 hours a day and can’t wake up atm. 
 

Anybody else had escitalopram before?

Never taken it.

 

I did read that most people find it a bit hellish for the first couple weeks, until it becomes effective.

[chrishlcfc]

3 hours ago, spacemunky said:

Never taken it.

 

I did read that most people find it a bit hellish for the first couple weeks, until it becomes effective.

Certainly feels like it. I’m all over the shop at the moment. Fun fun fun  

[Fosse93]

On 26/01/2026 at 05:40, STEVIE B said:

How did your meeting go ? 

I really hope it went well & had a positive outcome. 

Hi mate - appreciate you checking in.

 

The day I posted on here I actually applied for another role that I saw pop up on LinkedIn; it was my dream job, local, and was working for something I genuinely cared about.

A couple weeks later and this morning I've been offered the role, I can't believe it!

 

The meeting with my manager went well at my current place but they even acknowledged my workload was unsustainable, and with further cuts on the horizon there wasn't much hope of things improving.

 

I'm not an example by any means, but anyone reading this in a similar position to how I was (work stress through the roof) then please don't lose hope or feel 'stuck' - you can get out of it; it might not be today, tomorrow, next week - but you will get there.

Edited 28 January by Fosse93

[STEVIE B]

45 minutes ago, Fosse93 said:

Hi mate - appreciate you checking in.

 

The day I posted on here I actually applied for another role that I saw pop up on LinkedIn; it was my dream job, local, and was working for something I genuinely cared about.

A couple weeks later and this morning I've been offered the role, I can't believe it!

 

The meeting with my manager went well at my current place but they even acknowledged my workload was unsustainable, and with further cuts on the horizon there wasn't much hope of things improving.

 

I'm not an example by any means, but anyone reading this in a similar position to how I was (work stress through the roof) then please don't lose hope or feel 'stuck' - you can get out of it; it might not be today, tomorrow, next week - but you will get there.

Congratulations, that's fantastic ! 

Well done. At least your boss was honest with you, but it must've been a difficult couple of weeks. 

Onwards & upwards. 

 

 

Edited 28 January by STEVIE B

[wallin1704]

On 27/01/2026 at 20:55, HowardsBulletHeader said:

I know we are going back a page here and I am always wary posting in this thread, I am by no means the best person for this as fortunately for me I have not had to suffer with depression, but the exercise part of this message is 100% right.

 

During COVID I really noticed how much my mental health and exercise were linked, it really is as simple for me as if I don't exercise, I'm unhappy/stressed/carrying whatever the day has thrown at me into the remainder of it. However, the minute I go for a run or a walk or to the gym or play a sport all of that just evaporates.

 

The Friday just gone for example, I had a hideous day at work and mentally I was so fed up, 7.5km later my mental state had completely changed.

 

I know to some people going from zero to 7.5km would be too much, but honestly if anyone is struggling mentally I would recommend getting outdoors and do some form of exercise. Find a park and walk round it, or take up running or a sport or whatever takes your fancy. It doesn't have to be much, start small with a 20 minute walk at your pace, the benefits are incredible. 

 

I think a lot of people are put off by thinking they have to do X or Y or something drastic to see the benefit, I'd challenge that as even my 15-20 walks during my lunch hour at work make me feel so much better for the remaining time.

 

I'd love you all to exercise and feel the same. As Sheff says, please consider it, it can and it will change your life. 

Couldn't agree more!

 

Last couple of weeks I've been really low so took this week as annual leave.

I've been going for walks, hitting the punch bag, lifting some weights and feel a thousand times better for it.

 

It's amazing how something so little can impact you so much.

 

Keep going you've all got this 💙

[ajthefox]

On 28/01/2026 at 10:51, Fosse93 said:

Hi mate - appreciate you checking in.

 

The day I posted on here I actually applied for another role that I saw pop up on LinkedIn; it was my dream job, local, and was working for something I genuinely cared about.

A couple weeks later and this morning I've been offered the role, I can't believe it!

 

The meeting with my manager went well at my current place but they even acknowledged my workload was unsustainable, and with further cuts on the horizon there wasn't much hope of things improving.

 

I'm not an example by any means, but anyone reading this in a similar position to how I was (work stress through the roof) then please don't lose hope or feel 'stuck' - you can get out of it; it might not be today, tomorrow, next week - but you will get there.

Brilliant news mate, congratulations!

[Sampson]

Really feeling it today. Sometimes find it so hard to get the voice in my head out of the “it’s all meaningless anyway, we’re all so insignificant in time and the universe” cycle. 

[bovril]

8 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Really feeling it today. Sometimes find it so hard to get the voice in my head out of the “it’s all meaningless anyway, we’re all so insignificant in time and the universe” cycle. 

I always think that's a reason to be cheerful.

[Sampson]

2 minutes ago, bovril said:

I always think that's a reason to be cheerful.

It’s a fine balance for me. Sometimes it motivates me to go out and spend the limited time I have with people I care about and realise all my **** ups and mistakes don’t really matter and will long be forgotten after I die. Other times I think too much about the mortality of myself and my loved ones and find it hard to motivate myself to do anything productive.

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, Sampson said:

It’s a fine balance for me. Sometimes it motivates me to go out and spend the limited time I have with people I care about and realise all my **** ups and mistakes don’t really matter and will long be forgotten after I die. Other times I think too much about the mortality of myself and my loved ones and find it hard to motivate myself to do anything productive.

I understand this. It can be both a motivator and a paralytic.

[Finnegan]

On 31/01/2026 at 08:44, wallin1704 said:

Couldn't agree more!

 

Last couple of weeks I've been really low so took this week as annual leave.

I've been going for walks, hitting the punch bag, lifting some weights and feel a thousand times better for it.

 

It's amazing how something so little can impact you so much.

 

Keep going you've all got this 💙

 

Yeah exercise is phenomenal for your mental health.

 

Not only are the endorphins and dopamine nice but your body has a number of calories that it's pretty much wired to burn in a day regardless of whether or not you exercise. If it doesn't use that energy in motion, it'll throw it to other "systems" in your body and can send them in to a kind of overdrive. This can include your threat response / defence mechanisms giving you added bouts of anxiety and stress, even if you don't normally struggle with those things.

 

So yeah, even in the (mentally) healthiest people, neglecting exercise can be bad for you.

 

[bovril]

28 minutes ago, Sampson said:

It’s a fine balance for me. Sometimes it motivates me to go out and spend the limited time I have with people I care about and realise all my **** ups and mistakes don’t really matter and will long be forgotten after I die. Other times I think too much about the mortality of myself and my loved ones and find it hard to motivate myself to do anything productive.

I hear religion is a good strategy for that. 

[Sampson]

26 minutes ago, bovril said:

I hear religion is a good strategy for that. 

The older I get, the more I understand the appeal of religion, not just this but also the community aspect of it. Sadly, could just never believe the stories or life after death stuff.

[bovril]

20 minutes ago, Sampson said:

The older I get, the more I understand the appeal of religion, not just this but also the community aspect of it. Sadly, could just never believe the stories or life after death stuff.

I think this is probably like 80% of religious people, especially in Europe 

[Wymsey]

https://www.sayitlad.com/

 

[HighPeakFox]

I'm struggling right now - not really looking after myself, massive impostor syndrome and existential stuff too. 

 

 

[danny.]

On 06/02/2026 at 22:30, Wymsey said:

https://www.sayitlad.com/

 

love this <3