I Could Use Your Thoughts and Prayers

[BlueThunder]

Hope all have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day with Family and Friends..

Stay Strong....

BT

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Hi Patsfans,

This thread will probably be moved shortly (I hope it's allowed to stay for just a day at least), but it's a bit of a serious post and I need some prayers. Obviously this is a sports forum and all, but without getting into too much, I have been in an ongoing bout with depression. I have been getting counseling and everything, but the thoughts of ending it are back and they're strong. I have really enjoyed being on the board talking Patriots with all of you very much. I guess I just wanted to reach out to those of you who pray and ask that you please pray for me. I don't know where my journey will end up and I'm trying very hard to fight and stay positive, but things are rough for me at the present time in a lot of different ways. Please send some words up in prayer for me as I continue to try to make sense of some of the things that have happened and some of the present difficulties I am having.

I hate to put up such a sad thread and all, but I just needed to "verbalize" this and my usual outlets are unavailable to me at this time. I hate that I have to reach out in this fashion, but I didn't know what else to do in my present state of mind. It was the only thing I could do to keep from doing something worse. I thank you all for giving me a place of refuge to talk only Patriots, which is one of the few things in my life that I still enjoy.

Hi, thanks for sharing! I've often thought of the million things I'd have said to Junior if somehow I'd been able to catch him in time; but the key for you is REACHING OUT just like you're doing, to people! Friends, sometimes strangers, or fellow Pats fans. The medical community in this country is WAY behind in proper diagnosis and treatment of your malady...but your intelligence will go a long way to help. Your negative impulses are irrational...and, YOU have much, much more control over your life and future than you realize. You need to approach things one day at a time, setting modest little goals, managing what you attempt to tackle(!) And you'll be shocked at how important you are to the rest of us. When folks see you, they're looking with THEIR eyes, not yours. Anyway, be wicked patient, and if you find yourself in a bad spot, go be with somebody ASAP. Everybody needs help at some time or other, it's normal! Please keep in touch with us, God bless you and don't forget about February 5th (that's in Houston). Take care!

 

[BlueThunder]

Been doing much better myself. Switching jobs to day shift makes all the difference.

Just noticed your avatar...looks like you are a fan of Brian May of Queen......Great guitarist with super group back in the day....

One of my favorites also

 

[Froob]

Hope you guys are still doing well.

 

[nabwong]

Hope everyone is doing well. I am very thankful for this community. Just dropping a note to see if anyone needs help, you can always pm me.

 

[Wordsmyth]

I go through a couple of really rough days a month, but I've been feeling better of late. Thanks, nabwong, and everyone else participating in this thread.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I go through a couple of really rough days a month, but I've been feeling better of late. Thanks, nabwong, and everyone else participating in this thread.

There's a lot of courage in this thread with people sharing for their benefit and those of others - all people who are WAY ahead of the curve in giving themselves the advantage of truly knowing themselves, their strengths, their vulnerabilities and being some of the few willing to take charge of their lives.

It's funny - I've been to dinner parties where I heard WAY too much about someone's colonoscopy and overall intestinal health

Yet the brain (and the mind) - arguably the most important organ in the body - is the one organ our culture all almost REFUSES to talk about

1 in 4 of you on this thread - in fact EVERYONE you work with, in your family, etc. etc. - will experience a mental or behavioral health event this year of a level needing professional help. That pretty much means everyone at some point in their life - yet we like to deny that's the case.

The truly courageous are the ones who don't delude themselves about that can take the bull by the horns to get help and find they CAN take control of their lives!

Sometimes that help is as simple as a medication which simply corrects a biochemical imbalance (often the root cause of anxiety disorders or depression - along with the things that happen in life that trigger such events)

Sometimes more cognitive therapy - thinking about how and why you think what you do - helps in addition to medication.

All I know is that if someone is a diabetic and their body's biochemistry has a difficult time regulating blood sugars, there's no embarrassment and they go to the doctor to get help for that.

If there's a biochemical imbalance of the brain, many - most especially men - just refuse to address that.

One day this will all look pretty silly to us - like if we had Skin Cancer and refused to get treatment out of embarrassment and then died

Because the thing is, Life Happens - talking about it and sharing with others is a big help - and there's other professional help out there.

There's also Mental Health First Aid trainings now available to help us "Joe Six Packs" out there help others who may be on the edge of crisis - and how to better understand the ins and outs and ups and downs that will affect us ALL - as well as the much more rare disorders (that most often crop up in the late teens and early 20s) like Schizophrenia, Psychosis

Those are very rare of course - but even there, there's medication for THAT which allows most to live a normal life

I highly recommend the MHFA training - it won't make you a psychologist in the 8 hour course but you'll be more confident helping someone until professional support can be arranged - because for now if someone were choking 20 people would run to their aid, but if someone were in a mental health crisis those same 20 good Samaritans may run the other way - frightened - most particularly frightened of doing or saying the wrong thing

Find A Course

Real "help" is only as far away as your local Community Mental Health Center - you can usually even just walk in for treatment without an appointment if you're in crisis

Things are changing though - more people are realizing that they need every edge they can and don't have the luxury of leaving their Mental Wellness unattended - so more and more people - including those on this thread - are really pioneers in a way paving the way so that we all CAN talk about these things - as we should

Take care all! Remember - 85% of the things we worry about never happen according to studies. 85 Percent of What We Worry About Never Happens

That doesn't mean we won't worry about them at all (anxiety is a good kick in the pants to get us to prepare at times) - but it does mean that there's no need to let those fears control your lives... you only have to control what you can and get zen with resting up to weather the punches that life will throw at all of us!

Just do your best to enjoy the ride!

 

[Wordsmyth]

Today's my folks' 51st anniversary, so life's a little darker today.

 

[PatsDeb]

Today's my folks' 51st anniversary, so life's a little darker today.

Sorry you are having a rough day. Maybe try to think of the good times, go out and take a walk or a drive to a favorite place and get some sunshine. Hope you feel better.

 

[ralmat55]

Today's my folks' 51st anniversary, so life's a little darker today.

Hi my friend. Those "special" days will always be rough. Just remember them fondly. Think about what you had and not what you lost. Hope and pray you are doing better.

 

[anditsgood]

Today's my folks' 51st anniversary, so life's a little darker today.

Hopefully it got a bit better for you,
One thing we (my siblings ) did when mom and dad passed , we went the their favorite restaurant on or around their anniversary, it help abit with the pain

Only time will heal and i pray and wish the best for you
Wished i seen this earlier

 

[Mogamedogz]

I've been away from the forums for a while now, so this is the first time I've read this thread.

I just wanted to thank all of the people who shared and provided support here for the OP, and Ian for allowing the sticky to become what it has. Many people (including myself) struggle with different forms of mental disorders. From experience, I know how hard it can be to share what we are going through with the people in our real life. The anonymity of a forum such as this can be extremely therapeutic. Just knowing that you're not alone, and that there are people out there who can relate and provide words of encouragement when you're in a dark place; it's a really good feeling.

I do hope the original poster is doing well, as I do all of you who opened up in here. I salute each and every one of you.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Not exactly sure why I'm posting here for advice, but it has seemed to work for others so here goes:

Two months ago I had a much anticipated surgery. Not to get into too many specifics but it was to finally cure a nuisance of a chronic condition that I had for more than 2 years. Woke up in the recovery room feeling like death. Could barely stand/do much of anything for 3 weeks (frequent dizzy spells). Arguably the worst weeks of my life.

Around the third week I started to feel much better like my old self. Went golfing, the Cape, out, etc. The dizziness was essentially gone and I was active again. This period lasted about 10 days.

Fast forward to the start of July and I wake up not feeling too great. I get irritable, lose focus, and start canceling plans to do stuff. It's off and on and the doc tells me to have an EKG and everything came back normal. Must just be stress.

Now back to the present day and the last few weeks have been mentally horrible. Most of the time I'm in a low mood, don't look forward to much of anything, and recently have had some dark thoughts. None of this is like me. I've tried more exercise, eating right, etc. and nothing seems to help. The last few days have been the worst. I feel like I am losing my mind. First time I can remember having panic attacks. Last time I can remember crying was at the close passing of a friend years ago yet now I tear up randomly every other day. This is annoying as there is no reason behind it. I'm entering the senior year of college living with three close friends, going to do some work for the Sox in the fall, and Pats season is around the corner. I have nothing to be stressed over. Today I woke up at 6:30 to go to training camp and had no interest in going. I look forward to each day ending and prefer sleeping to doing anything during the day. Something is off.

I have been taking the wait and see approach hoping it's some medicine type reaction to the surgery and it'll pass. I felt great for 10 days and this awful period has lasted close to a month at this point. I'm scared to "get help" because I don't want to be on any meds, who does? I've don't drink alcohol or caffeine let alone have ever been on any meds. I also don't want people concerned.

Has anyone went through something similar? Shouldn't anything resembling depression be caused by some negative aspect to life? Life should be pretty sweet right now. How long should I continue to wait? Thanks Pats Fans community.

 

[Wordsmyth]

Dude, have your physician check your testosterone levels. They may be playing a role in your health status. I've had some similar issues.

 

[anditsgood]

@patsinthesnow , what ever is going on, it might take a bit to find out, do as @Wordsmyth suggests, and if those tests comes back normal, ask the doctor about ativan , entering the senior year could be causing some sub-conscious stress you just dont realize or acknowledge
If a prescription makes you feel normal again, take it, there is nothing wrong or anything to be ashamed about, and this is coming from someone the wants to use all alternatives before taking a script
God bless, and keep us up to date

 

[n1997y]

don't ask your doctor leading questions (like "about ativan"), describe your symptoms and let him suggest the remedy. At a quick glance ativan looks less likely than some other therapies. Personally I'd try some supplements first, one that I've recently found works well for me is 5HTP. I've also selected a couple of others (CoQ10 is one) based on researching the side effects of a prescription med I must take to manage a chronic condition that would be life-threatening if not controlled. Doc keeps wanting to prescribe other meds to manage side effects, so far I've been able to manage them well with over the counter supplements like the CoQ10. Have found 5HTP is a real mood enhancer, suspect it would help many folks. But everyone is unique, ymmv. Listen to your body and trust your own judgement.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Wordsmyth took the words right out of my mouth. My first thought while reading your symptoms was that they are all consistent with low testosterone levels.

I'd ask your doc to order complete blood work including your Free T levels. Good luck!

 

[patsinthesnow]

Hello again,

August was better, but still feel generally terrible for a majority of the days (better at night). Blood work came back fine but my heart rate is consistently 100+ so I've been referred to a cardiologist. Doctor tested for thyroid, blood sugar, lyme, etc. Moved in to school a couple days ago and had to leave class today. The mornings to noon time are near misery. Lying down doesn't really help. Body just seems like it is in overdrive 24/7 and won't calm down.

I feel as if my life is being stolen from me. Probably the worst 2-3 months of my life. I miss feeling "normal"/good. Hope the mystery is figured out soon.

 

[Tony2046]

Hello again,

August was better, but still feel generally terrible for a majority of the days (better at night). Blood work came back fine but my heart rate is consistently 100+ so I've been referred to a cardiologist. Doctor tested for thyroid, blood sugar, lyme, etc. Moved in to school a couple days ago and had to leave class today. The mornings to noon time are near misery. Lying down doesn't really help. Body just seems like it is in overdrive 24/7 and won't calm down.

I feel as if my life is being stolen from me. Probably the worst 2-3 months of my life. I miss feeling "normal"/good. Hope the mystery is figured out soon.

Sorry to hear about this.

Has your doctor offered any thoughts?

 

[supafly]

Hello again,

August was better, but still feel generally terrible for a majority of the days (better at night). Blood work came back fine but my heart rate is consistently 100+ so I've been referred to a cardiologist. Doctor tested for thyroid, blood sugar, lyme, etc. Moved in to school a couple days ago and had to leave class today. The mornings to noon time are near misery. Lying down doesn't really help. Body just seems like it is in overdrive 24/7 and won't calm down.

I feel as if my life is being stolen from me. Probably the worst 2-3 months of my life. I miss feeling "normal"/good. Hope the mystery is figured out soon.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep pushing forward with seeing doctors, getting tests, etc. I hope that you find a resolution very soon. In the meantime, all you can do is hang in there. One way or another, I hope that you find some relief soon. I have been in the same boat for almost 2 full years now, with a few different surgeries etc. It really sucks feeling as though your life is on "pause."