You’ve gone through some massive life changes over the last couple of years, career break, move to Australia, mental health crisis, move back to the UK. Your identity and value is in all of those things so it’s no surprise that after such upheaval you’re feeling lost and directionless. But just like the Daintree forest - you made your way out and back to civilisation. There is hope. You feel that there is no hope for your future life and that you are back to square one in regards to psychiatry and medication. Back to square one, doesn’t have to mean you are going to go through all the same hurt and pain, being back at square one could be considered as a fresh start. Remember - feelings are just that - feelings - just because you feel a certain way, doesn’t mean that it’s fact. Feelings can change, they’re transitory. You say there is no hope for your future and although you can picture a future you want - working, a settled life and getting back into a routine - it’s not compelling enough - perhaps because of what you see as the massive difference between life now and the life you want. In a sense the goals for your future life are seemingly insurmountable. So let’s make it easier to overcome. Working - You say you can’t work for anyone else while on a career break with your current employer, and you have been advised not to return to work until you are in a period of stability. You’re not being paid - you stuck in a financial mess. What’s keeping you with this employer? Does working for this employer figure into your future goal of working? Would you prefer to be working now? Perhaps starting part time - if this is not possible with the current employer - what would it mean to resign? What are your financial options even if you decide not to work anywhere else? A More Settled Life - You’re right antidepressants alone will not make you more stable, but nor will noticing the distance between instability and future stability. What small things - realistically achievable things can you do now, or put in place that can help build a sense of stability? Routine - Start small, perhaps a morning routine, schedule your morning, commit things to paper and mark them off when you’ve achieved them. You can start building a routine now. You mention helping at a friends juice bar, how can this be factored into a routine? Steve you are so much more than your diagnosis. If you feel people are not listening, tell them, ask them for the time and space to help you articulate what you want to say. And if that doesn’t work - come and vent on youtube! Recovery can never be found in just one approach, but a combination of things. Most importantly it starts with you - small steps - and with the help and encouragement of as many people as possible. There is hope and there is a way forward - Daintree taught you that.
You’ve gone through some massive life changes over the last couple of years, career break, move to Australia, mental health crisis, move back to the UK. Your identity and value is in all of those things so it’s no surprise that after such upheaval you’re feeling lost and directionless.
But just like the Daintree forest - you made your way out and back to civilisation. There is hope.
You feel that there is no hope for your future life and that you are back to square one in regards to psychiatry and medication. Back to square one, doesn’t have to mean you are going to go through all the same hurt and pain, being back at square one could be considered as a fresh start.
Remember - feelings are just that - feelings - just because you feel a certain way, doesn’t mean that it’s fact. Feelings can change, they’re transitory.
You say there is no hope for your future and although you can picture a future you want - working, a settled life and getting back into a routine - it’s not compelling enough - perhaps because of what you see as the massive difference between life now and the life you want. In a sense the goals for your future life are seemingly insurmountable.
So let’s make it easier to overcome.
Working - You say you can’t work for anyone else while on a career break with your current employer, and you have been advised not to return to work until you are in a period of stability. You’re not being paid - you stuck in a financial mess. What’s keeping you with this employer? Does working for this employer figure into your future goal of working? Would you prefer to be working now? Perhaps starting part time - if this is not possible with the current employer - what would it mean to resign? What are your financial options even if you decide not to work anywhere else?
A More Settled Life - You’re right antidepressants alone will not make you more stable, but nor will noticing the distance between instability and future stability. What small things - realistically achievable things can you do now, or put in place that can help build a sense of stability?
Routine - Start small, perhaps a morning routine, schedule your morning, commit things to paper and mark them off when you’ve achieved them. You can start building a routine now. You mention helping at a friends juice bar, how can this be factored into a routine?
Steve you are so much more than your diagnosis.
If you feel people are not listening, tell them, ask them for the time and space to help you articulate what you want to say. And if that doesn’t work - come and vent on youtube!
Recovery can never be found in just one approach, but a combination of things. Most importantly it starts with you - small steps - and with the help and encouragement of as many people as possible.
There is hope and there is a way forward - Daintree taught you that.
tony leepeters thank you for your kind message. Definitely reaffirming for me and made me think, for the good.