Lived Experience Forum

[jamesmarks]

As a long time sufferer of anxiety and depression in get really annoyed by campaigns like the one running on ABC etc now. Thye constantly promote the work of high profile 'depression help'organisations - my experience of these organisation is that they are very self serving and really offer nothing new to 'sufferers'. They pump out all the cliches around mental illness - diet / exercise / see a counsellor or psch/ etc etc

I have tried all therapies etc etc and realise depression and anxiety are complex issues - i have not found any 'professional' that has helped - no medication has helped - in the end it comes down to finding your own solutions and learning to manage the condition.

It really frustrates me when you get these 3 minute 'grabs' on tv around depression etc - they trot out all the old cliches and nevery go into any detail - there is awareness around the issues and we need some 'smart people' to talk INDEPTH about the subtler approaches to depression - talk with REAL people suffering from depression and anxiety and ask them what has helped them ...less of the 'PR' and fundraising for these hopeless organisations . I think many of the 'organisation' that supposedly help with depression fall into the 'jobs for boys' organisations and suspect most of the $ goes into their paypackets rather than serious research and solid approaches to depression/anxiety. My original post was knocked back as i mentioned one of these well known organisations that supposedly is their ti help sufferers of depression.

[tam63]

You know, I have experienced much the same in the form of lack of services, lack of diagnostic insight, etc etc from professionals and services more generally. So I appreciate where you are coming from. I however am really enjoying the abc coverage, and hope it is making more of an impact on mainstream Australia than we can imagine. Life comes down to attitude. If you wake up positive, you will go to bed positive. Just my two cents.

[Alessandra1992]

Hey Jamesmarks, it is always a bit of a challenge to find the help you need, and it takes a lit of self-activation and determination to keep looking. Which, if you are in the grips of anxiety and depression is almost impossible to do.
However, this kind of awareness raising is valuable because on this forum you can push for change about making it easier to get help..and that's a great conversation to be having nationally.. The earlier we can get help that works for us, the better our lives are..early intervention works so let's keep this discussion going. How would you improve access to help in your community? What changes would you make?

[jamesmarks]

re "Life comes down to attitude. If you wake up positive, you will go to bed positive."  - you have to be kidding OR have not experienced depression - NO amount of 'attitude' will help severe depression. 

[tam63]

Believe me, I do understand where you are coming from. I have had severe depression as well as psychosis, and am currently in remission. I guess I was just saying we are more than our diagnosis and our symptoms. The bit about getting up and going to bed was referring to my mindfulness practice which I do then. I probably should have clarified that.

[jamesmarks]

ok - thanks, i get where youre coming from. Great discussion on Q and A right now on ABC TV. Re mindfulness, or in that vain... the one thing that has helped CONSISTENTLY over 30 years of dealing with anxiety and depression is meditation - i dont see this promoted by the 'experts'. I learned TM (transcendental meditation) when i was about 18 - its gantastic. Ditto simple 'buddhist' breathing meditation. I would highly recommend meditation to anyone struggling. I lived in Thailand for 1 year and noticed positive mental health and attitudes and way of looking at things...ingrained in their culture -  a buddhist country...

[tam63]

Hi mate, totally on the same page as you re Buddhism. I have been meditating for 2.5 years now, and attend a Tibetan Buddhist class twice a week. Also, I have had depression and anxiety for thirty years too. Tam

[NikNik]

Hi @jamesmarks 

I'm watching Q&A at the moment too. Very interesting.

We have started a thread here if you're interested in sharing your thoughts about Q&A tonight.

Also I saw a couple of people mention meditation. Tomorrow night is Topic Tuesday & we're featuring a psychologist who specialises in mindfulness. You can join the conversation between 6pm - 8pm AEDT tomorrow night. The session will take place here

Welcome jamesmarks to the forums.

NikNik

[jamesmarks]

yup- Buddhism is a study of the mind and (what is helpful from a depressives point of view) learning to 'tame' and calm the mind.  The peace attainable thru deep meditation cannot be mimiced by anti anxiety /anti depressants or therapy - however it does require you to do it (meditate)!  I am yet to see many 'experts' in mental health promoting this - mindfulness is  helpful but (in my opinion) meditation is extremely powerful...

[Alessandra1992]

ACT, acceptance commitment therapy is based on mindfulness and defusion..I think what would be fantastic is community funded mindfulness or meditation classes in every city and every school.
However, I also know fellow consumers who find meditation can sometimes cause a disassociative state..so there's a space for professional supports as well as general open groups..