Challenging Depression & Despair: A Medication-Free, Self-Help Programme That Will Change Your Life by Angela Patmore

Author:Angela Patmore [Patmore, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Self-Help, General
ISBN: 9781848032095
Google: RoCeBAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Hachette UK
Published: 2013-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

NOTE

1. Susan Jeffers, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Arrow edition, 1991.

12

Meet the advisory panel

To assist me on this book, I have chosen a panel of ten ‘expert advisers’: people who either describe themselves right now as ‘depressed’ or who suffer periodically from despair. So meet my Team (I’ve changed their names to protect their identities).

THE TEAM

Maggie

I was in a psychiatric hospital for four months, and underwent psychotherapy and drug treatment. I still suffer from bouts of severe depression and I still take antidepressants, but I am willing to try some of the challenges, so long as you don’t get on my case! I’m not very mobile.

Vaz

Losing my job in a leading broker’s office robbed me of all my savings and self-esteem. I rowed with everybody. I have trouble staying awake in the daytime as I play the chat rooms and computer games, sometimes till daylight. We recently lost our nice house as I couldn’t keep up the payments so we’re in rented, a big comedown. I’m on benefit now and pretty much retired. How old am I? I’m 33.

Terry

This is all a bit artificial, but OK here goes: I lost my partner two years ago, after she had a miscarriage. I felt guilty as I wasn’t that supportive, and it all fell apart, then I started getting down on myself. Like a lot of people I resorted to the bottle, but found it made me behave like a twat and I kept getting emotional, so now I avoid company. OK, I’ll go for a challenge – nothing to lose.

Charlotte

I have various health problems, but I was diagnosed with body dysmorphia at a London clinic. I feel depressed because I just hate the way I look, and have been through anorexic episodes. If I could afford plastic surgery I think that would raise my self-confidence. I doubt very much that anything else will.

Katey

I have never had a proper job. I originally went for a singing career as I do have quite a good voice but got nowhere. My boyfriend left me because he says I am negative all the time and wouldn’t do the gigs, but I got stressed out. I have had antidepressants including Prozac and before that Seroxat prescribed by my doctor, and I have tried counselling but didn’t find that worked for me. Right, I’ve got nothing to lose by trying some challenges.

Philip

My main problem is apathy. I don’t sleep much so I get up in the night to read or listen to local radio. Not one night – every night. I used to go to work with no sleep at all. I am usually tired anyway, but I feel defeated, as if I’ve had all the blood drained out of me. Some mornings I can’t be bothered to get up at all, and the Job Centre have threatened to stop my benefit. That should scare me but it doesn’t.

Susanna

I put on a lot of weight when I was looking after my Mum. I bought treats for her and when she wouldn’t eat, I ate them myself.

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