Depression or low mood - what has helped you?

[Ian T]

This is a great thread. For me, my LADA diagnosis was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back, coming on top of a stressful job, my wife's diagnosis of serious illness, a parental bereavement etc etc. It can be a combination of things that makes it difficult as much as one in isolation. Personally, I didn't find my GP much help and the actual act of going there and telling how I felt was one of the most depressing things I have ever done (ironically!). Things that have helped me, however, include;

- Compassionate Mind Training (as opposed to CBT which I didn't get on with). Essentially it is about forgiving yourself for things you did or didn't do or things you wish you had or hadn't done.
- Mindfulness with an audio 'trainer' to lead me through it
- Being outside, especially if you can find somewhere peaceful
- Exercise - particularly with other people. I took up running which I had last done 25 years ago and found the exercise and the company very positive as well as giving me the security of running buddies in case my BG went haywire! Pre-Covid, exercise that I had to concentrate on was great for freeing up my mind e.g Skiing or windsurfing - if you aren't paying attention to that you fall over or fall in, so while you are doing it your mind can't dwell on other things.
- NOT tracking the news too frequently, especially this year. Above all else, avoid Covid and US politics if at all possible!
- Re-reading favourites books
- Contact with other people who have or who are experiencing the same thing - this Forum in particular this year.

 

[rebrascora]

Great post @Ian T
That has given me some interesting research to do..... particularly the Compassionate Mind Training...
I tend to be quite hard on myself and carry a lot of mental baggage, so that really strikes a chord with me about forgiving myself and dealing with regrets.

I was a lot happier when I was skiing and windsurfing. Haven't done either for 20+yrs so maybe that is something I need to look at getting back into, particularly skiing.... have been thinking about that quite a bit recently since I lost weight and started running and my legs and knees are stronger and giving me less grief. Only problem is, with 4 horses to look after, the winter time is not really feasible to swan off to the alps.... Not that that is likely to happen any time soon anyway.... and sadly Cairngorm is becoming less and less predictable for snow.... OK... mostly ice!

 

[Ian T]

Glad if there is anything useful there. If research looks interesting then it is probably worth getting a suitable professional to guide you through but there are various self-help books etc available. One I used was The Compassionate Mind Workbook ISBN 978-1-4721-3590-2

FYI, for running I joined a set up called Beginners to Runners - I think they have groups all over the place. I felt I would re-start as a 'beginner' and see how I got on - OK as it turned out. As it happens I am not the only person there with diabetes which is also nice. A bit of googling found various other organisations/groups so may be the same where you are.

As for skiing and running, I'm sure there are other things that could achieve the same mental concentration that weren't sporting or overseas - maybe even card games or chess etc if you are that way inclined...? Perhaps there are things you can do with the horses if you get to ride them as well as look after them?

 

[rebrascora]

@Ian T Thanks for the extra info. on The Compassionate Mind

Not really interested in exercising with other people I'm afraid, particularly running. I have to go at my own pace and distance otherwise I get stressed and then I find it so much harder. I actually enjoy being out on my own, even late at night and being diabetic doesn't worry me in that respect. I always have my gear with me to test and treat and my phone if I absolutely needed help but I am quite confident of treating any hypos that happen when I am out. Having Libre really helps with that as I can scan as often as I like..... except when it gets too cold which has been a problem on occasion recently, but then my BG meter doesn't like to work in the cold either . I am always conscious of the risk and checking for any possible hypo symptoms like changes in my peripheral vision when I am out on my own and without the distraction of other people I don't get side tracked with that.

 

[Ian T]

Ah - interesting about Libre not scanning well in the cold - Mine has been bit temperamental recently so I wonder if that might be the reason. Thanks for that.

 

[grovesy]

I would not be suprised as ordinary meters don't always work at high and low temperatures.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I only started taking them a week ago. Thanks for your reply

Welcome to the forum @Inamuddle

Sorry to year about what you have been going through this year

Hope the side effects of the citalopram are calming down for you. Do keep talking to your GP if you aren’t getting on with the tablets - there will be alternatives you can try which might suit you better. 🙂

 

[atoll]

Ah - interesting about Libre not scanning well in the cold - Mine has been bit temperamental recently so I wonder if that might be the reason. Thanks for that.

batteries going from warm to cold fail if already fairly discharged

 

[rebrascora]

@Ian T My reader tells me that the Libre sensor is too cold to provide a reading. The first time it happened I was working outdoors with bare arms (shovelling horse manure) and there was a cool wind although I wasn't feeling cold in myself. I put a fleece on, gave it a few moments and it fixed it. The second time I was walking briskly up a steep hill late in the evening and I had a thin fleece on. I was quite warm with the exertion but obviously my skin surface must have been cool. Thankfully my hands were warm and after a few minutes of holding my hot little hand over the sensor it gave me a reading.... but a short time later it had cooled down again and was struggling. Neither occasion was sub zero and I assumed that with it being attached directly to my body I wouldn't get problems like this which is a bit disappointing. My BG meter has similar difficulties at this time of year so I had hoped the Libre was going to be the solution.... but clearly not. Makes me wonder what mountaineers do, although maybe they wear enough layers to keep skin temp warm!