[UK] Mental health/disorders help

[SouthLondoner]

Hi all, I'm not sure whether my vices are causing me to be this way, or way is causing the vices - the whole chicken and the egg thing.

What are the options in the UK for exploring mental health options? I really do not want to be pounding medication, and at the same time I wonder whether stopping all vices will help. Meditation has helped me see insight into past behaviours - I seem to of had this mindset for a long while now. I'm feeling isolated - I can't really connect even with people I've known for a decade. I feel tension/defensiveness in social situations. I feel like I'm just surviving.

After some reading, Cluster A personality seems to fit me. I know, it's 'Dr. Google', but it really does seem to match up. It hit me hard today, that I can't keep going on living this fearful way of thinking. Do I go hard and try and stop for 90+ days, and isolate for a while. Or are there other options?

[Guitarista]

Hi S/Londoner.

The fear reduces in a huge way when we ditch the grog, but if anxiety and/or depression is still present after being AF for 30 + days, people can and do manage it and live meaningful lives. Some form of exercise is always mentioned, and for good reason. We know it helps. Put it too the test after some AF time. You will not feel shit after 30 mins of boxing. Tired perhaps, but better than the feeling before it. Same with weights. you will not feel shit after 30 mins of weights. The problem is our anxious or depressed mental state will be screaming at us to not walk out the door, or lift a finger. To me from experience, these thoughts to feelings are real, but they are based on nothing. Such thoughts have zero evidence or facts to support them. I reckon it helps big time to learn how our minds, thoughts and feelings chain of command works in order to recognise some very real feeling illusions. Either way, boozing gets in the way of clear thought and feeling.

Just my take on an important subject, no right or wrong. Great question. Take care of yourself.

[JackieClaire]

Hi there Londoner,

Just a thought if you don't want to approach your GP have a look at Mind in London - A Voice for Mental Health in London

I have a dear friend up here who has used their services in the North East of England and found them brilliant. Confidential and understanding.

[starty]

Hi SL

I have asked myself the same question about whether it is my vices causing me to be the way I am or whether it is just me. I am still not sure. I think our personality traits are somewhat ingrained and we are what we are to a degree. BUT I know from experience that ANY substance abuse will exacerbate the issues. For me I was sent to a psychiatrist at a very young age for depression. The circumstances I was living in were not good but very shortly after that I did start self medicating with drugs and alcohol which lasted for many years. I do know from experience that living sober and using tools such as meditation, exercise, healthy eating etc really works for keeping me on an even keel. I have also had quite a lot of counselling in the past both paid for and on NHS. These did help although you need to ensure that you can actually relate to the counsellor. They are not all good.

Like JC said MIND is a good resource, your GP too. They will not put you on meds if you dont want that. If fact some of the ones I have seen have been actively against it and they prefer talking therapies such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapies)

Don't suffer alone though, that is probably the worst thing you can do