Been to doctors

Hello Joeybear,

well, to be effective 'exercise' has got to grab you in some way. I do mountain biking (cross country cycling) and sometimes cross country running. I do advocate it although one is expensive (bikes and clothing) and it can take a while to build up stamina which in itself can be demoralising. For me I have to enjoy
exercise/sport enough to want to go out and do it again and in some way it has to be exhilirating and blood pumping or otherwise it doesn't seem to pick me up enough.

Exercise is guaranteed to pick you up but since New year I have had almost continuous flu and colds (not just the feeling that starts each October and ends in April) so I am feeling very tired due to lack of activity.

Start with walking maybe half an hour morning and evening just to build up stamina. Ultimately in the long term you have to find something that gives enough incentive to move from the house as motivation is the key issue. If you are a social person why not also invite friends to go swimming once a week and make an occasion of it and see if you can build on these activities.

good luck :!:

Hello Joeybear,

I think firstly the doctor wants to look at solutions which don't involve medication which seems a responsible attitude. I guess you are young (which is not a crime :) )but health workers don't like seeing young people on meds it's almost like "this is gonna be for the rest of their life" syndrome!

I suggest you commit yourself to some daily exercise so you can go back armed with the knowledge and evidence that you have tried his suggestion otherwise he might think you are not taking him and your condition seriously. THIS MUST BE DONE!

Sadly, I am surprised when people say what a miracle lighboxes and meds are to them because they are not miracles but tools in the reduction of symptoms I feel. I have written my sort of regime under the post 'it's a great day here' which is what I undertake to make my life easier. Meds are not the only solution and if you suffer badly you have to work through on a lot of areas. There are no simple solutions i'm afraid.

Exercise for me is essential on top of my other tricks and I am pushing myself again this weekend to get going on the cycling even though I know I will be looking at excuses and really could quite give it a miss.

Have you managed to get a lightbox? I would highly recommend getting a satellite particularly as you study. If it really is a necessity can you get money from somewhere? Will relatives or carers fork out, have you got a bit stashed away for a rainy day cos really it aint gonna get much rainier!

This is the worst time to start treating yourself as pre-planning is important when you can't think, don't try to knock yourself out when all you want to do is sleep.

I recognise at present I am focusing on this need for a 'solution' I sometimes find I am staring at the internet looking for something to jump out at me and say "here I am here is the solution to all your problems" but i have learnt to recognise the stages and take comfort in the fact it will all turn out right in time. To quote a line from a Zounds track; " i'm not looking for escapism, all I wanna do is escape".

You can get a satellite on approval so go for it, again good luck and get walking or whatever floats your boat, don't let the days slip by, you could re-book the doctors appointment as an incentive fo something to push for.

GO FOR IT

I do have to agree with what Siddy says, lightboxes and meds are not solutions, but you also have to realise that different people have different levels of this problem. Somebody with very light sypmtons may find a lightbox is a miracle cure while some others may find they only need meds, for some it is just a case of getting out in the fresh air. Unfortunately though, some people do suffer from depression all year through which is made even worse when the Winter comes. Having been in exactly the same posistion as Joeybear, I know all of these things are as Siddy says, just tools in the reduction of symptons. I know some people are very much against the use of anti-depressents but I know first hand that you get to a stage when you would be willing to take anything rather than have to face every day knowing it won't get better. I am unfortunate enough to not be able to get out everyday for excersise and when I do, it's very little but it does give you a sense of relief to be out in the open. However, for me personally, this doesn't last once I'm back in doors. I have yet to try the lightbox as I cannot afford one but am going to save up for next year.
It is extremly frustrating sometimes going to the doctors as the fist time I went, telling my doctor how I was considering driving my car into a brick wall the last time I was out and it was scaring the hell out of me, she told me I needed a course of vitamin C ?????????
This in itself does make you fell 10 times worse because you are not being taken seriously. I couldn't get anywhere with the doctors Iwas with and was also told I needed to get myself a boyfriend and join a rambling club (this was after they told me I had M.E). As you can imagine, I left. I now (luckily) have a very good doctor but they still have to go through the usual routes of telling you to get more excersise, and Joeybear, please, whatever they tell you to do, try it and keep going back until you get somewhere. You probably will not, in all honesty, find your solution, that will come with time and through yourself, but trust me, you can find a way to feel a whole lot better while you are waiting for it. I am feeling about 80% at the moment and even in Summer, I never really feel over 90% but when you have been right at the bottom as I know you have, this is more than good enough.
Keep sticking with it and you will get there, unfortunatley, the younger you are, the less people listen (ever heard the saying "What have you got to be depressed about, if you think things are bad now, wait til you grow up")
That one always used to scare me because I couldn't face my life being worse than it was then. I can assure you though, your problems don't really get worse, they grow with you and with age comes experiance.
You are going to be fine ... peoples opinions are starting to change and younger people are starting to be taken more seriously but you need to show you are serious so keep trying.
Best of luck to you
Karen xxxxxx

Hope u had fun!!!!!!! :P

:lol: Not as bad I as did once walked into the wrong house :D

Well I was in a strange place, and thats me excuse :lol: