Are my Thoughts Common?

@Madrooster

I'm not sure if your thoughts are common but I bet there are more people than you and me who have those types of thoughts. My wife was really surprised when I told her I wish I could have swapped with a friend who had passed away. In the last few years my depression has relapsed and I have sought treatment. Fortunately I have found some good people to be on my team. I think finding doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists etc that you are comfortable with can be quite a journey. I've seen quite a few. Hang in there and all the best with your journey.

Cheers

Hi @Madrooster,

Welcome to the Forums and thanks for your post - we’re glad you found us and have had the courage to reach out for help here.

It sounds like you’ve really held the fort for a lot of people in your life, but perhaps haven’t had much of any opportunity to care for yourself, and this has worn you down over the years.

The thoughts you describe are not unusual for a person experiencing depression. Suicidal thoughts can take many forms and some are more “active” than others. It sounds as though you’re not really thinking about taking your life, but rather, that it would just be easier if you weren’t alive. This is a common type of suicidal thought, and one that a lot of people experiencing depression have. In fact, many people who are suicidal do not really want to die, but are not sure of any other to end their suffering. These thoughts are a cause for concern, as they can become more intense and frequent if left untreated.

You mentioned you sought support from a psychologist 6 months ago but found it largely unhelpful. Sadly, this too is quite common. A lot of people have to try a few times to find a psychologist that they find helpful. Just as with any other medical practitioner, there is a wide variety of personalities and approaches, and everybody has different ways they prefer to work and interact. You are the best judge in these circumstances, so if you find you are not feeling helped by a particular practitioner, you should shop around until you feel comfortable. As I said, sometimes it takes a couple of goes, but I’d encourage you to keep trying.

You could also consider medication treatment as well if this is appropriate, as this can be helpful if you are experiencing depression, and can be effective when combined with therapy as well. You can chat to your GP about medications if you would like to find out more about the options.

You’re certainly not alone in how you’re feeling at the moment, and we’re glad to hear you’re looking to find some support and also looking to provide support to others as well. You’ve definitely come to the right place!

Look forward to hearing from you soon!

All the best,
supernova.

Thanks for the support people! I have made an appointment with my GP for another referral to a phycologist - will try another and see if they might be more relevant than the first - your info about the need to look around for the right provider has helped. Will keep you posted