Is anyone there please

Still continuing to smoke is the worst thing anyone can do.

Yes madness to continue smoking Bev, continue and mild will grow to moderate and moderate to severe, its not worth it I've seen a few die because they never stopped smoking, one younger than myself and diagnosed after me with same level of lung damage as myself.  Such a waste of life, unecessarily early death.

I know that lill and I am trying.  x

It's not death which frightens me Vee but dying slowly over many years.   The trouble is I also suffer from depression (long preceeding copd) and I find the self care thing very difficult.  Most of the time I just don't care enough to do anything about it.    There are lots of ways I don't look after myself as well as I should.   I don't know how to learn self care though as telling myself off doesn't help much - a bit not not anywhere near enough.   I do feel I deserve everything I get most of the time.  Bev x

 

Bev, you don't have to tell yourself off, you just have to be kind to yourself, your body is worth looking after because if you do, you won't have to deal with symptoms which will cause you more problems and result in more health issues. 

 Its known that a poor diet will increase chances of depression and so will focussing on all the things you can't or don't do for whatever reason.

To help yourself, you have to want to feel better, improve frame of mind etc.  To affect changes you have to made choices, make efforts to achieve what it is you wish to achieve.

There's loads of help out there,  on the internet, through library books and dvds, you tube, and of course your GP, but its your choice if you take advantage of the help available, your choice, if you put the effort in.  No one else can help you unless you want that help.

If you want to make changes, and if your current method of treating the depression for instance is not working ask to try something else, another method of treatment. This may not mean another drug but another therapy.   

mood juice - google it, it may be of help. 

Life really is too short to waist on I can't or I can't be bothered, I deserve everything I get mostly, nothing helps,  persistent internal negative dialogue like this will not get you out of stuck.

On the other hand changing your internal dialogue or even just inputting some positive for every internal negative can help counter balance so you can cultivate an improvement of internal dialogue and positive change in your life.

Whatever life we have left is not worth wasting on doom and gloom when we can choose, decide to make changes that will enhance our experience of life.  If you want it, go get it, its not without effort, but rewards can be great.

Wishing you every success in all your efforts on whatever you decide. 

V

You are so right Vee and I know it.   I do make enormous efforts to do self care and when I am not feeling so down I take advantage of it and make the appointments I need to such as dentists,  doctor,  glasses etc.   When I am feeling up to it I make the effort to cook good meals.   I exercise when I can too. 

That will have to do I'm afraid as it's the best I can manage.  I am 61 now and feel as though I am on the downward run now anyway.   I don't have any ambition left nor is there anything I am still desperate to do or achieve.   I just concentrate on enjoying life as much as I can and the future will have to take care of itself.   I just potter around in my own little world and try to avoid stress and aggro as much as possible.  

Thanks for your reply Vee.    Bev xx

Hi Hypercat

I still smoke 4 a day but I also smoke electronic cigarettes bc giving up is not as easy for some people, have you tried them

Jillibean

I am older than you hypercat but my main focus is to achieve a good life till the day I die, stay as healthy as I can by doing what I know is an aid in helping me achieve that.  

I don't consider myself on a downward run, but I do make a lot of effort to keep the equipment in a condition that can last a life time

My choice is to try and keep the body mind and spirit in good form and my order to the great one upstairs is when the time comes I die in my sleep or in the garden, no fuss, no hospitals.   I just feel for the one who inevitably will discover my body.

But I reckon I have at least another 15 years left in me if not 20

Best wishes to you V

My choice too Vee if I had a free choice which I don't.   I have suffered from depression all my life so it's a miracle I am still here at all.   I have long since accepted that self imposed limits on my life have enabled me to still be around so that is better than not being isn't it?

I could wish for the moon and the stars but know that's not realistic for me.  I am not going to go into the nature of depression or of mine particularly but it's a horrible and debilitating illness so I am grateful for what I have and what I can do. 

Thanks for your reply.    Bev x

So sorry you never got the help you needed or need Bev.  Wishing you a new improved and more positive life experiences throughout 2016

V

Thanks Vee.  My childhood depression was never picked up on by my family and by the time I had a breakdown at 19 it had become a part of my personality. 

I have had and still do NHS treatment but funds are very limited and most resources are targeted at those with more severe mental health issues.   Quite right too but there isn't much left for a high functioning depressive like me..   Thanks for your interest love.   Bev xx