An Introduction

Hello, I'm Jason (that's me above proudly parading the only trophy I have ever won in my life!). I am 27 years old and suffer from depression and anxiety and have done for more than 5 years now.

I am also an aspiring writer, so I decided to channel my thoughts into blog posts. Hopefully this will help me get better, but I also hope it will help more people understand what it is like to live with depression. I will try to be funny at times too, and I apologise in advance if my idea of funny does not corrolate with yours.

I was diagnosed with depression in late 2007, although looking back knowing what I do now, I have probably suffered from the illness since 2002/03. I have been taking medication and trying to live a more healthy lifestyle but alone these will not make me better. I have not addressed the issues that caused me to withdraw from society.

Now I will. Following another recent breakdown I have sought the help of a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) therapist. Together we aim to change my behaviour (what I do: such as socialising, hobbies, work) and then challenge my thinking (cognitive) in relation to those activities (how I feel: am I any good, do people like me etc...)

I am taking time out of employment to concentrate on this, as I have found it difficult to work in the last year with this cloud over me.

This blog is a record of my attempts to manage my depression, if I can't beat the damn thing altogether!!

Feel free to comment.

Thanks for reading (especially those of you who have been reading my previous attempt at a depression blog - I shall try to not to cover the same ground!)