Coping

I am sorry that I am so late to post. First of all it takes incredible courage to tell us about this, because we do not share the bad with the good we don’t see people fighting the same battles, and if we do not share we cannot get the support we all need desperately at times. This place is all about survival and depression of one form or another is a real part of surviving bladder cancer for most.

I lost my best friend and older sister at 48 to suicide, I will miss her every day of my life. I understand depression and I understand long term depression. I know what it is like not to be able to look up because there is no light left. I also know why she did it, money problems, medical issues, personal issues the list goes on. But I will always wonder if she had shared, had talked, had reached out if somehow the burden could have been lessened to the point that she might have seen some light? I will never know, but I am so happy that you are reaching out. We can’t change things for you but we are here to listen and care.

Not at all... corn is one of my favorites! But seriously, I hope you are feeling better and are out of that dark place. I believe that you are or you wouldn't be able to objectively look back at what happened and realize that was not what Gary would do... ever!

I think depression is bc's nasty cousin that just waits for our most vulnerable moments to pounce. If you feel that coming on again, please call your doctor or counselor, a friend, or just get on here.

I MEAN IT!!!

Hey Doc... I am so sorry that things got to that point, and I admire your courage to come here and tell us about it. Please do not feel any shame... sometimes it just seems too dark to see any light at the end of what seems to be an endless tunnel. It's a human reaction to being under a lot of pressure for a very long time like you have. And, shame only tends to deepen depression because we judge ourselves too harshly and that makes things seem even worse.

It sounds like now in retrospect, you see this as the wake up call that it was. You have been through so much the past few years, and I know what a mental, physical, financial, and emotional burden you have had dealing with all the treatments, surgeries, and just life in general at times. You are a strong person and a person who faces adversity straight on. This one just slipped up on you... and I know you're not going to go there again.

I do hope you are talking to your doctor about what happened. A good counselor can do wonders for your mental state, or at least it did for mine. Please stay in touch and I apologize for being absent for so long from the forum. Sometimes I have to take a mental and emotional break. I know you understand that!

Take care... you've got to get back to snappin'!