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I was deemed to be in possesion of a potentially lethal weapon , a heeavy goods license which I had held for 25 years but because I was attacked by another driver and my employer and the firm I was delivering to either didnt care or were more interestd in the contract,I was dumped by all concerned. Ilost my livlihood, self respect . Its is amazing how peoples reputations rule over commonsense

Well done iPM! Raising a listener contributory blog from the dead like a Lazarus!

It shows there is always hope at the end of the depression tunnel and even the matters most pressing in the mind, will, one day, take on their proper perspective. The issues, arguments, private vocalisations, downright obsessions, etc, that can lead to thoughts of suicide (and even blog murder) will one day seem pretty darned silly

More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.
Woody Allen

I recognise that Woody quote!

Death doesn't really worry me that much, I'm not frightened about it... I just don't want to be there when it happens.
Woody Allen

Allen: What are you doing Saturday night?
Woman: Committing suicide.
Allen: What about Friday night?

Good old Woody!

I spent yesterday evening learning about what sufferers of Borderline Personality Disorder - and their carers - go through every day of their lives. The rest of us don't know we're born.

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.

Woody Allen

Quite heart lifting to see a few old 'friends' once more a Frogging!
All we need now is a Beach!
;-)

Hurrah! The blog has returned :-)

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Diggles glanced over his left shoulder and squinting between the wings of his Soppy Camel, into the setting sun could just make out a faint ribbon of sand.
"I bally well hope they have restocked The NC bar, a chap does get a real thirst on circling about looking for somewhere to land" he muttered into his silk scarf.

It was a very moving interview - Eddie at his best and very brave of the interviewee to come forward.

NC bar temporarily re-stocked to order. I like that silk scarf.

*blushes*
Minger gave it to me!

More threads to comment on would be good too.

I agree with Anne P - Eddie always knows (instinctively, it would appear) how to strike the right balance in such interviews - particularly how to give the interviewee the necessary time and space to put feelings into words.
I watched a very "brave" film on Ö÷²¥´óÐã4 on Monday night, in which Helen Leach documented her own feelings of depression following serious illness. Such Programmes such as these make me reconsider what is most important in life.

I agree with Aunty Gillianianian.
All credit where credit is due, Eddie and the PM team do wonderful research and the subsequent interviews whether by Eric*, Sequin et al are of a very high standard. If they make you want to shout and cuss at the wireless between 5 and 6 they have achieved their aim......made the listener sit up and engage!

*can I have my fiver in used £1 coins please?*

As we're talking about Depression.

Old Man Clackett was getting pretty long in the tooth. Sensing that his dying day was near, he figured it was time to confess his wrongdoings to those he'd sinned against.
"Maw Clackett, you come on in here," he called to his beloved wife of 61 years. "I got to talk to you."
Maw Clackett wheeled into the room. "What are you carrying on about, Paw?" she asked.
"It's time I told you about my old pebble jar, Maw. You see, every time I was unfaithful to you I put a pebble in this here jar." He showed her the jar, which held three pebbles.
"Well, old man, I reckon that ain't too bad. To tell the truth, I got a jar of my own. Every time I stepped out on you, I dropped a bean down in it." She wheeled over to her dresser, opened the top drawer, and pulled a jar out from under the clothes.
Old Man Clackett winced. He hadn't expected this. "Well then, let's see it, woman."
She presented her jar. The old man smiled when he saw it. "I have to say I'm a little relieved. Nothing but two beans in that there jar. I can't carp at you much about that."
"Well," said Maw Clackett, "That's what was left in there after that mess of beans we had during the Depression."

One very helpful thing a Psychiatric Nurse once told me about depression and guarding against it was, essentially, to take pleasure in small things and remember to do small, pleasurable things in order to reinforce feelings of wellbeing. (Basically this is what SSRIs do -- give the brain longer to recognise/enjoy positive effects). It wasn't quite as simplistic a piece of advice as that and, in the darkest of depressions, one might find it unhelpful, but it is very useful when one feels depression may be hovering waiting to take hold. Thanks, then, for the small pleasure of an iPM blog thread open to comments. You will have made many people a little bit happier

As others have attested, a very moving an thought provoking interview. I hope licensed gun owners who suffer from depression won't be dissuaded from visiting their GP, anxious that there may be a possibility of their license being revoked.

If I could *like* Aperitif's post, I would. Nice to see an active thread happening again!

I recently completed a Mental Health First Aid course (I have a certificate and everything!) and the most important aspect it seems is self-help. Having suffered myself, I now feel confident to deal with such matters.

A worthy enterprise that was started in Australia. If you have the chance to take the course, I urge you to do so. You would be surprised with how much of the content you can relate to.

Psychiatrist to his receptionist:
"Look, for goodness sake just say that we're very busy. Don't keep saying it's a madhouse."