Welcome Lee.

You've come to the right place for a moan. The famous book 'The Road Less Travelled' of course opens with the unforgetable line 'Life is Difficult.' Some say that when one appreciates that it's the same for everyone then life becomes easier. I used to attempt to help people with all manner of mental illnesses, and being more crazy than most of my patients it wasn't too difficult. Most went away feeling themselves lucky.

I recall one young chap in his early 20s who was brought to me after no-one else had managed to help him. He allegedly wanted to die, and his carers felt that he was genuinely suicidal. I requested that they brought his swimming trunks and a towel which they did.

Shortly after his arrival we went for a country walk together and took our swimming gear and a packed lunch. We ended up at the local river weir with a waterfall and violently swirling water underneath. A place where my then wife and I often swam in summer as we are strong swimmers.

As I started to remove my clothes to change into my costume chappie's eyes widened and filled with horror.

"I'm not going in there. No way!"

"Why not?" I asked.

"You f*cking kidding. We'll both drown!"

Apparently from day day onwards chappie was fine, and keen to continue living.

The 'medicine' I would prescribe for you Lee is to find a local hospice, ideally a children's hospice, and offer to become a volunteer. Even if they can't take you at least you'll almost certainly get shown round.

I feel confident that your melancholy will quickly lift.

Good luck.

Hello and welcome!

How are you today? I have AU, too.

Leslie Ann