Depression...

[lurchca]

depression is a very serious issue

try this im bi polar and epileptic
most of my life

 

[Adhesion]

Never mind, I can't put all that out there...

So I'll just say this:

 

[Mellored]

Depression can hit anyone at anytime, a friends 4year old used to come and stay with me when she was feeling "sad for no reason"!! I suffered my worst bout of depression about ten years ago at a time when everything in my life was going really well. I was prescribed medication and was lucky that I hit on one that worked for me first time. I know that a lot of people have to try different types of drugs before they get one that works for them. The thing that helped me most, believe it or not, was owning a dog, my dog didn't take sick notes and demanded I got out of bed and walked him. Walking helped, it seemed to lift my mood especially when I found I could walk so fast I wasn't able to dwell on my negative thoughts. I didn't ever try and mask or hide my depression and was amazed at how many of my friends, relatives and coworkers were taking medication along side me, amazed because I felt really alone at the time. My partner had never been close to anyone suffering from this before and didn't know how to handle it so he pretended it wasn't happening, a reaction that in the long run was absolutely the right one. I still have bouts of depression but not ones that are as crippling as the one 10 years ago and I do know that they will pass.

 

[evanrick]

I saw a psychiatrist today and am on 25mg of Zoloft, he said 50mg that my doctor prescribed was too much.
theres more in my blog..but the past 2 months have pretty much been a blur. i dont remember a lot of it. I have so little feeling about anything that i cant even be sad about my situation anymore.

 

[TNniceguy]

I'm pretty new at posting here but I've been lurking and reading the forums for a long time. I am 41 years old and I suffer from depression, obsessive thoughts and job stress. On top of that, I am in the closet and consistently worry about finding a relationship and the fear of growing old alone.

I've been on welbutrin, paxil and now lamictal and celexa. I think the welbutrin helped. Paxil was the drug from h@ll. I gain weight, was irritable and trying to ween myself off was a nightmare in and of itself. The lamictal and celexa combination appears to be helping but I think it is too early to tell. Exercise has helped me a great deal.

I finally found a gay psychiatric nurse practitioner whom I feel very comfortable. He listens and seems to really care. Until I found him, I felt I had no one to talk to about my problems. The hardest thing to do is to love myself and he seems to reassure me it is possible to do.

I really appreciate this thread because I understand that I'm not alone in this journey and there is hope to feeling better.

 

[kallipolis]

I finally found a gay psychiatric nurse practitioner whom I feel very comfortable. He listens and seems to really care. Until I found him, I felt I had no one to talk to about my problems. The hardest thing to do is to love myself and he seems to reassure me it is possible to do.

I wish you well with your psychiatric counselling.

When you eventually face your internalised demons your need for medication, and counselling will evaporate, and you will be able to not only love your self for all that you are, but also learn to love others for all that they are.

 

[TNniceguy]

Thanks Kallipolis. I appreciate your encouragement.

 

[Deandbn]

I am very happy to chat pm to anyone that would like to.

 

[nicko89]

I wouldn't go as far as saying I have depression, but I do get more than a little down over certain things, so maybe a mild form of it. I do know that I have serious anxiety though - which I'm quite good at hiding apparently. Sometimes, though, I just feel like quitting the act and showing everyone how I'd really feel, and then see how many people would put up with me.

Everyone here should check out "Prozac Nation" and "Girl, Interrupted" and their respective books. Really good movies/true stories about character's suffering from forms of mental illness.

 

[TNniceguy]

Hi Nicko. I can relate to what you said about hiding how you feel. I was putting on a very good front of being happy and cheerful. It finally got to be too much for me and my family and coworkers are the ones who really noticed it the most.

Thanks for recommending the books. I'll have to check them out.

I wish you the best in working out your anxiety. I know it is tough and hard on you but hang in there.

 

[AussieGuy91]

I was on paxil for a few months last year but didn't really get anywhere with it. I've been getting worse recently so I ended back to my doctor and I've been Zoloft for a few weeks now, can't say it's been any help yet though...

 

[TNniceguy]

Keep on it. It may take a month.. or months to settle in and realize the full effects.

I agree. Definitely stay on it and don't quite your meds suddenly. Bad things happen when you do that. Give it several months to work and you might see a good change.

I tried Paxil once, too. It was the drug from H*LL.

Hang in there. You're not alone with this.

 

[dominique20064]

Hello all, I have just read this thread for the first time.....in no way could I read and not be moved by what I have read.

We are stuck with a less than perfect health system however for those among you who live in Australia there are many services and support services that can be accessed, all free of charge that provide information and support to anybody. It only takes a visit to your GP or a phone call to a Mental Health Help Service to get a recommendation to organizations in your local area that are government funded to support you and your needs.

These organizations follow the most strict government guidelines as to confidentiality and work on the principle of 'harm minimization, that is to say they are there to provide support, guidance, information and referral in a mandated and non judgemental manner.

The benefit of the above is that once a service organization is accessed, a support worker, who is trained and qualified will streamline and target referrals to support that is specifically tailored to you and your individual needs.

Many thanks
D

 

[booyoshi]

First off, if you're having suicidal thoughts or tendencies then please let someone know.

I've been dealing with depression since tapering off Alprazolam (Xanax), which I have been taking prescribed for three years. I'm about half way done with tapering and although the physical withdrawal effects are terrible, nothing compares to the depression you feel. It's as if a massive storm has invaded my head with black clouds and heavy downpours. This type of depression usually stays with me for about a week (sometimes longer) after reducing my dosage. So, even though I'm not clinically depressed, I do feel for you.

Therapy does help. I saw a counselor for three years before leaving for college. It helped me immensely, but I'm kinda back to my old ways since I haven't returned. If you're thinking about therapy as an option to help your depression, then I suggest sticking all the way through until your doctor decides when it's best for you to leave.

Also, try to stick with an antidepressant (or any other psychotropic drug) as a last resort. They're only a band aid for the real problems at hand. I believe they do help the people who do need it, but if you're going to only rely on a drug without treatment then you might be stuck with the same problems as you had before going on the drug.

Message me if you feel you need to vent or talk :]