Depression

Honey · June 25th, 2007, 01:36 PM

Well, I have had depression and anxiety for a few years now and tried various meds.

Today I went for some counselling and I really liked the woman. I am going back everyweek now to see her and try to tackle my issues.

I feel kind of good today and just wanted to share

JuicyLucy · June 25th, 2007, 01:44 PM

Good for you, Honey! I hope aside from your battle with depression, all is well with you.

silver024 · June 25th, 2007, 02:01 PM

i fought with myself for almost a year before i finally went to see someone about it, I refused going to a counselor..wanted to try the meds first and if they didn't help i would go then. The meds worked fine for me, still doing good after a year and a half. I really hope she helps you with all of this...its such a drag to feel the way you do...goodluck!

Saery · June 25th, 2007, 06:23 PM

Good for you! I do hope that this helps you, and I wish you the best of luck.

Depression is such a hard thing to deal with. I had a history of it for years and was resistant to trying meds. I did see a therapist for a while and did really well until after my daughter was born. Nasty, nasty bout with PPD and went on Zoloft afterward. I'm on Wellbutrin now, and that works well though I think I'll have to switch back to Zoloft when I get closer to having this baby since, if you're going to take an antidepressant, it's the safest one to take while breastfeeding.

DitaPage* · June 25th, 2007, 07:05 PM

Aww sorry to hear that Honey.

Your situation sounds like mine; I have been depressed since highschool (age 15) to now (almost 20) and I've been on medication and have seen therapists. The last one i went to was $186 a session, so I only saw her a few times but it was enough time to get some coping tips and i'm doing alot better. Its hard to talk at first but when you have a good therapist, its alot easier and I'm glad to hear that you like yours.

I dont know if it helps but heres some things my last therapist told me that have sunk in and help me feel and think differently when i'm feeling like i'm slipping into the black hole again.

-Theres more to life than PEOPLE. When you want to start thinking about yourself or anyone else, think instead about animals and nature.

-Repeat to yourself- MY LIFE IS NOT A BATTLE. I control my mind. My mind doesn't control me. I'm not going to ALLOW it to think pessimistically.

And i dont really understand this, but if you're like me and get depressed over things that haven't happened or are in the past, and your mind drives you insane, remind yourself that 'you are not your thoughts'. I think it means that we can ignore the mind when its starting with its negative talking and thinking. My therapist meant that the mind and who we are right now is a different thing- thats what I took it to meant. I have a problem with not living in the moment- i might be happy now but then i'm already telling myself that its not going to last. So she said to me- switch your mind off. Dont worry about your thoughts because they mean nothing.

And lastly, I help myself now by remembering that life is just so short and we're not here forever, theres just things that are so not worth worrying about when you look at it that way. I really dont take life so seriously anymore. Plus i study a religion that believes this life is worthless because the real rewards come in the afterlife if you're a good person on earth- kind of like this life is only a test. Thats not for everyone but its my beliefs and it helps me to deal with this life.

I hope things get better for you.

Honey · June 25th, 2007, 11:07 PM

Thanks you all, Juicylucy- Come back soon!

Interesting to here other people's experiences.

SY&P- Very interesting post thank you xoxoxoxoxoxox

olivia720 · June 26th, 2007, 06:29 AM

Nice thread. I have bipolar so I can relate big time.

StayYoung and Pretty: nice stuff in your post. makes a lot of sense.

southernbelle · June 28th, 2007, 08:20 AM

Congrats, Honey! It's good to hear that you found a counselor you like and feel comfortable with, because I feel that's always the hardest part.

CherryDarling · June 30th, 2007, 09:06 PM

I too suffer from depression due to medical issues, life, etc. So, I really know how this goes...
Good for you Honey. Finding someone you can talk to about it is so important...I'm glad you've got a good counselor.

nycgirl · July 2nd, 2007, 03:01 AM

That's great, Honey. I take antidepressants (Zoloft) and am currently switching to Prozac. I also have anxiety so I certainly know where you're coming from and how difficult it can be. Hope it works out well!

Keep us posted

btw Stay young & pretty, I'm going to take try those suggestions also

thanks for posting

Lily · July 6th, 2007, 10:25 AM

I call depression "The Monster." It's just awful. I've had dysthymia all my life, with the oh-so-pleasant occurrences of "double depression." I have been taking a low dose of Prozac, and it helped me immensely. It didn't medicate me, it just balanced things out so I didn't feel like I was underwater all the time.

I've been off the medication for about seven months, only because I had no insurance when I moved here. But I am starting the medication again this weekend, and I am relieved.

There have been some amazing people who have suffered from depression. It makes me sad that people with depression are still very stigmatized. I hate the idea that people think you can just "snap out of it." I've said before...that's like telling someone to "snap out of" diabetes or something.

My main problem is this: While I have dysthymia, and occurrences of "double depression"--I have no support system, no family, no boyfriend or husband or friends. It makes the depression that much worse, because I feel completely lost. It is hard to describe, but when The Monster rears its head, I have nowhere to go.

Counseling doesn't do much for me--most counselors get frustrated because I am too introspective and figure things out before they do. I also don't like the idea of sitting in a room and having to PAY to talk about myself for 45 minutes. When I receive a bill, it makes things worse--not only am I depressed, but I am poor. And with therapy, there is no clear-cut end. I get bored with it. It's not like the doctor says, "Okay, the cancer is in remission, the tumor is removed..."....They just keep stringing you along.

At the moment, I am feeling very sad, mainly because whatever friends I have, well, they're not close friends, and they're scattered. Nobody is close physically or emotionally. So I feel completely lost at sea. They have their families and their friends and their loves, and I'm just...wondering how to get through each day.

Truth be told, the only thing really keeping me alive is that I love my daughter. I am extremely weary and doing everything I can to get out of this, but nothing works. I can't keep anyone and I can't seem to do anything right. It makes me sad to see my friends humming along nicely and I can barely function.

silver024 · July 6th, 2007, 11:01 AM

I kind of know where your coming from Lily, while I have family, friends and a boyfriend...none of them really understand it, or why (like you said) I can't just snap out of it. Its not like a switch we can just turn on or off...i wish it was like that. I couldn't do the therapist thing either for your exact reasons, I seem to figure it out myself, and really don't want to waste money talking to someone. Wellbutrin XL has worked wonders for me. I've learned that if I try not to analyze things and dwell on them..Im much better off, I try not to think about things too much because I just end up with a panic attack or not sleeping. Im sure everyone in this thread has felt the way you do at some point, keep your chin up and things will get better.

AliceInWonderland · July 6th, 2007, 01:18 PM

good for you Honey! I wish I would do what you're doing and see someone. I think I"m going through an episode too although I've kept my depression at bay for a couple of years and went off meds, i feel it coming back. keep us updated! also; how did you find this counselor? I need to find someone decent too that will be covered by health care.

for you!!!! also what meds have you used, i want one again too now i think, but i DONT want any sexual side effects!

Egolita · July 9th, 2007, 05:24 AM

good for you to get counselling. i've read that a combination of counselling and medication is the best to combat depression etc.

A*O · July 9th, 2007, 07:17 AM

As the cynical, hardened old bitch of GR it may surprise a few people that I too have had a battle with depression. Luckily for me it was only once but it lasted a long and miserable 2 years, since when I've been OK but I still sometimes find myself in the wrong state of mind that could easily escalate. The key is being able to recognise the warning signs in yourself and make a conscious effort to avoid falling into the pit. I know it's not always possible, but I think most people can tell if/when they are beginning to slip.

I confess that meds never really helped me, in fact they made me feel even more like a brain-dead zombie living underwater, but talking it through certainly did. If counselling helps then I'd say go for it, no matter what the cost, because it has to be better than relying on meds and their side effects. Not to say that some people find meds incredibly helpful - I guess it depends on the individual but no matter what you need to try and identify what's making you depressed - and there's always something lurking there. I don't believe it 'just happens'. If you dig deep enough there is always an event, circumstance or situation that sets the ball rolling. Find that and you are half way to climbing out of the pit.