Depression

[Egolita]

Originally Posted by A*O

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.

sometimes i think that these miracle ssris that are being prescribed like candy to people aren't 'wide spectrum'. as in, some types of depression and anxiety respond to the meds, and some don't. like you, i was on an ssri for anxiety and it made me feel like a soulless person. i actually got a bit depressed on them myself. not only do you not feel anxiety but you don't feel compassion, empathy or even care about things. the brain is so complex. serotonin might not even be your issue.

on that note, i take 5htp. it's supposed to be good for PMS, fibromyalgia, elevate mood, improve sleep and suppress cravings (says that on my bottle). the only thing it really does for me is make me lose my appetite, but i don't feel an elevated mood. so it's similar to the drugs i think.

[Honey]

Originally Posted by AliceInWonderland

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!

Well, I found mine on BACP - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy but as this is a Brit site not much help to you, but I assume the USA must have an equivalent?

I have been on Cipralex, St. John's Wort, Mirtazapine, Effexor and now Cymbalta/Duloxetine Cymbalta.com - Cymbalta, FDA Approved for Depression

My sex drive is abit up and down, so to speak, but my meds don't tend to interfere in that, not that I am getting any


AO- Talking sense as usual

[AliceInWonderland]

yeah well the whole freakin' time i was on paxil i never once had an orgasm w/ a man! it really sucked, really really bad b/c i was at my peak,

[potato_chips]

I used to suffer from depression, but that got taken over by anxiety. Anxiety makes me wish I had depression instead. I've learned ways to deal with anxiety. But both suck. So I hope things works out for all of you.

[Mabel]

Good luck, Honey. I have suffered from depression too. Along with medication and therapy, can I suggest three other things that really work for me? Exercise every day. Even a thirty minute walk can increase the dopamine in your brain and make you feel lots better. Journal: write down what you are thinking every day. You can go over it later and find harmful patterns of thought and change them. Also it is great to write and vent. Lastly, try meditation. It's not so new age. Just sit in a comfortable place and clear your mind every day even if it is only for five or ten minutes. I wish you luck in your struggles. You are not alone.

[silver024]

I totally agree with the walking thing..when I was at a really low point, thats what I started doing. Well to help me out too I got a puppy, and I love her to bits. So I started walking everyday with her, and I felt a lot better.

[Honey]

Originally Posted by Mabel

Good luck, Honey. I have suffered from depression too. Along with medication and therapy, can I suggest three other things that really work for me? Exercise every day. Even a thirty minute walk can increase the dopamine in your brain and make you feel lots better. Journal: write down what you are thinking every day. You can go over it later and find harmful patterns of thought and change them. Also it is great to write and vent. Lastly, try meditation. It's not so new age. Just sit in a comfortable place and clear your mind every day even if it is only for five or ten minutes. I wish you luck in your struggles. You are not alone.

In therapy I do keep notes of how I feel and what I do, it does help as does counselling. And the meditation is good too

Thanks for replying

[igotdosedbyyou]

Originally Posted by Honey

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

i am very happy for you, girl. i wish my cousin is doing what youre doing because shes going downhill :[.

[pacific breeze]

You've had lots of great advice, Honey. Most professionals will tell you that therapy and meds -- for at least for six months -- are the most effective ways to combat depression. Some people then go off the meds and manage to stay afloat, others need to continue to take anti-depressants for a while, or over the long term. The good news is that you can lead successful, happy -- well, as happy as anybody can be in this current world situation -- lives.

My family on both sides suffers from depression/anxiety -- it can be genetically pre-disposed, situational, or both -- and it's hard to explain to anybody who hasn't been there. It is still stigmatized unfairly as Lily pointed out, yet the stats are very high. Most people will suffer from it at some point in their lives, and some are born suffering it and can never really shake it.

A lot of people think depression is just being sad or worried, but it isn't. It's like feeling there is no hope, no reason to live, no end in sight. Just utter despair and panic. Winston Churchill called it the "black dogs." So many gifted people suffer from it. It was such an incredible shock for me to learn that NOT everybody woke up every morning with such terrible anxiety that they felt like throwing up and took hours to fall asleep at night, and felt paralyzed about making even small decisions -- I truly thought it was normal.

Luckily, depression is the most treatable (and most common) form of mental illness. I often feel that I belong to a special club of survivors and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'm just very glad that there are ways to treat it now and that those methods are readily accessible.

[Mabel]

I love Winston Churchill's "black dog" statement. It says it all. Abraham Lincoln suffered from horrible bouts of depression. LOTS of people suffer from depression. It is the common cold of mental health problems. Women suffer at a much higher percentage and it does run in families. It is very treatable and nothing to be ashamed of. I am a very common sense, capable person. I know lots of very capable, good people that suffer from depression. Most famous, gifted people seem to either be depressed or bipolar. It sounds like you are doing all the right things, Honey. I am glad you like your therapist. I think you will be just fine. I like Pacific Breeze's saying that we are a special club of survivors.

[Sojiita]

I have had an on again/off again thing with depression(with anxiety). Looks like I am in an 'on again' time now. I just really feel dead inside. Things have been worse I think since my partner died in 2001. I was up cleaning out the upstairs bedrooms preparing for my move and going through old things. I ran across the tape recorder where my partner recorded stuff specifically for me..like how much he loved me and how I had to keep on trying and not give up. It made me break down and cry-most of the time I just do not feel anthing anymore except anxiety, or anger, or some superficial laughs maybe.
I guess I should go back into counseling but I have had some terrible experiences with counselers/therapists etc. Some of them have been virtual criminals themselves..one definitely a fucking sociopath who I did report(I even had my partner come into a session with me so he could verify that the guy was CRAZY-and he did as the guy was just as crazy with him there as with me alone! Of course nothing happened.

I cannot afford counseling now anyway-no insurance so that leaves the state funded stuff-where all of the therapists who are crazy, evil, incompetant or simply who do not give a fuck are relegated apparently. Good luck to those fighting this stuff and hang in there..I know I am.

[silver024]

I'm sorry to hear about your partner Sojiita. My grandfather just brought over a bunch of old pictures and recipe books from my grandmother, just looking at her handwriting made me break down, she died in 98. I miss her alot, and was really close to her so whenever I come across things like that I start to cry right away. Maybe you could try some of the things people have mentioned in this thread. I find that if I keep looking at old pictures and newspaper cut outs, I get really down. I used to be pretty good at basketball. My mom kept everything that was ever printed with my name in it, and I started making a scrapbook out of all my articles and pictures and stuff like that...brought me down a lot. I love scrapbooking, but I've stopped because I always seem to get really down when I do it.

[WickedHo]

Originally Posted by Honey

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

I HEART HONEY! I hope you're having another good day today!

[pacific breeze]

Originally Posted by Sojiita

I have had an on again/off again thing with depression(with anxiety). Looks like I am in an 'on again' time now. I just really feel dead inside. Things have been worse I think since my partner died in 2001. I was up cleaning out the upstairs bedrooms preparing for my move and going through old things. I ran across the tape recorder where my partner recorded stuff specifically for me..like how much he loved me and how I had to keep on trying and not give up. It made me break down and cry-most of the time I just do not feel anthing anymore except anxiety, or anger, or some superficial laughs maybe.
I guess I should go back into counseling but I have had some terrible experiences with counselers/therapists etc. Some of them have been virtual criminals themselves..one definitely a fucking sociopath who I did report(I even had my partner come into a session with me so he could verify that the guy was CRAZY-and he did as the guy was just as crazy with him there as with me alone! Of course nothing happened.

I cannot afford counseling now anyway-no insurance so that leaves the state funded stuff-where all of the therapists who are crazy, evil, incompetant or simply who do not give a fuck are relegated apparently. Good luck to those fighting this stuff and hang in there..I know I am.

That numb feeling is the worst...I've come across some horrible therapists myself. I had one woman who would keep me waiting for hours. She used to practice out of her home and one day she showed up after I'd been waiting about half an hour and started yelling at me!!! I finally reported her to the proper authorities but it turned out her husband was the head of the mental health board in the province of Alberta. She was a freak -- kept saying women who were battered "deserved" what they got. She was later institutionalized, I heard. Another shrink got up in the middle of one of our sessions and walked her dog! She did this twice -- she also used to blast opera -- and I was seriously beginning to wonder about myself. Found out later she was doing this to other patients, too.

Hang in there, Soj -- you've been through an awful lot and big changes like this always stir up memories/sadness.

[Honey]

Originally Posted by WickedHo

I HEART HONEY! I hope you're having another good day today!

Sweet words, thank you