depression

A

apathrev

Guest
Every couple of months or so I go through a small period where I am severely depressed. I don't want to do anything, I'm frustrating with everyone, and I go through withdrawal. Lately I've been experiencing this more frequently, and for longer periods. I just don't know what to do. I've never taken any medication for it, and I don't want to. Anyone got any advice? And don't just say "snap out of it."
 
Ouch. I've been through that several times in my lifetime and right now I am depressed, to be honest with you. Yep, I am. The medication is helping me to stay on my feet. Also I keep myself busy with hobbies I like to do, like playing computer games, sewing curtians for my home, and help my boys' school (volunteering).

Since you said that you do not want to take any medication, I would suggest you to do something you like to do. Go for a walk? Play a board game with friends? Help out the community services? There are so many things to do out there. I may be wrong since you are not me and I am not you. :dunno: If I do something I like to do, I feel better because I got it done and I see my accomplishments. :thumb: Hope my advices help. Good luck.
 
cental34 said:
Every couple of months or so I go through a small period where I am severely depressed. I don't want to do anything, I'm frustrating with everyone, and I go through withdrawal. Lately I've been experiencing this more frequently, and for longer periods. I just don't know what to do. I've never taken any medication for it, and I don't want to. Anyone got any advice? And don't just say "snap out of it."
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buddy u sound just like me man. i will go through these periods of time where i hate myself, and i just want to find a hole, climb inside of it and cry. i dont want to take medication either. i know what helps me is to find a friend who will actually listen to me. and the only thing i can do to help u is to be there for you. so if u ever start feeling sad and depressed, just PM me, and ask for my aim sn, and ill give it to u, and we'll talk about anything and everything u want to talk about. and u have my word that i will listen.
 
You said it yourself, you can't just snap out of it a depression. There are a lot of stigmas attached to medication, but after having dealt with depression for 34 years without it, I can tell you, life's a whole helluva lot better WITH it. I still get depressed, but the valleys aren't as deep. There are more good days than bad.

Talk therapy and medication combined are the most effective tools for dealing with depression. I highly recommend you see a psychologist, and if he/she refers you to a psychiatrist, consider their advice about using medication.

It can make a WORLD of difference.

In any case, surround yourself with a support group. Remember WHY you are here and who needs you. If things get really bad, call a crisis hotline. Recognize when you have gotten to the point where you NEED professional help, and don't let your stereotypes, misconceptions, or ideas of stigma prevent you from getting it.

My thoughts are with you. Depression is a real bitch!
 
depression sucks.. I had depression since i was 12 yrs old, and it was getting worse and worse til 15 yrs old then i started taking medication. It helps a bit but not much cuz it was wrong meds for me, and then found out i have bipolar disorder, so struggled with bipolar for several years til it got worse and ended up in hospital 3 time for sucidual attempts and a couple of time for safety of myself. So i had meds increased and is on different meds as well, so now i am feeling good. I am not going through the up and downs of bipolar as much as i used to do. I sometime get a bit depressed but i usually cheer up within hours.

So as for meds, they arent so bad, they help alot. And Cental... believe me the sooner you get help the easier it is to manage your depression, because if you dont get help it will get worse and worse til u cant handle it anymore and stuff. So I suggest you to go see someone to talk to, and go from there. Maybe all you need is therphy, who knows. But the sooner u get help, the sooner you will get better. :hug:
 
:hug: :hug: Depression is such a sad thing to see anyone go through. Some people have it for a short time, and others have it for a long time. It's like time just stands still.

Why don't you try talking to a therapist, call and make an appt. and see what kind of road the doctor will take you.

You need right now to be around anything positive, going down to the beach, paint, draw, just listen to some nice soothing music.

I pray that you will be alright my friend. Be well dearheart, and take things one day at a time. Take care. God bless.
 
my doctor told me I had bi-polar which I think was true.. I was married and went into a state of depression.. I would try to kill myself, drive to a tree and crash etc.. you name it.. that WAS WHEN I WAS ON MEDICATION for depression.. it made me a entirely different person. Before I hit my depression, i was this sweet, shy and very friendly girl.. after i got married, i was always bitchin' , unhappy, wanted to die etc.. I divorced.. I was confuse with my life whether i wanted to be a lesbian or stay straight.. it took me a long time to figure out wanted i wanted to be.. that is to be straight. I got off of my medications, I feel so much better about myself, I just had to keep my ass outta the house to stay out of my depression. So now i'm working, its much better..

I think it varies on people if they can handle the medication or not.. you can try taking medications and see how it makes you feel.. its gonna make you sleep alot, i guarantee you that. or you fight it. You have to do this on your own to keep your head above and fight for your life. that's what i did and still do! it runs in my family.
 
Thanks all for the support and advice. I do need to find something positive to consume my time. Believe it or not, work has been my main source of happiness. That shows desperation. I guess school gets me away from it. I start ASL classes on Monday, and I'm really looking forward to that.

Lately, it just seems like its worse than ever. I think a source of it is this town. I really dislike where I love, and I'm very much looking forward to moving next year. I guess at this point, I should see about seeing a therapist and seeing what they have to saym, but I'm afraid I'll just be told to take 2 prozac and call me in the morning. I don't want to end up on medication. I don't want to have to depend on some pill to control my state of mind and make me smile.

I guess I'm going to start looking for hobbies or better ways to spend my time to take my mind off life. I've already got one, right here.

AJ, I think I will take you up on that offer. I really appreciate it, dude.

Again, thanks all for your input and support. It means the world to me.
 
RebelGirl said:
its gonna make you sleep alot, i guarantee you that. or you fight it.
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It shouldn't make you sleepy...I imagine it depends on what you're taking, and what kind of depression you have - depression, bi-polar, whatever...

I take Lexapro and it doesn't affect my sleep cycles. HOWEVER, I do also take Ambien because for the last year, I've had trouble sleeping due to SHIT in my life. (Clearly, I haven't taken it yet tonight, as it's after midnight, and I'm still very much awake.)

Add: Major league stress makes me fall asleep though...when SH left, I fell asleep all the time. After the divorce hearing Tuesday, I came home and fell asleep. Brain says, "OFF," and that's it.
 
I have been having trouble sleeping lately, but still, I don't want something controlling my thinking.
 
cental34 said:
I guess at this point, I should see about seeing a therapist and seeing what they have to saym, but I'm afraid I'll just be told to take 2 prozac and call me in the morning. I don't want to end up on medication. I don't want to have to depend on some pill to control my state of mind and make me smile.
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There's no such thing as a "happy pill." Lexapro, Prozac, etc. they don't work that way. And you can't just take two and feel all better.

I take Lexapro, and my son takes Prozac. I only sought treatment after watching HIM suffer, and realizing that I needed to do something to help him before he hit adolescence, and became a potential suicide due to his depression. Watching his recovery - which is still in progress, BTW - taught me that I didn't have to suffer either. Prozac has helped him to be able to cope with a physical condition.

If you had a rash, you get treatment. If you had strep, you'd take antibiotics. Depression isn't all that different. You'd "depend" on the antibiotics to ease your suffering and help you get better. I depend on the Lexapro to level the playing field so that I can cope with the CRAP of life. :)

I encourage you to find a good therapist. I LOVE mine. She's the kind of person that you'd love to hang out with even if you didn't HAVE to! LOL With out her and meds, I wouldn't be here today. That I can guarantee you.
 
I have ever right to be depressed.

I was upset with the Hurricane Katrina, I cried when those victims sobbing.
I was upset when some of my family members were in New Orleans, stuck.
I am sad because my cousin Diedre decided to stay with her sister in Florida, I am wondering why Diedre would want to stay in Florida the Hurricane State.
I am depressed about the Gay marriage.
I am sad because the Gas price is so high.
I am sad because of my personal life, I won't say here.
I am sad because there are some mean people out there.
I am depressed because of me being born with Treacher Collins Syndrome.
I am depressed because of my past....
 
In Depression ways which i am aware,.. it's give signs that you are bored so often and do the same thing over and over, nothing new thing for u to do. Staying home too much which is best way to go out often and exporling around the world which don't have to travel everywhere in world. Exploring in each cities in 30 min range it can sometime gives you a intersting.. Working too much and give you same over and over and you don't get raise for pretty 2 or 3 years later and u are still suffer with money..
Didn't have a yourself a relationship wtih somebody that can sometime give you crazy or haven't a sex for a while

Those signs can affect you to be a depression.. you would have to think about it and how u can change in different way in better way. that's would work..
 
I understand what you're saying, but I guess I'm afraid of medication because then if I would feel like I'm not myself. I'm being forced into a certain state of mind. I'd rather deal with it through practice.
 
>>I have been having trouble sleeping lately, but still, I don't want something controlling my thinking.<<

Depression also controls one's thinking, and sometimes it can be life threatening like thoughts of suicide.
There is depression and depression, they are not the same and sometimes therapy will suffice, while in other cases a medication is neccessary.

I would say if you have trouble functioning normally, it's time to go see your doctor.

Fuzzy
 
I wouldn't mind doing thing over and over again...

It would be nice to have a desk job, typing in word processor, and play a little music in the office, socialize with co workers everyday, joking and going out....

My mom worked as a teacher for 30 years and she loved her jobs...
the only thing stopping her is her old age. She still have her friends she worked with at school... They even go to retiring teacher meeting together and do a lot of things together.

I wish I can be a teacher too or something like that... loving your job
so much.
 
Miss*Pinocchio said:
I have ever right to be depressed.

I was upset with the Hurricane Katrina, I cried when those victims sobbing.
I was upset when some of my family members were in New Orleans, stuck.
I am sad because my cousin Diedre decided to stay with her sister in Florida, I am wondering why Diedre would want to stay in Florida the Hurricane State.
I am depressed about the Gay marriage.
I am sad because the Gas price is so high.
I am sad because of my personal life, I won't say here.
I am sad because there are some mean people out there.
I am depressed because of me being born with Treacher Collins Syndrome.
I am depressed because of my past....
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I will never understand you. :|
 
>>>I understand what you're saying, but I guess I'm afraid of medication because then if I would feel like I'm not myself. I'm being forced into a certain state of mind. I'd rather deal with it through practice.<<<

I am afraid you are already forced into certain state of mind, a negative one.
And it seem to me that you are not your usual self anyway.
I am not sure if you tried to deal somehow with your problem yet, or not, but it looks like it's not working much..?

>>then if I would feel like I'm not myself<<


well, you have no way to know how are you going to feel without trying it first, have you?
you can always stop the medication if you don't like how you feel, just remember you shouldn't stop it suddenly, but slowly decrease the dosage.

In your first post you wrote:
>>Lately I've been experiencing this more frequently, and for longer periods. I just don't know what to do.<<<

That would indicate that things are progressing, and to a point that you no longer have control over it, and you are helpless as to what to do about it. Also, since you recognize this is not your regular self, that means when depressed you are in altered state of mind, right?


I think you should go and see your dr who should reffer you to a good psychiatrist.
the difference between psychologist and psychiatrist is that the psychiatrist is a medical doctor, well qualified to recognize and treat mental illnesses beside being a psychoterapist. I am not saying you have mental illness, of course. Just the difference between the two professionals.

You should choose someone who'm you'll like, feel confident and comfortable with,
and who knows, maybe you won't need any medication at all or maybe not right away or maybe just for a little while.
You may tell the dr you do not wish to take medications and first try to work it out with therapy, meditations, realxation thechniques, but please remember the reason for depression is that our brain is malfuctioning something is not working right in there and sometimes medication is neccessary.

Please keep in touch,
Fuzzy
 
Miss*Pinocchio said:
I wouldn't mind doing thing over and over again...

It would be nice to have a desk job, typing in word processor, and play a little music in the office, socialize with co workers everyday, joking and going out....

My mom worked as a teacher for 30 years and she loved her jobs...
the only thing stopping her is her old age. She still have her friends she worked with at school... They even go to retiring teacher meeting together and do a lot of things together.

I wish I can be a teacher too or something like that... loving your job
so much.
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Now don't get me wrong. I don't love my job by any means, but lately its been the only source of enjoyment I've had, mostly because I get my mind off life for a couple of hours.

Thanks for the advice Fuzzy. I've always tried to avoid substances that will effect my judgement (drinking, drugs, smoking, I only recently stopped smoking cigars, though, I even try to avoid caffeine, when I can). I am definetely going to see visiting a doctor. I guess I should talk with my mother about this since she is a registered nurse, has been this route before, and would know where to start.
 
I rather be depressed than to take medication and to go seek therapy.

Depression helps me in some way, I don't wanna feel good or be happy all the time.

It really feel good to cry....

Go ahead Arnold Schwarzenegger, approve gay marriage!!!! Make
me even more depressed. :applause:
 
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