So what you are saying is that Bottom Line has to quit the SDMB? 
Counselling did me little good, as my depression is biological and not situational. Prozac did, and does, me a world of good. I’ve been on it for 4-1/2 years and suspect I’ll be on it for the rest of my life because when I don’t take my meds it becomes pretty obvious pretty quickly.
Other than what everyone else has said, which I agree with, I have dogs. (Warning: dangerously cute picture of my youngest beagle) I also like to garden. I’m getting into nepenthes pitcher plants. I’m still not sure which kinds. (That’s my actual finger holding a ruler in the corner!)
Dogs don’t have “bad” mornings. They can help get you out of bed, that’s for sure. Plants encourage happy morning behavior as well. Getting outside is helpful I’ve found. Anything to avoid unnecessary thinking. Less Great Debates, more MPSIMS – ya know? Give the meds a chance to work.
Jesus Christ Beagle!!. I don’t know whether I’d call that photo ‘cute’ or just completely bloody off the wall. I’m am so NOT game to open the flicks of your plants after THAT initiation!!
Since she’s puking, thus keeping me up, it’s only fitting I should mention that she (Pumpkin: aka, “Punk,” “Punkinator,” “Puke,” etc.) does not eat any living fauna on the porch. Note: “living” “fauna” – everything else is fair game.
I think she assumes all the larger animals are part of the pack. She loves toads, cuz as you might have noticed they get pretty large on the porch. She draws the line at anoles, which she chases but never seriously harms. Well, she leaps at them. That must smart if you’re a six or seven inch lizard maximum that’s mostly tail. She misses about 100% of the time though, as it’s a playful leap with paws outstretched and lots of warning.
I can’t agree more with the advice given here. I am suffering from depression and just got out of the hospital a week ago after a week’s hospitalization. Why did it get that bad? Because I idotically went off my meds. (Well, there were other factors, and I wanted an excuse to drop my religion, but that’s a really long story…) At the hospital they put me back on meds. So yes, taking your meds is really really vital.
I do have a therapist… sometimes she helps me just clear my head and is someone to listen to things I don’t think I could tell anyone else. But I would agree that meds did me more good than therapy.
(Also, like another posted, I became a net addict when depressed and I’m still not all the way over it).
Like others, family history of depression…
My advice, learn yourself well. Know when the chemicals in your brain are starting to misfire and get to the doctor immediately so you don’t crash before the meds start taking effect. Some people choose to go on the meds and stay on them, some don’t. I got off them years ago when I wanted to get pregnant - tapered them with advice from my psychiatrist - then went back on them later when my kids were little and I was undergoing a lot of stress, but when the stress went, I got off them again. Because of the delay in meds taking effect - I’d get on them now, start working with a therapist, and then decide if the behavioral therapy can work alone - don’t risk crashing because you are drug adverse or think having to take antidepressants are a sign of weakness.
If you get treated regularly throughout your life for moderate depression, you may avoid a major crash. Major crashes are MUCH harder to medicate out of. My aunt has struggled for years with big doses heavy drugs (like Lithium - they don’t stick you on Lithium for fun) and hospitalization, and someone finally told the family that if she (and we) had managed the depression earlier while she was functional, she might still be function, but her chances of ever being what she was get slimmer with each crash.
The other advice - just because someone has great luck with one medication, does not mean it will work for you. They all take time to kick in, so finding the right med for you may take some time. I hated Zoloft, for instance - zombie woman. But Paxil and me seemed to get along great.
Another depressed person checking in…
One thing I have found out about depression is that once I am depressed, my emotions and feelings become irrational. Don’t sit down and analyse your feelings for too long if you know there is no cause for it. If you know the cause then don’t keep thinking about it. Don’t even think about the blame; just feel it.
it’s like getting a cut. It hurts - because it is a cut. If you keep fingering it, it will get worse.
Getting a good therapist is important too. Counselling only work if it is an effective two way communication. I have seem 4 counsellors; there are two which I could ‘talk’ to. They never judge my statements, never try to ‘normalise’ my problem (i.e, hinting that you are making a Mount Everest out of a molehill; that other people can cope so why can’t you?) and treat me as an intelligent creature.
It’s a good idea to read books on depression and what causes it. I did tonne of reading before I venture to for counselling. If you are unsure about the medicine, use the Internet (i.e Google) to check for the side effects of the medicine. Every medicine works differently for different people, as one has pointed out. I have been on Faverin for two years and it’s…well, working.
The difficult question to answer is “What causes the depression? What causes it to happen in the first place?” I hope the counsellor will work towards to finding out. Knowing that is half the battle, but after that it’s another uphill battle.
Well, does counselling and medication works for me. Yes, that is, till I enter the military. Then it’s back to square one…It’s just damn unfortunate that military life contains all the ‘triggers’ to the gun of depressions and anxiety attack that I have. I have no choice about entering the military (national policy here), but the thng is - don’t give yourself too much stress.
Last word - the world at large don’t understand depression. If you think you want to share your problems, find someone who you know is not a jerk, who you can trust and someone, who above all else, is receptive to new ideas and learning. I have twice commit the blunder of sharing my problems with people who has no commitement to learn about the problem. It hurts when people misundestood your problem and give you bad advices and patronise you.
If you had diabetes, you’d take insulin and do whatever it took to keep yourself going, right?
Well, depression is like that. Mine was and is related to the fact that I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It took me a while to realize-it’s not because I’m weak. It’s not because I’m whining.
It’s because I have a sickness and I need help for it.
Keep in mind what triggers it for you. For me, one thing that helped was finding out what kept my mind off whatever I was upset about, or obsessing about. Of course, part of the problem with depression is that one cannot find any enjoyment in the things one usually does.
HOWEVER, it doesn’t have to be something that you enjoy, but keeps you thinking. I don’t know if this will work for you-this is what I did while waiting for my meds to kick in, during the initial period of therapy, and while learning how to cope.
I won’t kid you, it’s not a cure. It’s just one of the exercizes I used. It might be different for you.
You’ve gotten through the hard part-realizing it, and having it diagnosed. Now, you have to go forward. Later on, you won’t have to be so scared of the unknown-you’ll recognize the symptoms, and be able to stop it from getting too severe.
Good luck! I remember when I hit rock bottom, and I’m ever amazed at how far I’ve come since then.
Hang in there.
I’ve had moderate depression, bi-polar disorders and all that for several years. There are several things I’d suggest:
I’m going to modify a quote from John Lennon, “All you need is love hope.” Seriously, there is always hope to get through the rough times, no matter what. Don’t ever let yourself get to the point where that fact becomes blurry…that’s when it gets very dangerous…so hang in there!
Echoing some other thoughts expressed, be as social as possible. During many bouts with depression I stayed very secluded…worst thing to do!
Not all meds work all the time. Some might work great, some won’t ever work. Don’t be afraid to try different meds, but give yourself ample time to test them, and make sure that coming off of something won’t be too damaging (Be ESPECIALLY careful with Paxil).
You’ve got through the hard parts of it all by looking for help…it really gets better from now on…recognizing the symptoms is very important.
Good luck, and don’t ever give up!
You are doing the first worst thing: DON’T LET DEPRESSION DEFINE WHO YOU ARE. Forget about the name it means nothing to you focus on just how you feel and just your treatment.
Talking to someone means shit. Unless you are actually working on a goal therapy is worthless.
Don’t depend on pills to save you. I have been through god knows how many different kinds of medication and am now on 3 kinds right now (8 pills a day) You have to expect being up and down with pills not just automatically happy.
If it is just a chemical problem then pills will work more then psychologists will.
You don’t need this advice because even though you weren’t diagnosed with it you have HAD depression, now someone is just putting a name to it.
Personally I am dealing with major depression, self-mutilation (if at all possible don’t even get messed up in that no matter how bad you feel.) Obsessive Compulsive, Anxiety disorder, and doctor is looking in to boarderline personality disorder which basically means i’ll have to go back on anti-psychotics which make me nothing but tired and unable to function. Blah. I hate being so sad and angry all the time. I am paranoid at any little thing, I manipualte (be VERY careful of this it is common for depression and you usually won’t catch yourself doing it) anyone and everyone. I have had 2 stays in the psych ward and if there is one thing you want to work towards it is staying out of those places! Just basically my one major piece of advice is have people to support you no matter what you think they care. And last NEVER be afraid to call someone and tell them you’re not feeling good/safe. good luck with your treatment if you ever need help or have a question my email is psychomoooo@hotmail.com
Ditto head I guess.
All advice was good so far.
Keep on truckin…
