Depression, anxiety, Advice

LegacyUser

Hi, Ive had depression for the last 3 or 4 years, I was able to hide it in the beginning, my family and friends know about it now, through various signs in my behavior ie: Just being low allot, and a bit anxious in certain social settings. Its starting to really affect my life now and I need to get some help. I went to my gp about 5 months ago, had blood tests ect. didnt go back cause my mum was worried about me taking antidepressants, I dont particularly want them either. I havnt been able to go out and have a propper good session with the lads in ages, I have the odd great night but most of them are crap for me, I dont want to be a burden on anyone, I used to be able to go out and be the life of the party, those days are long gone. From what Ive read about antidepressants, most people say that they turn you into an emotionless zombie, and try to come off the tabs? I am going to go to a psychologist, does this help? What will I get, will I be a happier person, Will I be able to have my life back? Its really pissin me off at the moment, I want to go out and have a good laugh with my mates. I just cant seem to get myself out of this rut of negativity, Im finding it hard to have propper conversations with people and can get anxious around people and tend to cut conversations short, its really obvious at this stage, enough is enough, I just want to get back to normal. Has anyone else experienced this? Any advice greatly appreciated.

comad

ring the samaritans or visit aware.ie. Thing about depression is that it is really easily cured so chin up.

g'em

comad wrote:

Thing about depression is that it is really easily cured so chin up.

no, unfortunately its not. there's no magic cure, no antibiotics you can take that clear it up in a week or so. it can be debilitating and incredibly difficult to get through.

But it can be 'cured' with lots of time and a even more patience and understanding. its one of the most misunderstood illnesses in this country and many people who have never had first hand experience of it can't understand how difficult it is to deal with. telling someone with depression that 'it'll be grand soon' or 'look on the bright side' is awful as it only makes the sufferer feel even guiltier for being down in the first place!

Antidepressants have also had a bad rap recently, and a little unjustly imo. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. the same way that you need antibiotics to get over a bacterial infection, AD's will help you get back to a level where you're better physically able to cope. There's lots of different types and lots of people have to try two, three or more to get the one that suits them. They don't make you become 'an emotional zombie', but they can bring you back to an emotional level where you're better able to cope with daily life.

A psychologist should be able to help, to help you find out whats at the root of the depression. They will help you learn coping strategies, and help you figure out how to solve situations that may be making your depression worse. Samartians and Aware are fantastic organisations that are there to just let you talk, they don't judge, and they do understand.

You will feel better in time, and in a funny kind of way it'll make you a stronger person. You'd be amazed how many people have been through it too, you're definitely not alone, no matter how much it feels that way sometimes. Venting and talking and just accepting that its ok to feel down when you're in the middle of this is the start. Talk to your gp again about possibly starting a course of AD's, but rememebr they take a good 2-6 weeks to kick in, so don't expect too much too soon. And then its up to you to work at it a little bit, figure out why you feel that way. And hopefully you have at least one good friend who you can confide in about it. Most people are a lot more responsive to it than you think.

Take care and good luck.

nesf

Unfortunately, as said above, there is no quick and simple cure. It's not even that well understood tbh. Anti-depressants do help most people, but not all, and the "chemical imbalance" explanation is only a half-truth tbh.

But, advice wise...

Talk to your doctor, and get him/her to refer you to a psychiatrist. I would recommend this because in my opinion (not a medical one!) it is better to be seeing a specialist about this kind of stuff. Depression can take a lot of time to treat. Councilling can be a great help for some, little help for others. The same goes for self-help groups like Aware. Try them, see if they can help you. Don't worry too much if they don't help you, that's pretty normal for most people with depression. Some treatments work, some don't.

I would also talk to your mother. The drugs of today are very different to the drugs of 10 or 15 years ago and almost unrecognisable from the ones from 20 or 30 years ago. You should have a chat with her, even get your psychiatrist to talk to her if you think it will help her. I wouldn't ignore her desires on this but try to help her understand that you need to deal with this and that anti-depressants may be the right option for you.


In essence, talk to a professional about this and try to help your mother to understand what the treatment options available are. Involve her to some extent in the decisions. It will help you both in the long run.


I hope you feel better soon, if not, don't worry. Depressions end. With treatment and help they end sooner. Sometimes they never come back. This is something you can get through and something that is worth fighting against. Otherwise it can potentially take over your life if you try to ignore it.

Santa Claus

boards unreg wrote:

From what Ive read about antidepressants, most people say that they turn you into an emotionless zombie

Speaking as someone who has been there and out the other side, they don't turn you into an emotionless zobie, if anything they stop you becoming an emotional wreck.

You will always find a horror story about something on the web, one mans cure being another mans poison and all that.
Get yourself to a psychiatrist, half of GP's don't know what they're prescribing when it comes to Anti-depressants/SSRI's whereas Psychiatrists are specialists and may know which medication could help you best.

You can be a happier person and get your life back, but you can do it quicker if you seek the right professional advice.

LegacyUser

hi.
my advice would be to go and see a councillor.
not a psychiartrist (sp?) mind you, a councillor.(thats my personal opinion mind you Im not a doctor).

Talk more to your GP ask why he/she is recommending antidepressants and if he things that your situation requires them or if councilling might work. (not knowing all the facts here), but if you are unhappy about taking antidepressants or afraid...ask why your being put on them...

If your GP recommends (and if you decide) try and identify with said councillor if something triggered the depression. Or if something has made you unhappy with your life that you just havent pin pointed with the busyness of life.
Just have a yap once a week with this person.
Ask your GP for reputable good councillors close to you. Ask lots of questions.

Les_Paul

hey i bough this thin online its called the Linden Method and its a story of a man in uk who had severe anxiety and u get 4 cds with it and shui leng (i think thats it) relaxing ancient slow fighting movements which help u relax and circulate ur breathing right

i have anxiety nearly 8 years and just got this recently,

think about it why go doctor ? he aint gonna be able to help u,u go for re-assurance as too a phycologist

u cause anxiety urself not old problems childhood.anxiety is fear of fear plain and simple fact.like if somebody u never to think of colour red whats the first thing u do ? think of red right ? so its always in ur head.or like if u never drove a car in 10 years never even seen one even which is hard but as soon as u get into car after all that time u nervous rough around edges but u train ur brain into thinking it be ok and becomes second nature

all thats wrong is ur subconcious mind thinks its doing nothing wrong but its working in a negative state and thinks its ok u need to re-learn things to make ur mind think on a more positive note once u do i garantee u it will go.

i'll dig out the web address later and post it on here tonight if u wanna but it ? it has got lots of support from doctors and comes with 365 day money back garantee if u dont get better u get money back nothing to lose and he does in depty as to how anxiety can occur diets,posture,etc makes alot of valid points let me know if this any use

hope u get better soon

ando

hmm not sure if its depression or social phobia that you have, or because of the social anxiety, that is leading to depression. Read up about social phobia if you think that is what it is. A lot of people suffer from it in one form or the other, 1 in 10 infact so take comfort in the fact that your not alone

Esel

Go back to your doctor. If he/she is clued in enough to have done blood tests, that is a good sign. An antidepressant could help a great deal, and you should not feel zonked at all. Talk to your mother about what her fears are, then talk to your doctor about this.