Depression

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

I wish she wouldn't schedule me in every two weeks; I think I definitely need to see her more than that.

You should insist on seeing her weekly. If you're clinically depressed, a therapist will usually want weekly visits. I went twice a week during my worst parts.

If she says no, or she doesn't have room in the schedule, then she should refer you to someone else for the in between visits. If she understands depression, that is.

Studies show the most effective way of overcoming clinical depression is meds plus regular talk therapy.

Hope you're feeling a little better today. It's hard to give advice because each person's depression is different, but one of my strategies when I was depressed was to find one thing that would enjoy that day. Sometimes it would just be the walk to my cafe to have coffee in the morning, and I would take a different route and try to pick out my favorite house on the block. Other times I would sit with my cat and listen to him purr and marvel at how he was able to show happiness in such a pure way.

Anyway, those might have been the only enjoyable things that entire day, but it really helped me get through a day.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

No. I am going through the same thing right now. In fact once I finish my lunch, I'm going to go lay down, take a nap and then go out and participate in some retail therapy. I do take meds for depression but sometimes life and my workload test the limits of that. As my late mother used to say, this too shall pass.

I still fight it too and had a bad day on Tues. It did pass. Hope today is better for you.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by carrie721

yeah. i think that feeling is heightened when you're younger and dealing with depression. it's harder to gain perspective on the situation when you've spent most of your adolescent/adult life dealing with it.

i hope you consider medication. i understand your wariness. it's not a cure-all, but it can help lift some of the burden and make it easier to organize your thoughts and work on some of the unhealthy cognitive patterns behind the emotions.

It's really rough being a teen and being depressed. I was and nobody helped me. I finally got help when I was 18 but she was not a good therapist. She helped me stabilize but I still didn't feel good. Then I finally got some real help 10 years later. I was depressed for a VERY long time and am lucky that I pulled out of it because the longer you wait the harder it is to treat. I am lucky to have that difficult to treat kind. Yay for me! :sarcasm:

Speaking of Mom issues mine is always sick with something and I see an underlying emotional issue contributing. I keep pushing her to get help but she won't and she exploded at me over it last weekend. It really sucked. And I realized how entrenched I am in her stuff. Family issues suck. She basically said she wanted sympathy for her physical pain not advice. I get that. So then I mentioned how no one really supported me when I had my severe back problem. Hello? Who's the Mommy? I never had a nurturing Mom, anyone who has one, consider yourself truly blessed.

My therapist told me she had the pleasure of meeting a famous psychologist who was very accomplished with books and such. She said the one thing in her life she truly could never get past was not having a nurturing mother. Ain't that something? We think we resolve issues but we really just learn to cope with them. Some of them just really suck.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by mikeschmike

It's all about the momrey's.

I'm not that afflicted by the lure of retail. I must be too cheap for it. I do have my up and down days though, that's for sure.

Spell check amyone? SHEESH. I am the worst ever.....

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by skcin

Holy sh*t dude. $17,000? Your symptoms sounds like more than depression to me. Glad you've gotten help since then, hope you're doing better.

Thank you. The thing is that I havent been diagnosed as bi-polar, but I think I might have a mild form of it.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I still fight it too and had a bad day on Tues. It did pass. Hope today is better for you.

Thanks sweetie.

[Mad4stevie]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Thank you. The thing is that I havent been diagnosed as bi-polar, but I think I might have a mild form of it.

Bipolar is very difficult to diagnose. Most psychiatrist try to treat it as depression, which can have disasterous results because SSRI's cause extreme mania in many people with bipolar. Often the diagnosis only comes after some real episode. I have seen it up close and personal because I lived with my boyfriend who had an extreme manic episode and I had to have him involuntarily committed to the hospital to get medicated. I read everything I could get my hands on to educate myself about this illness, and in the end, it really was just too crazy for me to stay.

I have suffered from three episodes of situational depression, mostly related to the breakups of relationships. Two of the three I did not take medication and suffered for months needlessly. The last time was when I had to leave my ex when he was so ill, simply because I needed to save myself and I could not do anything else to help him. I was devestated and could barely get out of bed. I always lose weight when this happens, and it is likely that I drop at least 12 - 15 lbs during the depression. I have taken Lexapro, which was great, Celexa which made me feel lethargic and I now have switched to Wellbutrin, which I like even more than Lexapro because there are no sexual side effects (those suck ass!!).

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

You should insist on seeing her weekly. If you're clinically depressed, a therapist will usually want weekly visits. I went twice a week during my worst parts.

If she says no, or she doesn't have room in the schedule, then she should refer you to someone else for the in between visits. If she understands depression, that is.

Studies show the most effective way of overcoming clinical depression is meds plus regular talk therapy.

Hope you're feeling a little better today. It's hard to give advice because each person's depression is different, but one of my strategies when I was depressed was to find one thing that would enjoy that day. Sometimes it would just be the walk to my cafe to have coffee in the morning, and I would take a different route and try to pick out my favorite house on the block. Other times I would sit with my cat and listen to him purr and marvel at how he was able to show happiness in such a pure way.

Anyway, those might have been the only enjoyable things that entire day, but it really helped me get through a day.

I was mentioning to Carrie last night that I don't find my shrink very effective, in the grand scheme of things. I tend to come out walking on air and feeling like I can conquer my problems... Then nothing. Sometimes I'll get what she suggested accomplished, other times I don't. I think there's still a lot to talk about, and I don't know if she (despite my telling her outright. hellooo!) really understands the magnititude of some of my situations. I've only been seeing her since August.

Thanks, though. I'm feeling a little better today. I should probably try to take more walks and get out... It's been kinda rainy and dreary here lately. Not exactly walking weather, but that'll pass soon, I hope!

[Janet]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

Anyone dealing with it right now? Because… I am! (she says enthusiastically )

Just curious. It’s been hitting me hard lately; there’s something about October and November that just ****s me right up. Everything affects me more than usual, even the stupidest and most insignificant of things. I get easily jealous, and that’s the worst part. I'm a terrible person. Blahblahblah. I’m not even sure why I’m telling everyone this. Mostly to get it off my chest, I guess.

So, am I as alone as I think I am?

First of all...if you are alone...call someone..anyone. Just talk to people and tell them how you feel. WE are here for you as well. The worst thing about depression is letting yourself be alone. Even if you go out for a walk or something...just try to get out.

As much as I hate my job, it has saved my life. It takes my mind off life and I just let myself get caught up in it. Work is lonely and depressing ...but it's better than sitting home alone.

I live alone, I don't have a boyfriend...I don't have a lot of luck and I have had the tedency to get really depressed. This summer was the worst of all...I never went out except for work...I went to bed when the sun was coming up and just woke up to go to work...blah blah...

But to get out of it...I just sucked it up and just tried to get excited over things...I tried to contact people...

I still cancel on things because these overwhelming thoughts come over me that no one wants me...and the jealousy thing too...and my feelings about myself and my looks...but I still try.

But never think your feelings are stupid or insignificant...I think the most important thing is to open up no matter how painful it is...even if just to us..because we are here. Your feelings aren't silly...but life can get better...if you just let yourself see the beauty in it...

I hope things get better!.

[foxyluva]

Originally Posted by Janet

Work is lonely and depressing ...but it's better than sitting home alone.

I live alone, I don't have a boyfriend...I don't have a lot of luck and I have had the tedency to get really depressed. This summer was the worst of all...I never went out except for work...I went to bed when the sun was coming up and just woke up to go to work...blah blah....

Janet, that sounds incredibly sad. I hope things are getting better. I am going through similar things, but not so extreme it seems...

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by Janet

First of all...if you are alone...call someone..anyone. Just talk to people and tell them how you feel. WE are here for you as well. The worst thing about depression is letting yourself be alone. Even if you go out for a walk or something...just try to get out.

As much as I hate my job, it has saved my life. It takes my mind off life and I just let myself get caught up in it. Work is lonely and depressing ...but it's better than sitting home alone.

I live alone, I don't have a boyfriend...I don't have a lot of luck and I have had the tedency to get really depressed. This summer was the worst of all...I never went out except for work...I went to bed when the sun was coming up and just woke up to go to work...blah blah...

But to get out of it...I just sucked it up and just tried to get excited over things...I tried to contact people...

I still cancel on things because these overwhelming thoughts come over me that no one wants me...and the jealousy thing too...and my feelings about myself and my looks...but I still try.

But never think your feelings are stupid or insignificant...I think the most important thing is to open up no matter how painful it is...even if just to us..because we are here. Your feelings aren't silly...but life can get better...if you just let yourself see the beauty in it...

I hope things get better!.

Thanks Janet. I feel really lonely, because aside from my family... I kind of.... have no friends. No friends I can rely on, that is. I know it's sometimes next to impossible to keep in touch with everyone after you go your separate ways, but I know some of them have stayed in contact, and I can't help but feel like they've just forgotten me. Especially this really close friend of mine, who doesn't call when she says she will, and whenever we *do* talk tells me that she misses me and would loooove to see me again... But she's too busy. Too busy going out with her other friend.

I was supposed to meet up with everyone last week at a party, and ended up not going because the same thing you described happened: The drive there was stressful because his house is hard to find, and I started getting anxious about seeing some of these people (one of whom I am mad at), and backed out of it completely.

I'm living at home, but there's only so much your parents can do for you, ya know?

Right now, I'm worried about my bird. I'm pretty sure she's sick, and I have no idea what to do for her.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

Right now, I'm worried about my bird. I'm pretty sure she's sick, and I have no idea what to do for her.

poor nelly!!! you gonna be on msn tonight?

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by carrie721

poor nelly!!! you gonna be on msn tonight?

Yeah, I have nothing else to do. I'll be on soon anyway.

[foxyluva]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

Thanks Janet. I feel really lonely, because aside from my family... I kind of.... have no friends. No friends I can rely on, that is

OMG, that just described me. Once I left school all my so-called-friends moved on without me. I feel lonely alot of the time as well. I have alot of friends, but none that I can really rely on or relate to, which is something I so desperatley need...

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by foxyluva

OMG, that just described me. Once I left school all my so-called-friends moved on without me. I feel lonely alot of the time as well. I have alot of friends, but none that I can really rely on or relate to, which is something I so desperatley need...

I know! It's so frustrating. *hugs* Stupid people. I have the Ledge and other online people, but I'd love someone I could call and go out to coffee with, without them making lame ass excuses or backing out. All the more reason why we need a big Ledgie bash!