Please help me if you can to rise above depression. I have been feeling depressed so much recently and seem to want to cry a lot. In the past I have always been able to pull my self up by the boot straps but recently it hasn't been that easy. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
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I feel for you, I REALLY do. I too was feeling the same way, I dont know why. I have a beautiful model material (LOL) husband who loves me, works double shifts 6 days a week, makes more than decent money, a BEAUTIFUL 2 year old blond haired, blue eyed son and yet I couldn't shake this feeling of depression. We have a nice home, 3 cars,closets and closets full of beautiful clothes. I have my health, as does my entire family..... I just don't get it. I am 35 but most people think I am 25 !! I finally went to my Dr. in LA Ca. and got xanax. It works like magic !! highly addictive, but I didn't and don't care !! I excercise, and try to eat right and so I just opted for pills. Hey they are there for something right?? I know it is supposed to be a temporary fix, but without them, I am a wreck again. There is other options as far as meds go, but xanax works for me. I didn't want to try prozac. If you dont want to have any more children, or if you are beyond that stage in your life, try zoloft. It is more mild than xanax but you have zero sex drive and you never feel sad or truely happy, you're just monotone.
I have been off Wellbutrin XL since June 1st 2004 (ironically the time I concieved my 2nd baby boy!). I think pregnancy and time did it for me, because I feel more balanced though I still get some obsessive/compulsive tendencies. It is all one day at a time (and careful nutrition) for me. I stopped using birth control pills because they counterreacted with my pills, and I got depressed on them without my meds, and when I stopped the pill, the depression (more fatigue) went away! I had been fighting it (literally) since I was 14, and it was more psych than phys, but even when things were "normal" (which made me uncomfortable) I still had physical symptoms. It was very difficult for my DH when we first started dating, but he helped me by learning and listeniing, and he is my best friend! So be sure you have a support system of people that you can "vent" to.
Hi Gina,
It takes guts to admit one's depression. I know! I lived it! Weird thoughts went through my head and I was always crying... My worst time was when I was driving home from work. At work, I had to put on a "happy" face. As soon as I got in my car, my feelings of sadness just wrapped me like a blanket in summer... I was miserable! That was in 1997... I even went into therapy and in 1998, got a prescription for Wellbutrin... After taking a week's worth, I decided to flush it down the toilet. You see, I went into some soul-searching and just remembered that in my current depressed stage of life, I was missing one thing. That was a close personal relationship with God. I had one when I was a child and through my teenage years. I used to be very prayerful and went to church religiously. I lost all these when I got married.
there are so many things that are the cause of depression that you'll probably get a million answers to your question. here's my two cents worth: try st johns wort. it works pretty much like prozac. nowhere near as strong. play with the dosage. start small and work your way to the max dose (if needed). i've also had a lot of luck with vitamin d3. its subtle but it seems to do the trick for me. i take 2000 units a day. yes it is safe if you get d3 and not synthetic stuff.
Please,please seek some kind of help..whether from a doctor or therapist. I speak from experience and have been dealing with depression for the better part of 25 years. Medication helps and therapy is a godsend for me.
Try keeping a journal, be honest in that journal. No one will read it but you. Put down what you are feeling. Also, exercise releases endorphins, which is supposed to have something to do with well being. Get out, even to walk a path, listen to uplifing music, get a joke a day sent to you. You could try a pastor, bishop or reverend, whatever your belief may be. If need be, a councellor. Try learning something new every day...even a small thing. a fact a day calendars are good. Neither the wife or mother of A G Bell could ever call him on the phone...they were both deaf. Doing positive things can help. Volunteer at a school, or for story time at the library, or for tutoring. Help someone who has limited mobility by taking them shopping for groceries, and not charge them anything. The gratitude in their eyes, and the smiles are uplifting. Good luck.
There are different types of depression that you get from different causes and all are treated differently. That's probably why you were able to "pull yourself out of it" before and cannot do it now. If you need to see a doctor and use meds, by all means, do it. But pills need some help for you to respond optimally. Make sure to eat a good diet with no sugar or alcohol (especially if you are on meds). Get plenty of exercise. Talk to someone if possible and/or journal. And try to function normally, because sometimes it jolts your brain into believing that you really are fine. Hang in there--when you're at the bottom, there's no way to go but up.
I am probably not one to be giving advice since I'm not in your shoes but I would think seeing a Dr would be your best bet. There are medications these days plus you just need to find out what's really going on. Coming here to ask for advice is a step in the right direction and took courage. Now, go see your Dr and soon!
Hello Gina,
I too suffer from depression. It does run in families you know. Do you know just how long it has been since this episode began? Have you noticed any patterns as to what sets the depression off? Medical professionals recommend if it lasts longer than six weeks, to seek assistance. You didn't say whether or not you are happy with your life, your job etc. What your life was like as a child also plays a part. Are you able to speak up for and support yourself when other's won't for whatever reason. I have suffered from depression since my mid thirties when I had my first major depressive incident. There are so many factors which play into what causes or sustains depression. Do you have medical insurance to see a counselor or a psychiatrist who treat the mind which is an organ just like the heart or liver or kidneys. There are specialists for each of the body's organs. I was fortunate when I first started getting depressed, they had just realized that the chemicals in the brain can go haywire and cause depression and other disorders. I do have to take meds for it and it really gives me a normal life. I am, at heart, an optimist and am an upbeat person, but I couldn't overcome the depression by myself after a while either. Without the meds, I'd be sleeping all the time, feel like life was not worth living. It really helps to alleviate the pain. I would like to see you go for an evaluation if you try all the great suggestions others gave (which I also do) but, if it doesn't work for you. Remember the brain is an organ just like the others in our body and sometimes help is needed to sustain it's health. I also have to work to help the meds do the work. I watch shows that make me laugh. Laughter gets the endorphins going. I keep a supply of jokes handy to tell others and we all laugh. I watch shows which make me laugh. I also make myself smile whether or not I feel like it, because as the depression sends a message not to smile, if I smile a lot another type of message is sent from the muscles of the face to the brain. This is true. It's a kind of conditioning of the brain by the body where it's not functioning like it should just like exercises of the lower body can help to regain skills lost due to stroke etc.. I also was good at pulling myself up by my bootstraps, and sometimes I still have to... but without the meds I'd be lost. Please do not allow this to continue on indefinitely. If you have no insurance and can't afford the meds, there are programs where drug manufacturers will send the meds to your doctor to give to you if he sends in the appropriate forms. There are many alternatives you can seek out and feel better. Please do so. I care. Joan
Please seek help as soon as you can. I've been depressed since I was 16 and waited until I was 40 to believe there was really something wrong with me. I wish now, I had sought help much sooner because it would have changed my entire quality of life. Now that I'm 50 and going through menopause, the hormone changes are messing with my medicine and the lows are lower but because i'm aware of the changes, I am able to tolerate them and I'm beginning to seek therapy again. If, on the other hand you wish not to take medication there are herbal alternatives. I have heard that St. John's Wort is very good when used daily. Whatever you decide, I think you will feel much better once you discover there is hope. Good luck to you! Please keep us informed because we care.
Depression is an illness-one I have sufffered with all my adult life. There are many medications on the market , new one's every day. See a doctor who can prescribe a medication and a therapist to help you deal with the issues in your life that may be exacerbating the depression. Research shows that combining medication and talk therapy is the best way to cope with depression. Anti-depressants do not cause addiction and are safe if taken as precribed for adults. If one medication doesn't work another can be tried, but you usually need to give a drug 6 weeks to feel its effects. Your therapist will help you get thru that time. Please , get help. If you have no insurance, contact local mental health organizations or community clinics for a push in the right directs. Depression is treatable, and no one should have suffer thru it alone!
I never put up with depression, like you, I pulled my self out of it. Then this last year I havent been able to do that, and it was really hard to admit I couldnt handle it. I called behaviorial health, told them I didnt have much money but needed help. I now see a counselor and their doctor prescribed a anti depression medicine for me and they are only charging me five dollars a visit. It has helped so much.
I agree with the suggestion that you see a Doctor. I am a Christian and it was totally frustrating to think that I was unable to "pull myself up." I had most of the symptoms of severe clinical depression, but had not yet attempted suicide - although there were many times I felt that I should just run the car off the road! Once depression sets in, it results in a chemical imbalance that needs to be corrected. I believe the Bible when it says that "Hope is the shield of the mind." When you lose hope, you (in some ways) lose your mind. My Dr. (a strong Christian) said to me when I fought going on medication "If you had heart disease, wouldn't you take medication then?" So, her advice was to take the medication to correct the chemical imbalance and then go to work on the underlying cause for the depression, whatever it was. I took her advice and her medication (Deseryl -sp?) and within a few weeks, I felt like a new person. I praise God for the medication and my doctor. I was off the medication in a few months, and that was several years ago. Believe me, if I start feeling that way again, I will run (not walk) to my doctor. I am sure there are new and better meds out there now. Best of luck!
Are you on birth control pills by any chance? I was pretty normal until I started taking those. I felt pretty depressed and unable to cope with stress. I switched to the lower hormone kind and that actually made it worse. Now we use condoms and natural family planning and that has been working since this past November. I feel a million times better now that I am off the pill.
Lots of great comments so far, but also wanted to add that your depression, etc. could be from hormone or thyroid issues. Get yourself to a doctor, and have them run tests to check and / or rule out that your hormones or thyroid are the culprit. Good Luck !!
Hi Ginny
A couple of hundred years ago it was the norm to lose children at birth and quite a few never made it though to adulthood. As a matter of facts Adults for the most part died much younger then they do today. You think they were depressed about it?
I see a country that depends on medication for everything. I actually believe it is a schemed up way to control the masses.
Ok now here is my prescription to fight depression.
Become part of nature Observe it all you can. Every other living thing on this Earth does manage to live without depression when they are not locked up.
Just look at any bird any season and think what those birds do everyday of their lives to survive. They are part of a plan and that plan is to preserve the whole entire Earth. How about you Ginny.
Are you a part of something. Think what contributions are you expected to contribute?.
Ginny it is this modern civilization that causes your depression. Tell them to go to Hades find your niche that makes you again a part of the entire whole.
My niche? Well I guess it is doing things like this. Actually caring for other people and doing for them without any expectation of a financial rewards.
I don't even need a thank you. I will never know if my involvement with other actually helped or hurt but I tried and that gives me peace of mind
Last getting back to those olden days. Yes there was depression after all it is part of life, A human Chemical Inbalance so we are told. Ah but what we really know about the human body could fit on a small fingernail. We do know the body has ways to fight diseases and didn't somebody on here call Depression a disease?
Come on just walk outside you closed door into the sun a really watch and listen to the earth living.
I Wish You Well
Mr. Thrifty
PLEASE SEE A medical physician
this can be VERY SERIOUS
Don't try to do it yourself without the assistance of a TRAINED PHYSICIAN
Let the doctor know you prefer to not take medications...if that is your goal...but if your health is at risk you might be open to it
I know depression so well that I hate to say it is often my closest friend. It has been worse since December when I lost my father whom I was extremely close to plus going through perimenopause and dealing with other stressors does not help. However, I simply cannot believe all the suggestions to get on medication. Personally, a change in diet along with "herbs" if you feel the need to medicate would be best. Google or whatever "natural cures for depression" changing that phrase around to come up with lots of different ideas. Talking to someone often helps as well and as a couple of others here suggested: doing things for others, getting a close relationship with GOD and seeing the beauty of nature are all healing.
You can get through this. If I sit in the house I become just a lump of tears and I find I do that often but when I pick myself up and get "out there" it is a whole other turn about.
Good luck to you and please keep us posted.
My wife has been depressed for a long time. I don't know if it's hormonal, environmental or hereditary. I can only imagine what she is going through, and it is very difficult to sit on the sidelines and be an observer. Right now she is at the crossroads of whether we should continue to be a family, and it is a scary proposition. She is taking medication, and she is seeking the help of a professional which is good. I am just frustrated because I don't know what I can do to help other than be encouraging and understanding. Right now I think she feels it would be best if we divorce. Turning 40 was quite the turning point. Does anyone have any advice, because I am open to anything.
I recently started a new natural health vitamin product called VIBE. It has lifted my spirits greatly. Check it out at www.eniva.com. Its liquid and does not taste bad. Our whole house takes it now!
Hello Gina, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wyoming. I would reccommend that you go to a therapist. That is the very first and most important step. If they are a competent therapist they can present to you many options with or without medication and the two of you can work together to make a plan to decrease your depressive symptoms.
I must say there are many great suggestions here. Research shows that the combination of talk therapy and medication is the most effective in overcoming depression. I believe that is because there is no magic pill that takes away the causes of depression. It just makes you feel good enough to work on those problems!
...and in response to "darren" who is "open to anything", make an appointment for you and your wife to go to family therapy, take that step to let her know you still believe the marriage is worth fighting for! (that is if you believe that!)
The key to depression recovery is to draw upon whatever energy and resources you do have. Start with small goals. You may not have much energy, but you probably have enough to take a short walk around the block or pick up the phone to call a loved one.
Talking to someone close to you can go a long way in keeping away the blues. Your spouse/partner, your parents, your siblings or your close friends can be your pillar of strength during this depressive phase.
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