I'm feeling very depressed. What should I do?

Question

I am in therapy with a wonderful counselor. I see a psychiatrist regularly, and he has me on a world of psychotropic drugs: abilify, cymbalta, provigil, focalin xr. I've been on this cocktail for about four months. I don't really feel better, and I am tired all of the time, except for a few hours after I take the focalin xr. I want my life to be better, but I just feel so stuck in the past and regret a lot of the decisions I made. Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I understand what you are going through. I have been there myself. I still speak to my counselor from time to time. If I were you I would try consulting a new counselor. First of all NO ONE should be on THAT many antidepressants at one time. Secondly, Exercise is one of the best pickups. This was the first piece of advice my counselor gave me. I know it is hard, but if you can get yourself up and do some walking or running, swimming something to get those endorphins going, you will truly be amazed at how much it really helps even if you just do it once or twice a week. I hope this is helpful. :-)

Answer 2

Looking at your past should be used as a motivator and a learning experience. You will never forget what bothers you the most, but at the same time you don't wanna feel the way you do either. How much time do you feel you wasted worrying about things that have nothing to do with what you really want out of life, and apparently that would be a clear mind. Also too, when you speak with a psychiatrist, make sure you are blunt and get to the point of the real problem at hand, remember psychiatrist are nothing but over priced part time friends. Your family and your friends are the best therapy you can have along with the right type of medication as well.

Answer 3

The world of medication is based on trial and error, your psychiatrist may have to make some adjusments to your medications depending on how you're feeling. But the psychiatrist needs the patient to keep giving them feed back until they get the right combination. Don't settle for: I think I've got to be ok, because the doctor has tried so many combinations. They do eventually find the right one, but only you will feel the difference. Have patience.
If you feel stuck in the past you should be discussing this with your counselor, this also takes time but it does get better. There's hope, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Answer 4

Well, you're not stuck in the past, or you'd already be past-tense. Since you're still living and breathing in the present moment, it means you're just thinking about the past a lot. What was it that was so important, good/bad to you about the past, and why does your mind dwell on it? Have recent events in your life been really unpleasant, did you used to have a pretty good time of it, or was there something really bad that happened in the past that you can't stop thinking about?

Remember that you can't change the past. Hence the name, 'past', it's already behind you, so stop looking in the rearview mirror all the time. That's back there, you're up here, and no matter how much you like or hate it, carry on and do something fun with your life. Work on developing a hobby, meet new friends, get out and explore an interest, learn something, take an online class, focus your 'nog on where you're going, rather than where you've been. Learn a new skill, take on a challenge of a new job, try and learn a new language, go for a walk and appreciate good weather and the good fortune of standing on your own 2 feet. There's lots to be thankful for in life, dwell on that concept for a while if you're feeling broody. Drugs and alcohol, legal or otherwise, just kind of gloss over the problem. Be sober, be honest with yourself, figure out what it is you want or where you want to go in life, know your strengths and weaknesses, try and progress where you're strong and build up your weak spots. Leave the happy pills to the quacks that vend them, go out and get some exercise! There's a whole world out there, and 6.5 billion people that live in it. Go talk to some, learn something new!

Answer 5

I am a survivor of mental illness and I understand what you are saying. You need to do more for you. Get a hobby, play some games, write in a journal.

Talk to your therapist about neurofeedback. It saved my life. It's a therapy that is like weight lifting for your brain waves. Helps them to speed up and slow down at the right pace that works together instead of against each other. Really, look into it.

You have some other great suggestions here too. Exercise and volunteering are great ideas. Exercise helps to increase the flow of the chemical serotonin to your brain, it also kicks your circulation into gear and gets you runnin for the day. So get physical somehow and you can feel alot better. What ever you do, don't just sit there, get up out and active. Hang in there!

Answer 6

I also have depression from a brain injury. This is what works for me.
- A hobby that gets your mind off the depression. For me, it's playing the piano. The brain injury took my ability to play the piano, but learning to play has helped my recovery and working towards a goal fights depression.
- Volunteering is a good way to erase depression. If you can forget yourself and work for something good, you stop thinking about you, you, you and you feel happier.
- Exercise. I started working out a gym and physical exercise helps more than I can say. Sitting in the sauna, spa, and steamer after a workout helped my depression, too.
Good luck. This is in your hands. I hope you feel better. Remember that life is good. A girlfriend also erases the depressoin, until you break up. Then it's back to square one.

Answer 7

Dont look back.
When you start thinking of the past stop.

Go volunteer so you can help other people and feel good about yourself.There is a website with all kinds of volunteer jobs.
http://myyahoo.volunteermatch.org/

Sometimes we need to get outside ourselves with positive distractions.Meet new people.
I know many people who have felt much better by knowing they are needed and have a place to go where they can help.Volunteering is what I suggest to people.

And check with your physician about that many meds. See what he thinks, you may be taking too much stuff or not the right stuff.

Answer 8

Either you go for a more esoteric therapy - or then you try a manual one-time treatment called Atlasprofilax. The effect on the self-healing power of your body and soul is simply amazing - experienced it myself. :-)

Be aware, that this treatment will not solve your problems immediately, but allow you to get on quicker.

Just - the treatment is available in California and Europe only, costing approx. 220 dollars. It's really worth travelling far.

Answer 9

I've been stuck in the past for forever. The only thing I can say is write write write and smoke a fatty---- those pills you're on are gonna kill you(one way or the other), they only work for a while then they're gone. Think of happy thoughts and remember---- if you think of bad things your day is going to be bad if you think of good things your day will be good. if you think of the problem the problem will get worse if you think of the solution the solution will come to you. BE HAPPY

Answer 10

Just stick in there I guess. I have been depressed for years and although I don't take any medication because I can't afford any therapy or anything, it's obvious from what you said that they really don't fix it. I try to get out more but I get tired easily from just day to day things and sometimes wakeup feeling like it's another useless day. You aren't alone