Help me. (Long question but please help if you can)?

Question

I am 22 and i have had a depressive disorder thats been effecting me constantly (fluctuating in severity) for about 2 yrs now.

This disorder caused me to pull out of uni last year in my 2nd yr of the course but i came back this year and completed one semester but it was hard, and i am experiencing even more trouble this semester and i am worried about having to pull out.

This depression (at least i think it's depression, all medical tests and blood tests are fine) is having a severe impact on my attention span, memory and general ability to think, my reaction time is terrible.

I see a counsellor and a doctor and have also seen clinical psychologists and psychiatrist.

Within this year my hair has also started to thin out considerably and this more then one would think is really depressing greatly me but maybe its' the stress in the first place.

Help me... i am really am so sad and i don't want to die but all the time i get images of putting a gun to my head.

Answer 1

I had the same problem with uni, depression and ability to think straight. Have you tried going part time? What you need to do is find something in your life that you want to achieve or do and believe in yourself that you can do it. Once you have a purpose in your life, and you are not scared of failing, then things will become easier. Don't expect too much of yourself or you will get depressed.

It sounds like stress is causing your hair to thin out. Is there something thats causing all this stress? Because maybe you need to get to the bottom of it.

I know it's hard to break out of depression, and this is going to sound so much like a cliche, but you ARE the only one who can do it. I found that once I started actually succeeding in my study, things improved so much because I got my confidence back again. What I did is I took 4 years off of uni (!) and then I went and did a 6 month course part time to get my confidence up. Then I started back at uni full time (which I never thought i would ever be able to do) this year. I mean, I spent 2 years at uni 5 years ago, and only ended up completing 1 subject! That is, 1 semester long subject....out of a total of 16 possible subjects!!! What you need to do is figure out something to aim for, just little goals at first. just something, anything, to give you a reason to get out of bed each day.

Make friends on the net and in real life who care about you, and always keep your belief that you can succeed in life and that you will get better. I dont know what else to say. Apart from that, only time will change things. My depression has gradually faded over time. Another thing that might help is write a diary if you dont already, that helps sometimes to get your feelings out of your head and on to the paper.

Good Luck, I hope things get better for you.

Answer 2

Hello... I have a two part answer to your post. First, it's good to hear you are seeing a doc and all, but I am curious if you are getting help with medication also. I know some people are very cautious about trying antidepressants. I like them myself as they have quite literally saved me from taking my life. I could not afford a psychologist or psychiatrist at the time I started taking medicine. I have been on medicine for about 6 years now, and just this past year I have finally gotten the right stuff, and the right doseage. Because of this, the symptoms you have, and I 'had' are gone now. My attention span, memory, and like you said, reaction time, have all come back to full circle. I am even planning on going back to school in the spring.
About the hair loss, I have the same thing. And I am a girl. I got SO thin! I wasn't sure if it was nerves, depression, my medicine or a combination of all, but my hair was falling out pretty badly. Finally I talked to a girl I know and she told me to use a hair treatment (which I bought in a shampoo & conditioner) called Nioxin. I think it can be bought at most better known Hair Stylists. You might want to try it, it took a few months but I think I'm not losing hair like I did, it used to be everywhere, the sink, floor, my shirts. But I think it's not as thin as it was. I hope to have all thinness gone in a year or so. ( Unfortunately these things take time).... Hope this helps, and I wish you the best.

Answer 3

I know how you feel. But you can't let this get the best of you. I am suffering from depression and it is a disease. You should read up on it, I did and learned quite a lot about myself and how to deal with situations. I have yet to finish school. I dropped out my 2nd year of college...that was 5 years ago. I find myself getting angry with myself because all my friends and people I went to high school with either graduated already or in graduate school, it sucks. I feel really behind and I find it hard sometimes to deal with reality. But I suggest you continue to see a therapist of some kind, and maybe try medication. I was against the whole medication thing, but I got over it and gave into it. You know what?! It works! There are tons of anti depressants out there and it may take a few trial and errors to get the right one that works for you and also keep in mind it takes about a month to kick in but it really helps. Talk to your doctor about what he can presrcibe and just take it easy. Maybe you should take a mini vacation and de-stress. Just know that everything will be ok and you are not alone. There are many people in the world going through excactly what you are and the best thing to do is to keep it under control.

Answer 4

Hello: I feel you need to be on antidepressant medication. I am an RN and specialize in Psych nursing. You need to stop school for now until you get your mood swings in order. I would also suggest you checking yourself into a Psych unit of a hospital. They will evaluate you in a more detailed way and put you on the best medication. It will take two weeks to be therapeutic and get into your bloodstream and start making you feel calmer, stop the racing thoughts and help you to concentrate more. If you are feeling depressed, something has to be causing you to feel this way. Stop and think what is making you feel so upset and stressed out. This will help you realize what is bothering you in the first place. Stress in general makes you feel sad, depressed and you spend all your energy focusing on the problem that you feel too tired to do the important things in life. Hope this has been of some help to you. Be optimistic. You are admitting you have a problem, and that is the first step to getting better. Jude

Answer 5

The first thing that I must ask is what meds you take. If you see a psychiatrist, and know that you have a depressive disorder(I assume it is clinical depression), he had to prescribe something for this. Some meds cause temporary hair loss, and some cause suicidal thoughts in young people. Is there anything you are not telling me? Have you mentioned ADHD or ADD to your psych? And, are you taking benzodiazapenes(like valium, xanax, klonopin
etc.?) I urge you to talk bluntly with your psychiatrist and family dr. as soon as possible! There are so many possibilities and not enough data to deal with!

Answer 6

Hon, it sounds like you are stressing out. Life is hard. Are you pursuing a course that you like in school?? You have got to do what makes you happy in life. If that means working as a mail carrier, or telling jokes, or being a business person. But you need to lighten up on yourself. I think the thought of having to go through life being depressed my be depressing you. You are going to be ok. Life is worth living and the more of it you live the less you will think about leaving it behind.
Trust me, there are people out there who are waiting to meet you, waiting to love you and are waiting for you to love them.

Answer 7

the only things I can think of may help, and then again, may not.

I know it sounds crazy, but try a chiropractor.... it can help with stress sometimes, and

find a church to go to, if people cannot help you, then God can... He is there waiting for you right now.

If you don't have many friends, just get one that you can trust, and that you are comfortable around. Hang out, have fun... stop worring about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have worries of its own, let tomorrow worry about itself.

don't worry about your hair, I knew a guy that was BALD by 19... it is all in your genes.

whatever you do, DO NOT GIVE UP!!!

Answer 8

It rather relies upon on the form of question. some that are tediously stressful or trite, OR hateful rants OR while each be conscious is misspelled (lyke omg so mi bff and me an my BF have been lyke all goin out an idk lyke omg .....) you comprehend, those sort LOL. I pass those. yet i do no longer suggestions examining by an extremely long Q no remember if it rather is sweet or exciting. various the Q's i answer anymore are no longer long in spite of the fact that. yet short, humorous, and to the factor. xD ?

Answer 9

what are you so depressed about? dont worry about your hair- thats no big deal. try getting involved in things you enjoy- maybe you could volunteer at your local animal shelter & take care of animals, or you could take up a sport or hobby- dont think of suicide; we all have trouble in life & many people (myself included) have thought of dying, but you must push through it. do you believe in God? maybe you should go to church & get involved w/ good people there. I will pray for you.

Answer 10

Don't do it bro...nothing is worth taking your life. Remember, there is always someone who has it worse than you. Hell, you're in college...a lot of people don't even get that opportunity. When you're feeling down, try to do things that makes you feel better. You didn't say what exactly is causing your suicidal thoughts, so I can't give you advice there, so just remember: IT'S NOT WORTH IT! THINGS WILL GET BETTER!