I need help with my mental health?

Question

I know I had bad problems with depression in the past and through alot of time and me really pushing myelf out of it , I felt happy for a while. Slowly I've seen myself slipping back to how I used to feel. However now it appears its evolved into something else. I wouldn't say I'm necassarily unappy but niether happy ether. I seem to be just apathetic to everything. I know I've seen myself to display rapid cycling mood swings too extremes almost. It's like I feel trapped with no way out. I'm not a big fan of psychologists though. It's just getting so hard to deal with everything lately.

Answer 1

Elle,
No offense to the people that say "get some exercise!" "eat well!" "read a self help book!" or "join an activity!", BUT they haven't experienced the depression that it sounds like you are experiencing...nothing even close. If they can answer your question like that, they are having a bad day, not severe depression. I, too speak from experience, as i am on the 7th month of 'severe depressive episode' (clinical term) but for me, it has been 100% disabling. I don't like to depend on meds either, but until we start facing the fact that depression is just like any other disease, we will never move beyond the social misunderstanding or disapproval that it gets. Most times, depression is caused primarily by a chemical imbalance in your brain. Books, exercise, whatever is not going to help with this balance. Sometimes meds are absolutely necessary. Why people will use recreational drugs, take aspirin, drink alcohol, take antibiotics, but then talk about antidepressants like they are the devils drug, i will never understand.
I recently saw a show on depression that said the closest step to suicide is pure apathy. Apathy can be much worse than total sadness. I KNOW how you feel. I am going through the same thing. Without getting too personal, I am a young business owner who started this successful business from the ground up just 3 years ago. Now I find it almost impossible to even walk through the doors. i never in a million years would have pictured myself in this state... I spend most days trying to figure out WHY exactly I should motivate and/or attempt the goals set by myself and my shrink. i spend most days secretly wishing i don't wake up. Please take this seriously, its not just a mood...and obviously, I am still working with doctors on my meds, or i wouldn't still feel like this. but for 12 years now antidepressants have helped me live a normal happy life. (feel free to email me if you want to talk...i feel your pain girl!) Most people don't like shrinks...I'm not even a big fan of mine, who happens to be causing my to bounce checks, due to the fact that make as many appts as i can because i feel like i need them, but can't in actuality afford them...:) but you gotta keep trying keep looking for the right doctor or counselor who does fit with you and can get you the meds you need....even if just for now! take care miss elle! just remember there are people out there to help....

Answer 2

Okay, the apathy IS depression. You just feel like there's a wall between you and everything that matters, right? You may not be a big fan of psychologists, but you definitely need professional help - chronic clinical depression is a disease, just like diabetes or cancer, and there are medications out there to treat it. The mood swings could be indicators of a hormone imbalance, also, or thyroid dysfunction, and those can both be treated with medication. Whether or not you want to, I think the time has come for you to talk to a doctor, whether it's a psychologist or not.

Answer 3

Almost 9 years ago, I was going through the same thing. I had children that had to take care of themselves just because I was to the point that I didn't care about anything. I didn't even care enough to call a doctor to try and get better. It took someone else stepping in, making phone calls and getting me to the appointments that I need to attend.

Since then, things are alot different. I do take medication for my depression and my mood swings (and my anger). I have been through 4 doctors before finally finding the right one but it was worth it. I now enjoy life alot more than what I use to. I still have struggles, they don't just all vanish, but you learn how to face them and deal with them.

Are you alone? Do you live by yourself? If you live with someone else, tell this person that you need their help. Tell them that you need them to help you find a doctor and keep your appointments. If you can not afford a doctor right now, call your local health department. They will be able to help you one way or another.

I hate bridges, but I have to cross them to get to the other side. You hate psychologists, but you have to see one to get better.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

Apathy is just another symptom of depression. I've had all of the above mentioned symptoms myself. Just how bad is it? If you find yourself coming home after school or work and just lying around doing nothing, barely able to feed yourself dinner because you just don't care, it's time to see a doctor. I sympathize with your dislike of psychologists. It's very hard to bring yourself to someone and say, "I need help." Especially when you're already apathetic. How long have you felt like this? A month or longer? If so, I recommend you talk to someone, a counselor or your family doctor. Good luck, my friend.

Answer 5

I wouldn't recommend anti-depressants all that much, but they may be helpful. Many doctors rather than trying to be helpful, try to medicate.
I have dealt with depression since I can remember so I can talk from experience. I have felt numb for nearly a year now and it is getting worse if anything.
I would say if you can find a councellor that you can talk to openly, that would be a great place to start. Many areas have a local community mental health association. It may be a good idea to check into that. Physciatrists and psychologists have never been of use to me, they made me feel like my problem was all in my head. lol

Answer 6

Hi Elle,

You should probably see a counselor just to have someone to talk with on a regular basis who can give you some objective feedback. It's pretty hard to help you via this forum, but I can tell you that feeling somewhat depressed/apathetic is pretty common especially in today's society. What can help is to find a new activity that will energize you or some new companions, not necessarily sexual relationships but some new friends who can invigorate your life. We are all social creatures and isolation can make us testy and depressed. Why not try to sign up for a new activity - what have you always wanted to try but haven't? Maybe join a local club. You never know what interesting people you might meet there, someone to make you appreciate life anew.

Best wishes,
Daring Daphne

Answer 7

Make sure you get plenty of exercise. That can do wonders for depression. If you are still feeling down after a couple of weeks or so, i really do think that you need to see a doctor, because it might be a serious chemical imbalance. If that is the case, you will need meds. No amount of advie here will be able to help you.

Answer 8

sometimes its hard to see a physiologist, try to remember what pulled you out of it last time, what made you happy, it might help to see a doctor who can prescribe you with anti depressants it might also be an idea to ask about bi-polar, because of the way you described your mood swings, read some books on, to get an idea of what other things can help.

Answer 9

You should read a possitive thinking book. I've read one lately, they are a great help. It is easy to repeat negative thoughts until they are stuck in your head. But you need to change every one of them into a positive thought. Say I can, instead of I can't. Give yourself relaxing time, do some of your hobbies, go out with friends. All these things will give you hapiness. There is more info in a possitive thinking book at your local library. Remember, your not alone.

Answer 10

Are you a striver, a person who is driven? A person who likes to keep themselves busy! If you are many people often engage in many activities physically in order to remain emotionally preoccupied so that they dont have to experience what they are truly feeling inside. To be still means to feel many unpleasant emotions, many of which we cant name. We are geared psychologically to push away any pain or potentially hurtful experiences in order to protect the inner self. Being busy is one way of doing that, unfortunately it doesnt allow us with the time needed to feel those feelings, process them and deal with them (either through acceptance or change). I have found that for some people, a depressive episode occurs after their threshold for emotional processing ( working through their emotional responses to their environment) is reached or surpassed. The innerself's inability to keep up with all the emotional reactions collapses in on its self into one big ugly emotional pool called depression. As horrible experience as depression is, the innerself deems it easier to experience, function (however limited) and deal with this one emotion of depression rather that twenty other emotions not yet named or experienced. Giving time to care for your inner self, to process and understand your inner self( also called your unconscious/subconscious self) will over time strengthen resilience to a depressive episode. Find a support network, perferable one that includes a counselor who will enable you to begin mapping an understanding of your inner self. Try to identify how you are feeling at each moment and validate those emotions, dont negate them or berate yourself for having them. Our emotions are like signposts to our inner world. The new buzz word in psychological field is mindfulness ( buddhist meditation). If you can begin practicing mindfulness it opens a doorway to discovering your inner world and self. Gradually with support, which may include medication, you will develope better coping strategies, find your world view changing and your ability to feel a whole gamut of emotions without being overwhelmed by them, starting to emerge. But I beg you if you become suicidal, call out for help. Good luck