Has anybody survived severe depression? How did you do that?

Question

Hopelessness is killing me !!!!

Answer 1

I've just accepted it as a natural occurence, I don't believe in meds or therapy. "Take it like a man," I guess you could say. I've tried killing myself, been to hospitals, but I do hold on to God.

Answer 2

Yes... I survived and it WASN'T EASY !!!! I've been to the Hopeless place many times, and have done the things that the hopeless do that lands them in the hospital. It's taken 10 years, and lots of work; too many therapies, meds, and Kleenex also. I give the credit to a quality care team that I handpicked. The hardest part for me was to get to a point where I could vocalize what I was truly feeling; I finally found my voice!!!! Now I won't shut up..... LOL. I also underwent ECT; it was neither a good or bad experience, just scary. I think most of my recovery was due to the tincture of time; and being armed with a good tool belt from Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Most of the depression is behind me and I've been off meds for 2 years. Highly functional now; engaged in community and church; involved with family.
Lastly, I'm not a happy person. I never was nor do I expect to be. Happy is so temporary (happy is a kid with an ice cream cone). However, because I'm more in touch with my emotions, I can see and experience JOY finally. It's longer lasting, and touches my core more than mere happiness ever could.

Best of luck

Answer 3

Its the hopelessness combined with the helplessness that nearly killed me. I felt unable to do anthing about my life and soon felt that my life was a burden to me and those around me.

Seeing a clinical psychologist made a huge difference. I refused medication, as I felt I had gotten into this mess without them so I could get out of it without them. This is not true for everyone, but it does mean some really hard emotional work. There were days after my sessions that I could barely drive myself home, and I would spend all weekend on the couch crying.

This with hind sight was the best, it got a lot out of my system and gave myself the time I needed to just feel and process some emotion.

Don’t expect to come out of it cured, depression will always be your bear trap but you learn to cope with it and recognize when you are sinking. Get help, most people don’t.

There is no shame is needing help. For some reason people think that you are weak if you ask for help especially when it comes to mental health. I think it takes enormous strength to get up and get the help you need, you will be forced to look at your and see all the dark spots, the bad bits and you do this without the crutches others use to get through their day.

Answer 4

I survive every day and night. The days aren't so bad; I'm so busy, I don't have time to think about anything but work (I work 50 hours a week). Nights are the worst, though, because that's when I have time to worry and think and my imagination is released...I take Benadryl on the nights it's the worst, because no matter how bad I feel, it knocks me out without any ill effect (like addiction to a sleeping aid).

The best way to survive depression is to do something about it. Depression can be lessened by keeping busy, being active (exercise!), and eating healthy. And if the depression is caused by anything in particular (for example, stress or a traumatic event), work things out...if it's stress or finances, work one problem at a time, reduce the stress or bills due or whatever, and work one day at a time. If it's something like a traumatic childhood or event (such as a death in the family), talk to people...tell them how you feel, and why you feel it. If you don't want to talk to people, write in a journal. Journals are a great way to let something out if you don't want to talk to people...like me. I hate talking to people about feelings and such.

I hope that helped....and yes, I'm up this late (2:23) because I'm trying to keep myself busy. I'll take Benadryl soon, I'm sure.

Oh, and I don't take any medications (other than Benadryl to help me sleep, and aspirin for headaches and such...but that's over-the-counter) or go to any therapy. I've done psych wards, and I've done therapy. I have a fear of hospitals and doctors, I think because of my experiences in the psych wards; I refuse to do it again.

Answer 5

I've been dealing with it since 3rd grade- i've lost most of my friends, almost failed out of college (I should have.. my dean is a great guy), such and so forth. Fight it! Fight it like its the only thing you have to live for. It is!

A little self-discipline goes a long way. Its like having a cold- you're sick. Try this. Acknowledge your problem to yourself. Ie "I've got depression, and that's why I want to sit on my couch and eat cookies all day instead of going out. Its a chemical imbalance in my brain, and I need to fight that." After all, what do you do when your getting over a cold? Stay in bed until you feel 100%, or go out anyway? If you force yourself to be happy and act normally instead of brooding and feeling miserable, you will feel better over time. The nerves in your brain 'get used to' forming bonds with one another to make you experience a certain emotion. Over time, the pathway that spells 'happiness', or 'depressed', becomes more defined and permanent, so its actually physically easier for you to feel that emotion then any other. The body takes the easiest way of doing something, so when it produces emotion, the most defined pathway is what you'll experience. If you force yourself to feel something else, over time, that pathway will become the more defined one. Think of it like building muscle. Lifting something heavy is hard at first, but as you strengthen that muscle, it becomes easier, because your body is getting used to it.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Day by day. No psychotropic drugs, they get the wires crossed even worse. (Best to consult a psychairtrist on that). Meditation and water. But mainly, accepting the condition and dealing with things as they occur. When the bodily chemicals are in balance, it is easier to live better. If you keep hearing those bothersome tapes replaying over and over in your head, acknowledge them and force your thoughts elsewhere. Think of it like a car running on very old spark plugs and low, dirty water in the radiator. When your body gets 'gunk' on the parts, then an overhaul is needed. Which...dang it all...usually means, a balanced diet (not a speicalized diet, just eating 'right') and drinking plenty of clear water. Stop replaying the negative tapes in your head, and the nuraltransmitters will find new receptors. Unfortunately, there is no 'overnight cure', all this realigning takes time and effort.

Answer 7

Yes, severe depression is survivable with the proper therapy and medication. Don't let yourself get to the point where you feel hopeless and helpless. If you start to feel suicidal or are feeling it now, call the crisis intervention team in your community. They will come to your house and evaluate you and, if necessary, take you to a hospital where you will be cared for, intensely evaluated and given the appropriate therapy and medication. Admitting you have a problem and seeking help early will save you years of suffering. I have personally seen several severe cases of depression treated successfully and those people are now living "normal" lives. Good luck to you.

Answer 8

I am living with severe depression and have been for about 4 years...It was vary difficult and during that time I also put myself through nursing school. I did graduate but all the way through school I always thought I was letting someone down no matter who it was or what I was doing. I felt so alone in the world. I had gone through an ugly abusive relationship in which the depression arose from....anything traumatic or any stress at all can bring on depression, especially if you are predisposed with it as I am. I couldn't talk to anyone because every time I did they'd just tell me that I worry too much.....I hated that saying. I just wanted to punch the next person who said that. I handled stress badly. I quit eating, lost weight, couldn't sleep, didn't want to go anywhere or do anything.....Finally, one day, my sister told me to make an appointment to go talk to my doc. I didn't want to for fear that she wouldn't believe me or that I would break down in her office....which I did when I finally went in to see her. I had to take a depression scale quiz and scored very high...alarming. She was worried that I was thinking about ending my life, which wasn't the case....I knew that much. I went on depressionhurts.com and did a survey and brought that with me to my appt. She told me that I wasn't alone and that there are things we can do to help. She started me on Zoloft 50mg and re-evaluated me a month later. I do feel better although it never fully goes away. The medication just makes it easier for me to deal with things. That and my faith is what keep me afloat most days. I am not saying that medication is the right thing for you, but it is an option as well as therapy which I will be starting soon as well. Just hang in there and talk to your doctor. You are not alone. Depression affects 5% of the US population age 18+. and women are twice as likely than men to have depression.

Answer 9

My friend, If I 'm not mistaken depression is a stage where we failed to accept disappointments. Let the life & desire goes like brooke. We can't even stop it but we try to do so. As much as possible we should not be greedy about a thing which we wish. I would suggest mindless stage is useful to avoid depressions ever.

As per Osho, we r not mind. If we give room for our mind then it wud be oscilated ever and ever and its a non-stop one. Even if we fulfil its desires one by one it won't tell u enough. Then why shd we go behind it. Try everyday meditation which may help u to live wholly. Hopelessness! There is One who created the world and stands for ever, trust in Him and u wud get everything which needed to live. All the best my friend.

Answer 10

I did.. but I didn't actually make it out. I was pulled into Depression about 5.5 years ago. Just wanted to end my life. Depression was so bad that it literraly physically exhausted me - I otherwise have too much engery.

Finally, my depression turned into rage. My husband left me about 3 weeks ago - that's when I was pulled out of depression because something very important to me was gone suddently. Now I am not depressed, but determined to change myself, my views and win him back.

All I can say is that you should have determination AND FIGHT DEPRESSION LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. Otherwise, it will get worse and worse. And you won't even realize how much life you are missing or who you are hurting till it's too late.

Good luck my friend, send me a message if you want to talk.

Answer 11

You do need to see a specialist, this can be very dangerous.We all need to feel that we have something to look forward to or contribute to to feel worthwhile. A counselor could work through this with you.A Community Counseling Center is where I would start.I don't know your age but I think you can be treated without your parents consent and most will bill you according to what your financial circumstances are. Good luck and don;t give up hope,please.