Can any one help me?

Question

Can any one help me? I have been having some issues over the past weeks and I very much need some help. I have had issues with depression in the past and think that I am having them again. My issues are that I feel worthless and good for nothing. I take every small mess up to be the end of the world. I am currently trying to attend school to be a paramedic, but I am so worried that I will hurt some one by not knowing what to do that I am thinking of dropping out...I have moments when I cry over something small and can't seem to stop. I don't want to waste my life in tears and never do any thing that I want for fear of failing... but I don't want to be the person no one wants to get stuck with at the same time...Has any one ever felt this way and what helped? I know I need to see a Doc, but it is hard to manage. I would like any advice any one can give me....feel free to email me or send me an IM.. thank you.

Answer 1

You definitely sound depressed. I say that as a mental health professional and as a person who has also experienced depression, and continues to experience it. Its a horrible feeling and very often depressed people end up blaming themselves for everything, sleep their lives away, drink their lives away, or work in ways that are self-sabotaging. Its a time of feeling desperate and not knowing where to turn. I have seen all sorts of counselors throughout my life, and in the past few years I have relied on Antidepressants. The medication really does wonders, and I say that from a personal and professional point of view. There are, of course, side effects with medications. For me it was weight gain (over the long term). Many times people taking antidepressants (particularly SSRI's, e.g., Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa) experience sexual side effects, nausea, headache, and fatigue, Many more are possible, but I have found that many of these side effects either go away after a few weeks or you get accustomed to them, with the pay-off being a much improved state of mind. Medications do not make you happy but they do lessen feeling overwhelmed and over-burdened by even the smallest of stressors. Also, exercise cannot be over-stated. You don't have to bust your rear-end but it helps to participate in some type of aerobic exercise - for me it is walking more than 30 minutes 5 days a week. You may need to talk to a physician before starting an exercise program, however, particularly if you smoke. Counseling along with medication and exercise is a great combination. There are other factors to look at as well. Are you over-doing it in life, that is, are you working too hard and spending too many hours studying? You have to save some quality time for yourself - preferably something enjoyable but that does not include excess eating or drug use. Are you taking care of your body - eating somewhat nutritiously, getting enough sleep without oversleeping? Some people with depression actually have a physical health problem, with the depression being a secondary symptom. For example, low thyroid and fluctuating blood sugar levels can often contribute to chronic mood problems. Some things to avoid - spending time alone and isolating yourself from the rest of the world; not seeking professional help, trying to convince yourself that you can "tough it out; " and using drugs or alcohol to avoid dealing with your depression. Depression is often a genetic condition with neurochemical dysfunction. Antidepressants often help to alleviate the depressive symptoms that are assocaited with neurochemcial deficiencies. But, the most important thing you can do is seek professional help. Talk to a counselor or psychologist. Psychiatrists generally focus on medicine interventions while counselors, social workders, and psychologists generally try to help you find ways to cope by changing negative thought patterns and destructive patterns of behavior. Seeking help does not make you a weak or inferior person, and in fact, it may be the best thing you ever did for yourself. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Sorry to hear you're not feeling too good. It does sound like you are going thru a bout of depression, and I think it would help you a lot to see a Dr. It sounds like you "have a lot on your plate" right now, and that always makes things worse. I went through First Responer's Classes, and I can tell you that I had the same fears ~about making a mistake. I studied really hard & even finished first in my class, but I was still very worried, and just didn't have enough confidence in myself. But look at it like this, YOU are trying to help...and that's a lot more than a lot of other people do. You'll get over some of your fear after your first few calls, and it WILL become easier and easier for you. I hope you stick with it, and don't let these feeling you're having right now get in your way:) Just about everyone I know has some form of depression anymore! Myself included~sometimes bad, sometimes not too bad~so you sure aren't alone;) I blame it on our World today, just look at all of the stress and pressures that everyone has anymore..we just all live too fast. So, please try and get into a good Dr. and maybe get on some meds. (There are a million out now) Or talk to a psychiatrist, they can help you with your feelings, especially if you don't want to share them with your friends or family. You hang in there, things WILL get better, and you sound like you WILL be a very good paramedic!! I wish you all the Best:)

Answer 3

I don't want to repeat the advice others have given on here.

Do you think you could have seasonal affective disorder, or SAD? If you live up north, that could be the culprit. If so, getting more sun would help, and prozac works pretty good too. You can be chugging along, life is good, then get depressed and suddenly stuff that didn't bother you, bothers you. Or, alternatively, your life situation can make you depressed.

also, looks like you're female, are you sure severe pms isn't messing you up? I never thought it was my problem, didn't keep track, and my husband noticed it right away. All those years of hell & I didn't know what was going on. Go figure.

In the meantime, you have to take one day at a time, because you probably can't afford the time or money to drop out of school for awhile, and you probably won't finish if you do. So you have to be tough and do your best & if your performance isn't what it usually would be, so be it. You just have to finish & that's one heck of an accomplishment when you have depression. Been there!

Good luck!!

Answer 4

Yeah, I've been down that road before. Coincidentally, I used to want to be a paramedic and I worried about the same thing. Depression is something that you just have to work with to get rid of it. I've felt the exact same way before...I got help for my depression, but in the end, it was all willpower. You just have to get up the energy and will to do it. It'll be hard at first, but I know you can do it. Anyone can...also, be careful when it comes to taking anti-depressants. Some can make you feel even worse, and gaining weight is a common side effect...But you don't need medication to control it and get rid of it...I don't know how else I can explain this...email me if you have any questions okay? my email is [e-mail] take care, and know that you ARE NOT worthless....

Answer 5

A lot of exercise and dance produce endorphins which make
you feel good. You can read about them on the web. I was
severely depressed for about a year and it effected every
aspect of my life. I'm not that big on exercise but love to dance
so I joined an aerobic class and went an hour in the morning
before work and again after work....every day! Within two
weeks I was feeling a lot better, cut down to only the morning
session daily but never missed one. Slowly the depression
started to go away and within two months it was almost
gone completely. I still attended the class bi-weekly and
continue to do so today.

Answer 6

Sounds to me like your carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Possibly you could see a doctor for your depression. I wouldn't give up on the paramedic training though, we need good people in this field, and your a little scared of actually making someone worse off in an attempt to rescue them. Actually, that's a very good sign and your hungry for knowledge, I think that your the perfect fit for this job. Just buckle down and learn every thing that you can. Once you get started, you'll learn even more, and there is radio communication with a doctor in the ambulance. Give it five years and you'll be on auto pilot. Could be the stress from these classes adding to your depression. But, I think that you'll make it through it. Good Luck

Answer 7

Of the billions of people on this planet, there is no one just like you. You are unique and very important to all of the rest of us. You were created for a special purpose. Be the unique person that you are and fulfill your destiny. If you have a desire in your heart to be a paramedic then you obviously care deeply for the needs of others and you want to help. We need people like you.
Don't kick yourself if you make a mistake, we all make lots of them. "Success is never final, and failure need not be fatal" (1).
Your ultimate purpose in life to to get to know on a personal level, the One who created you. "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (2). Nothing else that you ever try or do will fit in the empty hole inside you that was made for Him. God Bless You.