I've been through something that was pretty traumatic to me at least.?

Question

Becuase of this, I have seen 2 therapists and 1 pychiatrist. I have tried 3 different anti-depressants, but my body couldn't handle them. So, I have been dealing with it on my own for the most part. I am finally seeing a social worker not a therapist, becuase she was highly recommended by someone who sees her. Its been 7 months, and even though I feel better sometimes, I still have very low points. And I cry alot and feel very alone and still think about what I went through. I need to get my life back in order. I'm 29 yrs old and I feel my life crumbled before my eyes last year. Now I feel like I have to start all over, but now with low self esteem, I'm crying as I write this. I can't take this feeling anymore. And I dont know what to do. I have family and freinds that are positive, but that can only help so much. I feel I lost all motivation to help myself. Should I try another anti depressant? I tried lexipro, effexor, & zoloft. The more I feel I need it the more angry I get.

I was never this depressed before until I had to go through this experience, not had I ever had to see a therapist, let alone a psychiatrist. All because of someone else and how it effected me. How do I cope now??? I appreciate any advise, thanks.

Answer 1

if you are feeling this way on a consistent basis, you really should talk to your doctor about getting on medicine again. you really are inadvertently prolonging your agony by trying to handle something of this magnitude on your own, without meds.

there is no reason to be angry about needing meds. practically every health professional i know has taken them at one time or another. you are in the depths of life's pits right now! the right meds taken correctly can literally land you on your feet again and be of great help to you. when talking to your doctor, be specific about how you are feeling: depressed, anxious, fearful, etc.

also, realize that after traumatic events, we sometimes need to be with and accept our depression and losses. it is better to get it out and be with your feelings now, than to cover them up and act as though you are okay when you are not, because if you don't do it now, it will hit you later and at that point, you may not even know the source of your stife.

part of recovery is knowing that you are entitled not to recover for a while and that that is okay. part of recovery is ensuring that you take care of you now, so that post-traumatic stress doesn't erupt later. it really is okay to be depressed and hurt and remorseful and mad.

but, you also need to force yourself to take care of each part of you while healing: spiritual, physical, psychological, intellectual. focus on tending to and arousing each of the four as often as possible.

be good to yourself and take care of yourself until this recovery time passes.

good luck

Answer 2

This too shall pass. The agony will be over someday, and it may be sooner than you feel. It is difficult to give up agony, for the cause is so real. It is difficult to feel progress from one day of misery to the next, even when the next is a degree better. Be sure that you recognize that degree, and when the degrees accumulate to a threshold, personal to you, your strides leap instead of crawl. If I need suntan oil, or prunes, or dental work, or speech therapy, then I don't get angry; and I wish that you would take the same attitude as to anti-d's. This is not flip for I have experienced hopelessness and despair, and the same was a useful (after remission) "off" in my life which made my later "on" feel so "on" and appreciated. Your experience certainly does not make you less of a person. It will serve you later in increasing dimensional character.

Answer 3

My therapist gave me a book to read called 'Ten Days to Self-Esteem' by David Burns, who also wrote 'Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy'. I've battled depression in one way or another for over ten years, and I've seen different people and tried different anti-depressants (including the three you mentioned), and I can tell you that after reading just the introduction to this book, I feel better about feeling better (if that makes sense) than I ever have in the past. Cognitive therapy is something that I think is underrated in today's society because everyone seems to want a quick fix with drugs these days, but this book came highly recommended by my therapist whom I trust very much. I hope it can help you, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it and working on the exercises in it myself :)

Answer 4

Okay - this is a reality check. If you have only tried three antidepressants - you have only scratched the surface. I had to go through about 8 before I finally found one that worked. So - go back to the doctor and try something else.

Next - I understand that you have been through something traumatic, but you CANNOT let it ruin the rest of your life. You can say what happened then is not happening now, and I can and I will put this behind me and have a better life.

Next - you are sooo lucky to have family and friends. Treasure them, like they treasure you. Sometimes you have to give back to someone else to start to feel better about yourself - in order to receive what they are trying to give you.

Every day get up and say - "Just for today, I am going to be happier, thankful and at peace with myself and the world." Do this every day and it will get easier.

I know from experience.....trust me on this.

Answer 5

On a global basis , people are experiencing extreme trauma daily . . . If it doesn't kill you, you are to learn from it and grow.
Pills only delay the growing , and therapists should be able to tell you that but most westerners are very protected . . . have a soft life & few therapists have skills for dealing with real trauma because they only know the soft life.
Whenever you have those encounters you have to develop the spine to tell the demons to f*** off . . .
They can attack your body but only you have the power to let them overtake your soul . . . it sounds like you have let them take your soul.
Time to bite the bullet and take your soul back. This is difficult because so many westerners are no longer taught to have a spine but if you want to actually live again , you will have to do it (and no one on pills grows a spine, they just try to cope with being without one)
For your sake, decide to take your soul back.

Answer 6

You have the strength in you to get through this.

You have been through a lot & you are still here.

Just start to focus on getting through the day.

At night just before you go to sleep say a little prayer.

Thanks for getting me through the day.
Let me get a good nights sleep & wake in the morning with the strength to meet the problems I will face tomorrow,

Then focus on the things you must do & want to do.

Try with all of your might to push the thoughts of you depression out of you mind. When You find your thinking to much of you depression find thoughts that are pleasant & fill your mind with the good things in your life.

As you focus on the good parts they will push the bad thoughts more & more to the side line & hopefuly out of your life.

Answer 7

Just 26 hours and only once lol. I'm a big sleeper!! @Ziggy- Assuming you're not one of the many people on Yahoo who falsely claim to be military servicemen/women, thank you for your service

Answer 8

something happened to me to when i was young and i have low points also. sometimes i dont feel good anymore.. and it feels like am i ever going to get better? i want to get better now! i tried effexor and after a week and a half of taking it... i hit rock bottom ... hard... i dont take anymore antidepressants... i am coping with everything on my own. but its good to get your feelings out... and i know how taking antidepressants makes one feel like even more depressed then you want to admit. but everyday is a blessing. so hang in there!

Answer 9

I agree with the other girl about God, but I have a feeling you already believe in god, I cant really give any advice without further detail, I am not a psychologist but I do have a degree in Psych, you can email me too. [e-mail]

Answer 10

God? He is my strength and need, as well as Christ. And, my hamster-lol. They don't judge me, or are biased and they listen and help me move forward and give that tough love that I need to get going. Hope all is well, from here on out. If you need someone to talk [e-mail] :).