Ways to cope with Major Depressive Disorder?

Question

I read the symptoms for Major Depressive Disorder, from this link, http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20070411151501AAZbuhh&grp_name=Men_overcoming_depression&grp_spid=1601040823&grp_cat=/Health___Wellness/Support/Diseases_and_Conditions/Mental_Health_Disorders/Mood_Disorders/Depressive_Disorders&grp_user=0 , and I have all of the normal symptoms and some of the severe symptoms as well. I am currently unemployed and the bills are stacking up, I have no health insurance and everyday is a struggle to try and look for a job, does anyone have any suggestions for help that for the moment doesnt involve professional health care? Any thoughts, suggestions or comments would be GREATLY appreciated.

Answer 1

Sorry for your troubles, but there are no quick fixes for major depression. The only way to get well is professional help.

Make an appointment with your local social services office. They will steer you to a free clinic.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Well, first, I would not recommend going to a doctor at this point, based on what you say. The reason I say this is that a) the wait time to even get to see a doctor is usually prohibitively long, esp. in state-funded situations b) often, after you are finally able to see a doctor, they tell you what you already know and then inform you that you are going to have to spend an insane amount of money on medications and more appointments c) most mental health professionals have absolutely no way of knowing what medication or method will help you, it is really a big guessing game.

I know all of this because I have been through it and spent a lot of time and stress going to doctors that did not help me in any way, shape, or form. It actually made me feel worse. Doctors are very good for broken legs, emergency appendectomies, and other acute illnesses that have a clear-cut treatment. But with depression you are essentially a lab-rat and you can spend years jumping through doctors' hoops with nothing to show for it except more bills.

I will agree that exercise can help - to a point. The hard thing is getting yourself up and out to actually do it. It takes a certain amount of will and determination and that is probably not something you have a lot of right now. But if you can make yourself do it, it can help. However, it must be CONSISTENT over a significant period of time (at least 2 months in my experience) and moderately intense to intense... that means almost every day for at least a half hour a day you need to sweat. --At least you have time for it since you're not working.

The problem is, exercise may make you feel less depressed but it will not make you necessarily feel good. This is the thing some people do not understand. There is a thing called "anhedonia", which is when you just don't feel much of anything at all... nothing seems to really make you happy, even though logically it seems like it should. After many years of drifting between severe depression, anhedonia, and fleeting moments of a higher mood, I have come to the conclusion that this has to be biological.

I have been reading today about the chemical dopamine that is produced in the brain. It seems that many anti-depressants actually interfere with the production of dopamine, focusing instead on trying to boost seratonin. No anti-depressant has ever worked for me and a few have induced what I can only describe as a "brain cloud" -- it leaves me to wonder if this is because those medications messed up what was maybe already a low supply of dopamine in my brain. So I am going to try taking some L-tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine (amino acids which are the building blocks of dopamine). There is some research that suggest that these can help with depression.

Studies also suggest that Fish oil - or, more specifically, Omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate depression.

So my advice would be this: Save a lot of time, money, stress, and heartache and skip the doctors for now. Give exercise a shot (remember, moderate to intense), try a moderately high dosage of fish oil (at least 2-3 capsules a day), consider trying L-Tyrosine supplements (take a B-complex with that to help absorb it), worry only about the most urgent of bills (your world will not crumble if you can't pay your visa bill), and stay away from any people or places that make you feel worse.

It may be hard to drag yourself outside and run around the block a few times, and supplements may seem expensive, but you will gain a small amount of confidence from just knowing that you are doing SOMETHING. And that is a good first step.

Answer 3

I gotta say this...why wouldn't you be a little depressed? If you are not working and the bills are stacking up, this can cause a person to feel terrible, especially men because they feel as though they should take care of things. There are many groups for support out there, just check your local paper for the schedules. They are free, by the way. Do not give up hope, once you are back on your feet, those feelings tend to dissipate and with people to talk to you will start to feel better.

Answer 4

Best thing to do would to do some exercise. Not just really light exercise and not torturing either. Get some moderate exercise to get those endorphins kicking! Notice how people that lived in the early 1900's and late 1800's had to walk everywhere? Depression was extremely rare back then and it's because they did some harcore work and were outdoors a lot. EXERCISE! It's been proven to work! Eventually, you may slide out of it, but if not, get professional help. Give it some time if you can.

Answer 5

I have to go with the first answerer, sorry for your troubles, but the only thing you can do is apply for disability and with it you get the money you need, and can get medicaid or medicare depending on your age. If you have not worked for long you can get SSI. Major depressive disorder is an illness, it is not something that will pass with time, you need to take medication for the rest of your life. It is not a joke, most people that get this, the docs do not know where it exactly comes from, they just know that some people are more prone to get than others. GET HELP ASAP my friend.

Answer 6

I checked the link you were referring to. Yikes, it is scary and I believe everyone regardless of mental illness with your stress would come to the same conclusion. Unemployment, Uninsured, Bills Unable to Be paid. Is their anything to alleviate some of the environmental stress. I believe most states have health insurance for the uninsured. Mass has GHAP insurance. Go to your state.gov website. I could say the usual meditation/relaxation groups etc., (free in some churches etc), and hang out with friends but you have some very real issues re: work/lack of health care. For work monster.com or your state unemployment offices. I don't think you can judge a true depression until the stress is reduced in your life. Good Luck!

Answer 7

Debi L is right!! People do benefit from the Omega 3's in fish oil just like they do from the SSRI-type of antidepressants. It goes to work in your brain just like the SSRI does. It take 2 to 4 weeks to feel the effects. I take two 1000mg gel caps (fish oil) in the a.m. and two again before bed. I no longer take SSRI's and feel better than I have in 4 years. Give it a try. You can get 100 of them for $6 at Target. That's a 25 day supply, and it's going to make you feel better, hon.

Taking a good multivitamin will help, drink lots of water. Did you know that dehydration feels like depression? Some people are merely dehydrated, not really clinically depressed. Target sells them, too. So you need fish oil and a cheap multivitamin.

ALL of us could have those symptoms depending on how well we slept last night, if we're hungry, or if we're stressed about finding a job, getting out of debt or moving to a new city.

You should take a week off from looking for a job, try to do something positive even if it's cleaning out closets. You have to work on having enough of a postive attitude to get a job, no sour puss face at job interviews.

Then take yourself to an Temporary employment agency. Lots of people need temporary help, and you will get back into the work force fast. If they want you to pay them anything, move on to the next Temp Agency. Never pay anyone for a job!

I went to a temp agency, loved the work, the company hired me! So it went from temp to permanent. You have to get your foot in the door and temp jobs are a good way of doing that.

Now get your fish oil and multivites. Literally clean out your closets. Walk every single day until you are sweaty and pink cheeked, every day! Get a temp job! You're going to do great, go get 'em.

Answer 8

the answer depends on why you dont want professional help. if it is because of your lack of insurance, the mental health board in your state should offer any treatment you may need and most times your required meds.you should know that most home remedies for this illness do not work. seek help and you will benefit greatly from counseling and you will also be able to learn a greatly about the disorder that you have.

Answer 9

You are going thru a lot of stress and your problem is real. You may get help at a public health clinic. And there are pharmaceutical companies that provide meds at little or no cost. Please do seek help for your problem. One of the things I have done to help get on track and have a better outlook is to sit down and make two list. Write all of the good things in your life and on the other, write the bad, and now make an effort to determine how you can change them. We need to evaluate all of the things that we are thankful for. Don't allow yourself to go on in self pity. Look around you and you will see that there are many people in worse shape. Good luck and God Bless You.

Answer 10

Actually, a friend of mine had same issues and he was a nurse. He did not want to go to the doctor as the word would get out at the hospital he had this and perhaps he would not be allowed to work in his field, so he started taking 250 mcg. B12, 1000 - 4000 mg. Omega 3 Fish Oil, and a good multi-vitamin. He is right as rain now, but it took him taking it a couple of weeks to get into his system to work.