How can I cope with my depression?

Question

I have been suffering from depression for a little bit over a year and feel so alone. I moved away to a new city about 4 yrs. ago with my boyfriend and his friends. This past year has been the hardest for me and there is no one I can talk to about this. I now spend most of my time in my dark room feeling hopeless, afraid to socialize, eat once a day(on a good day), sleep more than 12 hrs. a day. , and always fatigued. My self- esteem has decreased so much and now feel worthless. My boyfriend never understood what I was going through and saw me get worse and worse and tried to convince me I can just turn it off (like a light switch) but it doesnt work that way. As much as I want to, I cannot mentally or physically get out of my depression. It has made me lose my friends, jobs, and now I am losing my 9 yr. relationship with him. I think about taking my own life so I won't have to hurt anymore and have no money for treatment .

Answer 1

Everyone has felt sad at one time or another. Usually it is due to a disappointment, frustration or losing someone. Such sadness is normal. Time heals, the mood lifts and people continue to get on with their lives. But in some people, depression can be so severe that it dominates their lives, preventing them from coping as they are used to. Depression of this degree is an illness and needs treatment.
Depression has been called the “common cold of mental health problem”. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently ranked depression as the leading cause of morbidity in developing nations in the next century. Lifetime occurrence rate is between 3% to 6%, and it is twice as common in women as it is in men. It commonly begin in people aged between 20 and 40 years, although it can occur in children or older people. Research has shown that it is commoner in people with a family history of depression.
YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME?
The common misconception is that depression is a moral weakness or a character flaw. Many a time, people have told depressed people to just ‘snap out of it’. Depression is a medical illness with biological roots. It cannot be wiled or wished away.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DEPRESSION?
Some types of depression run in families, indicating hereditary or genetic factors. In some families, major depression seems to occur generation after generation.
HOW CAN DEPRESSION BE TREATED?
Treatment consists of drug (antidepressant medication) and non-drug therapy. Usually a combined treatment is best: medication to gain relatively quick relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life stresses.
ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION?
All antidepressant medications are equally effective but they have different side effects. The most often used antidepressants include tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, lithium and selective serotonin inhibitos (SSRI)

Be patient when you take the medication. Antidepressant medications do not begin working the day you take them but your mood will improve after one to two weeks. However, you may notice some improvement on the first day, especially in your sleep and feeling less tense and anxious. They are not addictive.

You can eat a normal diet (if not, your doctor will tell you). The medications are compatible with painkillers, antibiotics and contraceptives. However, you should avoid alcohol as the medication and alcohol combined can make you too drowsy.

Do not stop the medication once you start to feel better as you may relapse into depression again. You should discuss this with your doctor and let him advise you when to stop.

Like all medications, antidepressants have some side effects, though these are usually mild and tend to wear off as treatment goes on
NON-DRUG THERAPY

PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychotherapy involves talking things through with a trained counsellor or therapist. Talking to someone who can really listen and understand you without passing judgement can be a tremendous relief. You learn how to solve problems and cope with life stresses better.

EXERCISE
Exercise not only improves your health but it also gives you a sense of accomplishment. Endorphins (‘feel good’hormones) are released during exercise and this can elevate your mood.

RELAXATION THERAPY
This involves deep breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation.

SUPPORT GROUPS
Support groups offer fellowship and you get to hear first hand accounts of how other with depression, like you, have learn to cope. Presently SAMH, IMH and the Behavioural Medicine Clinic at IMH run support groups. The group at IMH is a psychoeducation group, i.e. you learn about the depressive illness and methods of coping.

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY (ECT)
ECT is only indicated for those with severe depression who have not responded to treatment or are highly suicidal. It involves giving a light general anaesthetic and an electric current is passed through the brain for few seconds. The whole procedure takes only about 15 minutes and the patient is only aware of having gone to sleep.
HOW TO HELP YOURSELF?
Don’t bottle things up. Try to talk to someone close to you. It helps to have a good cry and talk things through.

Don’t set yourself unrealistic or difficult goals. Do what you can.

Do something – do some light activities or get out of the house for some exercise and some fresh air. It helps to take your mind off things.

Eat a balanced diet, although you may not feel like eating.

Do not drown your sorrows in alcohol. Alcohol actually depresses the mood. It may give immediate relief but this is temporary and you end up more depressed. It is also bad for your health.

Don’t despair: remind yourself that many other people have suffered from depression and have becomes better. You will eventually come out of it, just like they did.

Answer 2

First off...I can fully relate to you. I too suffer from depression and sleep excessively and still feel tired. You need a full physical. Chonic fatigue syndrome will also do this as will a low thryoid. If you feel suicidal go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Once you get in a hospital they will draw blood and start from there. If it's physical they'll know...if it's clinical depression then they can start treating it. You may be hospitalized for several days to a week if it's clinical depression. But Dear...go for help. Even if you don't have insurance it's a federal law that they cannot refuse you treatment. Most emergency mental health situations have no insurance. So don't worry. I've went thru this exact same thing. Aren't you tired of being sick and tired? Go to an emregency room Dear.

Answer 3

You should seek some proffessional help and realise that this is not something that you can overcome easily. Its not like taking an asparin when you have a headache. But there is help out there for you. Even though you feel hopeless now there is a way out of this whether it be medicine, counceling.
You owe it to yourself to find some happiness and peace of mind.
Life isnt easy and you have to make the effort to improve it for yourself. Its hard at first but the more you get out and about, try new things, travel, take up new hobbies and meet new friends - the better your quality of life will be.
Just remember you are not alone in this situation and you can get through it.

Answer 4

Don't take your own life. If you are a Christian, you might want to start attending a church and surround yourself with encouraging people. If not, talk to your family and friends about this problem. Go out of the house and get help, I am sure that there should be some hot line or an organization that will help you. Your depression will not be removed by itself, seek help and try your best to surround yourself with cheerful people. All the best!

Answer 5

It is common for someone which suffers from depression to feel hopeless, out of place and feel alone. Have you thought about seeing a therapist? They do wonders with figuring out the source of the depression and working through those problems.
Sleeping is caused by you not wanting to do anything, you wanting to hide from everyone and not wanting to go out. Go out into the sunshine, go to the beach, go window shopping...get a job?

Answer 6

stop focusing on the problem and start focusing on the solutions

join sparkpeople.com and learn about healthy lifestyles, motivation, and good living - you'll find a supportive community and possibly the motivation you've been wanting

remember that only you can help yourself - no one is going to fix your life for you

is it worth throwing away this 9 year relationship?? And is it fair what you're doing to his life? Do you want someone dragging you down?

Take care of yourself and see you on Spark!!!!

Answer 7

First there is no reason for a person to take their life.........I have been dealing with depression for about 8 years now and I am just now getting to the point that I feel as if I have a reason to live and I have 4 children............No matter what situation that you are in there is always a person that is worse off then you are If you need someone to talk with just email me I will talk to you [e-mail]

Answer 8

See http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris on pages 2 & 5; most of which can be employed at no cost.

Answer 9

Once treatment for depression begins, you still have to manage on a day-to-day basis. Here are some guidelines:

See your doctor regularly. Your doctor can monitor your progress, provide support and encouragement, and adjust your medication if necessary.

Take your medications. Finding the best medication for you may take several tries. It may take several weeks for you to start seeing results. Once you feel better, continue to take your medication as prescribed.

Don't become isolated. Try to participate in normal activities.
Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet and get the right amount of sleep and exercise. Exercise can help treat some forms of depression, ease stress and help you relax.

Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. Abuse of alcohol and drugs will slow or prevent your recovery.

Herbal and dietary supplements sold in stores have become increasingly popular. People take them to help prevent or treat a number of health conditions. Some of these alternative therapies are being studied to determine their effectiveness in helping depression. With additional studies, researchers may know more about these products, how effective they are and if they can cause other health problems or interfere with medications.

In the meantime, talk with your doctor before taking any herbal or dietary supplement. A problem with herbal and dietary products is that they aren't regulated. The FDA doesn't test them for safety, purity or effectiveness. That means you can't always be sure of what you're getting or if it's safe. Also, if you're already taking medications, herbal or dietary supplements may interfere with the way they work, or could cause dangerous interactions.

Some popular supplements marketed or taken for treatment of depression include:

St. John's wort. St. John's wort is an herbal preparation from the Hypericum perforatum plant. It has long been used in folk medicine, and today it's widely prescribed in Europe to treat anxiety and depression. In the United States, it's sold in health food stores and pharmacies in the form of tablets or tea.

European studies suggest that St. John's wort may work as well as antidepressants in mild depression and with fewer side effects. However, some studies have found that St. John's wort isn't effective in treating major depression. Adverse reactions include dry mouth, dizziness, digestive problems, fatigue, headache and sexual problems. In most cases, signs and symptoms are mild. Of concern is that St. John's wort can interfere with the effectiveness of prescription medications, including antidepressants, drugs to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and AIDS, and drugs to prevent organ rejection in people who've had transplants.

SAM-e. Pronounced "sammy," short for S-adenosyl-methionine, this chemical substance is available in Europe as a prescription drug to treat depression. In the United States it's sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement.

SAM-e is a chemical substance found in all human cells and plays a role in many body functions. It's thought to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine. Some studies have found SAM-e to be more effective than a placebo, but no more effective than treatment with antidepressant medications. The pills are expensive, especially considering their effectiveness is unproved. SAM-e can cause nausea and constipation.

5-HTP. One of the raw materials that your body needs to make serotonin is a chemical called 5-HTP, which is short for 5-hydroxytryptophan. In theory, if you boost your body's level of 5-HTP, you should also elevate your levels of serotonin. But there's not enough evidence to determine if 5-HTP is effective and safe. Larger studies than have been conducted to date are needed.
Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil and certain plants. They're being studied as a possible mood stabilizer for people with bipolar depression and other psychiatric disorders.

Fish oil capsules containing omega-3 fatty acids are sold in stores. The capsules are high in fat and calories and may produce gastrointestinal problems. Another way to get more omega-3 fatty acids is simply to eat more fish, tofu, soybeans, walnuts, or canola or flaxseed oil.

Answer 10

Aww, I think you should talk to your current families and friends. hang out. meet new people. enjoy life as it is! rent a movie, call some friends over :)