is depression for life?

Question

i have been suffering from depression for about 2 years now, its not as bad as it was but everytime i feel i do something slightly wrong i really get upset and feel useless so unless i do everything just right and keep everybody happy then i feel this way about myself and cry, its like anything that goes wrong around i blame myself. will my life always be like this or will i get out of this (please dont tell me that i need to do something to help myself because since this started ive had councelling, i now work as a carer for the physically disabled and head injury victims and i really enjoy it, i have reached nvq2 in care and now at college doing a diploma, i also have 2 children, so i am trying) i am also on cipralex. will i ever stop feeling this way or is it true that once you have had depression you will never get out of it completely. proffessional answers please.

thanks so much to you all for your kind and helpful answers.
i have had people say to me that i need to toughen up or i need to snap out of it, if only it was that easy, but i will keep trying to fight it. bless you all for being so kind.

Answer 1

Very few people have depression for life, but depression can often be reoccuring. The first medication I tried didn't help much, but now I am on something that works. I've had depression at least four times. I've never been depressed for more than 8 months at a time. I was depressed earlier this year.

Answer 2

There are different types of Depression, caused by different reasons. Depending on what (if any, & you know ) caused it usually dictates how long it will stay.

Having the blues during Winter months, or after a break-up.
Grieving after a loved one can also turn into depression.
And a biggie BiPolar, it is a Chemical Imbalance of the Brain which resultes in Mood wings or rather the inability to control being happy and sad.

You have no choice other than to go to your GP and tell him how you feel, and ask for a months course of Anti Depressents, and then take it from there.

Answer 3

I'm no professional but I can identify with you. I've had depression twice (roughly ten years apart) and I can tell you that you can indeed (and more than likely will) recover. The first time, I went to a homoeopath. It cost money but it worked. The second time I went to a cognitive behavioural therapist. (In each case I had counselling which I found very difficult so it didn't particularly help. It therefore isn't suitable for everyone.) One word of advice - don't take sleeping tables for too long or you'll grow tolerant to them. I know this from experience first time around. I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 4

Many peole forget that depression is a physical problem concerning a lack of Serotonin (the feel good chemical) in the brain, recovery involves a total life change, all stress triggers have to be removed, change diet to include fruit especially bananas, exercise regular, lotsa water, meditate, read the book called "The mindful way through depression" by John kabat-Zinn.

You sound like a "people pleaser" the thing is that placing yourself in such a position is a no win situation, to move forward you have to learn how to say NO and look after yourself instead.

Also to stop evaluating yourself.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Greetings!

Depression is not for life, although it's origin could be hereditary. Any way it has different preventions and treatments. Using mind/body techniques, such as biofeedback, meditation, and tai chi, are effective ways to prevent or reduce symptoms associated with depression, Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and a balanced, healthy diet may help prevent depression and diminish symptoms of this mood disorder.

Depressive symptoms are exacerbated by nutritional deficiencies:
- Avoid coffee, sugar, alcohol, dairy products: Depression has been associated with a high intake of caffeine. If you drink four or more cups of caffeine in a given day, try substituting decaffeinated coffee and soft drinks.
- Avoid any processed food, artificial colors, stimulant food, canned foods, smoking, dairy products, meats, eggs, and fish.
- Limit your total daily fat intake to 30 percent of your total calories. Try not to consume more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day.
- Vitamin B1 is necessary for the brain to metabolize carbohydrates. A deficiency of B1 can result in fatigue, irritability, memory lapses, insomnia, loss of appetite, and stomach upset.

Advice:
- Don't believe all of your negative thinking
- Avoid drugs and alcohol. Both make depression worse.
- Avoid making big life decisions when you're depressed.
- Try not to get discouraged. It will take time for your depression to lift fully.

You might be interested in some home remedies for depression. Go to the source I posted in.

Have a magic day!

Answer 6

Having had depression, I can tell you that eventually you will feel better. Give your current meds a while to try and work and keep seeing your therapist. If your meds aren't helping, ask your doctor to give you something different. It took me four or five different tries to find the right one, and while I still feel down sometimes, its nothing like before. I also have anxiety issues, which it sounds like you might have (my husband has it and has this "keeping everyone happy" issue as well) and that might need to be treated separately from your depression. Talk to your doctor about those possibilities.
Feel better!

Answer 7

No, you don't have to feel so awful for the rest of your life. I was feeling really down recently and found out from my shrink that my meds weren't working like they once did for me. Sometimes you need to change your meds. Anyway, my cloud is lifting, slowly but surely. Maybe that's part of it for you? It's worth checking out.

Do you get outside at all during the day for the sun to hit your skin? And do you exercise a bit? Both may help you a lot.

It's literally impossible to do everything perfect. Don't beat yourself up. Just go back to your doctor and explain all of this. You'll be doing the smart thing and hopefully will get your cloud to lift, too. Best to you, my friend.

Answer 8

i also suffer depression and not long after starting my meds i felt a bit better and gave up taking them, even tho i know at first the meds r whats making me feel better not myself.

usually u take the meds for up to a couple of years or so (but it varies from person to person). if u feel like they aren't working properly then go back to ur gp and talk about it. maybe they can try something else.

all i can say is some people fully recover and others it seems to keep coming back again.

try and keep ur chin up, i know it gets hard at times (i right now am ill etc and it's hit me again. not that hard yet but still i spent the day crying) and i do hope that things get better for you

Answer 9

No.I was diagnosed with manic depression when I was 16years old and I'm now 35 years old and a single mother of three beautiful boys 15,13,10 and i'm owner of my own farm business here in S.C and I sometimes have trouble with my depression and I sit back and wonder What If? you know well I'm proud of who I came out to be out of a life I was given when I was younger and I'm proud of me and my career and you know you can to,be proud of yourself and look at it like this we who have suffered from depression or will in time are all strong minded people and special in our way and when god made us he just happen to spend a little more precious time with us.I wish you all the luck and remember this we are special and thats that.

Answer 10

True depression is a chemical imbalance in your head. If the medication that you are taking is not working, you may need to try something different or get some tests done to see exactly what is causing the imbalance.