How did this happen again?

Question

I am in my senior year of college and have worked hard to earn As and Bs and the respect of my teachers. But it's back...and it's not kidding around. It started as a slight lack of motivation, unease, and unhappiness and has metamorphosed into full blown depression. I can't do my work (as if I wanted to right now) because my mind is so preoccupied and something isn't firing well. If you are familiar you know. What do I do? I am/should be working on my thesis and now my advisor looks at me like a total slacker. Is it appropriate to tell him what's going on? I thought I had this worked out and now I feel like I am doomed and that any progress is really just the two steps forward before the three back. I can't meet with my therapist who I stopped seeing when I started feeling better for two weeks, my meds are NOT working, and every time I have a sip of alcohol my world crumbles. I guess my real question is whether or not is possible to treat depression so it is no longer ever...

a concern and I can live a normal worry free life? Please tell me it is or I will resort to plan B (Buddhist Monk).

a concern and I can live a normal worry free life?

Answer 1

Sounds like you have depression, and you definately need to speak to a therapist, you need to get those meds adjusted. If they worked before and stopped, then you need a dosage adjustment. It is very important that you tell your advisor what is going on so you can get pointed in the proper direction. Depression can be treated, and successfully too with therapy and medication maintenance. Please tell your advisor, don't throw away all of your hard work because of depression! It's treatable!

Answer 2

Be realistic with your expectations. You should not be concerned about the respect of your teachers. You should accept the reality that college is difficult and time consuming. You may have to accept that you can't do a full schedule and maintain A's and B's. You probably should continue in psychotherapy until you have the cognitive-behavioral skills in place to buffer you from future depressions, and not stop just because you have a two week trend of feeling better. Your pills won't make you feel instantly better, in general, you have to give it 4-6 weeks...while tolerating unpleasant side effects. You can tell your teachers that you are depressed, but what do you want them to do about it? I just outlined the reasonable course for you.

Answer 3

If your meds aren't working, then you may need a different one, or an adjustment in dosage. See your doctor ASAP about this.

People often stop therapy or meds when they begin to feel better, thinking they no longer need the help. Usually it's the "help" that is making a person feel better, so stopping isn't a good idea.

Alcohol is never a good treatment for depression; it usually aggravates the depression.

Don't give up. Get back on your meds and into therapy and push on.

Answer 4

Lifelong problem. Alcohol is jsut self medicating as is other street drug use or abusing others prescriptions. Get an appointment with your therapist and see your advisor and fess up. This can be salvaged. Very often when we feel better we stop our meds and the problem crashes down again.

Answer 5

You should talk to your advisor, they are usually more willing to work with you if you have a legitimate reason. You should also find a therapist to talk to to and who can help find a medication that will work for you. Good luck!

Answer 6

. This combination of high energy and depression makes for a particularly high risk of suicide.

Types of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder can take several forms, depending upon the severity, pattern, and frequency of the manic and depressive episodes.

Bipolar I Disorder – Mania and Depression
Bipolar I Disorder is the classic manic-depressive form of the illness, as well as the most severe type of bipolar disorder. It is characterized by at least one manic episode or mixed episode. Although a previous episode of major depression is not required for diagnosis, the vast majority of people with Bipolar I Disorder have experienced one. The typical course of Bipolar I Disorder involves recurring cycles between mania and depression.

Bipolar II Disorder – Hypomania and Depression
In Bipolar II disorder, the person doesn’t experience full-blown manic episodes. Instead, the illness involves episodes of hypomania and severe depression. In order to be diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, you must have experienced at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode in your lifetime. If you ever have a manic episode, your diagnosis would be changed to Bipolar I Disorder.

Cyclothymia – Hypomania and Mild Depression
Cyclothymia, also known as cyclothymic disorder, is a milder form of bipolar disorder. Like bipolar disorder, cyclothymia consists of cyclical mood swings. However, the highs and lows are not severe enough to qualify as either mania or major depression. To be diagnosed with cyclothymia, you must experience numerous periods of hypomania and mild depression over at least a two-year time span. Because people with cyclothymia are at an increased risk of developing full-blown bipolar disorder, it is a condition that should be taken seriously and treated.

Rapid Cycling – Frequent episodes in Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder
Rapid cycling is a subtype of bipolar disorder characterized by four or more manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes within one year. The shifts from low to high can even occur over a matter of days or hours. People with Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorder can experience rapid cycling. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, rapid cycling usually develops later in the course of bipolar disorder.

Answer 7

You should always be able to talk to your advisor about what's going on. Don't make excuses, just tell him/her what you're struggling with.

Also, I found an awesome councilor on www.nanc.org. Maybe there's one in your area?