Depression!?

Question

I've suffered from depression, on and off, (more on than off) for about 10 years. I think I'm over the worst. In the early days I didn't know what was wrong with me and it nearly drove me completly over the edge. Rather than see a doctor, I thought (arogantly) that I could sort myself out. To be fair, I didn't do too bad. I got myself out of the worst of it. The problem is, it's still there. Everyone thinks I'm fine and somedays I think so too but it's holding me back from doing the things I want to do. Just recently, it's got to the stage where all I do anymore is sleep and go to work. I'm trying to go back to university (and have been for a few years) but I just can't seem to do the things I'm meant to. I'm not doing anything I enjoy anymore, I hardly see my friends and I can count the amount of times I've been on a night out this year on one hand. Things are bad again. So i'm gonna go to the Dr, problem is I just don't know what to say or what he'll say. Wot can he do

Answer 1

Print out what you have written above and take it with you. It says a lot without you having to speak a word.
Likely the Dr. will prescribe an antidepressant. Sometimes it takes trying more than one to find the one that will work best for you. Maybe Dr. will suggest therapy. Perhaps both will be an even better solution.
One of the best descriptions of depression I've heard is "Depression is the absence of joy". You can have joy again. Go to the Dr. Follow directions. Have patience with yourself and your doctor. Sometimes it takes awhile to feel better.
When you get feeling better, you will look back on this time and wonder how you let it go on so long without help.

Answer 2

I am almost exactly the same as you atm.
but sipping over all that, the Dr. can give meds.
If you don't like meds, try fish oil caplets.
Seen both work, the oil because one reason (supposedly) that this happens is because our bodies don't absorb certain nutrients as well as they are suppposed to, so you put in a few pills (not chemical, fish oils etc) and get 400% of the usual daily need, put some friends right back.
Or you can do meds, each one having it's own ups and downs, sometimes more one then the other.
Also you can learn things on how to manage your mind, perhaps.
I am not sure if I came up with that or if it was taught.
Good luck to you, and make sure you keep your front door in use. (get outside)
Danceing can be good, so long as you learn to relax while there. The new -dance- called 'jumping' is not what I'm reffering to, but maybe that works for some people.
Maybe learn swing or ballroom. Then you don't have to think about meeting people, just danceing, and then if you feel up to it, you can talk to them.
As long as you get up the nerve to ask them to dance for the song. (or more if you do a date)

Anyhow, good luck.
If you want I have my chat open.

Reft~

Answer 3

Just go to the doctor and tell him how you're feeling. Start from the beginning and don't hold anything back. He may say you should have sought help 10 years ago instead of doing it yourself but that's the professional talking. No matter what else, he will support you. He or she will point you in the direction you need to go, whether that be talking to some other doctor(I see both, a shrink and a therapist) and probably decide what meds will help you the most. It will take time to find just the correct meds so be paitent with that.

Answer 4

When you go to the doctor do not expect that some magic pill exists. You don't seem to be describing depression caused by chemical imbalance. Two thing that pooped into my mind were: How is it holding you back, and what are you expectations? After Dec 22 days start to get longer another saying that's good to remember is one about man sad he had no shoes till he saw another person without any feet. Hope you find what your looking for in 08.

Answer 5

i know exactly how you feel. most days are prob like a daze. that come and go with out any meaning . i think you should go to the doctor and get some help just so you can feel normal. realize that life is not always how we plan it. just be careful not to be drugged all of the time start off with a small dosage and adjust to that. my friend was always so drugged it did her more harm than good. i think you will be fine. ten years is a long time to deal with depression you will feel like a new person and you deserve that. we all do. life is to short not to be happy.

Answer 6

Do things that de-stress you (no drugs or alcohol). Try working out, this is actually the best method for reducing stress. It causes your body to produce hormones that are natural anti depressants.
See a doctor and ask for anti-depressant medication. It might not be the coolest thing you've ever done in your life but it is well worth it.

Answer 7

You won't like going to the doctor if you have been trying to deal with it on your own for so long, but at the same time, that's apparently not working. Therefore, going to the doctor is the best thing you can do. It really helps to talk about your issues; they will most likely put you on anti depressants, which absolutely suck but they help you out incredibly. This is as long as you'd like to be help. Good luck with everything!

Answer 8

Print this Q & A page, and take along, together with the results of the quiz, in sections 1, or 2 of ezy-build, below. My standard post follows: See depression treatments, at ezy-build *(below) in section 2, and consult a doctor, to eliminate thyroid problems, etc. as possible contributing factors: also seek a referral to a therapist using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy. It is your decision, and yours alone, as to whether to take any antidepressants offered, but, before you do, read section 1, and check medications out at www.drugs.com so you will be on the lookout for side effects, like sexual dysfunction. My strong recommendation, however, is to follow the advice of my doctor, his associate, and also Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP, and Dr. Mercola, as well, at http://www.mercola.com and avoid antidepressants (pages 2V, and 2Z refer, & antidepressant websites: page 2). The reasons why we all share the same view on this are explained in full, as you will find, if you read the whole section. All of their advice, (except prayer, because many people are not religious) I have incorporated into the "core treatments", including others as options, such as herbal remedies, Inositol, or SAMe. If you are diagnosed with clinical (major) depression, antidepressants may be necessary for a while, which will give the treatments time to become effective. The antidepressants themselves need at least several days, or even many weeks to become effective. It's a good idea to taper off them slowly, with medical advice, after several months, say, to a couple of years, at most, because they are only effective in the long term for about 30% of people. Because of this, you would be well advised to begin the treatments immediately, and maintain them. I'd just thank your mental health care provider, and pocket the prescription, trying the treatments for a few months, to see if they are sufficient for you, before considering filling it (unless clinically depressed, and having great difficulty functioning, or suicidal, in which case I'd take them). If the amount of daylight you have been exposed to recently has reduced, perhaps due to the change of seasons, see Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) in section 2, at * http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris and, instead of taking 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily; replace 2 of them with cod liver oil supplements (or a teaspoonful of cod liver oil), for the winter months only! Consider having your doctor test your vitamin D levels. More than 2 standard drinks will act as a depressant.

Answer 9

First thing RELAX! there is different medication out there that helps all your symptoms compare to what you were given years ago. Go to the Dr get the help you need he will guide you. good Luck

Answer 10

The doctor will drug you. Back in the day, he would give you a lobotomy and all of your troubles would be gone for good. They take out a part of your brain. See site below for causes of your depression.