Fishing For A Friend

Hello Sue
Reading all the replies to your post must help knowing fellow sufferers are out there. I have suffered bad bouts over the years ie after losing my Dad, then my first baby after birth and laterly losing my Mum.
I spent years back and forth at my GP even making an unholy show of myself on one visit. I was sent for talk therapy told to take evening primrose and on more than once it was in my mind and snap out of it.
I now know I had health issues that made things even worse menopause and an underactive thyroid. Finding a understanding GP is the key as, as sooon as I was put on sertraline things started to feel better. It took a few weeks but gradually I felt I could talk to people, smile and be interested in what the kids were doing and could go out by myself with out the feeling of panic, still dont like it but then most of us like some company.
I found if I fought the feelings and kept my mind busy the black clouds gradually eased. I cleared my life of alot of things that made me unhappy or made the depression worse sometimes that can be a job or an involvement and you have to be quite ruthless.Give yourself something to look foreward too, try something different I have recently joined a Zumba class, get as much fresh air as you can and seek help change you GP if you must and dont be afraid of medication i have to take so much now I rattle but I can also smile and rattle

Meditation will work better than medication, in my opinion.

I went to a counselor yesterday at the demand of my daughter- I thought I was coping with my situation, I kid you not the woman said one thing and I started crying, I cried solid for nearly an hour, -I don't cry!!!... I left that room still in tears, sat in my car and cried for so long the traffic warden- who i didn't see tapped the window and said i'm sorry but your ticket expired 20 mins ago you must leave!!!.. I drove off still in tears, and nearly all day I would think of the things she said and start up again... that woman opened a box that scared the ***** out of me.. I think I might be depressed too, this scares me so much I have read this thread and avoided posting posting silly things in other thread to avoid my thinking, now i'm actually thinking role on Tuesday I need to ask this lady so many questions on how to get better... I woke this moring and cried again- where is the off tap?

hi quietsam, i have battled depression for some time. the things you describe i have felt also. the crying is symptomatic, and also, i find, sometimes quite cleansing, but it does sometimes never seem to stop. your situation does not seem ideal [am the same myself] but you CAN get through this.
im lucky that i have a great gp, who is very understanding, if you don't feel you are getting the help you need, think of seeing another doctor. know this sounds odd, but im lucky to live in the country and have been known to go to somewhere lonely and just yell! if you ever feel panicky, breathing exercises can really help. think and make a list of all the good things you have, and have done. it is so easy when suffering from depression to think you are not worthy of happiness, but you are, and hopefully soon the sun will come out for you. good luck, hope to talk soon!

Try all of the above and more!!

But Most of all BE KIND TO YOURSELF!!!

When you are having a good day, do more, when you are feeling bad, treat yourself as you would treat a friend who was feeling like you! We are so hard on ourselves, harder than we would be on our friends so be your own BEST FRIEND.
If you can afford it have some holistic treatment, or if it is your bag you will find your local spiritualist church offers healing for just a donation.... it is amazing what a few sessions can do. Not spooky, not normally hands on and definately no messages when healing!! (if you want to know more just drop me a line)

I agree with the do not rule out drugs comments, but try to get to underlying causes. I for example have had hormonal problems and undiagnosed M.E now I found something that works for the M,E I am much better. Yes a few side effects but well worth it for the results!

Everybodies depression is different and it is sometimes hard for depressed people to motivate themselves to do even things they like so although the advice about exercise etc is good you may 1st need to get in a place where it is possible.

If you can not do it do not beat yourself up about it! Persue the medical profession until you find a doctor you like ask about talking therapy, ask for referals and push it again when you are feeling upto it!

I really hope you find some help, evidently from this feed there are lots of people with differing degrees of depression on here!

From My Best Friend to your Best Friend

Sue as a fellow suffering from depression, I send you all my love and empathy. I have had Clinical depression for many years. I refuse all medication and ride along with it.
I find medication makes me feel 'nothing' gray drab world and I dont have any feelings. It is like putting a bandaid on a cut but not treating the real problem.
You have to try and find your own way to deal with ' the black dog'. Meditation helps sometimes. Have someone to talk to can help but not always. It has to be the right person. I find many people just dont understand.
Keep fighting it is all I can advise and learn to live with it.
Remember Winston Churchill ran a country with it, we just have to get through each day the best way we can.
Take care.
x

Hi, I would definately recommend excercise if you can get motivated. I used to work in a ladies only gym and saw time and again how it can change how you feel about yourself and give you a real sense of well being....you might find that your doctor can put you in touch with a local gym maybe - but just a walk or a fitness dvd at home is a start.