Little Bird Posted October 24, 2010 Posted October 24, 2010 What is the difference between being depressed and just sad? I'm asking because for the last few weeks I've been feeling really messed up mentally and emotionally. I can't sleep, I have headaches all the time, and I sometimes feel like crying for no reason or over the littlest things. I also feel sore and achey. I have anxiety issues as well. Throughout the day I have to fight feelings of anxiety, feelings that are not logically based on anything. I'm always taking deep breaths to control my anxiety, which doesn't help that much. I've seen councellors about this, but they only told me to do yoga when all I want are antidepressants. Am I just being weak and a wimp, or a bit down? I don't know if this is an inherent character flaw or a case of depression, because I go through this alot.
Dooda Posted October 24, 2010 Posted October 24, 2010 You're not being a wimp, but I doubt anti-depressants are going to solve your problem. I've been on meds for a while and they haven't done anything. The need to want to get better has to come from within, but its a hard feeling to muster amidst all the feelings/emotions you're going through. The best thing is to take time for yourself, and to understand that whatever you're feeling is just anxiety/depression. Try seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist if you can and relate to him all of the things that you're feeling and what's going on in your mind/life that might be disturbing you. Best of luck.
Surrealist Posted October 24, 2010 Posted October 24, 2010 You need to get to a good doctor or therapist. Your councellors sound VERY irresponsible! Weakness and wimpiness is not an issue. Please bear in mind that medical information cannot be provided on this forum so it is important that your condition be assessed and diagnosed by a doctor. The symptoms as you describe indicate that depression may be present, but again you have to be diagnosed by a doctor or other suitably qualified therapist.
denise_xo Posted October 24, 2010 Posted October 24, 2010 What is the difference between being depressed and just sad? I'm asking because for the last few weeks I've been feeling really messed up mentally and emotionally. I can't sleep, I have headaches all the time, and I sometimes feel like crying for no reason or over the littlest things. I also feel sore and achey. I have anxiety issues as well. Throughout the day I have to fight feelings of anxiety, feelings that are not logically based on anything. I'm always taking deep breaths to control my anxiety, which doesn't help that much. I've seen councellors about this, but they only told me to do yoga when all I want are antidepressants. Am I just being weak and a wimp, or a bit down? I don't know if this is an inherent character flaw or a case of depression, because I go through this alot. I don't think the issue here is difference between depressed and sad, it's about how you can best make yourself feel better. If you go through this a lot, it's probably not temporary sadness. I've had very good experience with meds but NOT as a fix in itself, but it helped me address my issues on a much more constructive level than I was able to do without them. Meds were part of a bigger package than involved yoga, meditation, physical exercise, healthier eating, cutting out alcohol and cigarettes, actively trying to change negative thought and behavioural patterns, and a lot of painful soul searching and having to look myself in the mirror in ways I hadn't done prior to that. I second the advice about trying a different counsellor or doctor. I would also encourage you to try other things in addition to medication. The key issue is being honest with yourself about what kind of things are making you feel this way. It's hard, but often a good long term investment. Try to think of out not only as 'meds or not meds' or 'yoga or not yoga', but rather 'where is it I want to end up, and what can help me get there'. Good luck to you
skydiveaddict Posted October 24, 2010 Posted October 24, 2010 What is the difference between being depressed and just sad? I'm asking because for the last few weeks I've been feeling really messed up mentally and emotionally. I can't sleep, I have headaches all the time, and I sometimes feel like crying for no reason or over the littlest things. I also feel sore and achey. I have anxiety issues as well. Throughout the day I have to fight feelings of anxiety, feelings that are not logically based on anything. I'm always taking deep breaths to control my anxiety, which doesn't help that much. I've seen councellors about this, but they only told me to do yoga when all I want are antidepressants. Am I just being weak and a wimp, or a bit down? I don't know if this is an inherent character flaw or a case of depression, because I go through this alot. You are not being weak. Go see your doc. If you have clinical depression, there are drugs out there that can pull you out of it
GrayClouds Posted October 25, 2010 Posted October 25, 2010 Sad is a few not so good days and usually can be explained by an experience, depression is extend that affects even things that makes you feel good. It sounds like your suffering from the latter. There are meds that will help, they usually take a few weeks, and up to 8 to have full effect, so give them some time. Most people will need them just for a limited time until their chemistry get back in whack. There are other things you can do until they kick in, make sure you spend time with people who care, force yourself to eat well and regularly, try very hard to get some kind of exercise every day, the more the better. And you may really want to find a new counselor. It take care.
Truthseeker-John Posted October 27, 2010 Posted October 27, 2010 (edited) I must speak up here because for some people meds can do more harm than good, I know from dreadful experience. Meds might help but they are risky, other things are safer. I suggest that you try to get out more and meet new people - you might make a friend or two who make you feel better. Sunshine helps a lot, so get it while you can. Try a change of diet to more fruit and veg and get some sunshine and vitamins (is that medical advice?). Go for a walk (preferably with a friend) in a park or a forest. We live in an artificial environment and there's something about a forest, there was a program about it on the BBC - just a walk in the forest can make one feel much better - it is the environment where most of us evolved in. Edited October 27, 2010 by Truthseeker-John
Truthseeker-John Posted October 27, 2010 Posted October 27, 2010 (edited) Several people have told me about a book called Potatoes not Prozac - I have not read it but I've been told that eating lots of potatoes helps reduce depression and mood swings. Edited October 27, 2010 by Truthseeker-John
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