piano Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 I'd like to hear some success stories from people who suffer from depression. Describe how you felt before, the methods you took to build up the courage to overcome the illness and get moving, and when you hit that plateau how you managed to keep on going. Did you take anti-depressants? See a shrink? Start exercising? Eat better? Whatever. I know everybody's different and one thing might work for someone and not another, however I'm not looking for advice I'm just looking for something encouraging.
quankanne Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 went into a serious funk several years ago, but didn't quite know how to ask for help, I just knew something was ... different ... than before. I was physically tired, mentally tired and emotionally raw – both my mother and my MiL were dying and we didn't live near either of them, so there was a lot of long-distance travelling involved. I see my GP about every 3-4 months because I'm diabetic, and I'd keep his nurse apprised of what was going on, and she'd tell him and we'd kind of talk about it. It got to the point where he had me taking B-12 because of my lack of energy and a sagging red blood cell count. I didn't know how to describe it then, but mentally, I was underwater watching my life unfold. There, but distantly there, you know? Almost like I was watching a film of my life or something. finally, my doctor told me point blank that he understood my response to everything going on, that like him, I tried to hold everything in so I could be strong for others, but it was taking a serious toll on my health. He changed the B-12 from vitamin form to a monthly shot and put me on Welbutrin. And gradually, things started getting better. it's been 2.5 years since the new regimen, and while I've had ups and downs from time to time, I've noticed that they have been tied into lack of activity. If I do moderate exercise, my body functions better – more oxygen in my blood, etc – and I rest better. I recently had a deviated septum repaired to correct a problem with sleep apnea, and I'm feeling much, much better because I'm sleeping better. And I've finally broke a trend of weight gain because I've been walking daily. I was lucky – make that blessed – to have a physician who understood how my diabetes combined with all those external factors was affecting me mentally, and who grabbed the bull by the horns when it came to helping me. depression can be held in check, but you may find yourself trying a variety of meds to find the proper prescription that works for you. Another thing that helped was finding a suggested website posted by a 'Shacker that explained how a person's blood chemistry tied into psychological episodes – kinda like knowing what happens to a car if you don't keep the radiator or oil reserve at proper levels, lol. http://www.mental-health-matters.com/articles/article.php?artID=160
Marquis-de-Carabas Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 I'll try to make this as brief as possible. When I was 21 I was diagnosed as being clinically depressed. I spent 7 months in therapy and 4 months on Prozac. During my weekly therapies we worked with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Assessing inappropriate thoughts and changing them. That was, oh over 10 years ago. Last year I had a series of stressful events that kinda stacked on top of each other until I became severely depressed again. I got hurt, my kid got hurt and my boss became a b*tch. After being fired last December, I reassessed my situation. I recognized the destructive comments that my ex-boss told me day after day and mentally tossed them in the 'brain garbage.' One of the biggest issues I faced at work was the inability to get up and move around. For some reason, my boss liked to have me chained at my desk for 8 1/2 hours a day. I gained 40 pounds and was diagnosed with high blood pressure. So without a job, I went outside and exercised every day. That did wonders for my mood. I spent hours working in my flower beds thinking through my bad thoughts and retraining my brain. It felt like de-programming in a way: When people are taken out of cults, they need those ingrained thoughts to be changed. I had to do that by myself. 6 months after losing my job, I decided to go back to school. I enrolled in a summer course and picked up a part-time job at a fabric store. I get to walk around all day! My course ended with me getting an A, which boosted my view of myself. I'm off the blood pressure medication that I was on; my bp is back to normal. On top of it all, I've lost another 20 pounds. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most successful therapies around. If you need help with depression, I would recommend a counselor that uses this technique.
whichwayisup Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most successful therapies around. If you need help with depression, I would recommend a counselor that uses this technique. Yup, CBT is the best. As I always say, what you put into it, is what you get out of it. It's helped me sooo much with my anxiety.
Rikka Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 Well, I have bi-polar disorder, so I have constant ups and downs. The downs are a lot worse. I have finally crawled out of a funk that lasted several months. And it feels great!!!! It was a slow process and I can hardly recognize the girl that I was a few months ago. Everyone comments on "how great you look". So I guess something is working. I have monthy sessions with a psychiatrist. I went through a complete session of talk therapy (psychoanalysis). That was fantastic. It helped with a lot of esteem issues. And of course I am on an anti-depressant (Paxil). I take a B vitamin complex as well.
superconductor Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 I suffered from the black dog of depression for over a quarter century before finally getting help. Once it was properly diagnosed, I started on a regime of Paxil and CBT. The first week on Paxil was hell on earth. Insomnia but constant exhaustion, trembling, unfocused fear and crushing malaise were normal. But after about a week, I finally awoke one morning, and it was as if I could see colour for the first time. I actually awoke feeling good. I can't tell you how much of a change that was to my previous existence. I dreaded waking up in the morning because of the flood of bad feelings that came over me as I got my day started. Thankfully, that's all done now. I still get down from time to time - after all, perpetual sadness or happiness is symptomatic of mental disease - but those episodes are relatively short-lived and don't go very deep. There is, believe it or not, light at the end of the tunnel. It does require some effort, though. Lessons learned: Don't be embarassed or afraid to get help;Not all meds work with all people. It may take a while to find a medication, or a combination, that works for you;Ruminating is self-defeating;Self-discovery is positive. Self-loathing and living inside one's head is negative;There will always be those that don't understand. Those who don't understand don't matter, and those who do matter will understand; and, finally,Life rewards action. Thinking about doing things is no subsitute for actually doing them. Good luck.
lovestruck234 Posted August 9, 2006 Posted August 9, 2006 I suffered from Chronical Depression for a little over 4 years, throughout my high school years. How I overcame it? Left school and all of my toxic friends behind. It was definitley a dark and scary experience. I just never fitted in. I never felt as though I belong. All of my friends, pfft, they weren't friends, they pretended they were, and I would buy that, but they just made me worse and worse. I started going through it just after yr 7, as yr 8 rolled in and people were finding groups, and I wasn't. I started cutting myself and all of that sort of stupid stuff. Arguements with my family worsened, I never wanted to talk to anyone at home. I would come home from school, then sit in my room for the rest of the night. Writing songs on my guitar, crying uncontrollably...just loosing it. I hated everyone. I hated myself. I didn't want to be there, I wanted to disappear, I wanted to die... I tried to commit suicide 4 times, but I just couldn't do it. One night I sat in the kitchen with a butcher knife in my hand, clenching it in my hand, feeling it cut deeper and deeper into my hand, and feeling the blood run down my arm, I just sat there crying. I tried overdose, suffocation....but I just couldn't do it....I deep down didn't want to die. I soon became so crazy that I had an imaginary "friend"....her name was Mary. She would follow me everywhere taunting me with "ewww, look at you", and make spewing noises. I had her for a year. My mum found all the evidence of my destructive life and took me to counsellors, then to shrinks. I pretended I was better so I wouldn't have to go back, I didn't want them messing with my head anymore than I was. I had such a destructive 4 years I thought I would never get out. Then mum finally took me out of school cos she knew that was the probelm and now look at me! Happier than ever, a lovely bf by my side, my family and I are closer together (well, somewhat) I have a great job(s), I've met other people outside of work, etc...I definetly am happy now. Sure, I still get down alot, but I learn to get ontop of it. Because I had Chronical Depression, I suffered a chemical imbalance in my brain which causes me to have sorta like ADHD from time to time. I get really worked up and scream and cry but once I settle down (or my bf settles me down... ) I'm ok...I'm getting better at dealing with it but sometimes I just can't control myself or what comes out of my mouth... So now I help others goign through similar things and also who go through bullying, which I suffered from. It's sort of a lift-me-up for me, knwoing that I'm helping these kids get better. One of the young girls I have been doing a study case on over the past couple of weeks who has depression said to me "Tess, why did you get picked on? You're so pretty, who would want to pick on you?" I just laughed. I guess it was jealousy. Maybe it wasn't. Either way, they didn't like me and did they're best to show that.... You would be surprised at the amount of really stunning girls I have in my classes. I mean, really stunning. And they don't see that, just the same as now, I see it. I didn't see it then , I though I was disgusting, but now I have more confidence and I know I'm beautiful, inside and out! hee hee!!
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