To those having experience with depression..

[Paramnesia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JULIA I saw my dad suffer with depression and I knew that was a road I didn't want to take. I tried my best to live with it but then it started to affect my schooling and teachers started jumping down my throat about late/incomplete assignments etc. I went to my guidance counselor about dropping most of my classes and she wanted to know what was really going on. I decided then and there that I had to admit to myself that I was suffering and that I had to do something about it. She told me to go to my family doctor and from there my doctor sent me to a family center where I get free treatment from a great therapist

That sounds a lot like me, except my father has manic depression.
The hardest thing is admitting it, especially if the way it affects you differently. I know with my father his was quite obvious and he was in complete denial. Where as I'm quite in touch with my feelings and have always know and been rational about my depression.

 

[luckyme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MACATTAK My motivation was to get help with something that was controlling me, and that I felt I alone could not fix. I felt that there was no reason to suffer through something, that I did not have to. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, there are so many people who suffer from depression. I really felt that it was somewhat refreshing to talk to someone who knew nothing about me, and would make no judgements about my situation. I have taken medication as well, and it did help. Another thing that helped me was getting certain people out of my life who were just bringing me down. Talk to someone. They will be able to tell you what the best route for you is. You shouldn't have to suffer, when you can be enjoying life! Take care girlie. Things can get better!

I could not have said this better mysilf

 

[nunu]

Hi, I have been depressed for the past two months, i didn't know that i am depressed untill i sat down one day and thought that these things that i am feeling are not right (lack of motivation and energy to do anything, sleep deprivation (the longest sleep i had was for 3 hours), feeling down all the time and crying for no reason.)

How i got the courage to see the counseller at my University?
1) I am away from my family because i am at Uni, i thought of my friends here but no one actually saw what i am feeling as a disorder. Luckily i study psychology so i knew that this is not right and that i have ti do something about it.

2) Like you, i plucked up the courage and posted a thread on specktra, everyone was soo lovely and encouraged me to seek help and so i did.

It is hard to talk to someone you don't know about your problems but remember they are there to help you. So if you let them know excatley how you are feeling they will do their best to help you.

Good luck darling and i really hope you go and see one because trust me it will make you feel better.

 

[Karen_B]

I've had experience with depression to the point where I had to take anti-depressants and also work half time instead of full time. The turning point for me was when I had to struggle to get out of bed in the morning, because the task of washing my face and brushing my teeth seemed overwhelming. I was also very confused and forgetful and not able to concentrate on anything. When I walked to work in the morning I was overcome with images of myself throwing myself in front of a car or from a bridge. I couldn't bare to be alive but I didn't want to die either. I started thinking, Am I going to feel this way forever? Do I HAVE to feel this way forever?

Apart from the medication, I saw a counsellor for 2 years which really helped. Because I had an eating disorder, I also went to a holistic training center where they helped me develop a more healthy attitude towards food and exercise. I had been exercising too much previously, as well as under eating intercepted with binge eating. So that was a major thing for me to change in order to feel better. Now I try to do exercise that I think is fun, in moderate doses, and not worry so much about what I eat. I am not as terrified of everything as I was before, I don't see my future as doomed anymore. I have made other changes too - like changing my career to something that will make ME happy, instead of something that might impress others. If I hadn't sought help, I don't want to think about how I'd have felt now. Perhaps I wouldn't have been alive.

It can be very hard to ask for help. It was for me. I felt, and still feel to some extent, that I am weak if I don't handle everything on my own. But what is the alternative? To keep on feeling like crap, losing good years of your life to this disorder? You mightn't believe it now, but you do deserve a good life and to feel good about yourself.

 

[lovely333]

It could be any number of things for me it was panic attacks leading to depresion. I was in nursing school busting my butt, rasing my son by myself and in a long distance relationshp. I'm talking like from chicago to alabama long! I began medication but it took a couple of tries the first one doesn't always work. I also decided to let go of things I could not control. I was also dealing with some anger issues. I had the why me syndrome. You get to a point when you say I just mant my life back and I can't take this feeling anymore. My faith played a major role. I prayed everyday and my now husband was the best support system I could have ever had. Go get health you will feel so much better.