Living with depression

[Dreamer37]

I know im not alone here...I have for most of my life been fighting depression...I have taken meds for it and currently im not taking anything for it...The only med that really helped was wellbutrin xl and it is so expensive!!
Anyways, how do you get through the especially tough times? There are days when I have no problem...Then there are days when I wonder how I will ever get through my day...I have feelings of hopelessness...I wonder why im here...I just hurt so bad inside...Im getting so tired of battling this disease daily! It is quite the struggle!

[AllegraD]

FYI - Wellbutrin XL is expensive (Wellbutrin XL is usually given once daily). There is another form of the same drug - Wellbutrin SR - it is given twice daily. Wellbutrin SR is now available in generic - you might want to check into that as a less expensive option.?

[KajunDC]

Dreamer,

I'd suggest volunteering out in the community. There is nothing that can lift the spirits and put life in perspective as helping those less fortunate.

It gives a great sense of purpose.

[serenity_aus]

My friend takes SAMe and swears by it. Really expensive here in Aus, but relatively cheap in USA. I take it for the other side effects which include healthy liver function and weight loss assistance. I think it's around 800mg a day for therapeutic dosage.

************
S-Adenosyl-Methionine (SAM or SAM-e; pronounced "Sammy") is an amino acid joined with the human energy molecule ATP. It is a compound that naturally occurs in the body and is found in every living cell. SAM-e is essential for the body to perform vital functions. It was discovered in 1952 in Italy, where it is manufactured to this day. Until recently, however, it was exceedingly expensive to produce, and therefore unavailable to the public. SAM-e has also been studied extensively in Europe for over 20 years and promises to be one of the most potent, multi-purpose supplements ever introduced.*

[jada]

i suffer from depression as well, for more than 10 years and at this time its worse. I cant sleep well or make logical descisions cos there are always voices in my head clogging up my life. For me everyday is a battle, im burdened by many things that will not go away and i have too face- i have no choice. Until I read a piece out of a book " Living with Prayer" it headed "the besharam plant" in hindi "besharam" means shameless. This plant grows thru winter, summer, spring and autumn. come rain or shine or wind or storm, this plant flowers and grows. Even if its branches are cut, this plant grows it roots were its thrown. Even in the smallest of spaces, it moves thru the cracks and grows...........you see my friend that was my first step too beating my disease, i have to take charge of my life and grow nomatter what the situation is, there are people to be loved, to be forgiven, to teach, to meet, to heal....oh im still having feelings of anxiety but this piece has made a difference in my life. i emailed my aunt this story, with a picture of the plant and she said its spooky because yesterday she stumbled across a plant and was so drawn to it and asked what it was-she cut it and here i was with this message this morning. Stand tall, and keep the faith

[Pamalee63]

I've been on several kinds of antidepressants but I've been off meds over a year now. I don't know why but I don't really want to spend the rest of my life on meds.

There are days when I do not answer the phone unless it's the school or DH, I stay in the house all day except taking the kids to school and picking them up. On those days I can't bring myself to clean house, do laundry or even shower. I'll spend half or more of the day in bed sleeping. That's when I feel like a total failure and unable to function except to get on the computer. If I didn't have internet I would really go crazy on those days. I always say email was invented for depressed people!

I've realized that my blood sugar levels affect my depression (and probably vice versa!) and when I'm staying off sugar and refined crap I tend to feel better emotionally.

Another thing I've realized is that no medication is going to fix everything, and until I make postive steps to change the the things that are wrong in my life, I'm going to keep having days like this.

[sugarless4life]

I went through serious depression a year ago, and I know how you feel. Unfortunately, I let my doctor put me on Effexor XR which helped initially .. but I am now in the throes of trying to withdraw from it and its HELL. Worse than the depression. I am DETERMINED to conquer this beast though .. its been a week since I took the POISON and I am doing okay. Its an hour by hour victory.

My best advice would be to EXERCISE. Yeah, I know, who feels like exercising when you're already depressed, right? Well, the fact is, that exercise is KEY to overcoming it. Especially cardiovascular exercise.

Second, I agree with the person who suggested volunteering. It really is true that you get back way more than you give by doing for others.

Third, prayer and meditation are very helpful. The spirit needs refreshing and soothing. What a great way to do it.

Have you tried 5-HTP or St. John's Wort? They can help.

Lean on your friends and/or family...ALOT.

JUST DON'T GO BACK ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS. THEY'VE NEVER CURED ANYONE. AND THE WITHDRAWAL IS WORSE THAN THE DEPRESSION.



Betty

[jada]

you see there are so many ways to beat this

[roeluvsparis]

Originally Posted by Pamalee63

I've realized that my blood sugar levels affect my depression (and probably vice versa!) and when I'm staying off sugar and refined crap I tend to feel better emotionally.

Another thing I've realized is that no medication is going to fix everything, and until I make postive steps to change the the things that are wrong in my life, I'm going to keep having days like this.

Ditto

I suffer from depression as well. I am just coming off a very deep depression, but as soon as I restarted induction three weeks, I started to feel better about three days later.

For me, I am determined, like Sugarlessforlife, to never take any more antidepressants.

I do notice that when I am eating right, I tend to feel much better and I am able to handle difficult situations much better.

Peace
roe

[Dreamer37]

Thanks for all the advice and opinions...
The reason im not on meds at this time is because I really want to get through this without them...But it just gets so severe that it scares me!
I am on induction and have been for almost a month now...I do feel alot better...I just had a very bad weekend and the depression started coming back again...

[Pamalee63]

I discovered meditation through a college class I took a couple years ago, and when I remember to do it, it can help a lot.

Once in a while, I get an anxiety attack and it's helped me through those...and I stopped a migraine or two in its tracks with it.

I should really try to do it everyday.

[Pamalee63]

Originally Posted by Dreamer37

Thanks for all the advice and opinions...
The reason im not on meds at this time is because I really want to get through this without them...But it just gets so severe that it scares me!
I am on induction and have been for almost a month now...I do feel alot better...I just had a very bad weekend and the depression started coming back again...

Please keep coming here for support.

I know what you mean about wanting to stay off meds. I am the same way. Just be careful not to let yourself slide too far down.

[dpalethorpe]

I am all for my meds. They have changed my life, to help me deal with it and keep me literally out of the mental ward.

Even the small task of having to think of taking a shower was too overwhelming for me at times. And then to have to actually get undressed, then to stay on task and actually get IN the shower. It would turn into an all day thing. The anxiety and lack of motivation to do that one thing that most people do automatically.

I stay on my meds because it helps me stay in control of my life better. I feel out of control when I am off them. I don't stop taking them even if I feel like I'm better. Some people do that and it just messes things up. I need to stay constant in taking them. Talk with your doctor and he/she will help wean you off if you want to stop taking them. Some have side effects if you suddenly quit. For instance, Zoloft will give you nasty flu symptoms.

Oh...and the generic name for Wellbutrin is Bupropion. Much cheaper and works just as well.

Good luck, everyone gave good ideas here to help with dealing with depression. I say try them and see if they help but I am also one who believes in medication, it is a great help for me.

[Dreamer37]

I went to my doc and have decided to not go on meds at this time..I do take something for the anxiety though..So far im doing ok right now..Everyday is a new day for me..I just never know what kind of day I will have! I am trying very hard to surround myself with friends and that has helped alot..I have also stopped contact with all the negative people in my life..That has helped as well.. It has not been easy as one of those people happens to be my sister and the other my brother..Im doing ok though and today im having a good day!

[cenicienta]

to you. I suffer from depression as well. I am not currently taking any medication due to pregnancy. I must admit, it has been a long haul so far and on top of all of this, my depression seems to get worse in the winter. I have tried all of the light therapy/dietary supplement stuff with little to no success. For me, it can be a bright, sunny, day and it doesn't make one bit of difference in my depression, which many people cannot understand. With my depression, I totally lose interest in anything that usually makes me happy, including my volunteer work and exercise. What sounds funny too, is even though my heart wants to be with others, the rest of me just wants to make every excuse in the book to avoid them and stay home. Like someone said before, I do what I am required to do during the day like take/pick up kids from school, feed my family and the rest of the time, I just am at home laying down and watching T.V. or on the computer and get annoyed with anyone who bothers me.

To be honest, I am scared to take any more antidepressants. I have taken Zoloft and Wellbutrin XL in the past. Zoloft started to poop out on me after 6 months of taking it. It also started to give me panic attacks (which are not a problem for me without medication) Unlike you, Wellbutrin XL made me anxious, irritable, angry and a bonafide insomniac. Not the medicine for me. My doctor has suggested Lexapro once I am done having the baby, but I think that I may hold off on that one too and see how I do. Meanwhile, I have both of my doctors (my ob/gyn and psychiatrist) watching me pretty carefully during this pregnancy. I think that they are more interested with what is going to happen once I have the baby. Amazingly enough, I have never suffered from post-partum depression before. Maybe this is because I am normally depressed anyway, so post-partum didn't seem any different from the way that I usually am.

Anyhow, I hope that you are feeling better. I know that I will too. Spring is right around the corner and my symptoms tend to ease up a bit with warmer weather.

Take care of yourself!!!

[Squiggle]

My boyfriend helps me get through it. He says he loved me before the meds, and he loves me now. He realizes that if it helps me, then it's worth doing it.

He knows I have problems taking them in front of him (at night and such) but he tries his best to make me feel at ease

[Dreamer37]

You are very lucky to have someone to help support you!! I am alone and that adds to my depression!

[BillieJo]

I'm Billie Jo. I have seasonal depression. Every 4-5 years it gets sooo bad I contemplate suicide. There are 2 reasons I'm still alive 1. My 12 year old son. 2. Counselling.

Dreamer....have you gone to any kind of counsellor?



Billie Jo

[Dreamer37]

Yes I have been to counseling...
The only thing keeping me here right now is my my kids! I stay alive for them..How sad is that? I don't want to stay alive for myself...It is the most horrible feeling ever!!! Life should be fun...It's not

[LCinHouston]

Originally Posted by jada

i suffer from depression as well, for more than 10 years and at this time its worse. I cant sleep well or make logical descisions cos there are always voices in my head clogging up my life. For me everyday is a battle, im burdened by many things that will not go away and i have too face- i have no choice.

this is me. I know a lot of it is stress related (school, work, relationship, etc.) and I am grateful that each of these things are in my life. but sometimes I just wonder if it would be worth it to be free from all of this.

[Dreamer37]

First off im not a religious person...However I am spiritual and believe in God...I do pray...Something I often hear is that God does not give us more than we can handle and these tough stressful things in our lives are to make us stronger...I can deal with this once in awhile but not everyday!! For me its everyday...

[Dreamer37]

[beckyb17]

Are you okay?

[Dreamer37]

I'm having a very tough time right now!

[LCinHouston]

I've started this post a dozen times. today was a very difficult day. I'm worried about what my employer thinks about me and stress, when it isn't stress that is making me this way, I know it's a very real case of depression.

we have a corporate employee assistance program, however, I'm very paranoid about using it for fear of retribution. I've been researching herbal and homeopathic rememdies on the internet but haven't had time or energy to do anything in depth.

anyway....just one more bad day on top of many. thank heaven for a doctor who believes in sleep aids.

[JoLi]

I feel real bad that you are going through this, that anyone goes through depression as severe as you and others have described. I have been there to the point of suicide/self abuse/behaviors that would lead to major life long problems. Medications AND counseling have helped me to be the person I am today. I was diagnosed as beign bipolar in 1994. I had severe episodes of depresson like you descirbe, and was trying to raise two kids and had a dh who worked all the time. I tried a variety of meds and it took a couple years to get settled on the right ones and I had a few good years. Then I thought I was smarter than the doctors and took myself off. Well that didn't work, it wasn't long before I was a complete mess again. It took another year to get stablized on newer meds and I am resigned to using meds for life. I don't like the idea of having to use medications. But I love the idea I am good for my kids, and my husband. I enjoy life. I was able to lose weight, keep up an exercise program, travel, go back to work-live. It's been almost 13 years that all this has started (right after the birth of my second child). I have a chemicla imbalance, it doesn't make me a weak person to take medications, it doesn't make anyone a weak person. Those that can do it with out, great. But why suffer day after day when there may be something that can help you cope with your stressors while you get counseling or get through what ever it is that is troubling you.
By the way, I took had the voices running through my head that kept me from getting to sleep and staying asleep. I need to sleep so I didn take something to help me sleep. I now take lunesta and it is great.
I do take wellbutrin SR (the generic form), as well as 3 other medications for my bipolar.
Do what is best for you. But know that you don't have to suffer, and you owe it to your kids to be the best you can be, as well as to youself, you deserve it.
Remember, just because one med doesn't work for you, another might, and you do have to give them 4-6 weeks to work, they do/might have side effects you have to work through. And with all due respect to those that say stay away from medications, you make the decision that is best for you.
I hope you can get some relief from your depression.

[Pcola Girl]

I sank into a deep depression when our son got ill with leukemia and when he passed on I just have been fighting with it every since, but how in the world do you get over losing your child, youd don't. But I have been coping better thanks to my doctor and some medication to for it so life has not been to bad for me anymore like I felt it was for awhile.
we have to live with depression in our own way and find things to do so we can keep occupied and have fun and laugh, that will help depression so much.