Depression: what can I expect from doctor?

[BrandNewDay]

Thanks for all your hope. I'm sorry, but I don't like leaving this sort of post here so I'm going to delete it. Again, thanks.

[whu]

Hi - don't know what the doctor will say but just tell him/her everything you are feeling and take it from there - you seem to have a few things to deal with at once but I would have thought one thing you could try and do is speak to your husband about how you feel/your view on his behaviour and try to sort out a few things as this could help with how you are feeling

Take care

[BrandNewDay]

Thanks for your help, all!

[BrandNewDay]

I'm thinking I might buy a SAD lamp, anyway, from our savings. We have an efund. It's "for a rainy day." Well, these are some very rainy days now and if some £100 lamp will make me feel better, I suppose I should get one.

[mymatebob]

Depression can be caused by lots of things and can in some instances be treated with medication.

You need to be open and honest as you can be with your doctor. He may or may not agree that giving you pills may help but I doubt that an attitude of "give me pills they make me better" is ideal.

My doctor will only prescribe anti-depressants after careful consideration and for a minimum of a year with a long slow process to come off them.
My SIL's doctor will give her anti-depressants at the drop of a hat, so there is no hard and fast rule it would appear.

The wintertime can be very depressing, depending where you are (Scotland is a big place) and you might have to look for other things that stimulate and interest you to help with your general well being.

I hope you get on okay when you see the doctor today

PS how do you know the lamp will make you feel better? Have you been diagnosed as having SAD?

[BrandNewDay]

Thanks for all your help, everybody! :)

[Oldernotwiser]

I don't knowabout ADs and pregnancy but I've never had any problem about getting them from the doctor. If you've used them before and they've been effective I'd ask for the same thing this time. Good luck with your appointment.

[Got2change]

Hi BND -
You have such a lot on your plate at the moment and an obviously clear understanding of the causes of your understandable low mood. Similarly, you know the prescription of self-care that you must write for yourself alongside any medical assistance that you may be offered.
Don't write off the Dr prescribing ADs before you speak to him/her. A lot of what you have going off in your life could trigger "reactive depression" - add into that the fact that we are in shortest, darkest, coldest days of the year - and your husband (who is more of a burden than a help as far as I can see) - and it would be easy for the reactive depression to be tripped over into "real" (chemical imbalance-type) depression; the type that would be helped (possibly) by SSRIs.
For all that you think a Dr may not prescribe ADs (and then of course, it can be a slow process waiting for them to take effect, establishing the correct type), they are equally castigated for prescribing them willy-nilly, so I guess they are damned if they do or don't.
Sometimes brisk walks and healthy eating etc etc are simply not enough by themselves - once you are actually thinking with a "depressed mind" it is very hard to see the wood for the trees. Any decent Doc will see that.
x

[BrandNewDay]

I've made up my mind that I'm going to buy a lamp and that has cheered me up. We'll see what the doctor says, of course, but I am feeling optimistic about light therapy, anyway.

[jackieb]

I could have written your post! (well, apart from being American and very pregnant :D )

I've been on Prozac about 4-5 times in the past 10 years. It's always got me through a bad patch. I only ever saw my GP the once to get it the first time. I phoned up earlier this month to ask for a repeat prescription, and I got one, despite not having had any medication for a few years.

My husband is like yours. I've told him he should get something too but he says he has his own way of coping and he doesn't need pills. My mood usually depends on other people. If he's grumpy, then I feel miserable, even though I try and keep everybody's spirits up. But sometimes staying jolly is just too hard to manage, and you need a little help.

I'm also addicted to the news channels and it's all doom and gloom at the moment. I don't buy newspapers for that reason and I know watching the news isn't good for me but I can't seem to help it. Even my trusted Disney dvd's don't seem to be doing the trick at the moment and I hate feeling like this. It's like being in a black hole. But i've been here before and I know it'll get better and that keeps me going.

Btw, i've got a couple of the daylight saving bulbs in the kitchen and they're great. I don't have a lightbox but i've always meant to get one. The bulbs are my substitute at the moment but I need some more. :)

I hope you get out of your funk soon. xx

[Savvy_Sue]

Obviously we cannot say what your GP will or won't do, especially as you are very pregnant, and we have to remember this:

MEDICAL ADVICE

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this: Sorry, giving or asking for medical advice is not permitted on this forum as it’s not what this site is about. While discussing medical insurance policies, cheaper ways to see consultants, cashback for alternative health treatments and how to get specific medication cheaper (legally) are all perfectly acceptable we ask you specifically not to discuss what to do in the event of certain medical problems (please see this rule (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=31048) on the Health Board). If you have any questions about this policy please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com (abuse@moneysavingexpert.com).

You might be referred to a counsellor, which might be useful - someone who HAS to listen to YOU! - but I'm also going to suggest that you do a search of this board for SAD light, which will lead you to the suggestion that sitting close enough to any bright light will do, and other possible remedies.

[BrandNewDay]

I could have written your post! (well, apart from being American and very pregnant :D )

I've been on Prozac about 4-5 times in the past 10 years. It's always got me through a bad patch. I only ever saw my GP the once to get it the first time. I phoned up earlier this month to ask for a repeat prescription, and I got one, despite not having had any medication for a few years.

My husband is like yours. I've told him he should get something too but he says he has his own way of coping and he doesn't need pills. My mood usually depends on other people. If he's grumpy, then I feel miserable, even though I try and keep everybody's spirits up. But sometimes staying jolly is just too hard to manage, and you need a little help.

I'm also addicted to the news channels and it's all doom and gloom at the moment. I don't buy newspapers for that reason and I know watching the news isn't good for me but I can't seem to help it. Even my trusted Disney dvd's don't seem to be doing the trick at the moment and I hate feeling like this. It's like being in a black hole. But i've been here before and I know it'll get better and that keeps me going.

Btw, i've got a couple of the daylight saving bulbs in the kitchen and they're great. I don't have a lightbox but i've always meant to get one. The bulbs are my substitute at the moment but I need some more. :)

I hope you get out of your funk soon. xx

I know what you mean about the news. It really started to get to me last night.

Anyway, the doctor was brilliant! She didn't patronize me at all! She listened to what I was saying and heard what I was saying: I've been through two Scottish winters and I know something is up. I made it clear that I'm not in fetal position all day, thinking suicidal thoughts, but just that I'm really crabby and I'm feeling extra stressed at this time. She asked "Have you ever been treated for depression in the past?" and I told her about how I was on an SSRI for six months, years ago, when a bad break-up got me down. Well, without myself even asking, she offered the same medication again! :j So, I've got my tablets, now, and I'm still going to get one of those light boxes. I think it will be good for my husband to have it on when he's doing his computer work early in the morning, and I'll use it for knitting and reading, later.

[jackieb]

Aw, i'm glad your doctor was understanding. I hope the meds don't take too long to kick in. :)

I shouldn't be living in Scotland either. And no wonder dh has the blues too. He's in Russia. His work need to send him somewhere nice for a change lol

[Savvy_Sue]

Please remember to be nice to each other.

I'm not sure how much more use we can be to the OP at this stage.