How do YOU deal with depression?

SunshineButterfly

Apologies if this has been done before, I did a quick search and nothing recent came up.

I just wondered... those who suffer from depression whether mild or manic.. how do you cope with this?

Are you on medication? (I am not asking this for medical advice, just to compare how people vary with coping mechanisms).

Do you have counselling? Talking therapies?

And how do you families / friends / partners react to you suffering from depression?

I have just bitten the bullet and gone back onto anti-depressants after weaning myself off them 3 months ago. I felt fantastic so thought I did not need them anymore.
The medication has now fully left my system and it has all come crashing back.

I have had symptoms of depression and anxiety for the last month or 2 but ignored it and put it down to other things.

Can we ever beat it? Is it here forever to frustrate us?

Faith177

Hi hunny

I'm in a similar boat to you was on anti-depressents for some time came off them thought I was doing really well but slowly it's started to creep in again.

I have just applied for CBT and have been accepted for "intensive cognative behavioural therapy". I should have my first appointment within 28 days. The service was really good I rang them they then arranged a 20-30 phone interview time for a few days later in the mean time they sent me a standard questionnaire which just asked you to grade your feelings. We then went through this over the phone during the interview. The person I spoke to was helpful and very kind. She let me get everything out and was so supportive. I did feel very drained after the conversation though as it took a lot out of me especially when she started to ask me additional questions.

I haven't gone back on the tablets as I don't feel I want to do that yet. I'd like to give the CBT a try and don't want the tablets to give me any false feeling of getting better if you get my meaning.

I know what you mean about beating it I'm sick of having it hanging over me and I want it gone for good.

fannyanna

SunshineButterfly wrote: »

Can we ever beat it? Is it here forever to frustrate us?

I think this depends on what causes the depression.

Is it an environmental factor or a chemical imbalance?

If it's a chemical imbalance I would suggest that there is likely to be a need to medication in the long term.

If it's an environmental factor then I think medication will just help to relieve the symptoms but will not cure the cause.

In your situation do you have an idea what may be causing your depression? I'm not asking you to share your inner feelings but it might be useful for you to know what the root cause is.

SunshineButterfly

Thanks for your reply. I hope it helps I do not wish to have counselling or CBT.. because I am studying a degree to do that exact career.. which involves "being counselled" so I guess I already am being counselled in a round a bout way.

I think it is more the anxiety I have decided to go back onto the medication for. I envy the past when they were working at their best and I was completely relaxed and anxious free.

Lately I feel anxious for the entire day with no cause. I am happy in life currently with my situation and the people in it and I am doing well. Yet I cannot shake the depressive and anxiety symptoms.

SunshineButterfly

fannyanna wrote: »

I think this depends on what causes the depression.

Is it an environmental factor or a chemical imbalance?

If it's a chemical imbalance I would suggest that there is likely to be a need to medication in the long term.

If it's an environmental factor then I think medication will just help to relieve the symptoms but will not cure the cause.

In your situation do you have an idea what may be causing your depression? I'm not asking you to share your inner feelings but it might be useful for you to know what the root cause is.

I have a family history of depression, so am unsure if its something that has been passed on? (Can it be passed on? I know family history can mean your more likely but not sure how that works as such).

I have had a lot of strains and issues in life that have contributed massively to depression and anxiety.

But I recently do not have those? So would say it must be chemical?

pinkshoes

A friend of mine beat depression with exercise! A daily 1 hour walk, or if possible jogging with "uplifting" music.

She says you don't have the time or ability to be depressed when pounding the pavement, panting like a dog, and listening to Abba!

(and if she did feel depressed afterwards, she'd be so shattered she'd sleep a lot better!)

teabag29

I suffer from depression, I can go months and months being fine then suddenly out of nowhere it will hit. It isnt usually caused by something bad happening in my life as usually everything is going well when it hits. I have learnt that some environmental factors bring it on aswell though such as alcohol, I am not a drinker anyway but at xmas i usually have a glass of wine and lemonade but even that makes me feel low for days, sometimes weeks after.

I am quite anti drugs unless absolutely neccessary and none of the anti depressants ive been on in the past made much difference (longest I was on them for was 9 mths, shortest was 3 mths) so I tend to try and fill myself with positive thoughts and push myself to keep busy and keep telling myself it will pass and usually it eventually does. Im lucky that I have a supportive husband who understands

(my birth mother i'm told was a skitzophrenic/manic depressive so guess some of my depression may be hereditory)

vesper

Hi I also suffer from depression, been battling it most of my adult life, but more seriously for the past two years.
After doing better for the last 6 months I am slowly slipping backwards again and am having to face the truth that I need to go back on the antidepressants. I am trying to battle it by forcing to do things all the time and have found that exercise really works, so have started going swimming a couple of times a week, and if I can't afford swimming then I go for a walk.
My parents and husband have been really good, as have a couple of friends but most don't understand.

I have had group cbt in the past and it was ok, but as mine is anxiety based it didn't work for me. But have just got a self referral form to see about getting some help. I also see a community nurse as much as possible as found most of the time I felt better after being able to just talk to someone.

It has all had some serious impact on my life, but at least now I have more good days than bad.

bitemebankers

SunshineButterfly wrote: »

I just wondered... those who suffer from depression whether mild or manic.. how do you cope with this?

Drugs. Lovely drugs. They're brilliant.

Do you have counselling? Talking therapies?

Tried person-centred counselling and CBT and not found either to be hugely effective although CBT was very interesting and I did learn a few things about myself. I'd say it was probably worth it in its own right, but not very valuable therapeutically.

And how do you families / friends / partners react to you suffering from depression?

Partner: brilliant. Friends: mostly brilliant. Family: not so great. Even though mental illness is relatively common in my family, they have a huge taboo about it and it's something that's only ever discussed in hushed words.

I have just bitten the bullet and gone back onto anti-depressants after weaning myself off them 3 months ago. I felt fantastic so thought I did not need them anymore.
The medication has now fully left my system and it has all come crashing back.

Heh. This sounds familiar. The problem is, how can you tell whether your stable mood is just the medication doing its job, or the sign of a recovery?

Can we ever beat it? Is it here forever to frustrate us?

Personally, I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm probably going to be on medication for the rest of my life. Thankfully the drugs I'm on don't have any terribly bad symptoms. I tend to see it as just a part of what I am and how my brain works, rather than something to be beaten or overcome. Imagine if you had a chronic physical condition such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol - you'd just take the meds and get on with your life. I'm just grateful that the medication is available and provided free on the NHS.

SunshineButterfly

Thanks all. I have started my tablets again, but know it will take a good few weeks until they help at all.

I just feel like an angry, anxious, moody ball of mess. Trying ever so hard to ensure that the kids do not pick up on any of it.

Have started to seclude myself from others which isn't great for the summer holidays and I need to get the kids out enjoying themselves.

gravitytolls

I take medication. I'm not a natural pill popper, but I have now accepted that I need these.

About once a year I stop taking them ~ it's not deliberate, I just forget a couple of days, then another few days and after a couple of weeks I feel great and figure I don't need them any more. Everything feels good, I laugh, chat, I'm full of energy, my thoughts race, I'm full of ideas, I feel inspired, it's great and I feel like me again 'I'm back!'.

Couple of weeks on when I've been sobbing into my pillow, sitting up all night worrying about .... well everything really, finding myself being snappy with the children, feeling that I'm not sure if I ever loved my husband... then I know I made a huge mistake.

Doc offered me talking therapy, but I told him it felt too self indulgent. He laughed and said he was happy to accept that I was someone who needed medication for the rest of her life.

The meds help me feel 'normal', like other people seem to feel. I still worry and the nagging voice that I'm crap is still there, but it's whispering, and the anxiety is hiding somewhere at the back of my mind not quite able to fully push through the doors to make it's big entrance.

But the downside is that I have to give up a little bit of me. But for the well being of the family it's a price worth paying.