Depression

[Naranjito82]

Is killing me ?

[1ANDYP]

Is this a joke ?????

[Naranjito82]

No

[ZoltanBuchan]

Right. Firstly, if you're taking the piss, I will hunt you down and kill you. Assuming you're not...

First up, make an appointment with your GP first thing tomorrow. You can discuss what action to take, be it pills, therapy or a combination of the two.

Talk to close friends and family about it. Don't be ashamed, you'll be astonished to find how many of them have also suffered mental health problems, and might even be currently taking medication for them.

Most importantly, give up all depressants, including, especially including, alcohol. DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE WITH DRINK

Alcohol will not only worsen the depression, induce panic and anxiety, and may also lead you to do something stupid in a drunken stupor...as I know, when earlier this year my neighbour found me unconscious outside his front door in a pool of my own blood, wrists in pieces.

Edited November 11, 2014 by ZoltanBuchan

[mariokempes56]

As zoltan says if you are serous pls get real help. The message board is not the best place. Please take care.

[weekevie04]

I don't think he is taking the pish. I recall a thread a few years ago.

Naran, listen to Zoltan. Your first step needs to be contacting your GP.

Do that tomorrow, please. And take care of yourself.

Things will get better.

[ZoltanBuchan]

The last bit of my post only really applies if you are a heavy drinker, as I was. I still don't believe that alcohol caused my depression and anxiety, but it sure as phuk made it a lot worse. That said, if you are prescribed SSRIs by your GP - Prozac is probably the best known, but Citalopram is much more widely used at the moment - you will have to give up all alcohol, even if you are only a moderate drinker. Even a smal amount of alcohol renders SSRIs utterly ineffective.

[ZoltanBuchan]

As zoltan says if you are serous pls get real help. The message board is not the best place. Please take care.

True to an extent, but it's also true that as depression still carries some stigma, albeit far less than it used to, it can be a lot easier to talk about it to strangers in cyberspace than to the people closest to you. Still though, make a GP appointment first thing tomorrow.

[Jacobite]

As others have said avoid alcohol completely. Contact your GP,don't be fobbed off.I know it can be difficult to get help immediately however there are organisations like SAMH out there as well.

http://www.samh.org.uk/contact/contact-us.aspx

Edited November 12, 2014 by Jacobite

[biffer]

I had a bad depressive episode seven years ago, on medication for a year. Help is there and the drugs worked for me.

Other things that work for me

1. Eating better, including cooking

2. Exercise

3. Drinking less - I often have depressive feelings the morning after a night on the pish. Let's face it, depression messes with your brain chemistry. So does booze- that's why we drink it. So mixing the two is going to screw you up.

Most important thing is to realise it's a physical illness, an imbalance of brain chemistry. It's not anything you've done wrong.

[Lamia]

True to an extent, but it's also true that as depression still carries some stigma, albeit far less than it used to, it can be a lot easier to talk about it to strangers in cyberspace than to the people closest to you.

You are spot on. It should be something people are happy to speak about openly and I have seen how social media has helped people in so many ways you wouldn't expect. Your story might help others. I had not beed aware of this although knew something had happened. Hope you keep on top of things I know it isn't always that easy.

[Charlie Endell]

I had a bad depressive episode seven years ago, on medication for a year. Help is there and the drugs worked for me.

Other things that work for me

1. Eating better, including cooking

2. Exercise

3. Drinking less - I often have depressive feelings the morning after a night on the pish. Let's face it, depression messes with your brain chemistry. So does booze- that's why we drink it. So mixing the two is going to screw you up.

Most important thing is to realise it's a physical illness, an imbalance of brain chemistry. It's not anything you've done wrong.

Great advice, Biffer. Aye, alcohol certainly does f**** with the brain chemistry.

[Flora MaDonald]

I've only recently come round to admitting the bevvy's getting out of hand. Listen to the boys, it really does feck with your heed.

I wish you the best of luck.

[Grumpyauldgit]

I have not long returned to work after a wee spell of depression, and what the troops are saying is all good advice.

The only thing I would add, is get out of the house and get some excercise, it always seems to help me.

[Buzz]

I had a major bout of depression about 18 months ago- felt that I was in a hole that I couldn't escape from, couldn't sleep, losing appetite, ruining my relationship with wife and kids. Finally went to the Doctor, broke down in tears when I was telling her because it was the first time that I had acknowledged the problem. She prescribed Citalopram and within weeks I was feeling better. I've been off medication for 6 months now and I'm in a great place. My whole life up until now had been marred with a background feeling of melancholy and fear of impending doom. That's gone now and I realise that the way I'm feeling now is normal. One of the other things that helped me was Limmy who has been vocal about his problems and how he has tackled them. You'll not beat this alone- reach out for help you'll not regret it.

[Flora MaDonald]

Good to hear, Buzz. Glad you got over it. I don't suffer from it per se, but when I drink I do.

I sincerely hope the OP is being honest about this, cos it takes a fair bit of bawz for folk to come on an Internet site and say that.

[Buzz]

I'm comfortable talking about it Flora because it was Limmy talking about it that made me seem help.

One of the things that helped me deal with it was the routine way that the Doctor dealt with it- no flashing lights or sirens. I had kept it hidden from my wife who is a pharmacist. When I finally told her she said "no big deal- half the towns on anti depressants."

It's a very common problem and it can be fixed. It's a shame that the stigma stops people from getting help.

[Flora MaDonald]

Good man.

[Orraloon]

I have not long returned to work after a wee spell of depression, and what the troops are saying is all good advice.

The only thing I would add, is get out of the house and get some excercise, it always seems to help me.

A change of username and avatar might also help to cheer you up a bit?

[Lamia]

Jigsaws are the answer. The drugs don't work.

Seriously jigsaws are great. They don't need a lot of complicated thought but distract you enough to stop you focusing on negative thoughts.

I would never take anything again. The fact they did nothing for my mood but just made me feel ill wasn't hepful. Neither was my doctor who tried to stop me going back to work.

Edited November 12, 2014 by Lamia

[ParisInAKilt]

Medications aren't the only answer and don't work for everyone but definitely have a place in treating any mental health issue.

[thplinth]

Medications aren't the only answer and don't work for everyone but definitely have a place in treating any mental health issue.

Where the depression or anxiety is caused by compulsive (mostly negative) thinking I would not go down the medications route. The instrument of torture for many is their own mind and being able to stop thinking at will is something they can find hard to do. If most of us tried it now - to not think for 5 minutes - how many of us might get close. Thinking is in part non voluntary and that can get badly out of control in a pattern that becomes deeply negative and it wears the person down. I honestly think drugs like LSD could play a massive role in breaking these patterns. They seem to be becoming more recognized now as a potential treatment.

Edited November 12, 2014 by thplinth

[tartandon]

Jigsaws are the answer. The drugs don't work.

Seriously jigsaws are great. They don't need a lot of complicated thought but distract you enough to stop you focusing on negative thoughts.

I would never take anything again. The fact they did nothing for my mood but just made me feel ill wasn't hepful. Neither was my doctor who tried to stop me going back to work.

aye. Anything that can keep your mind busy. Jigsaws, lego & video games could all help. The key is finding something that works for you and interests you.

[Mindimoo]

Doesn't help when councils are making huge cuts to funding in mental health provision. Demo in Glasgow right now about this http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/fear-for-mental-health-charity-over-cash-cuts.25838077

[Lamia]

Where the depression or anxiety is caused by compulsive (mostly negative) thinking I would not go down the medications route. The instrument of torture for many is their own mind and being able to stop thinking at will is something they can find hard to do. If most of us tried it now - to not think for 5 minutes - how many of us might get close. Thinking is in part non voluntary and that can get badly out of control in a pattern that becomes deeply negative and it wears the person down. I honestly think drugs like LSD could play a massive role in breaking these patterns. They seem to be becoming more recognized now as a potential treatment.

I just need someone to talk to to give me techniques to help me stop thinking about the things that were dragging me down all I got was medication and someone who wasn't interested in listening to me.

I had to figure it out for myself.