depression

[holden]

I would like to talk with someone that also suffers depression, and what kind of treatment will help, or works for them.

[bonbon28]

I've had bad depression, and was put on a few different kinds of anti-depressants by the doctors. The 'happypills' that worked for me was fluxotine. I also think it's good to talk to your friends and family about your anxieties. If you keep your emotions in and let it build up, you will feel worse. I was on the tablets for over 2 years due to various things and I'm off them for 6 weeks and still get the odd cr@p day.

If you are given a prescription of anti-depressants, give them a chance to kick in. It could take between 4-6 weeks before they start to help. Also don't take yourself off them without talking to the doctors even if you feel OK, I done this and felt even worse because I did'nt come off them properly.

Hope you are feeling better xx

[ageing fast]

My daughter has had the most awful depression for the last 3 years. She tried 4 different types of anti-depressants until they found one that works without side-effects. The worst side effect was panic attacks which she experienced with fluoxotine. She's now on sertraline. So different ones work for different people.

I absolutely agree with bonbon28 - don't try to just stop taking the tablets. When you are ready, you need to wean yourself off them with your doctors help.

As an observer (and carer) rather than a sufferer, I have noticed that certain things have an effect on her depression. Food is one. If she eats "well", her mood definitely lightens. Junk food and stodge make her miserable. Another is sleep. If she sleeps too long, she becomes lethargic. If she gets up and walks the dog, the endorphines kick in and she feels a bit better. She has benefitted from taking omega-3 supplements. She has also improved dramatically from talking therapy with a psychotherapist - talking about it makes life make more sense.

It's not easy, I know, but you can tame the "Black Dog" - which is what Winston Churchill called his depression - and he defeated Hitler! But he had a little help from his friends.

I hope that today is a good day for you.

[imaneedhelp]

i suffer from depression at the moment. i have for the last 2 half years i hid it from my partner for the first year, i was also diagnosed with depression when i was 22, i'm now 32 that episode lasted 3 half years. anyway now its a struggle at times as i'm a house husband, but i get alot of support from my partner and her family( i live in dublin my family in chester) at the moment i'm taking cymbalta which is the 5th anti-d i have had since this relapse, this time round i have alot more support and a family to think about. my first time i was on my own in a grotty bedsit and i also had insomnia so the anti-d's i was on had a side effect that it knocked me out for 12 hrs at a time which i abbused by taking 2 sleeping waking taking another 2 sleeping (u get the picture) i was suicidal the first time around but not this timei have everything to live for and now i will get through this in time. there are good days and bad, in time u will feel better, good luck
thinking of you
mnko

[horselady]

I have been off work since January with depression, am on Citalopram at the moment, have good days when I think I feel OK again and then and bad days when everything seems hopeless. Find that I feel guilty about whats wrong with me, I feel a bit ashamed when I'm asked why I've been off work for so long, people still seem to think we can "pull ourselves together"

[Wee Kaz]

Believe it or not, one of the best cures for depression is exercise as it releases endorphines which are the 'feel good' hormones, you should give it a try 3 times a week and see if your depression lifts any.

[missmuppet]

I've been suffering with depression for almost 2 years now. I'm currently taking cymbalta, have some anxiety attacks so also take diazepam and tiazepam for sleeping (although only take these once a week) I haven't worked since Nov 2004. People just don't seem to get it, they think you should just pull yourself together but it's not that easy. I find that stupid little things are blown out of all proportion and i can sink much quicker than i can rise. My biggest problem is lack of money and a pride thing that makes it difficult for me to accept help from family with my finances. Yesterday I found out that from now on I will have to pay for my tablets cos incapacity benefit does not automatically entitle you to free perscriptions!!! The irony of it is that you need the tablets if you're on incap!!!! This made me go right down and i'm struggling to get back up again :-(