Depression

[Goatsbreath]

Ok, maybe someone can help with this. I have a friend that has recently become very angry all the time and depressed. One minute she will be angry and then you will say something about it and she will start crying about being sad. She is 28. I know when I was younger, teen and what not I went through a depression period but it seemed different then the one she is suffering from. For me, I remember having reasons or atleast thinking I did. I mean, I was writing poetry a lot and kept searching for the darker side of life. With her its different. She is like a empty glass and no matter what you try to pour into it, it never holds. She really has nothing to say about it. You can ask her what is wrong but she really dont know. For me, I think I used to think about stuff to much. With her, I think she dont think about anything at all. I know she used to take meds and she recently told me she quit. I know for a fact they helped with the anger because only recently has she turned angry. She agrees but then complains that none of them actually helped with the situation. She has taken quite a few different ones. She says they all made her feel emotionaly void, she couldn't even cry she said. I tell her to go seek counseling but she says she dont see the point anymore, there is no cure she says. Shes been to a counselor a few times and I told her you cant expect results over night. She says she dont even know what she would say. I tell her to say your angry all the time....start there. Then she says she has tried counseling but I know for a fact she only went to like 3 appoitments. She also said it made her more sad. Its so messed up because she is very attractive and has a great career as a nurse. She has a home. It just dont add up. Any one have advice?

[moimeme]

She has rejected all the possible solutions. You can try to persuade her that she needs to pursue meds and/or counselling, but she sounds resistant. You can't force people to seek help.

[Goatsbreath]

Yeah, I guess. Im at the end of my rope because I dont really know what to say to her anymore. I guess that is what I am looking for. Something to say that will make her realize that she can turn this around. Im just not sure there is anything.

[brashgal]

I read somewhere that depression is anger without enthusiasm. I remember being terribly angry on top of being sad. It does sound like she should be back on meds. There are a bunch of them out there, she shouldn't give up.

 

I know how she feels though, I felt 'drugged' most of the time and I finally chose to be off them but I had 'lightened up' considerably when I had. Regular exercise helps tremendously, getting regular sleep - when I get too tired or stressed I'm more likely to slip back into being "not okay".

 

You can appear to have everything going for you to make you happy but if your chemicals are out of whack, you need medication.