Please give me ideas on how to stop being depressed all the time.

[supermom]

Okay I can't seem to get happy! I'm so depressed and I can't help it.

 

Sat night I had a huge anxiety attack, couldn't breathe, undescribable fear inside, with no explanation!

 

I am so afraid that I am becoming crazy! I don't know what to do to make me happy again. I know I should see a doctor, will do that soon, have to make an appointment, councelor appt tomorrow evening.

 

I have a short fuse recently.

 

What is happening to me? I'm either really sad, or once in a while really happy. I'm usually never just okay, like a normal person. I'm sad and depressed more than not.

 

Any ideas guys? Homeopathic remedies? I really don't want to start medication if I don't have to.

[krbshappy71]

If this is a medical condition, medicine is the answer. Just a suggestion, when I start freaking out I have found that doing a physically exhausting activity REALLY helps. My brain stops short-circuiting on whatever problem it got stuck on. I am tired, more relaxed, etc. Have you started keeping a journal yet? That has also helped, I make myself write in it onthe GOOD days too so I can keep track of whether my good days are outnumbering my bad days, also the good days remind me that life IS good, that it WILL get better. Seriously, though, if medication is needed, that's just how it is. You wouldn't tell a diabetic to just cut out the cookies! They have to have medication! Its not will power! Hope this helps, lots of this in my family. (depression)

[bgfrombg]

Okay, I really don't know your whole story, but is there things going on in your life that would cause you to be depressed? I'm having a real hard time with depression now, but I'm just tryin to deal, for one main reason, cuz if I went to a doctor, and my ex found out, she might try to keep me from seeing my son.

 

You just have to realize, especially if something has happened to cause you to be depressed(like me, brother dying, g/f of four years leaving, not having good luck employment wise, and mother having heart trouble) that life goes on and it's not always going to be easy, take it day to day, and you might not want to believe it, sometimes I don't, but it will get better.

[meanon]

You're doing the right things, supermom. Talk to the counsellor about the fear, it won't always be undescribable. It's reaction, there are things in your life which are causing it. You are not crazy.

 

Talk to the Doctor too. If the depression is not too bad then you may be able to avoid meds but if you need them then it's much better to take them for a short period to break the cycle. If you are clinically depressed it's unlikely the counselling will work without meds as the brain chemistry perpetuates the feelings even once you are tackling the root causes. It's not impossible to recover from clinical depression without meds, but it's very hard.

 

Meanwhile talking about the problems in your life, rather than just the symptoms of those problems, will help. St. John's Wort is a herbal remedy that many people take for depression but do stop it if you start on meds as they don't always react well together.

 

Try not to worry too much about your reactions, you've had so much to deal with and you've reached your coping limit. I don't know you well enough to say what the specific causes may be. It could be that your body is telling you that you need to look after yourself a little more. Maybe you need to slow down and think about what's happening in your life, not just expect to carry on as before. Life changing experiences shake our entire view of the world and we need time to readjust, refocus. You've had problems in your marriage and I suspect that with work, a young family and financial worries, time to yourself has been a luxury you've not been able to afford. Now your body is saying, enough is enough. Listen to it.

 

Problems like these are really very common, supermom. You'll sort them out and be fine again soon

[supermom]

thank you guys for your advises!

 

I go to the councelor today:) I will update you all how I'm feeling. thanks so so much

[wildturkey]

Hi there, you are sad! accept the fact. The anxiety attacks, palpitations, rapid respirations and loss of sleep are all symptoms related to what you are going through. It gets better. As far as your temper, do not loose it. It is also part of healing. You will be angry for a while. Time will help in your case. Loosing a lovedone is a very hard thing to go through. I know about what you are going through. How to get better you asked? Keep up with the house chores, eat well and write down things you want to do. Go out and have some icecream. It works. Focus at work and try not to talk too much about it with others at work. Find a friend and confident who will listen to you.

[HokeyReligions]

Well, everyone else said what I would have, but I battle depression also and I understand. I keep a journal and I use different colored ink (silly sounding, but helpful) and I write the down stuff in red or purple bold strokes, and the up times in thinner lined blue or black ink. I can track at a glance and when I feel myself beginning to be depressed, I flip to the Up sections and re-read those.

 

Also, scorching hot mint tea with honey to drink with a bowl of icy cold orange sherbert! My mom swears by chamomile tea.

 

I wish I could get back on anti-depressents but I am having some health problems right now and the medicines I'm taking for the other stuff do not react well with Prozac or Zoloft or the other anti-depressents. I have to take one thing at a time. I am having a very hard time staying up-beat right now too. LS has become my life-line!

 

We'll make it supermom, somehow we always do.

[Charlotte]

Hi supermom,

you are doing the right thing by seeing a professional who is in much better position to accesss your specific situation and what the best treatment should be.

 

For me, when I was suffering the blues (not sure if it was medical depression), I just went on a holiday on my own and did something crazy -l ike a bungee jump. Well, the adrenalin rush I got from that lifted me into a euphoria I never had experience since. I was unbelievably happy! However, it was shortlived. It only lasted a week but it did get me out of the hole I was stuck in for several months.

 

Another thing I can suggest when feeling down is try to keep busy doing things for other people. The problem with feeling sad is that we become too self absorbed with negative self talk. The more time we have to think about ourselves, the deeper we slip into the black hole. Try volunteering with some charity. Not only does it keep you busy, but you get too see the less fortunate people in life and realize how lucky you are.

 

Also, for me, long term wise, it helped trying to accept that life is not meant to be one happy fun party.

Instead, life is meant to be a journey, a learning experience (full of ups and down). Sure I expect to have happy moments but it is not my overriding goal in life.

[supermom]

thanks again guys!

 

I realize that I need to start taking charge of my life. I do for others but i never do for myself. Well that's gonna change. I'm gonna try to stop worrying about what people think of me, what i can do for them, and sticking up for myself.

 

The counceling starting yesterday, and it is helping. I'm glad I started to take this step.

 

Thanks for all the support I've been getting. I'm actually pleasantly surprised regarding all the support and feedback I've received.

 

Thanks again!

[meanon]

The counceling starting yesterday, and it is helping

 

That's great . Your determination to give a higher priority to your needs will help too.

[supermom]

Well - I have made a doctors appointment for the 16th (soonest they could get me in) so hopefully things will start looking better for me.

 

Counceling has helped me - my husband is doing more to help me. I just wish I could win the lottery lol (dont play anyway)

 

but I wanted to thank all you guys for your encouraging words.

 

Thanks,

Supermom

[Thinkalot]

I'm really pleased to hear that supermom. I know it can be hard overcoming feeling a certain way (me with my OCD, and my mum also suffers bouts of depression)....keep up with the good work and look after you!

[meanon]

Good news, supermom. You're right - things will start looking better soon.

 

I can't promise you luck in the lottery, especially if you don't play! I am, however, open to get rich quick schemes. PM me your ideas and we could well be on our way to our first £million!

[Thinkalot]

LOL! Please include me in that too...I'm always open to receiving a cool million for nothin'!

[meanon]

Who said it was for nothing? In fact I'm sure we've already cast you as star in a porn film several months ago, Thinkalot . We may need to revise our plans in view of the Fijian wedding! Let's invent someting instead, or write a book about all the weird and wonderful folk on Loveshack (I'll be the weird, you can be the wonderful ).

[sillysally]

I found that medication along with counseling worked wonders for me. Depression runs in my family. It can be genetic, situational, or a combination of both. I am still taking celexa, and anti-depressant SSRI similar to prozac. The meds sometimes are trial and error, if one doesn't work, another one will!! But keep trying, you'll have good and bad days, but you can gradually start feeling human again!!!! Oh, and some of the meds take weeks to take effect..hang in there!

[supermom]

Thanks guys,

 

OCD and BiPolar is HUGE in my family. All my siblings, my mother, my grandfather all have either or both.

 

I want to get tested because I have the syptoms of OCD and BiPolar according to my mom. Also my daughter is 2 next month, I want to "fix" myself before she gets any older.

 

Your support is really needed and appreciated. Thanks!!!!!!!!!

 

~Supermom