Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 8460

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

is this depression

Posted by ella on July 8, 1999, at 21:39:59

My husband has told me he was fed up with my mood swings. I have had bouts of feeling blue but mostly have a low self esteem. Things bother me like hearing stories of my husbands past relationships will haunt me for days at a time. I feel stupid saying this but it is true. I guess I feel inferior but don't want these things to bother me but I do. I can stew on crap in my mind and blow it completely out of the water. Do you think I need medication. Why can't I just be happy all the time. Aren't there people like that. I have a nice home great kids and a great husband but sometimes just feel so sorry for myself and then feel he could have done so much better than me. Could go on forever. Need some guidance.
ella

 

Re: is this depression

Posted by Chris on July 8, 1999, at 22:14:05

In reply to is this depression, posted by ella on July 8, 1999, at 21:39:59

My suggestion is to go to a therapist first and talk about it. See if that helps just getting your feelings out in a non-judgemental environment. Obviously something is bothering you. Just some advice before trying the med route.

 

Re: is this depression

Posted by JohnL on July 9, 1999, at 3:36:05

In reply to Re: is this depression, posted by Chris on July 8, 1999, at 22:14:05

> My suggestion is to go to a therapist first and talk about it. See if that helps just getting your feelings out in a non-judgemental environment. Obviously something is bothering you. Just some advice before trying the med route.

I tend to agree with Chris. Might just be some issue that needs resolving and a decent counselor can do that. Either your doc or a counselor should be able to give you a multiple-choice depression screening test. That makes the picture a lot more clear. Other symptoms of depression to be aware of are: Trouble sleeping (falling asleep OK, but waking frequently or way too early is classic in depression), Oversleeping. Changes in appetite. Lack of joy in things you used to find pleasure in (also classic core symptom). Difficulty reading or concentrating. Feeling totally bored and yet not wanting to do anything because nothing is fun. Small tasks become very difficult. Unusually strong procrastination. The instinctive gut feeling that something upstairs aint right. A doc or counselor can help figure out what's giving you a rough time. JohnL.

 

Re: is this depression

Posted by JohnL again on July 9, 1999, at 3:51:37

In reply to Re: is this depression, posted by JohnL on July 9, 1999, at 3:36:05

> > My suggestion is to go to a therapist first and talk about it. See if that helps just getting your feelings out in a non-judgemental environment. Obviously something is bothering you. Just some advice before trying the med route.
>
> I tend to agree with Chris. Might just be some issue that needs resolving and a decent counselor can do that. Either your doc or a counselor should be able to give you a multiple-choice depression screening test. That makes the picture a lot more clear. Other symptoms of depression to be aware of are: Trouble sleeping (falling asleep OK, but waking frequently or way too early is classic in depression), Oversleeping. Changes in appetite. Lack of joy in things you used to find pleasure in (also classic core symptom). Difficulty reading or concentrating. Feeling totally bored and yet not wanting to do anything because nothing is fun. Small tasks become very difficult. Unusually strong procrastination. The instinctive gut feeling that something upstairs aint right. A doc or counselor can help figure out what's giving you a rough time. JohnL.

>I forgot to mention: There are physical problems that can look like or cause depression. A blood test for possible causes of depression is routine at a doc's office. You might consider requesting it. Takes a few days to get the results, not too expensive. A checkup is warranted to rule out, or pinpoint, any physical causes. JohnL.

 

Re: is this depression

Posted by ruth on July 9, 1999, at 7:25:24

In reply to Re: is this depression, posted by JohnL again on July 9, 1999, at 3:51:37

Ella,

Just wanted you to know that I can totally relate
to your feelings. They sound a lot how my depression
will usually manifest itself. I will tend to
obsess about things that just increase my misery.
I have a wonderful boyfriend too, and if I'm gripped
by depression, I"ll wonder why he's with me, imagine
so many other women who would be so much "better" for
him, how "lucky" I am to have him--and this dosen't
feel like the nice kind of lucky, more like the bad sort
(like a grateful little wretch, and I can't see
that he too is lucky to have ME). I get frustrated
because I can't feel happy about anything when there's
obviously so much to be happy about all around me.

So...just mainly wanted you to know I can relate,
and that it sounds a lot like depression to my ears.
But I don't know you, or your situation, so who
knows, maybe your fears and feelings have some
validity. I think seeing a therapist is a great
idea--it's certainly helped me a lot. Also, with
regards to medication--it's done me a world of good.
I feel like I have so much more perspective, and
I don't spiral down into those negative thoughts
all the time anymore. Beating down the demons all
the time can be so draining, and damaging to the
self esteem.

I hope you figure out the right thing to do for
yourself, and can find a good therapist to help
you with these sorts of decisions--I'll be thinking
about you :-)

Ruth

 

Re: is this depression

Posted by ella on July 9, 1999, at 7:34:33

In reply to Re: is this depression, posted by ruth on July 9, 1999, at 7:25:24

Thank you so much for the encouragement. Sometimes it is so hard to see through the dark cloud in my head. Seeing a therapist scares me. Does medication work on it's own or does it only mask? You would think it would teach you to cope with your problems but what happens when you stop taking them do you revert back? Confusing and scary.

ella

 

Re: is this depression

Posted by ruth on July 9, 1999, at 8:37:39

In reply to Re: is this depression, posted by ella on July 9, 1999, at 7:34:33

Is is confusing and scarey sometimes, I totally
agree. Some people are able to treat their depression
with medication, the depression goes away, and they
are able to go off medication with no relaspes. Other
folks keep having relapses and have to go back on medication.
Usually these folks (I'm included in this catagory),
have a biochemical embalance of some sort, a history of
depression in their family, and need to treat with
medication in order to live happy and productive lives.

I can also relate to your being scared of seeing a
therapist. I used to think all that stuff was bunk and
balogny, and
felt that I had more insight than any of the therapists
I'd seen. But time and depression humbled me, and I
finally found a good one, and low and behold, I've
found that talk therapy DOES help. I've learned there's
no shame in it--in fact it's something to be proud of,
b/c it means you think enough of yourself to do what
it takes to be happy and take care of you, and put
yourself first.

This is my simplistic view on medication--you can
try it, if it helps you, great, if you don't like
it, and continue feeling bad about it, you can just
go off the drug and try and figure out other ways
to treat your depression.

But like I said, a good therapist can really help
you sort out these issues. Is IS a big decision,
that's for sure, and shouldn't be taken lightly.

 

Why does seeing a therapist scare you...

Posted by Mare on July 9, 1999, at 8:40:09

In reply to Re: is this depression, posted by ella on July 9, 1999, at 7:34:33

... Maybe your answer to this question will spark something for you. As far as medication goes -- depression is a BIOLOGICAL illness. It is chemicals gone haywire. Antidepressants work on those chemicals. They do not provide a high, like a street drug will. They just re-balance your chemicals. That's laymen's language for you, huh? But that's the easiest way to describe it. But most of us also need talk therapy, too, to help us adjust, or to help with coping mechanisms we used while depressed. So, medication does not just mask problems, but gives you a tool to tackle those problems. Gives you hope and energy. Smiling, laughing comes easier. My suggestion to you is the same as Chris' -- see a therapist ASAP. Therapists are professionals. You will be surprised at how much you will learn about yourself. They are trained in these issues, the ones you are dealing with. Don't attempt to deal with it on your own. If your therapist suggests that you see a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation, DO IT! If your therapist thinks that talk therapy can do the trick for you, DO IT! You wouldn't try to fix a broken leg by yourself, would you? Don't try to fix your broken heart, broken emotions, etc. by yourself. GOOD LUCK! Please let us know how you are doing. I speak as someone who was in your shoes a year ago. Now, I'm in talk therapy, taking Celexa, and doing really well, and wishing I had done this YEARS ago. But I don't look back, only forward. Looking back does nothing. Looking forward is actually exciting now!

 

Re: is this depression

Posted by Tori on July 9, 1999, at 10:04:59

In reply to is this depression, posted by ella on July 8, 1999, at 21:39:59

> Hi Ella,
Depression manifests itself in many ways and the way you describe feeling is a lot like I have felt in the past. Also, I always knew when I was 'sinking' into depression (and that's exactly what it felt like!)when I would wake up in the morning and count the number of hours I had to get through before I could go back to bed. I too resisted seeing a therapist until my husband insisted. Therapy and medication (prozac the first time, celexa recently)changed my life and made me wonder what I was so afraid of and why I had waited so long. As bad as I felt, I really didn't know how depressed I had been until I was feeling better! I hope this gives you courage - there is lots of help out there.
Tori


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