The Depression Thread

[Fairypop]

Hi there, newbie to the thread and have a question please. I hear so many people say they won’t/don’t want to take medication for depression. Can I ask why? No judgements, just interested. For me I just know I couldn’t function without it and am not concerned even if I end up on them for life because it is better than the alternative (for me it would be suicide).

Hi! I’m happy to take medication, in fact that’s kind of what I assumed my GP would offer to be honest (maybe alongside some sort of therapy and/or other coping techniques). It was my GP who said they weren’t necessary and wouldn’t make a difference to me, so just going by his judgement really, although he only spoke to me for about five minutes . Maybe my wording wasn’t the best on my original post! I suppose what I mean is I wouldn’t want to take anything that they didn’t think would work or help. I’d absolutely be willing to try medication if my GP (or whatever professional) thought it would help/was necessary!

 

[isabellalovescats]

Sending you love. My mother got a prescription for sleeping medication which helped after struggling with it for so long.

I second this! I am on Seroquel for sleep and it makes such a big difference. I need to get back on it ASAP.

 

[OutrageouslyScarlet]

This is probably a gross question but doesn't anyone else here who suffers from depression/anxiety find that sometimes stress makes them have diarrhoea

I’ve not had that, but I couldn’t keep any food down when I was super anxious everything just came up, so I imagine that similar.

 

[nothanksbabes]

Hi, just wanted to post a little vent (idk if that's what you'd call it), and see if anyone has any advice.


I've been diagnosed with depression for 6 years now and I'm currently taking 50mg of sertraline. But I have a feeling I'm getting worse, apart from being super depressed and anxious pretty much all of the time, I'm starting to have really bad issues with 'reality' and by that I mean I don't know if anything is real. I forget that other people are real and not just characters in my head (the best way to describe this feeling is that I'm in a tv show). It's making it so hard to have conversations with people, do my Uni work, to take anything seriously because my brain keeps telling me that nothing matters and I'm going to die anyway so what's the point? I have no desire to do anything, I keep joking to my boyfriend that I want to go live in a commune but really I'm not joking, I hate this world we live in.

This sounds like derealisation - I have complex PTSD with mostly depressive symptoms and I get derealisation and depersonalisation when I'm getting worse. Everything feels a bit sinister and "off" and I forget who I've said what to, if I've dreamt something or not and sometimes feel like I'm behind glass or observing llfe from a distance.

I'm on 50mg Sertraline too which seems to have suddenly stopped working. I don't think the change of seasons has helped my mood either.

 

[or JusRollWithIt]

Thank you. It’s advice I would give to a friend too but I can’t seem to pick up that phone why is that so hard? It seems so obvious.

 

[Professor Farnsworth]

I had cbt and counselling over the years. I just asked to go on antidepressants. I even told the GP i wasnt at my absolute lowest point but just fed up of fighting my mood and anxiety every day. Just felt like i need a bit of peace... tbh 50mg sertraline and im sort of feeling it. Not sure if i should go up or what? Finding it a lot easier to stay calm about things which im loving but i think ppl can tell somethings changed coz i am less on the ball. 1 week left off work so will see how they cope when i am back to the daily grind

How long have you been on the sertraline? They do cause drowsiness, but that’s a very low dose. Are they working otherwise?

 

[Raymond Luxury-Yacht]

I am a zombie. I think I fell asleep for an hour. I must have smacked myself in the face at some point because my nose was bleeding a little and I lost my nose stud. Great fun trying to put it back in half asleep whilst the cat decided it was time for pets

Oh I’m sorry! Is your nose okay now? Do you think you will be able to nap during the day?

 

[Dollie]

You haven't mentioned how long you've waited so far but unfortunately they can take as much time as they like. My GP has known me since birth and it is still impossible to get an appointment with her unless booking 6+ weeks in advance. RecentlyI had to go to another GP in the practice as I couldn't wait. This took an email and 3 phone calls from me to stress how important this appointment was for me. Even then it was a 12 day wait.

Are there any walk in clinics near you? I lived in a different city for college and there was a great walk in clinic that you could book online and usually be seen next day, just have to fill in some details. This could be a good filler appointment for you until you can get to your trusted GP!

Thank you for the suggestion of the walk in clinic, there is one in the next town over which should be easy to get to. It's been two months now, and I just wish they'd at least acknowledge that i've done the forms so I know that i've done them correctly lmao. I think i just need to suck it up and ring them but i find GP receptionists so patronising

 

[Dollie]

Does anyone know how long a GP is supposed to take to get back to you when you're a new member, if at all? On their website it says to fill out the form, which I did cause I wanted to go and actually do something about my depression/anxiety and I've literally heard nothing and on my NHS app the address of my GP hasn't changed from my old one (which I can't get too anymore)
I've also been putting off ringing them up because of anxiety/social anxiety, and i hate talking to people at GP surgeries/people in charge of anything cause I always feel like they think I'm completely dumb and they always act so patronising.

 

[LaurieLaurie]

I'm sorry to hear that, it's hard.

If it was me, I'd reduce how much I communicated and see how that goes... Maybe take a little longer to reply, or just say you need space etc.

I get you want to support them, but it shouldn't be detrimental to yourself

I’ve tried to step away and then he will have a good day and things will be good and I’ll have to switch on/off depending on his mood. At the moment I’m just switching off completely because I think he should be on his own if he’s going to be like this and I’m drained.

I hope you are feeling better now.

 

[TapToBoreMeRigid]

How long have you been up? It takes a while to adjust

12 days. 50 and 100 didn't do this. I'm struggling to sleep but my anxiety is lower than on 100. Ugg.

 

[watermelon sugar]

No I know what you mean! It’s almost like you don’t want to admit to them there is a problem

 

[Raymond Luxury-Yacht]

For me I tried not to be so hard on myself for feeling jealous. It was just a feeling. Self hate was also just thoughts and could be changed. I don't particularly love myself yet either but I've just stopped adding extra feelings / stuff on top when I'm already feeling low.

Might sound cliched but everyone has to run their own race. I would really recommend Louise hay's videos and affirmations on youtube.

Thank you so much, I’ve never thought about it this way I’m going to check out these videos, hopefully they help

 

[or JusRollWithIt]

I made it out very reluctantly and i never want to again

Do you mean made it out of the house? ((Hugs)) I hope you can rest and recharge.

 

[Penguin86]

Have just had a little read of this thread from the beginning, hoping to find an answer without having to bother u guys with a post.

What an insightful and supportive bunch u all r!

Does anyone have anything that has worked for them in terms of not feeling exhausted all the time? I am flat 99% of the time and find absolutely no enjoyment in anything. I have been this way for yearssss. I go on holidays, have a nice car, decent flat, husband, career, perfect dog. On paper I should be happy as larry but in reality i am utterly miserable, lonely and in despair.

I have tried Sertraline (3 years ago) for a couple of months but didn’t feel any different so stopped.

I have been going to psychotherapy once a week for a year. It has been amazing at helping me understand certain things relating to past trauma but i still feel as depressed as ever. My therapy is due to end in a weeks time so am not looking forward to that at all.

Is it too much to ask to be able to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, able to get up and go?!

Unfortunately even on antidepressants you still go through the same stuff just less severe

 

[candyland_]

Does anyone have any experience in dealing with jealousy? Unfortunately, I realised I’m really jealous of someone I know. She has my dream job, my dream boyfriends, good looks, she lives in a nice place and earns a lot of money. She is younger than me too. I have nothing in comparison, I can’t stop feeling a failure and blaming myself for not having worked hard enough to achieve what she has. Obviously, it takes a toll on my mental health. My self-hatred is so intense I feel physically sick all of the time. I just wish I could disappear.

Those things are just material, she could be going through hell on the inside so take it at face value.

 

[or JusRollWithIt]

It really is hard to do this alone, I tried for years until I had a breakdown, then knew I really needed help, a bit of advice, the first Dr I went to see, prescribed me amitriptyline, and told me to go to Waterstones to find a book on anxiety and depression, that really didn't help me, I changed drs, spoke to another, he was more understanding and prescribed different ads, took a while for them to help.

Thank you for sharing your experience. How do I (or they) know if I need meds, need someone to talk to, or both? How do I know what is right for me when I’m not quite right, right now? Does that make sense?

 

[StillLucilleBluth]

This is a weird one (or maybe my mental health is just tricking me into thinking that) - but does anyone else struggle with memories of not necessarily traumatic times in the past, but just memories of shit periods generally?

I don’t say PTSD lightly at all - I promise - and it’s not the right term but that’s the closest I can think of. It’s like I get really triggered whenever I remember fairly innocuous things like e.g. a bad date or how I felt at someone’s baby shower or a time when I just wasn’t happy.

As another example, I live in London and I feel dreadful when I remember times I’ve been on the tube on my own, unhappy on the way back from central after a dinner with friends, or picture myself waiting around to meet a Bumble date that turned out shit. It really triggers me hard and I fear that’s not normal. I just wondered if I’m the only one!

 

[or JusRollWithIt]

No I know what you mean! It’s almost like you don’t want to admit to them there is a problem

It’s a bit of a Pandora’s box and I’m not sure I can handle it. I also have some health issues and anxieties around the doctor as well which doesn’t help. I know I will call if for no other reason than desperation for sleep. What do they give for that?

 

[under the ivy]

please know that agoraphobia IS beatable/manageable. I was housebound for almost 6 years, aged 19-25. The right medicine and therapy helped me.

Depression and anxiety are an horrific combination. I struggle badly with intrusions and OCD. Additionally I have dermatillomania AND BPD & cPTSD.

The days feel short and long at the same time. Like they're never ending but I'm wasting them.

I go through bouts of not leaving the house, it’s definitely linked to a relapse in my depression/BPD. Sorry to read about your struggles x