Depressed

[Mowbray]

If i went to the docs and told him i was depressed and feeling suicidal would he give me anti depressants?

If so would i have to take time off work?  I can't afford to take time off work but feel as though i need some help in coping.

I think i need to see a councillor.  if i asked my doc' would they arrange it straight away?

[Chessman]

Hi Mobray,

A few years ago, I went through a patch similar to what you have described, knowing there was something seriously wrong, I went to the docs, who prescribed Prozac, but because of my job, I never took it, also you have to be careful of side affects, I then got councelling from a professional, a serious waste of time, all they do is listen, what you need is someone who can talk back to you, and is impartial, a religous leader or close friend for example, thats what I did, and it helped immensely.

[mfewell]

Mowbray, if you are feeling depressed and suicidal get help quick. These things can hit suddenly and worsen. Anti-depressants classically take 2-3 weeks to kick in, so if you do need them, the sooner the better. St.John's wort might help, but if you do go on to anti-d medication, don't mix them.

Do you know why you are so low ?

Best wishes, and ignore any 'pull yourself together' tips. If you are seriously depressed you can't, and it doesn't help.

[David H]

I'd go with the last two replies, and as a counsellot myself just to add to ask yourself whether the depression has an obvious outside reason or not. If not, tablets are more likely to be needed, though a hidden cause may come out through counselling or talking to someone you can rely on.

The NHS usually has a fair waiting list for free counselling, but there are usually free or cheap places run by volunteers if you look up on the BACP website for a local list www.bacp.co.uk which includes volunteers as well as private counsellors. The doctor will know whether antidepressants are needed, but counselling will always help as well. Good luck.

[Sasha13]

Something to add to this... if you tell a doctor that you are feeling suicidal they are likely to consider sectioning you for your own health. I was prescribed prozac for what I would describe as mild depression. It took a while to work (I knew it would) but sorted me out eventually and I suffered no side effects from it at all. I also didn't miss a single day of work from it.

[WendyS]

You will probably have to wait for an appointment with a counsellor, but if you're still feeling low, there's always the Samaritans who will be happen to listen to you.  You can also talk to them via e-mail them on www.samaritans.org.  They're available 24 hours a day.

Sometimes talking things through with somebody who doesn't know you and who doesn't have a private agenda can help.   Don't be frightened to ask for help. Most of us have these rough patches occasionally so don't beat yourself up.  Try and remember occasions when life felt more hopeful and joyful and remind yourself that your feelings are temporary and WILL improve.    

[rampart]

Mowbray, many of us go through spells like this. The good side is that you recognize that there is a problem and that you want to do something about it. That's a good sign, mate. I have no idea what to suggest. One time a friend of mine talked to a priest she did not know when she was having problems. It was easy because she could tell everything and not worry about seeing him week after week or worrying that he'd tell everyone her troubles. Sometimes a stranger like that can be very helpful, if you don't have a true close friend who can be there for you.

You can see that your AB friends care and we're all strangers here. So hold out, man, as there are surely many people who care about you, some you've not yet met.

ram

[hinge1967]

I agree with everyone except Chessman, who unfortunately seemes to have had a poor counselling experience, some counsellors "just listen" and this can be helpful for some people. Some use different models of therapy which are more active and often, just like antidepressants, it can take a few attempts to find the person who is most helpful for you.

And just to expand on Sasha13 point about feeling suicidal, its actually very unlikely that you would be detained in a hospital (sectioned) on the basis of saying you "feel" suicidal, since these feelings are very common in those experiencing depression. A good GP would want to assess the chances of you actually setting out to harm yourself and if he or she felt uncertain is likely to refer to you to a mental health professional on an urgent basis for further assessment.

I'm making that point clear so that you don't get frightened and think you shouldn't tell your GP how you feel for fear of being carted off by men in white coats. (I'm one of them and can tell you that the risk level has to be very high before such action would be taken!!!)

I hope this helps, it gets better and won't always feel as bad as this. Best wishes.

[Narolines]

Some years ago I went through something similar: I went to see my GP (actually he opened his surgery specially for me at a time when he would normally have been closed) and he was brilliant. I had excellent counselling and psychiatric help from my local NHS mental health services very soon after seeing him, and I'm glad to say I now feel fine, my self-esteem is back and I feel better than I've done in years.  It does take time, though; I was on anti-depressants for about 2-3 years (you may have to go through several till you find one that works for you) and in regular counselling for longer than that, and I was off work for quite a long time.  You should be entitled to incapacity benefit if you have to be off work; I found the relevant services very helpful and supportive. Do seek help - you will not regret it; best of luck.

[nickymanley]

It took me 2 years of being depressed before I could pluck up the courage to go to the doctor who was actually lovely and put my mind at ease - he explained that depression was a chemical imbalance of the brain (so it's acting as if you have been through a major trauma when you haven't and put to shame the people that had told me to "snap out of it" or the people who were against anti-depressants) and pescribed fluoxetine (a prozac based anti-depressant). I took this for a year and a half and hardly missed a day of work (the days I did have off were not pill related) - in fact it reduced the amount of days I had off work as some mornings before the pills I couldn't get out of bed. I would definitely advise having a chat with your doc - explain your concerns over work and you should be able to come to some solution that makes you feel a whole lot better within yourself. Good luck! P.S Have been off the tablets for 2 years now - never looked back! x

[Sasha13]

hinge1967 - I did say that a doctor would consider sectioning someone who said they were feeling suicidal - Mowbray, apologies if I gave the impression that by telling a doctor that you're feeling suicidal you'd automatically get carted off. However, if they feel that you are a danger to yourself, they would have to try and make sure that you didn't hurt yourself.