depression

[Onlyme2008]

not sure if this is a silly question but something ive been wanting to ask for ages, bit scared to ask the doctor but....

is depression something you can cure? i have suffered since i can remember, its not to bad, i prob have about 4 days in 7 where im depressed, i cry and get emotional for no reason, i feel sad and sorry about everything! yet i have a few days where i feel ok, not overly happy but just ok.

if i take anti - depressants do they eventurely cure you and make u feel better or do they only work while your taking them?

say i took them for 12 months and felt better, i didnt cry and feel sad unless had reason to... if i stopped taking them would the depression come back?

cheers for any responces x

[terambulan]

Look for the good aspects in ur life.......easily said than done, I know.......but try and be positive.

Ur alive, u can walk, talk, feed have a roof over ur head and a bed. Perhaps a window on the world. Put on some cheeful music and set yourself a task like shopping for goodies. Even buying a pkt of Smarties takes u to a shop where u have to communicate with the assistant, small talk will bring u out of yourself.........and who knows, maybe just maybe a fabulous new door will open to you.......with a silver lining!

[luckyman]

onlyme i feel for u..im exactly the same....most days i wish i werent here anymore...i just live with it now....tried all the pills for 20 yrs...not one worked...i wish i knew wot was wrong with me..no one understands..only us alone know wot its like...i try to get to the gym etc..i work full time so that takes my mind of things a little...why dont u try st johns wort...im getting some today and gonna stay on for few months....i know we are very lucky compared to some people in this world ,,we have work,house,etc...i mean i have lots more than some of my friends ,a beautifull loving wife ,daughter..but i still get depressd...i wish it would go away but im stuck with it...all the advice i can give is try and live a healthy life and not drink too much and do plenty of excercise ...all the best...good luck

[wolf63]

Depression is not a logical disease - it is a real illness and can be fought several ways.

Anti-depressants can make you feel better so that you can cope and get your life back on track. You take them until you feel much better and for a while afterwards.

However there are people, like myself, who have to stay on them all the time. I have no problem with this - it is so much better than feeling depressed.

Visit your doctor - nothing can be worse than you feel at present. Write a letter and hand it to your doctor if you feel that you could express yourself better in writing.

If you are female remember your hormones can cause emotional problems too.

Best wishes.

[solitude]

Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and medication is an excellent route to go in those cases. I was on meds for a period of time, then meds with therapy, now just therapy. Everyone is different and you should see your gp to plan a course of treatment - whatever it may be. You could just need a short course to kick you out of your depressive cycle. Good luck.

[Theland1]

Good advice.
Good luck.

[andy-hughes]

Reactive Depression - a reaction to a sepcific circumstance, can be eradicated with professional therapy from a trained skilled counsellor, but Chemical Depression tends to be balanced by medication.

I regard my anti-depressants as mental insulin - they balance me, and I can live my life with odd dips, not the massive pitches and yaws rthat I have had in the past.

I think you should have a very serious honest talk with your GP about therapy, and see what advice you receive.

[VickiS]

Hi, I've suffered from depression for many years and I've been put on several different types of anti-depressants over this time, but I personally didn't find them very helpful and they didn't cure me as such. They made me feel ok-ish but slightly numb.
However, one day I went to see a different doctor and he took the time to talk to me about depression (instead of simply handing me a prescription and pointing me towards the door which so many others have seemed to do...) and explain what he thought was the best way of handling depression. He believed that the best thing was to eat well, exercise and do activities that made you feel good and alive (e.g. for me its long walks in the country). After that I made the effort to eat lots of fruits and veggies and I take regular exercise - for me its worked and I've heard lots of other people recommend this approach but it takes a little time to feel the benefits and its a long-term commitment. I still have bad days every so often but I feel much better and happier now. Maybe its worth going to speak to a doctor about it and see if they'd recommend that sort of approach for you? I also find talking about it helps. Please remember that you shouldn't ever stop taking anti-d's without a doctors advice - you need to reduce your intake slowly. I hope you find something that works for you. Best wishes xxx

[Greedyfly]

Hi, I have had and suffered with depression all my life nearly. I have tried and taken many different drugs, tried therapy etc... and I am not cured but I never expected or expect to be tbh. I have accepted that this is me and I can cope with it now, whether that is from experience of getting older or the last medication I took I dont know. I do know I still have bad times and I fear that its getting worse but I always come out of the other side. I think you should really go see your doctor, tell them exactly how you feel and be honest - They will try to help you the best they can. Whether it be medication or therapy etc.. I hated and still hate the idea of medication but I got so bad there was no pther option, and I will be honest I had to try alot of drugs to find some theat didnt make me ill and that helped rather than hindered but it was worth it in the end. I think its different for everyone, some people have an idea why they are depressed others have not a clue. But even though I dont believe I will be cured I believe I am much better than I was - which is a start. You should really talk to somebody though just a to get some professional insight. Alot of us have been there and your not alone by any means. You can get better but you have to seek some advice first. The other advice I have is when your feeling really down, if you have no one to talk too why not post a question here - just havong a chat whether it be digital or not can help you feel a little better.Hope you manage to talk to your doc & I hope you start to feel better in yourself soon x

[jessboo22]

hi, i had depression for several years and when i got the courage up to talk to my doctor i was put on prozac- its not for everyone and im not saying its some kind of miracle cure but it worked for me!

it took a few months to get the dosage right, it was either feeling exactly the same as before or like a braindead zombie but finally we got to the middle ground!

ive been taking them for about 18 months and ive gone from nearly being in a mental hospital for it and very suicidal to a happy, healthy person. im currently coming off the tablets now and am happier than ive ever felt.

anti-depressents arent a miracle, i had to do my share of talking too but in some cases they do help, you can never really tell if they'll work for you unless you try them, keep in regular contact with your doctor and be honest with him/her too.

i hope this helps, dont give up and i hope you find happiness- im sure you will ! X