Depression

[dave50]

I always thought you only suffered depression if you are constantly worried about things in your life. Why do people suffer from depression who have nothing to worry about? Some are healthy, no money worries, a loving family, nothing in fact that gives a reason to be depressed, so what's it all about? What triggers it?

[VHG]

Follow on from my append above. Just a small example.

When I worked in IT I had to go abroad to teach classes. One class lasted 2 weeks in Sweden. I was there on my own (all the students were local) and I stayed over the middle weekend.

I really enjoyed being on my own and each night would walk the city and eat at a nice place on my own.

Then during the FIRST week the guy who was hosting the class said he would take me out for a meal the Thursday of the SECOND week, just the two of us.

I really did not want to do this, just me and him. I spent the next 7 or 8 days worrying about it, counting down the days.

On the night of the meal we sat there making small talk and all I wanted to do was get away.

Eventually the meal ended and he offered to drive me to my hotel in his car but I could not wait to get away so got up and almost ran out the door on my own.

THAT is how much hard work life is for me.

p.s. I am not totally a miserable git. I do have a happy marriage and my wife and I do many things together and we enjoy being in each others company. It is just certain situations like above that I dont like.

This makes life very hard work and causes me to be very depressed (even though I can still function on a day to day basis).

Note: I have had one nervous breakdown (in 1985) and have come close to it a couple of other times since, during time of huge life upheavals. The first was during my divorce from my first wife, and I have never felt right since to be honest.

Been on prozak a few times but it has not been any help.

Stuck with it I think.

[Rosetta]

VHG, you have very eloquently expressed what it can feel like to have depression. The black pit you are in at the moment can be treated and if you havent seen your GP yet, you should.

[Sqad]

Rosetta......I agree entirely.

[Sammy48]

VHG I am in tears reading your story. I can myself, relate to some of it. You have my deepest admiration for sharing this on here.

[VHG]

>>But you have described in the above statement and your excellent post............clinical depression.
>> Have you sought psychiatric care at any time?

See my append above.

I thought clinical depression was when you could not get out of bed and look after yourself like washing and shaving and do the basics.

I have never been that bad, except in 1985 when the whole world seemed to collapse around me.

I managed to hold my job down, and I now "run a good home" (pay the bills, keep the house nice etc).

Maybe I misunderstood clincal depression.

I did have some psychiatric care in 1985 when I had my breakdown, and I have been to my GP a few times (but he was useless to be honest, no understranding of how I feel).

I did have some therapy sessions with MIND a few years ago, but it made little differnece.

I think I am just stuck with it.

[Sqad]

VHG......a GP?

What you needed and need badly now,a Consultant Psychiatric opinion.

[andy-hughes]

VHG - as others have described, you have all the symptoms of Clinical Depression.

As with most illnesses, there are degrees, and just because you are not at the deepest level - non-functioning, does not mean that your siffereing is something youhave to live with.

I urge you to seek an appointment with your GP and tell him/her what you have told us. Modern anti-depressanta are fantastically sophisticated, nothing *** the 'liquid cosh' of decadews ago.

A kiufe without these feelings is possible - ring up today, and keep us posted.

[VHG]

>>a Consultant Psychiatric opinion.

Do you have to do that through a GP?

Or can you go direct somehow?

[Sqad]

It depends:

the correct way is to go via your GP.

However, if you decided to go privately, then many Consultants would see you without going through your GP.

[Rosetta]

Spot on Andy. If prozac didn't suit you there are alternative medications. Your GP might also want to refer you for other sorts of support, maybe a "talking" therapy but the first port of call is your GP. Remember you dont have to feel the way you do, there is help out there.

[andy-hughes]

Indeed rosetta - Prozac was utterly unsuitable for me - I have had various brands of medication, and that was one I was tried on - not for long!

But when you find the right medication and it settles into your system, it makes a normal and enjoyable life possible again - as I know.

[Rosetta]

VHG, if your GP was not great in the past, is there another doctor in your practice that you could see.

[dave50]

Thank you for some very interesting answers. A lot of them could lead me to the conclusion that pessimists are more prone to depression than optimists. Does that sound logical?

[gness]

No, not at all. I'm so optimistic I'm annoying.

[shoota]

Or are depressives pessimists dave?

[andy-hughes]

Nope - I am as optimistic as they come - didn't 'save' me!

[Jan1957]

Thank you for your very descriptive post VHG. I have today made an appointment to see my GP as I have recently been feeling worse and feel I may need a change of anti-depressants but find it hard to put in to words or describe how I feel to people but you have described my life for the last 20 years perfectly. I do have days when I can't get out of bed but on the whole do manage my life without people realising I have depression and sometimes that makes me feel a fraud but you have said what I want to very elequently. Thank you for being so honest and you have helped one person today at least.