Depression

[karrie93]

I've been struggling with major depression and anxiety for awhile now. I've been taking medicine, going to therapy, reading self-help books....you name it. I really want to feel better, but I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels. This is not something I can just "snap out of". Is there anyone else that has been this way and may have some advice/tips anything? I just feel like I'm trying so hard to feel better and be positive, but still feel like s*** all the time.

[gatito]

God Is The Answer !! Give It A Try ! He Will Hold You In His Arms And Give You Comfort ! Trust Him, He Will Never Leave You !

[karrie93]

i am religious...it's just...i wonder why God would make people feel this way (because for me, it's a brain chemical problem). i just can't get past that and it's been really hard lately.

[bvanpeltsw]

I've been struggling with major depression and anxiety for awhile now. I've been taking medicine, going to therapy, reading self-help books....you name it. I really want to feel better, but I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels. This is not something I can just "snap out of". Is there anyone else that has been this way and may have some advice/tips anything? I just feel like I'm trying so hard to feel better and be positive, but still feel like s*** all the time.

Karrie-Sorry to hear you are feeling this way all the time. Can you pinpoint when it started? Was there a major change in your life?

I had a very difficult time when I moved away from my family 2 years ago. I felt exactly the same way you do and I changed my daily habits. I would go out by myself and with friends to different places to keep my mind off the things that were bothering me. I also started spending more time outdoors doing activities such as walking, going to dog parks, and meeting friends.

I should also add that I am a therapist and I ask a lot of questions. :)

[lizmolik]

I will be very honest with you Karrie, I have been depressed for the last year...I have been going through alot lately in every aspect of my life. My friends and family are the only people that are getting me through this right now, and god has had his hands in it as well! If you need someone to talk to, pm me!

[laf76]

I have depression/anxiety. Mostly now days just mostly anxiety/panic attacks. They are awful and humiliating. I had a panic attack at our local county fair a few weeks ago and I tried to do what I had read on a forum. I said to my self " Body....I do not have time for this...I came here to have fun". Sounds silly but I kept thinking that and surprisingly had a good time. I try to count down from 100 to 0 by 7's ( you know 100...93...and so on). That is suppose to make the mind have to concentrate on that instead of the anxiety. It all runs in my family. My mother is on disablity because of it. I just started Zoloft (again) and am hoping it will work. I also take 2mg Ativan prn. It is something I have to learn to live with. And knowing now I have heart problems at age 31, it has been getting worse. I wish you the best of luck.

[karrie93]

Karrie-Sorry to hear you are feeling this way all the time. Can you pinpoint when it started? Was there a major change in your life?

I should also add that I am a therapist and I ask a lot of questions. :)

now that i look back, i know that i've been depressed for about 5 years...but i didn't know that's what it was. i just thought that's the way i was. no, there was no major change. im just a perfectionist and i guess everything finally got to me. but now, im on so many drugs (zoloft 175mg, remeron, and klonipin, and ambien) and i still only feel "normal" like 1/5 of the time....and i still can't sleep. i just dont know what to do with myself anymore.

[treefrog07]

The holidays tend to bring out alot of depression in people. If you still are depressed after the holidays, I'd suggest talking to someone, or joining a group. Karrie are you taking all of those meds now? Sometimes to many meds makes it worse. I also noticed that you haven't taken Wellbutrin, its another depression medication. Not knowing your medical background, maybe your dr. need to change your meds. Sometimes you body develops a tolerance once you have been on a med for a period of time.

All and all keep your head up, things can only get better for you!:)

[Cpogie]

now that i look back, i know that i've been depressed for about 5 years...but i didn't know that's what it was. i just thought that's the way i was. no, there was no major change. im just a perfectionist and i guess everything finally got to me. but now, im on so many drugs (zoloft 175mg, remeron, and klonipin, and ambien) and i still only feel "normal" like 1/5 of the time....and i still can't sleep. i just dont know what to do with myself anymore.

Perhaps it is too much medication? maybe the amounts are too much or not enough...doctors don't get it right all the time...have you had a second opinion? I wish we could reach in the screen and give hugs, but know that we are here to support you, hugs to you!!

[bvanpeltsw]

now that i look back, i know that i've been depressed for about 5 years...but i didn't know that's what it was. i just thought that's the way i was. no, there was no major change. im just a perfectionist and i guess everything finally got to me. but now, im on so many drugs (zoloft 175mg, remeron, and klonipin, and ambien) and i still only feel "normal" like 1/5 of the time....and i still can't sleep. i just dont know what to do with myself anymore.

Wow that is a lot of drugs! Those drugs can effect each other and cause things to be worse.

Have you talked to your DR about the mixture? That is A LOT and that automatically set off red flags to me.

[lizmolik]

Wow that is a lot of drugs! Those drugs can effect each other and cause things to be worse.

Have you talked to your DR about the mixture? That is A LOT and that automatically set off red flags to me.

I was thinking the same thing...maybe you should go to another doctor, and get a second opinoin on the medicine? I would be scared to take all of those together!

[karrie93]

they gave me all the meds to help me cope until the zoloft kicks in. once you start taking it, it doesn't start working right away.

yes, i've gone to 4 different doctors now. i've found one i like, but im just discouraged cuz i want to get better NOW and it takes a little while.

[geochic77]

I've been struggling with major depression and anxiety for awhile now. I've been taking medicine, going to therapy, reading self-help books....you name it. I really want to feel better, but I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels. This is not something I can just "snap out of". Is there anyone else that has been this way and may have some advice/tips anything? I just feel like I'm trying so hard to feel better and be positive, but still feel like s*** all the time.
I can totally relate to what you have been going through. I have major depression, general anxiety, social anxiety...you name it! I have been dealing with this since I was a teenager, but didn't get any help for the depression until I was about 22. I'm 30 now and have a laundry list of medications I've tried (most unsuccessfully), books I've read and still regularly see my pschiatrist and psychologist.
Unfortunately, many people who do not have chronic depression and/or anxiety do not realize what we are going through on a daily basis.
My advice to you is to keep trying medications. Be sure to give each one the appropriate amount of time to work (if it's going to) before moving onto the next medication on the list. You may try doing some research online on different methods of therapy and discussing them with your doctor. You may be a candadite for alternative therapies reserved for people who are unable to receive any benefit from medications and therapy alone. Also, if you are able, try to get a doctor who actually listens to you. As for the insomnia, I take Rozerem. Sometimes, when that won't do the trick, I take 2-3 Benadryls with it. My doctor said the Benadryl won't cause any reaction to my medicines. Good luck to you!

[mood4amelody]

I read this article in Discover Magazine ( I LOVE Discover!!) several years ago and have wanted to try the "vitamin cure" ever since, but it's about $80/month. I've been working on my budget, so that in a few months I may be able to afford it. I haven't had any success with any meds (I'm bi-polar), and the points in the article about the amount of vitamins and minerals in todays food really seemed to make sense to me, and I'm really impressed with the clinical trials that were done at the time of publication and since then.

Here's the article - http://discovermagazine.com/2005/may/vitamin-cure/

[laf76]

I cannot find anything to help me sleep. Nothing Rx or OTC. I take Zoloft and Ativan. Just had to bump up my dose of Zoloft. I have such bad anxiety. It is just not fair when you have to live with depression or anxiety. I for one know that employers are not sympathetic either.

[karrie93]

I cannot find anything to help me sleep. Nothing Rx or OTC. I take Zoloft and Ativan. Just had to bump up my dose of Zoloft. I have such bad anxiety. It is just not fair when you have to live with depression or anxiety. I for one know that employers are not sympathetic either.

i take zoloft and ativan too. i have to take 200mg of zoloft though. anything less than that doesnt do a thing. my boss now is sympathetic, but it is still hard sometimes. i know you've probably heard it a million times, but excerise does help with the anxiety some. it kinda tires me out so i can only focus on what i need to and my mind doesnt race as much.

[karrie93]

I can totally relate to what you have been going through. I have major depression, general anxiety, social anxiety...you name it! I have been dealing with this since I was a teenager, but didn't get any help for the depression until I was about 22.

:) thats exactly my story. except replace the social anxiety with OC personality. yeah... i'm starting to do a lot better, but i just have to keep remembering that things are ok, and they are A LOT better than they were. i just feel like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde sometimes through the highs and lows. ive finally found a sleep routine that works for me (usually). i take trazadone, and then do 45 min of relaxation yoga and then go straight to bed. but if i dont fall asleep then, i just get up because i know i wont so i might as well not even try.

[Nannette29]

:) thats exactly my story. except replace the social anxiety with OC personality. yeah... i'm starting to do a lot better, but i just have to keep remembering that things are ok, and they are A LOT better than they were. i just feel like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde sometimes through the highs and lows. ive finally found a sleep routine that works for me (usually). i take trazadone, and then do 45 min of relaxation yoga and then go straight to bed. but if i dont fall asleep then, i just get up because i know i wont so i might as well not even try.

Karrie, I'm so happy you're starting to feel a bit better hun! Hang in there as the meds do take awhile and you may have to try different combinations, etc. as others have stated! Have you talked to your doctor about Bipolar disorder? It sounds as if you may be Bipolar since you mentioned the highs/lows.... I'm not a doctor so I'm not going to try to diagnose you but I too have been suffering from depression since I was a teenager (I'm now 43)! Hang in there hun, better days are coming!!! :)

[karrie93]

Karrie, I'm so happy you're starting to feel a bit better hun! Hang in there as the meds do take awhile and you may have to try different combinations, etc. as others have stated! Have you talked to your doctor about Bipolar disorder? It sounds as if you may be Bipolar since you mentioned the highs/lows.... I'm not a doctor so I'm not going to try to diagnose you but I too have been suffering from depression since I was a teenager (I'm now 43)! Hang in there hun, better days are coming!!! :)

Yes, but I'm not. By highs, I mean feeling normal.

[mood4amelody]

Yes, but I'm not. By highs, I mean feeling normal.

LOL I totally know what you mean by that!! Feeling normal is so rare it seems like "high"!