Hope for Depression

[Karen]

Dear Dr., this isn't a question but a message of hope for people who read this forum that are suffering from depression.  I know how devasting this mental illness can be through personal experience.  I suffered from the worst kind of major depression.  I was diagnosed has having psychotic depression.  That was over a year ago and until recently and a new Dr who dealth with this type of depression, I finally found total relief from this terrifying illness.  It took a while though with different medications and alot of patience on my part.  But I tried to never lose hope even it that meant recieving ECT. Thankfully I did not have to go through that but I would've if it meant getting my life back.  The medications and therapy have made me feel alive again and made me realize life is truly worth living.  For those that are losing hope, please don't.  Depression can be a difficult thing to treat, but with all of the new medications coming out and physcians trying harder than ever in their efforts to help their patients, depression CAN be beaten.  I truly know.

[Disco-G]

Yes Depression can be beaten, but is always there.  The start of depression deals alot with society.  Friends and family can either make or break a person.  I have been down the path of depression.  My depression had gotten so bad that one day when I was in the bathroom looking in the mirror, I had seem 7 different images of myself looking back at me.  Alot of my depression did come from family.  I'm married to a wonderful woman, but the father-in-law didn't want the marriage to happen.  On my side, my mother didn't want it either for reasons that I will not get into here.  For the most part, there was pressure from both sides.  Needless to say, my wife did leave me because she could not deal with all of the pressure.  With my wife leaving, that caused great sadness and emptyness on my part.  After being separated, I keep hearing things about what my wife was "supposedly" doing.  
     I found that if a person truley wants to keep his/her sanity, the best thing to do is to ignore all of the busy bodies out there who stick their noses where it don't belong, and not to play mind games with yourself.  Do what is right for yourself, not what is right for others!!
     Stand up to all of the negative people who you may meet along the way.  Remember:  It's their opinion, and just an opinion; not something that should necessarly be followed!!
     YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE, NOT OTHERS!  My wife and I still talk, and are trying to work things out and are taking a stand with our marriage.  We are married to each other, not to anybody else!!  I still feel blue from time to time, which is normal.  I try each day to remember not to play mind games with myself.
     KEEP THE FAITH!!!  

[Disco-G]

Yes Depression can be beaten, but is always there.  The start of depression deals alot with society.  Friends and family can either make or break a person.  I have been down the path of depression.  My depression had gotten so bad that one day when I was in the bathroom looking in the mirror, I had seem 7 different images of myself looking back at me.  Alot of my depression did come from family.  I'm married to a wonderful woman, but the father-in-law didn't want the marriage to happen.  On my side, my mother didn't want it either for reasons that I will not get into here.  For the most part, there was pressure from both sides.  Needless to say, my wife did leave me because she could not deal with all of the pressure.  With my wife leaving, that caused great sadness and emptyness on my part.  After being separated, I keep hearing things about what my wife was "supposedly" doing.  
     I found that if a person truley wants to keep his/her sanity, the best thing to do is to ignore all of the busy bodies out there who stick their noses where it don't belong, and not to play mind games with yourself.  Do what is right for yourself, not what is right for others!!
     Stand up to all of the negative people who you may meet along the way.  Remember:  It's their opinion, and just an opinion; not something that should necessarly be followed!!
     YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE, NOT OTHERS!  My wife and I still talk, and are trying to work things out and are taking a stand with our marriage.  We are married to each other, not to anybody else!!  I still feel blue from time to time, which is normal.  I try each day to remember not to play mind games with myself.
     KEEP THE FAITH!!!  

[nancy]

I`m going through a very rough time and there isnt a day that goes by that i dont think about killing myself

[Rebecca]

That is so true...I had Post Tramatic Stress...I was so messed up I could'nt get out of the bed for 3 yes 3   months.but thanks to lots of theripy and paxil I've got my life back..the strangest thing about it was that everthing LOOKED so normal but it felt anything but. work with your doctor if one drug doesnt work then another will.

[melanie]

I have suffered from depression for many years until I was correctly diagnosed.  Until then, I had no idea that I had depression, and boy was I in a bad way!  Make sure that you get yourself a REALLY GOOD DR. that you can relate to and trust.  Believe me, it takes years to get a handle on what "well" will mean for you.  It's different for everyone.  Keep track of how you feel on different meds, and DON'T be afraid to ask questions.  Get on the net, and research for yourself. Then go back and question the "experts".  There will always be side effects from one drug to another, but decide on what YOU can live with in side effects and go forward.  Taking control of your depression is attainable.  Not only is my quality of life important, but for the people I love, it's most important!  We've got to start managing our own health by researching and asking lots of questions.  Take responsbility for yourself, and don't depend completely on a Dr. to do it for you!!!

[melanie]

I have suffered from depression for many years until I was correctly diagnosed.  Until then, I had no idea that I had depression, and boy was I in a bad way!  Make sure that you get yourself a REALLY GOOD DR. that you can relate to and trust.  Believe me, it takes years to get a handle on what "well" will mean for you.  It's different for everyone.  Keep track of how you feel on different meds, and DON'T be afraid to ask questions.  Get on the net, and research for yourself. Then go back and question the "experts".  There will always be side effects from one drug to another, but decide on what YOU can live with in side effects and go forward.  Taking control of your depression is attainable.  Not only is my quality of life important, but for the people I love, it's most important!  We've got to start managing our own health by researching and asking lots of questions.  Take responsbility for yourself, and don't depend completely on a Dr. to do it for you!!!

[belinda]

karen, i am glad that you are recovering from depression.  My brother is still struggling with it.  He has received 12 ECT treatments and I have noticed how much better he is doing.  I thought he was doing better after the 7th one and would like to try the medication approach rather than a maintainence ECT program as I am not convinced that maintainence ECT works better than medication or that it is as safe.  I did not like some of the side effects that I saw in my brother.  I hope you never have to have ECT.  Thanks for listening.

[Susan]

I have had psychosis with major depression, too, they tell me.  I don't know that I believe it.

If it is not too personal, would you mind telling me what psychosis was like for you...my email address is ***@**** if you don't want to post it here.

Thanks.

[[email protected]]

i have been suffering from a slight depression , for a while and i only feel this way when people i know or people i just met are telling me things or want me to come somewhere and i want to do something else , it does seem kind of silly but sometimes i want to do something else and but i want to do what they do or are telling me to do , like go out to a party and i would love to go but i want to go home at the same time , then i feel depresed if i go home , but if i go the party i miss going home and try to leave asap , but when i get home i feel like i should have stayed longer , CAN U HELP ?

[Laura Burroughs]

Atypical depression CANNOT be treated easily.  MAOIs are the pits