A Warm Welcome!

[LeftCoastChick]

Welcome to the Depression Forum!

This community is a great place for folks in every stage of Depression or think they might have it. It's a place for folks to connect from all walks of life and stages of Diagnoses. It's also a great place to get feedback about your concerns about Depression, which can be very complex as we people are. Some folks may have Depression and/or other Mood Disorders that we welcome and support. Many folks here have found kindness and support through the experience of others, which is incredibly invaluable. It's a great place to get information as as stepping stone to learn to advocate for yourself. Education is invaluable.

Here is a link on MedHelp to useful websites for Mood Disorders including Depression:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Mental%20Health/Useful-Bipolar--Depression-Webisites/show/523?cid=105

There are many ways to get benefit from MedHelp as a whole. Features include;

Community Forums: Where you read and if you feel comfortable post, but it's okay to lurk if and/or when you feel comfortable to post. There is no such thing as a weird post and you will not get judged on your feelings.

User Journals: An area where you can post your feelings when you wish to and keep them private and/or share with other folks

User Trackers: There are multiple trackers here that include Mood Trackers which is an invaluable tool to watch your mood states and watch for patterns. It also shows how many good days vs bad days. Most folks don't realize how many good days they have!

Your Profile: It's a great place to post information about yourself, upload pictures and personalize your experience here at MedHelp. Posting about your own journey is an amazingly effective tool both for yourself and getting great feedback if you choose to add personal info, but not required.You can make it as private or as public as you wish.

None of us are medical or psychiatric professionals and we advise that any queries relating to medication are also raised with your health care provider.  We can certainly share our own experiences but you must NEVER stop taking your medication without consulting your health care provider.

MedHelp does not advocate the use/abuse of illegal drugs and prescribed medications . We request that nobody posts a thread relating to the use of illegal drugs over those of prescription medication as these will be removed. This community is a warm and welcoming place, so any posts that could be inflammatory or unproductive will be removed as well.  If you have questions regarding "rules" check at the far bottom of any page, and click on TofU, when in doubt, check it out!

Last but not least, Welcome again and I hope that this becomes an invaluable experience for you along your journey.

Sincerely,
LeftCoastChick
Depression
Co-Community Leader

[LeftCoastChick]

I found a fantastic webpage that has fact vs. fiction about taking AD's, it can help you decide whether you want to take a med, or just starting one, on the many questions you may have :)
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/publications/visions/medications/bck/web/2

This article was just posted, the info provided was published in The Lancet, the premier journal for medical studies:
http://www.tricitypsychology.com/blog/first-top-10-list-for-antidepressants/

Wow, I wish these were around when I first started taking meds, I hope both of these answers some questions :)

[ILADVOCATE]

Great source of information. I'll make sure to look at it. And I might suggest if any of us find any medically valid, easily understandable and helpful links that we might suggest them to you to consider to post within your discretion. Thanks.

[mypenrai]

Is the area I post a comment?
David ( mypenrai)

[LeftCoastChick]

no, you just have to click on  "post a question* without going into a topic :)

[meyan]

Sometimes I just wish I could stop this planet and get off. While I'm at it I'd love to take a break from myself too.

[Kobuk]

Hi thanks for having this forum!

[Lonely_Sky]

Sometimes I wish life didn't have to be to so misleading. If it were as easy as pressing the easy button like on the staples commercial to end my life I would have done it long ago. This life we are forced to live has no meaning and if it does god strike me now.... *waiting* oh well that is what I thought. So there you have it maybe its just my life that ***** and gives me this perception I'm sorry to those who are religious and having a decently nice life. For me though I'd love to die trying to save someone's life just so I could loose my own and feel better about doing it rather than just taking myself on purpose.

[opus88]

hi, you are in alot of mental pain and its a hard place to dig yourself out of.

I was there too at one time, than I began a career working with people who are on their final days...and it opened my eyes up to realize how precious our lives really are!!

Have you ever considered a career as an EMT or firefighter or similar?
Not as a way of dying but as a way of rescuing  others who are in danger and by so doing perhaps coming to feel better abt yourself......this may help you out of you're depression by giving purpose to you're own life?

never give up on yourself and you're abilities.

[4Maddie44]

You have sucha lot to deal with, and you are so young.  Yes life can be a real **** when you are so down, I know the feeling so well.  We just have to really try to battle on, and it is sos so difficult.  Loneliness is a burden too, I am very lonely, but I am old.  I wish I could help, but we can try and help each other through this.  The people on this site are very supportive.