Hello,
This is my first posting on this site, as I joined only minutes ago.
If your depression seems mild or moderate; you should try some things like exercising, eat healthy, helping someone else, reading a self help book,etc.
If on the other hand, you want to stay in bed all day, have crying spells, don't shower or do your normal activities for more than a few weeks, you should see a psychiatrist. If you are comfortable discussing your situation with friends/neighbors/etc.;, ask them if they could reccomend a good doctor. Otherwise you will just be looking randomly through the phonebook trying to find one that practices in your town. You could also search the internet. There are sites that actually 'rate' doctors based upon their patient's experiences with that practioner. If for any reason after meeting withhim or her and don't feel comfortable with, simply try another doctor. You want someone that will listen to you, that will talk to you and not simply AT you, or if he or she gets upset when you question their treatment, discuss things that you heard or read on the internet; basically you want someone that is compasionate enough to work with you as a team and not by a 'I'm the doctor here; do as I say" That person is basically saying 'you know nothing and I know everything." I have had a few experiences with doctors that were so bad, so impersonal, so seemingly uncaring,, I asked myself, "WHY THE F*CK DID YOU WANT TO BECOME DOCTOR DEALING WITH REAL LIVE PATIENTS; those kind of MD's belong in a lab somwhere, far far away fromany human contact!
Some people say all shrinks do is prescribe medicine for you; but if going about your day is so unbearable that you stay in bed all day, all the talk therapy in the world won't help. But there is a good chance after some trial and error you will find a drug regimen that works for YOU; since we are all different, In my case,my illness came out of knowwhere. I had a great job, wonderful girlfriend, tons of friends and a loving family. People would say 'what do you have to be depressed about?' Because there was no recent trauma, loss, getting fired, breaking up with my girlfriend, etc. My depression had to be from something not working correctly in my brain; i.e. I needed medication. I tried therapy for almost one year and it did not help AT ALL! I would come to my appointment he would ask me how i feel and i would say 'I feel like **** and I'm not getting better' Then he would ask me if i was staying active, exercising, thinking positively. It was a total waste of time and money; he charged me $150 every week. I like this computer stuff SO much better; and it's FREE!
Some people benefit from therapy if they were abused sexually or physically, if some kind of traumatic event, if a family member just died,etc or they just returned from Iraq where that person witnessed things nobody should have to see.
I tried almost ever ant-depressant and they all failed. But some people, maybe even you, will get well after trying the first medication the doctor prescribes. I have finally gotten some relief by using a med that is not listed as an antidepressant, but has helped people that have tried almost every AD available with virtually no positive change.
I wish you the best, and remember, this not your fault, and that that there are so many people in the world that can understand your pain because thay had or currently have the same illness as you and I.
God's Peace,
David
Hey
There are certain antidepressants that work on some people, some that don t...you really should keep trying bc there are a lot of new ADs out there that are very good...talk therapy is also important, even CBT cognitive behavioral therapy to change how you perceive stress and how you cope with it can teach you better skills also...sometimes even finding forums like these that can help you relate to people in your situation help also so you dont feel alone
It would be worth it to see a psychiatrist again as there are many options as regards anti-depressents. In addition it would be helpful to see a talk therapist and there are support groups as regards parenting.