Am i depressed?

[nicnoc237]

I think i am suffering with anxiety and depression, i am scared to go out, cry all the time, feel 'different' and detached from everything...help me, i feel like i am losing my mind and want to be happy and confident again. I am scared of never feeling the same again and don't know what to do. I have been like this for seven weeks now and have been off work. The other day i forced myself to work, as my boyfriend and parents think it will be good for me, rather than sitting at home all day, so i went to work and 3 days later my work sent me home saying they don't think i am well enough. They are very concerned about me and said i'm not myself and i'm not well enough. They are very concerned about me and said i'm not myself and i'm not well enough to be at work. My manager said i barely talk to anyone, she has to drag me into conversations etc. They said i need to get better first and they are not sure being back at work right now is helping me. Sat talking to them about things and was crying the whole time, which was embarrassing. They said they will allow me to do part time hours - 2 days a week for now and then i can build it up, but said i should get some counselling or something or sit down with my family and talk about how i feel - which i have.

I have had counselling and always tell my family and friends how i feel, but none of this helps - i am not getting better, i just feel worse and am eating well, trying to do a little exercise etc, taking Omega 3, which i have heard is suppossed to help with depression etc, my doctor has offered me anti-depressants but i don't want to take them as side effects seem awful.

Is this really depression and if so what can i do to get better?

Im exhausted and crying all the time...

please help me xxx

[nicnoc237]

Thank you for all your replies. I have an appointment with my doctor for next week. Can depression also make you feel really out of it/dream like. Sometimes i feel like i am just exisiting - i can't enjoy anything, like i'm not part of anything. It's such a scaring feeling - i feel like i am losing my mind. xx

[ophy]

It's good that you are getting an appointment with your doctor.
And yes, those feelings are definitely linked to depression. I suffer from both depression and anxiety and i have suffered these symptoms many many times. It is a really scary feeling, i know exactly what you mean. I went through a period where i felt like i was dreaming and everything seemed unreal and at times i would think i wasn't even alive and like nothing was real. I too felt as though i was loosing my mind. It's horrible but it will pass. For me, understanding that other people were experiencing the same thing really helped. These symptoms are called depersonalization/derealization and although they are associated with anxiety, i still experienced them through depression. I don't know if it is called something different when talking about depression. You'll be ok, just hang on x

[nicnoc237]

Thank you for your message. It makes me feel a little betetr to know i'm not losing my mind! It's such a scary feeling and very distressing, i just hope it passes in time so i can enjoy my life again xx

[aguilasmex1000]

hey ophy i used to be like that like you described, that was when i was a junior in high school, then they went away with medication but the side effects sucked. Then!? i got anxiety again 2 months after i graduated. But not as bad as the first time. I  am doing much better Thank God and i do sometimes feel anxious but i handle it and sometimes sad also but i try not 2 pay attention. I read what you wrote and it sounded just like if you were talking about me. I just want 2 ask you how are you doing better, have you been treated or are you on the road to recovery?

[whodunnit]

Hi again,

I note a comment that after taking meds and stopping the anxiety etc came back.

Of course. Meds don't cure the problem, they relieve the symptoms. It is therapy, talking it out and finding the cause of your problem if possible that can cure it. Meds are designed to do what a headache tablet does. Relieve the headache. But it doesn't stop a headache next day does it?

Same thing with depression meds.

Some of us, like me, need to take meds long term and probably life, me that is. That's Ok as I wouldn't survive without them although I do check that every time I switch meds.

With meds the thing is to be informed and not afraid. If you are informed then you should know before hand which med is not worth trying. Use a site such as rxlist to check meds out as well as asking on here and similar places. Users know best how they feel.

You mention therapy as not helping. Well, when very depressed it doesn't as you are not thining rationally enough to gain the maximum benefits from it. If you do accept the meds and feel better, that's the time to do the therapy and it will help at that stage.

[nicnoc237]

Hi

Thank you for your message.

I understand what you are saying and i think i may give medication a go. I have also booked a session with a different counsellor who i'm hoping can help me. I really want to be back to my old self.

Is it normal to feel woozy and weird with depression/anxiety?

xx