Hi After years of being bullied and putting myself down, as well as hiding part of who I am, a huge toll has been taken and I feel permanently unhappy. I do have days where I feel fine, not necessarily happy but fine. Yet often, I feel completely hopeless and out of luck. I've had thoughts about suicide, not necessarily plans to follow through with it, but it has definitely crossed my mind more than once. I find myself lashing out at family and friends often for no reason. I probably sound crazy but I honestly cannot control it sometimes. I'm so irritable around my house, I treat my parents horribly and I think it's out of resentment and the emotional distress just brings it out. I am constantly putting myself down regarding my looks and I have horribly low self confidence. I don't know what to do. I'm pretty sure I'm depressed, but my doctor is not good with mental illness. I'm not sure whether I should see a psychologist or psychiatrist... I'm wondering if there's anybody here who has suffered from depression and has gotten help, and what they've found has helped them recover.
Talk to a mental health counselor at least, then consider a psychiatrist. Personally, I think cognitive behavioral therapy and similar methods are very useful. For, me, I had a very severe depressive episode, and it took a lot of meetings to realize my situation wasn't completely hopeless. I'm now taking medication, which is not great but also helps stop me falling into greater negativity.
Hi .. With your 'irritability' it sounds like there's a lot of conflict or anger bottled up? Your doctor should be trained what to do as your first port of call. However, if your doctor is not good at mental health issues, there may be someone else in his/her practice who is. He/she can refer you to them if you ask them. Or your doctor can refer you to an appropriate specialist external to the practice. This might be a one-off assessment initially to find out the background before deciding what sort of help you need. (i.e.: therapy, medication, or combination). If you want to bypass the doctor completely you could just go direct to a private therapist - but this can be expensive so look at all your options I am sorry you are finding it tough - but the good news is that it sounds like you are looking around for the right answers to all the right questions!!
*hugs* I have had depression on and off for a few years, and I think I am now recovering. If your doctor is useless, go to your school nurse/therapist and see what they can do. Generally, the "best" way to recover is through therapy and tackling the issues that are the root of your depression. But environmental factors can help improve your depression- for example if you don't get along with your parents, moving out and being with people that accept you will most likely help. With me, I have learnt to walk again. The psy doctor may give you medications to ease your stress in the meantime, and work alongside therapy. That is normal and they do often help when you have the right type of pill and dosage. Good luck, I really hope you can get some help. Feel free to message me, I don't mind and I understand your situation.
Best way to deal with depression is to first realize that you are not actually depressed but are in fact "forcing" yourself to feel in such a way as to "self hurt" yourself emotionally and thus get some pain relief in the process. Or something like that. From what i read in your post it sounds to me like nothing more than simple mood swings, we all get them. Cut down on the junk food and fizzy drinks, they are (from personal experience) a major factor in such situations. Also make sure to get 5 to 6 sleep cycles (one cycle is 1.30, and add 30 minutes to that for the time it takes your body to go into deep sleep). Sometimes i feel like shit, and literally get my solid oak wood baseball bad (made it myself ^_^) and just swing at something out of rage... Usually, it's because the stupid neighbors interrupted my sleep cycle, or i ate too much sweets before bed. Just stop obsessing over this and find something else to obsess over... Find someone to get a crush on, stalk them for a few days (don't do it, it's bad) and then finally ask them out. Or pirate a whole season's (or two... or even more) worth of tv series of something you haven't watched but should... Seriously, it is actually that simple... just force your mind to "switch gears" and think about other stuff. Obviously if you wallow in self pity every day, the feeling of "depression" won't go away, it's simple logic. Also, i know that it's kind of good to be depressed, in a pseudo "masochistic" sort of way but... in the long run, it's simply not productive and good for your well being.
I know that i'll sometimes be pretty depressed too, although my parents don't know about me and don't have money so I can't get a therapist or anything like that. I usually confide in my close friends. And you're not alone i've though about suicide too. Just try to remember how that would affect your family.
I suggest you go to a therapist. I'm going to my first session next week (so nervous >^<) but it definitely helped me to tell my doctor what was going on and they got me the help I needed. Best wishes and good luck with your decision!
I'd suggest a psychiatrist. They are able to supply medication, however, it not only a chemical thing, but cognitive. If you have the money, I'dd suggest both a psychiatrist and therapist, but if you don't, just for with a psychiatrist for now. Hope your days get brighter c:
I appreciate your response, but I think if it were that easy I would be fine by now. I've been dealing with this for years and have tried the "positive thinking" thing. It is good for short term but I always end up in the same place. Also, Depression is a mental illness. It is recognized by doctors as such and has been studied for years. It's not something everyone can get over by themselves ---------- Post added 25th Sep 2014 at 10:06 PM ---------- and thank you everyone for your responses, I'm going to my GP this week and I'll see what happens from there!
Sounds exactly what I am going through. Snapping for no reason, irritated, feeling down, feeling anxious, feeling worthless. Recently I started with anti-depressant meds and it seems to work. I am calmer and my thoughts/mindset are/is more rational. I have to add that I am lucky to have a friend who is also a mental health expert. Talking to het has helped me so much.
I have been very depressed myself too. Crying my eyes out. Can't even hide it from my friends at work anymore. The only thing that seems to help me is to meditate by taking some deep breaths cry it out then just shut the little negative thoughts and start writing down what I am feeling. Get it into words what I am feeling why I am feeling this way what do I want now that would make me feel better
I know just how you feel. I used to be very depressed. I would cut myself and i had suicidal thoughts on a daily basis and i even attempted suicide twice. I really had it rough, but i eventually came out of it. All you need to do is keep looking forward because it will get better. I recommend you spend some time outside; take long walks and be in the sunshine. Be around your family and friends as much as possible and talk about your problems (your depression will only get worse if you keep it locked up). Oh, and never try to drown your sorrow with alcohol; suffocate it with your favorite foods
what is this ---------- Post added 28th Sep 2014 at 12:00 PM ---------- every next group of sentences just makes me more concerned ---------- Post added 28th Sep 2014 at 12:02 PM ---------- op with the age i'm not sure about a psychiatrist yet, but definitely see a psychologist. if they + you feel that medication is necessary, they'll (hopefully) be able to refer you to a good psychiatrist. meds help a lot but it might take a while to find the right one that syncs with your brain (ie don't get discouraged if you get on your fourth anti-depressant and it still doesn't work, it really does just take time)
Whoever said that depression isnt a thing should go f*ck themselves Having experienced it to the point where I almost gave up on life, I can assure you that depression is a real mental condition that needs to be treated with both therapy AND medication. As for the idiot who told you its good to be depressed....its not. Isolating yourself and binge watching tv DOES NOT HELP I tried that when I was depressed. Seriously Shinji dont go telling depressed people that.
Sorry, i guess we each have a different understanding on the varying degrees of depression. I do apologize for being an inconsiderate jerk.
Dont worry about it, I just dont want people to get the wrong impression of what being depressed really means
