Thread: Depression

The first step is to admit that you have some form of depression and are wanting to do something about it. The majority of people refuse to admit this, you are now well in front of the majority.
Your GP is not qualified enough to help you except for any prescriptions that a mental health expert may prescribe. Your GP should give you a referral to an expert.
Also, assuming that you are married and probably have family, get them involved as well depending on what the professional accesses the cause of your depression is.
Everyone has different depressive triggers, situations. What works or appears to be the same as someone else s situation is not necessarily going to be relevant to yours.
One thing is for sure, there is no quick fix, it will take time and above all, support from family and friends.
Hope this may help, it has done wonders for me.
Blessings

Its not so much talking of your past that helps, although that is good sometimes, but "cognitive behavioral therapy" . Help change your thinking so that you can see things from differant perspectives and see that maybe you are presuming that things are as bad as they are. Anyway, I found that helped.

Also doing some sort of excersise like Tai chi (which all my friends are sick of me going on about.) It gets you fitter, and also out of your own head for that class time when the teachers are giving you seemingly way to much to think about. Yoga is good for that to, but sometimes fantasizing about beating the crap out of people in slow motion is fun as well. I found yoga and meditation gave me too much time to think.

Anyway, keep trying stuff until you find something that works. look after yourself, and don't drink too much. :hugs:

G'day Kiwi

This is not advice, but my experience.

It's a tricky one, and what works for some will do nothing for others. In my inexpert (but very experienced, too bloody experienced) opinion it depends on whether your depression is reactive to situations (my case) or whether you just get depressed for no reason. In the latter case you may find that anti-depressants will help, or not. If it's reactive then my experience says they don't do a bloody thing (because the situation is not resolved). I just became a little detached.

What I would say is be very careful with ADs. They are a tool in the box of mental health professionals and are used as such, and a little willy nilly in my opinion. When some of them are shown to be "less than desirable" (e.g. Prozac, the famous one) another will step up to take its place, being hailed the new king of ADs, only to be found wanting later on. There is growing talk amongst mental health pros that they may be a placebo affect, at best. You will be told that they are not addictive, but I have a very different opinion from my own experiences, and observation of a couple of other people.

The best thing I ever did was to get three cats (as kittens) from the same litter (a very tight little bunch), along with some coping strategies from a very good psychologist. Suddenly I started laughing again. A month later my AD script ran out so I decided to go cold turkey and put up with a head like wet concrete for 10 days. It was worth it. It is not my preferred way of going off medication (I prefer to shave the tabs down on a nail file in 10% decrements, each new dose for 4-7 days) but Cymbalta is a capsule, so this wasn't possible.

There properly trained Psychologists, and then there are Counselors who may or may not have proper qualifications. Judging by the Counselor that my son saw a few years ago, they must have attended a weekend workshop as their entire training. "Whatever is best for you" was the constant cop-out in dealing with a difficult family situation.

Just to give you an idea of some of the "advice" that is associated with ADs - The minimum dose for Cymbalta is exactly the same as the maximum dose. Eh?

These days I'm on no medication, and therefore have no side effects from it (which can be depressing in themselves - weight gain, sexual dysfunction). The funny thing is that I come out of depression significantly faster than I used to.

Others will have had different experiences.

Whichever way you go, use your head, and I sincerely hope you find a solution to a very difficult problem. If you find that ADs work for you then stick with them for a period of time.

HTH
Brett

Thanks all for the response and I'll certainly take your comments into consideration.

FenceFurnature, yep, Mine also seems to be reactive to situations but I'd hazard a guess and say it's mainly learned responses from an abusive childhood.....goody, part of me was hoping that they'd give me a magic pill and everything would be aright again....

Hi ,yes I have also suffered from depression and I am on prescription drugs to help me get off to sleep. Apart from talking with your family about your depression and the things that trigger it; one thing that I always try and do is to find the positive things for any thing that arises.
As I also have a permanent lower back problem which as far as I know can not be improved at all except for regular stretching exercises; which makes the depression a bit harder to deal with. I find that if I concentrate on finding the positive things in anything that I do I find life much easier to live with rather than contemplating suicide. Yes severe depression left untreated is a major cause of depression and it is one of those things that we think "will never happen to me " attitude.
As an earlier response said you have made the biggest step by acknowledging that you have a problem and you are looking and asking for help.
I hope this helps you on your way and always ask or talk to someone about anything that troubles you.
Cheers Alby

G'day Kiwi75,

Please speak to your GP immediately if he is not yet aware of your depression! Also, I have not spoken with them myself, but don't forget 'Beyond Blue' or similar if you find yourself overwhelmed at times.

I too suffer form depression, but a type induced by a chronic condition called Fibromyalgia. I wont go into detail but it is something that is with me 24/7, has turned my life upside-down and also causes ongoing and unavoidable degrees of depression along with may other complications. Not fun...but not the end of the world.

In regards to ADs, I would highly recommend that you treat these as a last resort solution. FenceFurniture has already provided some great solutions and insights and so too has Tea Lady. ADs can for some people be a delicate balancing act of pros v cons, and all will affect different individuals in different ways. They are often helpful but highly potent drugs which must be taken very seriously. Mine are prescribed for their secondary benefits (ie. their primary and tradition use are as ADs, but due to their complex and profound effects on our bodies, they are recognised also as a form of pain control on a neurotransmitter level where day to day non-opiate drugs have no effect).

My experience with them to date is mixed. I have used Amitriptyline (Endep) and am currently using Duloxetine (Cymbalta). In my situation, I have yet to find a correct dosage, and perhaps the correct drug. I will not go into detail with my current relationship with Cymbalta as my experience is purely my experience, and I trust that my GP is doing his best to help.

This brings us back to GPs. For anyone with physical and/or mental health issues that require specialist help, it is so important that they have open and in depth discussions and relationships with their GP. If it is necessary for someone to be referred to a specialist, your GP will continue to be an important link in the chain of treatment.

I am sorry to hear that you feel you are a depression sufferer as I know the isolation that can accompany it. I also which you luck in your journey to overcome it. Please don't hesitate to seek help, and please don't hold anything back from professionals that can help.

Apologies for any incoherency in what I have written, but my Fibromyalgia causes me cognitive problems.

All the best, Craig.

Craig.

Full Disclosure: I am a professional psychologist.

What Tea Lady says is correct - look for a psychologist who offers cognitive behaviour therapy. Discuss it with your GP, because you can be referred for counselling under the better mental health scheme, which means that Medicare will cover some of the costs (and if you find a bulk-billing psychologist, who are out there, all of the costs) for (I think) 10 sessions per year.

As to the effectiveness, one thing that makes a big difference is whether or not you feel comfortable with the specific person you are seeing, so don't be afraid to talk to them a bit beforehand to judge whether you like them or not.

Research has tended to show that medication and cognitive behaviour therapy are about equally effective. Both together are more effective. Regular exercise is also helpful. From memory, regular strenuous exercise such as jogging etc is actually best in the short term. Cognitive behaviour therapy is better in the long term.

All the best

Originally Posted by petersemple

Full Disclosure: I am a professional psychologist.

What Tea Lady says is correct - look for a psychologist who offers cognitive behaviour therapy. Discuss it with your GP, because you can be referred for counselling under the better mental health scheme, which means that Medicare will cover some of the costs (and if you find a bulk-billing psychologist, who are out there, all of the costs) for (I think) 10 sessions per year.

Hopefully NZ will have a similar scheme.

Research has tended to show that medication and cognitive behaviour therapy are about equally effective. Both together are more effective. Regular exercise is also helpful. From memory, regular strenuous exercise such as jogging etc is actually best in the short term. Cognitive behaviour therapy is better in the long term.

All the best

I'm not so sure that meds are over prescribed. Prolly more males "self medicate" ie: drink too much. Then say they don't want to take drugs. .... weird. At least meds will be monitored by a doctor.

I like the idea of kittens. They would certainly make me laugh. I have a dog that keeps my around. Every time I am getting a bit thingy she gets REALLY annoying. I don't know how she knows that I have forgotten to take my medication. Well that's one way I know I'm not out of the woods. When things get annoying I know it is just me.

This time of year winter is when it raises it head for me, less shed time, less time out doors due to weather shorter days and cold.

Woman go out shopping when depressed, go spend up big on a make over, new shoes, cloths etc etc.

Man should be allowed to go shopping for new tools and a bigger shed.

Trouble is these things can all be the route of the problem going deeper into depression.

Talking helps but that depends on who your talking too and who's listening.

I am suffering ATM and I want to thank those forumites who have jumped in and in their way have reached out and discussed with me some issues. You know who you are many thanks

Originally Posted by tea lady

I like the idea of kittens. They would certainly make me laugh.

You better have a look here then TL.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

You better have a look here then TL.

Puts a smile on the dial. Love it.

Like others have alluded, your half way there when you admit you need help. Well done. Avoid the magic pill, if possible. TL is right, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy worked wonders for me. Lastly, and this is the most crucial part, exercise.

Hi, I too suffer from depression, 13 years of it, as everyone has said "that you are halfway there, in admitting the problem"
Most definitely speak to to your GP for a referral, I had several Dr's and councilors before I had some quality help, as some one said "you have to feel comfortable with them".
As for AD's, there are pro's and con's with them all, I had about 6 in various strengths before something was found that helped.
Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE with this problem, various organizations like Beyond Blue are there for you, also getting involved with a Mens Shed may help, where discussing face to face with others, helps you find out what works for them.
I got involved with our local Day Centre, which has a Mens Shed, as a client and ended up becoming a volunteer, as other people now rely on me for help, it makes me feel useful, instead of useless. I'm not saying this will work for you, but it worked for me.
Regards
Kryn

May I recommend :

- A good boat and lots of fishing.
- A dog.

Has helped me.