Thread: Depression

Depression can be mild, moderate or severe.

In some instances it can be more appropriately described as feeling down, low on energy or lacking a sense of meaning or purpose in life. Those are existential, not medical, conditions. If that's your case, welcome to the life that many folk lead.

If however you feel it's seriously limiting how you want to live your life then get help. Pay now, laugh later.

Originally Posted by rsser

Pay now, laugh later.

....or get yourself a couple of spirited kittens and "pay now, youself laughing immediately"

Re counselling, there are clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. The latter you can get a referral to from your GP and get MBS rebates for. These folk are doctors with further quals. They are a bit prone to prescribing meds as part of the treatment.

Re psychs, your GP can do an assessment to see if you qualify for MBS rebates. Or if you have health extras insurance you can go your own way.

Each case will cost you out of pocket; in some cases a lot sadly.

As with all professions, there are those who are more helpful and those who are less so. You have the capacity and the right to move onto someone else if you don't feel you're getting the results you want.

kiwi75 is in New Zealand

Kiwi 75.
I won't bore you with my story but I will tell you of a couple of things that have helped me. This would be the 23rd year of my battle with depression. Over that time I have had maybe 18 changes of medication. Some worked most didn't, some worked then slowly let me slip backwards ending in another round of meds.
I had to give up working and now on a pension (15 years before retiring age). I live in a country town so didn't have a very large group of Pysycs to choose from. Didn't have any spare money to pay for help so had to use what was given on Medicare. I found that talking it out wasn't for me and neither was counseling. Eighteen months ago I had a very low period which made me "spill my guts" to this Forum. I was blown away by the number of members who are in a similar boat. I was given reassurance that it would get better by these members and finally I was able to see a "Fly In" Psychiatrist who was able to give me a med that is actually helping. No not curing, helping. Mine is a chemical imbalance in the brain and so I need the help of the drugs. With the drugs I can function- without them I can't.
I tried Cognitive Therapy but I found it was too much hard work for my brain to sort out.
The drugs only mask my symptoms. Only a month ago I broke a front tooth.....that took the rug out from under me for 2 weeks. For me it doesn't take much to put me back.
In saying all that be open to things. To find the right combination of drugs is not scientific (in my experience). Because everybody is different we take up drugs in different ways. What works for you may not work for me. The down side with all this is that you are the bunny going through all kinds of #### while they are playing with amounts. Its a rough rough road. You have to be strong and thats hard.
Please keep us here on the Forum up to date with whats happening. By you writing we can maybe be of some help, even if only words of encouragement.
Remember (and its the hard bit) THIS IS TEMPORARY!! YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT!!! I know because I am here writing to you.
(You may need to read the upper case words a number of times to convince your brain of it)
Best of luck mate, we are all thinking of you.

Psychiatry by Skype is a growing trend - what a fabulous idea for regional people! Lola (my partner) teaches Spanish to a Psychiatrist who does this - just discussing it now, we think he does several hours a week by Skype (as are the Spanish lessons).

So why not Psychology by Skype?

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement.
I get a week off starting this Tuesday and my wife has made an appointment with our family GP for then. I shall hold off commenting on my own issues at this stage as I really don't understand what the problem is, I can make a few educated guesses but I don't want to start self diagnosing, thats what the professionals are for.
Siran has found a blokey councilor in town who is willing to negotiate regarding price, but we'll just have to see what happens with the GP first.
Thanks very much for all the support and I shall keep you all informed.

Carlos

Originally Posted by Kiwi75

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement.
I get a week off starting this Tuesday and my wife has made an appointment with our family GP for then. I shall hold off commenting on my own issues at this stage as I really don't understand what the problem is, I can make a few educated guesses but I don't want to start self diagnosing, thats what the professionals are for.
Siran has found a blokey councilor in town who is willing to negotiate regarding price, but we'll just have to see what happens with the GP first.
Thanks very much for all the support and I shall keep you all informed.

Carlos!

Well done on talking about your depression. With regards to visiting the doctor, he can put you on a mental health plan which will include 6 free visits to a psychologist. He even can get that extended for an additional 6 visits if needs be.

Dont be afraid of anti depressants, I was against them for the first 8 years of my depression and it was te dumbest thing I did.

Good luck
Macca

Here are some unbiased resources on depression, for the consumer, and if you look for the link, for doctors. Click

They include what's known to date about the effectiveness/appropriateness of various treatments and questions to ask of your general practitioner.

Best wishes for your journey.

Hey Kiwi,

I have to be honest, I read your first post in this thread, & bits & pieces of some of the others, but not much. bit too close to home.

Myself, I find wood work helps.

I think one thing you have done for yourself was starting this thread. I believe one of the biggest problems our sellect little group has, is at first, we all think we are the only one who has this problem & how can anyone else understand when we dont understand it ourselves.

Well mate, your not alone & there are plenty of people who do understand your plight.

Our sellect little group is not so little.

my best wishes go with you and your future

steve

Hi all, well it's been over a couple of months since I've been on anti-depressants, I also received 5 free councilor sessions at the beginning which although I was skeptical of really helped. He (the councilor) very subtly showed me the person I really was and revealed to me the amazing changes I've been able to make in my life regardless of all the negative influences and challenges I've experienced.
I'm a much happier and relaxed person these days and more importantly It's made me a better Dad as I've no intension of putting my kids through what I had to go through.

Carlos

Good news, Carlos.

Stick with it and be kind to yourself.

Steve.

Great news Carlos!!!
Don't get lulled into a false sense of security and not take the meds. Believe me they are there to help you cope. With my meds I am mostly OK but out of the blue I can be knocked off my feet and all I can do is watch TV for a week (or how ever long it takes). I never see it coming either. I just wake up one morning ....and I can't get out of the way of my own shadow.
This is not to say that you will go down but just be aware that it can happen......and you will get through and be able to cope again. This roller coaster that I am on has been up and down for over 20 years. You just have to hang on until it picks you up again.
All the best to you mate

Originally Posted by chambezio

Great news Carlos!!!
Don't get lulled into a false sense of security and not take the meds. Believe me they are there to help you cope. With my meds I am mostly OK but out of the blue I can be knocked off my feet and all I can do is watch TV for a week (or how ever long it takes). I never see it coming either. I just wake up one morning ....and I can't get out of the way of my own shadow.
This is not to say that you will go down but just be aware that it can happen......and you will get through and be able to cope again. This roller coaster that I am on has been up and down for over 20 years. You just have to hang on until it picks you up again.
All the best to you mate

I really can't agree with this enough.

This journey, or at least my journey does have it's up's & down's and without warning or apparant reason.

I have been on meds for about 5 years now, & occasionally, I forget to take them & thats not too bad, but when I do, I usually forget the next day as well & then even I can't stand to be around me.

I also find even when I have kept up with my meds, I still have days that are significantly worse than normal, but the good thing is it dosent last too long anymore.


Great to hear you are on the road to a better life, stick with it mate.

Steve