One of these days someone needs to make a list of subcommunities ranked by percentage of posters that also post in Mental Health GAF. Either NHL-GAF is really bad off (cold climate/hockey/mental health link?) or NHL-GAF is just more comfortable with talking about it than other subcommunities, because i sure see a ton of us here... :/
Mental Health |OT| Depression & Co.
- Thread starter Bagels
- Start date
- Status
One of these days someone needs to make a list of subcommunities ranked by percentage of posters that also post in Mental Health GAF. Either NHL-GAF is really bad off (cold climate/hockey/mental health link?) or NHL-GAF is just more comfortable with talking about it than other subcommunities, because i sure see a ton of us here... :/
Yeah, but I woke up with a massive headache that lasted hours (through water + coffee + Tylenol). Had anxiety all day for no reason, too. Super scared to go to school tomorrow, since I have a lab. Face to face interactions isn't something I want right now. I just want to crawl into a cave and never come out.
Just finished up my intake interview with the good people at Sound Mental Health in Seattle. This is mostly for them to figure out what services I need. Psychiatrist, therapist and so on. Took about an hour and a half. I've worked with these guys before, in the period between 2004-2006, when I first got sick but I tapered off as I realized the therapist and I weren't a good match and we kept talking about my daddy issues. As riveting as those are, not helpful.
Since those old records were missing (thanks to a recent expansion), I got asked the usual questions about my life and while giving all this information, I realized that I was, to quote our leader and comrade-in-arms Bagels, being charming as balls. The lady was totally soaking me up! In my 20s, I was always very self-conscious about the way I presented myself, because of insecurity and just struggling with having Asperger's. Somewhere along the way (and in my 30s), I adapted, took control and now especially in my good days can be pretty damned awesome and charismatic.
She told me that I seemed very together. Well, maybe in comparison to some of the people she probably has worked with but no. I had to correct her and say that I'm a mess. She looked sympathetic and said some people are better at hiding it than others and sometimes, that results in them not getting enough of the help they need. I also went on and on about how awesome my friends are, which should be no surprise to any of you. You know the story, how people in terribly dark places can build friendships with foundations that are freakishly study. She seemed impressed but I'm sorta dreading the judgement I'll get from the therapist when I talk about my online buddies. But then, the descriptive word "online" doesn't really hold muster when you consider how integrated we all are and how I'm already making active plans to meet at least two of them (and I'm sure it won't stop there).
After looking over the data, she concluded that I'm an excellent candidate for therapy, said I'd get a phone call within the week with the referral and said what a pleasure it was to meet me. And then, once back in my car, I smelled dog shit. That's right. I stepped in dog shit and now bits of it remain stuck to the pedals and the floor. This might just be an excellent metaphor for mental health in general.
I also made some further comments to narrow down the selection. Not sure whether I'd be more comfortable with male or female. I don't think it's a matter of gender as much as it is about personalities. I need someone sensitive, gay-friendly, familiar with chronic pain issues and just all-around awesome. She said she'd get on that. Hoping the first choice works out but it can be challenging making that connection. I'll report more after the first appointment.
Since those old records were missing (thanks to a recent expansion), I got asked the usual questions about my life and while giving all this information, I realized that I was, to quote our leader and comrade-in-arms Bagels, being charming as balls. The lady was totally soaking me up! In my 20s, I was always very self-conscious about the way I presented myself, because of insecurity and just struggling with having Asperger's. Somewhere along the way (and in my 30s), I adapted, took control and now especially in my good days can be pretty damned awesome and charismatic.
She told me that I seemed very together. Well, maybe in comparison to some of the people she probably has worked with but no. I had to correct her and say that I'm a mess. She looked sympathetic and said some people are better at hiding it than others and sometimes, that results in them not getting enough of the help they need. I also went on and on about how awesome my friends are, which should be no surprise to any of you. You know the story, how people in terribly dark places can build friendships with foundations that are freakishly study. She seemed impressed but I'm sorta dreading the judgement I'll get from the therapist when I talk about my online buddies. But then, the descriptive word "online" doesn't really hold muster when you consider how integrated we all are and how I'm already making active plans to meet at least two of them (and I'm sure it won't stop there).
After looking over the data, she concluded that I'm an excellent candidate for therapy, said I'd get a phone call within the week with the referral and said what a pleasure it was to meet me. And then, once back in my car, I smelled dog shit. That's right. I stepped in dog shit and now bits of it remain stuck to the pedals and the floor. This might just be an excellent metaphor for mental health in general.
I also made some further comments to narrow down the selection. Not sure whether I'd be more comfortable with male or female. I don't think it's a matter of gender as much as it is about personalities. I need someone sensitive, gay-friendly, familiar with chronic pain issues and just all-around awesome. She said she'd get on that. Hoping the first choice works out but it can be challenging making that connection. I'll report more after the first appointment.
Lionheart1827
Member
Great to hear brohammer! Hopefully they match you up with somebody good that you're comfortable with. It is tough to find somebody thats good at what they do and can relate/understand your issues.
Gentle Rodriguez
Member
Dude I did this a lot. Skipped classes because I just couldn't face anyone and didn't want to go in general. Staying at home was just as bad but in a different way, I felt guilty for not going and anxious because I missed out on potentially important classes. If you keep skipping classes it'll get harder and harder to motivate yourself to go and you'll keep getting farther behind.
It's way easier said than done but try and go anyway, even if it's going to feel like torture. I promise that in the long run you're going to regret not going way more than if you go. I'm still not over how I screwed up entire years of my life.
I got stuck in this cycle too for the better part of last term in University. I would never have any progress to show in class for critique and felt the regret and guilt of staying home was the slightly lesser of two evils than confronting the embarrassment and shame of showing up empty handed week after week.
Eventually it became an issue (attendance counts as a portion of the grade in my program, and 4 absences = an automatic failure) so I received documentation from the psychiatrist on campus and talked with the profs directly and frankly about the situation I was going through. They ended up being surprisingly accommodating, granting extensions and offering feedback and meetings outside class when I needed it.
Bottom line - as they pointed out to me - they're there to help, and they're not in the business of wanting to see students fail. Showing up to class empty handed is better than not at all, at the very least they can keep tabs on you and see that you're making the effort on your end.
I read this as "Since those old records were missing (Thanks to a recent explosion)" and it scared me.
MisterLuffy
Member
I just came back from my night class. The instructor is okay. Judging by his lecture, he knows a lot. But damn, I feel like my head was going to explode by receiving so much information. He uses terms which I'm unfamiliar with the meanings. He's teaching us to program using C. I don't know whether I fit in the class or not. I'm not familiar with C. I hate myself for not taking notes.
OMG this can't be happening. I just received an email from college about probation warning because my gpa is 1.66. Fuck, I should have done credit/no credit. FUCK MY LIFE!!! I feel like killing myself. I don't want to live in this world anymore...
OMG this can't be happening. I just received an email from college about probation warning because my gpa is 1.66. Fuck, I should have done credit/no credit. FUCK MY LIFE!!! I feel like killing myself. I don't want to live in this world anymore...
ClassyPenguin
Banned
sneakypete
Member
I was listening to Improv4Humans(great podcast) the other day and Besser sang/played Aimee Mann's song called It's Not - very interesting how much of a Rorschach test a song's meaning can be, as they interpreted it as being about her career. Whatever her intent, it's a very beautiful song that I'm sure many here can relate to as I did.
Thanks. Things aren't going very well, but I don't think anyone can help. It just sucks and I'm kind of an emotional disaster right now.
crazepharmacist
Member
First time seeing this thread, going to chime in. Sometimes depression and anxiety can be symptoms of a larger issue; and the meds(anti-depressants, etc)to treat these symptoms are just bandaids, further covering up the deeper issue. Long story short throughout my entire childhood I have been in and out of mental health clinics, on every anti-depressant medication under the sun. They never did anything. It wasn't until I saw an endocrinologist in my early 20's and was diagnosed with low testosterone did I feel better. Being on a healthy dose of test every week changed my entire life. More confident, no more anxiety and well being went through the roof. A therapist never would have diagnosed that.
Ugh. Drank my ass off last night. Don't even know why I bought the bottle. Wasn't feeling that bad or anything, just got a bug up my ass to get one. Pissed off the wife as usual, even though I wasn't ridiculously stupid or anything (just kinda annoying).
Welp, time to restart the clock. This week has been rough - I thought I was going to clear January with only one fuck up, now I'm up to 3. Hopefully I can make it through February better...
Welp, time to restart the clock. This week has been rough - I thought I was going to clear January with only one fuck up, now I'm up to 3. Hopefully I can make it through February better...
Wish I knew what the point of my life was. Even when I'm performing at my peak, I'm an unlikable, low-functioning cunt. Throughout the years, I have really tried to improve things. And some things did improve, but the results have always the same, failure after failure for anything positive I've tried to achieve. I guess there is only so much you can do when you're fundamentally broken. If the therapy options are a bust (and it wouldn't surprise me at all, if it was) I will have to put a stop to it. There is no fucking way I can live out a whole lifetime like this, I can't.
Had my Prozac dose upped to 40mg from 20, so I'm on two pills a day now. Also had a talk with my psychiatrist where he tried to get me motivated, and was the most honest about university than anyone has been with me. (He told me that it sucks, unless certain people *cough*Smiley90*cough* 
.) Felt weird when he told me he saw no reason as to why I can't become a physician since my brain and my family (more specifically, my mother) are constantly putting me down and questioning whether I should even be in university. His little motivational analogies did get me motivated, but only while I was in his office. At home now, and I have no drive/desire to do anything other than sleep.
I know exactly what you mean. The more I skip, the more I'm behind/less I understand, less motivated I become because "I'll never understand this. I'm not smart enough." I know it's bad, but my brain says "Fuck it, you suck anyway."
.) Felt weird when he told me he saw no reason as to why I can't become a physician since my brain and my family (more specifically, my mother) are constantly putting me down and questioning whether I should even be in university. His little motivational analogies did get me motivated, but only while I was in his office. At home now, and I have no drive/desire to do anything other than sleep.I know exactly what you mean. The more I skip, the more I'm behind/less I understand, less motivated I become because "I'll never understand this. I'm not smart enough." I know it's bad, but my brain says "Fuck it, you suck anyway."
Gentle Rodriguez
Member
Try to calm yourself down and realize that nothing that's happening to you is going to be the end of you. There's nothing you can't get back out of(mostly since I assume you're still young?). Even if you don't succeed immediately, you will get more chances to succeed. And once you do, you'll forget about your failures.
I know what you mean, I went through that exact thing. Eventually came the realization that I have no proof that I'm stupid or suck because I never put in 100%. It's hard to give 100% when you really want to just quit and relax, but even trying and then failing is better than not trying and wondering where you'd be if you had tried. The latter is where I'm at right now, and it's torture.
"Maybe if I just gave it my all", "Maybe I could've made it if I wasn't so weak minded", "I gave up for no reason". Every day it's like this and I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. You don't want to be there.
ImpassionateGods
Member
My therapist/psychologist/whatever she is has asked me multiple times in just two sessions "have you ever been on medication?" and I'm not sure if this means that she's pushing me towards it or what her motives are. I can't understand how after one initial meeting and one 45 minute session she can understand me well enough to know what I need. She's also brought up social anxiety, regular anxiety, agoraphobia, and depression, which to me seems like she has no idea what's going on and is going to keep throwing terms at me to see if I'll do her job for her and confirm something. Not sure if this is really going to work.
MisterLuffy
Member
My friend gave me the same message. I'm glad I've people you guys who are willing to talk to me. I'm 22 years old just to answer your question. Whenever I fail at something or get that type of message, I easily get uspet. I don't want to give up, but I tend to get depressed from time to time. And giving up is one of most things that pops up in my mind whenever I get discouraged.
Prax
Member
Well, imposter syndrome (feeling like you are a fraud or "don't belong/deserve to be" wherever you are (like being in university) is pretty common among the quietly ambitious! It takes a while to get over thoughts that maybe you are as smart as the test scores show, but are the chances of you being a genius con artist greater than being a competent student with wobbly self-confidence? Like either way, you're golden. lolHad my Prozac dose upped to 40mg from 20, so I'm on two pills a day now. Also had a talk with my psychiatrist where he tried to get me motivated, and was the most honest about university than anyone has been with me. (He told me that it sucks, unless certain people *cough*Smiley90*cough*
I know exactly what you mean. The more I skip, the more I'm behind/less I understand, less motivated I become because "I'll never understand this. I'm not smart enough." I know it's bad, but my brain says "Fuck it, you suck anyway."
Seems like you just have a hard time believing it. But look at the evidence objectively with an Occam's razor and don't add fantasies of failing into succeeding and other convoluted stories about yourself.
The environment you received the motivational analogies was a supportive one, so it probably gave you more energy there. I think the strategy is to make your environment at home, school, and in your brain supportive too. Be you own cheerleader, repeat those analogies in your head, and try to build momentum to get what you want to do done.
I am not sure, but your family maybe thinks in a misguided way that being critical will "help" you be motivated to be even more awesome. Like a "I only say that because I care/don't you value my opinions??" kind of thing (OR theyhave misguided views about who can or can't attend university--my parents coming from Vietnam for example, didn't understand how people can coast into university or not be studying every moment they are not in school, so I always looked like a slacker to them lol -- even despite fairly decent marks!). I know it's hard to always feel like you have to deflect unhelpful support in a way that won't offend parents, but that's why it's good you do become your own cheerleader and make friends or contacts who will support you in the way you need. Being able to see the psychiatrist and all that is one of those steps, so good for that!
You are still growing up. We all are. And one of the aspects of growing up to be nice and elderly and sagely is learning to balance between knowing how to keep going even if things seem impossible or when to give in and take a break before burning out. Like I said, it's a balancing act that people have to learn over time by trial and error, and most people make plenty of mistakes on making either call.. but somehow life goes on! And you get more chances all the time to try to improve or do something else.
For example, at the time while I was really depressed, I thought I was such an abject failure and turned super stupid when I felt forced to withdraw from my master's program and was not able to "pass" my fieldwork placements when other students somehow did (some of them with more difficult life circumstances than mien too, I'm sure!). But 2 years later and it actually doesn't seem like the dramatic event it felt like anymore (the strategy is to reinterpret the past and its haze of events with a lighter-hearted and more compassionate attitude). Things actually don't matter so much anymore once it's done and over with, and I try to always remind myself that I know this and can look forward to the future for better things and better chances (and hopefully NOT stress and panic over things that aren't so big in the greater scheme of things).
Ugh. So I realized I made a pretty stupid mistake on one of my assignments that I submitted. Normally when this happens I feel bad for a while until I forget about it and move on. This time, however, a few people asked me about this question so I explained it to them (wrongly of course). I feel terrible about it and I'm really stressing out about it.
I don't know if there are any Modern Family fans here but there was a recent episode where Alex visits a therapist to deal with her stress from school and her perceived external pressure to succeed. The scene pretty much sums up how I feel about school. I can't enjoy the success I have because I always feel that people expect me to be perfect or that I could have done better.
I love to learn but school is just too stressful at times.
I don't know if there are any Modern Family fans here but there was a recent episode where Alex visits a therapist to deal with her stress from school and her perceived external pressure to succeed. The scene pretty much sums up how I feel about school. I can't enjoy the success I have because I always feel that people expect me to be perfect or that I could have done better.
I love to learn but school is just too stressful at times.
Since it was at the bottom of the last page, I'm quoting this again. The commercials are great. If you have 2 minutes, watch them.
I've graduated college with a computer science degree back in May 2013. I still don't have a job. It's been almost 9 months and it really depresses me that pretty much every company has rejected me. I had two interviews two weeks ago and one of them told me today that they are "moving forward with other applicants", which is the same thing every other company I've gotten anywhere with has said.
This makes me feel totally worthless, and I can't even make myself apply for more jobs and just end up sleeping all day sometimes. The worst thing about it is that I'm already on Zoloft, guess I'm going back to the doctor about that. I don't know how I'm supposed to get a job, everyone wants experience and I'm totally worthless. I know how to program, I just don't have the experience they want.
This makes me feel totally worthless, and I can't even make myself apply for more jobs and just end up sleeping all day sometimes. The worst thing about it is that I'm already on Zoloft, guess I'm going back to the doctor about that. I don't know how I'm supposed to get a job, everyone wants experience and I'm totally worthless. I know how to program, I just don't have the experience they want.
Gentle Rodriguez
Member
I like these a lot. Really shows how hard it is to find out someone is dealing with a mental illness. The second one really hits close to home, feeling alone yet not wanting anyone around you to see what you've become.
I'm so goddamn tired of living. I just don't want any of this anymore. I slept till 8 pm, it's now noon and I haven't slept yet and I don't feel all that sleepy nor do I want to sleep. Every moment I have a moment alone with my thoughts is pure torture so I never stop watching a show, gaming, browsing the internet. I'm a defective person, I don't know if this is worth the effort anymore.
Gamefreaks221
Member
First post here but I guess its a good of place to get this out there.
Ever since the break up my life just has lost all meaning. I have had no real motivation to do anything. I feel like my work performance has been slipping and I have zero interest in school. I just don't want to do anything. Two days ago was probably the worst. I had suspicions that my friend was talking to mg ex and I read a few text messages which almost felt like confirmation to me. It put me in a rage I had never felt before in my life. I was ready to do something really stupid. When he got back to my house he just kinda came up to me knowing something was wrong.
He looked me dead in the face and told me that I need to ask him some questions and be blunt as shit about it. He told me he hadn't done anything and wouldn't because he knows how I feel. That was somewhat of a relieve but it still doesn't help with everything else. After that incident I decided i wanted to drink.
This was where I made my mistake. Alcohol has been putting me in a dark place lately but I want to drink anyway. I pushed a little to far this time though. I got real tore up and tried to go through with what I have thought about quite regularly. I went and got mt check book, wrote a 3000 dollar check to my ex to help her get out of debt. And then I went for my gun. If my friend hadn't been there im pretty sure I would have done it. And the thing is part of me wishes I had. I still want to. But the only thing that keeps me going is hope that I can fix this relationship.
Ever since the break up my life just has lost all meaning. I have had no real motivation to do anything. I feel like my work performance has been slipping and I have zero interest in school. I just don't want to do anything. Two days ago was probably the worst. I had suspicions that my friend was talking to mg ex and I read a few text messages which almost felt like confirmation to me. It put me in a rage I had never felt before in my life. I was ready to do something really stupid. When he got back to my house he just kinda came up to me knowing something was wrong.
He looked me dead in the face and told me that I need to ask him some questions and be blunt as shit about it. He told me he hadn't done anything and wouldn't because he knows how I feel. That was somewhat of a relieve but it still doesn't help with everything else. After that incident I decided i wanted to drink.
This was where I made my mistake. Alcohol has been putting me in a dark place lately but I want to drink anyway. I pushed a little to far this time though. I got real tore up and tried to go through with what I have thought about quite regularly. I went and got mt check book, wrote a 3000 dollar check to my ex to help her get out of debt. And then I went for my gun. If my friend hadn't been there im pretty sure I would have done it. And the thing is part of me wishes I had. I still want to. But the only thing that keeps me going is hope that I can fix this relationship.
(Finally, something I can maybe help with!)
Do you have a Github? Any public portfolio? If you do, link to it on your resume; if you don't, start one. That's going to be a massive asset. Tons of people say they can program, and tons of people have degrees and other accreditation saying they can program, but those people can not program. Having some volume of publicly-visible work shows you're not one of those people. (And I'm not even entertaining the notion that you are one of those people, and you shouldn't either. Because you're not.)
Was doing alright today until I just realize I might have gotten scammed by a couple of dudes from an electricity company that came by.
Already sent a mail to the company in question with that I don't wanna sign up for anything but goooooooooooooodbye good mood and hello nervous doubt.
Yay.
Already sent a mail to the company in question with that I don't wanna sign up for anything but goooooooooooooodbye good mood and hello nervous doubt.
Yay.
Goddamnit.
I already felt like my doc has no idea. Also it even says online that they have similar sideeffects that also include loss of appetite, which is what led to me fainting last week in the first place. Fuuuuudge.
I just want something that doesn't make my IBS&lack of appetite worse and helps with depression and mainly anxiety. Is that so much to ask?
Your doc knows about your IBS, right? Might be able to get a gentler alternative.Goddamnit.
I already felt like my doc has no idea. Also it even says online that they have similar sideeffects that also include loss of appetite, which is what led to me fainting last week in the first place. Fuuuuudge.
I just want something that doesn't make my IBS&lack of appetite worse and helps with depression and mainly anxiety. Is that so much to ask?
Omegasquash
Member
Alcohol is not your friend when you're down, believe me. You want to use it because you feel like it will allow you an escape from your feelings or at least numb you to them, when in reality it clouds your judgment and makes things turn darker.
Seek help in a therapist. I'm not sure if there are any other issues behind your emotions besides your breakup, though I'd be willing to bet there are. Working through feelings and talking about them, hearing your own words and feelings from the mouth of another person...all that is extremely powerful. Additionally, attempting exercises that you hear and learning coping skills will empower you to manage your own feelings and state of well being, which in and of itself is also empowering.
I'm not going to sit here and say that I understand your exact situation, because I don't, but many of us here, like you, have learned the hard way about alcohol as a crutch. It will let you down every single time. The thing about it is that we associate drinking with having a good time, and when we're starting up the activity itself IS mildly therapeutic. After all, you're doing something. But then, it kicks in. Maybe not in the first 30 minutes, but it will. And it WILL intensify negative feelings and emotions...something you definitely don't need right now. Look online for a therapist in your area and make an appointment. Between then and now, please try to avoid drinking or other unhealthy things. Exercise and fresh air, deep breaths and trusted friends. Crying when you have to. Those are healthy and normal, and it takes a truckload of strength to talk to a friend.
It's never an easy walk, but even making the walk is a positive step (no pun intended). Take that for what it is.
Trouble with any medication is it can be hard to know before you trial this or that, this or that dose, etc. Took a long while before I came around to the effects of mine. At worst, you give the SNRI a shot and then move onto something else because it doesn't agree with you. Or you can choose a different route (another SSRI type, perhaps). Anxiety being as rough as it is, you're not locked into this or that particular medication if it's not working for ya.I just don't know what to do.
Found studies that state that tricyclic antidepressants might actually HELP with managing IBS and IBS-related pain. Interesting. Anyone has experience with amitriptyline (elavil/endep) or desipramine (norpramine)?
"SSRI's should be avoided in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS" THANKS A LOT DOC.
It says tricyclic antidepressants aren't usuallt considered as a first-line treatment though, so... Who knows. I don't know then. Maybe take a low dose on top of something that helps with anxiety? Since tricyclics apparently don't help with anxiety much...
"SSRI's should be avoided in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS" THANKS A LOT DOC.
It says tricyclic antidepressants aren't usuallt considered as a first-line treatment though, so... Who knows. I don't know then. Maybe take a low dose on top of something that helps with anxiety? Since tricyclics apparently don't help with anxiety much...
Collete
Member
With new batch of people in the OT, I doubt anyone new is interested my work but...
I've gotten back to art recently trying to experiment with an idea I had for awhile. It feels good when you can make progress again.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/96340820/experiment1.jpg
Brownie points if you can guess what it is. (It's by no means my best work by far lol.)
Edit: Also another update with my road to recovery, made slight improvements to my road to religion and I'm going to be hitting 100,000 words on my novel some time next week.
I've gotten back to art recently trying to experiment with an idea I had for awhile. It feels good when you can make progress again.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/96340820/experiment1.jpg
Brownie points if you can guess what it is. (It's by no means my best work by far lol.)
Edit: Also another update with my road to recovery, made slight improvements to my road to religion and I'm going to be hitting 100,000 words on my novel some time next week.
My guess is a Pokeman!
If you want to talk religion, hit me up! We haven't talked in forever!
Just a quick note: if you wan to find me on skype, I don't notice it much. It's running on the laptop, which sits over on my calligraphy/writing desk. I don't look at it as much. I'm back on steam, tho!
ClassyPenguin
Banned
Tricyclic's fell out of favor due to their cardiac toxicity in overdoses and because their efficacy is about the same as SSRI's.
Antidepressants for irritable bowel syndrome
Yeah, see a psychiatrist and maybe a specialist.
Flareon <3. You may have a shit moveset but you will always be my favourite eeveelution.
(Also do you have a higher-resolution version perhaps maybe? I always tend to use your work as background)
Collete
Member
Ding! You're correct!
And yes, I was taking prax advice on lowering my resolution for people, but I'll link to a higher res:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/96340820/experiment.jpg
Squee! Thanks Collette!
Collete
Member
The problem is that most studies on antidepressants in IBS were done on patients without accompanying depression/anxiety and only studied for efficacy in IBS treatment.
Basically tricyclics work well in lower-than-depression-therapy doses, SSRI's only work on constipation (opposite of what I need), SNRI's are not well studied but potentially like SSRI's.
I have the diarrhea-subtype though, so any anxiety/antidepressant that causes diarrhea (aka most/all SSRI's) or further decrease my appetite (also most antidepressants) are a bad choice for me.
That doesn't leave much. Any advice? But yeah I feel like I should ask for. Psychiatrist referral, they'll be able to personalize it more, hopefully.
Spring-Loaded
Member
An old friend of mine called me late one night sounding pretty upset and asked how I deal with friends, work, life in general without specifying exactly what her problem was. We haven't regularly talked for years and it was months since we last met, which was worrying. She just started college this past fall and has dealt with depression in the past, of which I know little (heard that she would cut her wrists, something to do with her parents splitting up, just bits and pieces of info).
I didn't press the issue on her saying what her problems were; should I? I could only give really general advice (see if her university offers counseling, prioritize what she wants/needs, reassess her situation) and I have no background in psychology or and experience dealing with depression. I don't know any of her current friends and am not sure whether talking to her parents would help since (from my cursory understanding of her depression) I knew their breakup contributed to her state of mind in the past.
How likely could my pressing the issue or telling her to talk to other people we know be seen as a betrayal of trust? If a person she's only seen once in, like, five years is seemingly the first person she seeks help from, what does that mean about all her other friends/family?
I didn't press the issue on her saying what her problems were; should I? I could only give really general advice (see if her university offers counseling, prioritize what she wants/needs, reassess her situation) and I have no background in psychology or and experience dealing with depression. I don't know any of her current friends and am not sure whether talking to her parents would help since (from my cursory understanding of her depression) I knew their breakup contributed to her state of mind in the past.
How likely could my pressing the issue or telling her to talk to other people we know be seen as a betrayal of trust? If a person she's only seen once in, like, five years is seemingly the first person she seeks help from, what does that mean about all her other friends/family?
This is pretty much what's been going on this week. I'm trying to find that middle ground between allowing bad events to just ruin my day and make me wallow in self pity for a while and blatant refusal to believe that there is anything to be sad about. I want to be aware of all of the good things going on, while still acknowledging that I can have bad days but I shouldn't let them wreck my self image completely. Self pity ruined my day at Disneyland with my friend yesterday. I was pretty much in tears by the time we got back to the parking structure, which was extremely embarrassing because I can't be cool guy with tears running down my face. On the upside I realized that the best way to solve my life stagnation problem is to get a job, which is way easier said than done when you're looking for a first job, so I'm continuing my trend of applying everywhere for everything until someone gives me a job, and then see where things go from there.
So far my current goals are:
Get a job
Get rid of the monotone in my voice
Learn to be engaging and interesting in conversations
So far my current goals are:
Get a job
Get rid of the monotone in my voice
Learn to be engaging and interesting in conversations
Not pressing the issue is good. You gave great idea. If you want to help her, ask her if she wants/needs someone to talk to and offer an ear. If she declines it, tell her you'll be there for her if she needs it. That's usually the best course of action, unless you feel like she's an imminent danger to herself or others.
- Status