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[forknknife]

My ex is having a tough time with depression and suicidal thoughts. She was heavily medicated a few years ago and hated it, she says that it made her a zombie. Now she has discovered transcendental meditation and is placing all hopes on it. Has anybody had any experience with it? Should I be concerned about it?

 

[Out of Working Order]

I use mayoclinic in a lot of my research. Now remember I am in undergraduate school, I am by no means a professional, go see your doctor. But lets check this out. It says that numerous studies report that St.Johns wort is more effective than a placebo and equally effective as a tricyclic antidepressant drug for short term treatment of mild-to-moderate depression. They list short term treatment as 1-3 months. The website goes on to say that gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, sedation, and sexual dysfunction including impotence can occur.

A lot of these side effects are in my antidepressant meds as well, so theres a chance if you take an antidepressant and this the side effects can multiplay.


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/st-johns-wort/NS_patient-stjohnswort

Right, thanks. I don't think I'll be taking St John's Wort again anyway. I'd like to avoid antidepressants completely.

I have no interests and i just don't have the energy or strength to even work out anymore.

I've just bought some pushup bars, mainly just to try anything at this stage, and it's something to do. Hopefully I'll be able to tone up a bit with them too.

Why don't you join me?

 

[Natetan]

I'm still in high school (17), so I don't think it would be a good idea right now, as much as I'd like to. Even if I did though, it would just mean that I'd be even more alone.

Do you excercise at all? I was a runner in high school. It was extremely awkward at first. I ran like half a mile from my house in shorts and sneakers. But then the longer you do it and the better you get the more confidence you get. It's a life long hobby for me now. It also is great for stress after a run unusually feel better and it really pushed me through that first real depression I had in high school. You're older than I was though, and running may not be your thing. Still I bet there is some sport that is right for you. Try stuff until you find one your good at!

 

[Orayn]

My ex is having a tough time with depression and suicidal thoughts. She was heavily medicated a few years ago and hated it, she says that it made her a zombie. Now she has discovered transcendental meditation and is placing all hopes on it. Has anybody had any experience with it? Should I be concerned about it?

If she's completely ignoring real medicine and psychiatry in favor of it, yes, I'd be concerned. It may be helping her somewhat, but there's reason to worry if she refuses to consider anything else.

 

[Sadsic]

Any of you suffer from fibromyalgia? Can you post your experience with it please?

i had a girlfriend for a few years that had this. seemed like serious discomfort, stiffness and weird pain

 

[jerry1594]

I'm wondering if I have minor depression, but I don't really know what to do about it. Like I'll be insanely sad for a few hours during the day. I'll stay awake just brooding on certain things for hours which really sucks. Like I get weirdly sad. Or I just won't want to do anything with anyone. Sometimes its like everyday, but then it can go away for a few days as well. It's weird. Not really sure if it's just normal or not. I dunno, just thought I'd share and see if anyone else is in the same boat as me.

This is me for most of the day. I am so preoccupied with I don't know what. Seriously, I don't even recall what I spend the majority of my day being neurotic about. But I get trapped in my own thoughts, mostly pessimistic and self defeating, as long as I'm awake. Every day.

 

[Collete]

Great, so now my parents are going to tell my whole family I'm depressed, as if it's any of their fucking business. No one really understands it though, so I'm in for a myriad of sarcastic jokes and insults ("So they're going to label you as 'mad' now, right?" "Just get a girlfriend and everything will go away!" etc.). Fuck. I hate my life. I wish I had friends. Or interests/hobbies. I got nothing.

If you do get those jokes coming at you, just ignore them.
They're insulting you based on ignorance and lack of understanding.

May sound silly, but people on depression GAF are like a group of friends that are dealing issues together, in my opinion.
I don't think you're as alone as you think.

My ex is having a tough time with depression and suicidal thoughts. She was heavily medicated a few years ago and hated it, she says that it made her a zombie. Now she has discovered transcendental meditation and is placing all hopes on it. Has anybody had any experience with it? Should I be concerned about it?

I don't have much knowledge of transcendental medication (googled it and I still got a slight gist of it) but I do understand what it's like to be medicated.
Depending on which medication you get, you just don't feel like yourself and restless. I can understand if she didn't want to go back.
However, she may need to reconsider some therapy and different medication.

 

[jb1234]

Any of you suffer from fibromyalgia? Can you post your experience with it please?

Yeah, I do, for ten years. It ended my career, forced me onto disability and because that's not enough for me to live in, it looks like I'll soon be moving back in with my mom, at the age of 32.

Obviously, this is a large reason why I'm a certified member of Depression-GAF.

 

[neojubei]

My ex is having a tough time with depression and suicidal thoughts. She was heavily medicated a few years ago and hated it, she says that it made her a zombie. Now she has discovered transcendental meditation and is placing all hopes on it. Has anybody had any experience with it? Should I be concerned about it?

May i ask what prescriptions did she take to feel like that? that's something i am looking for.

 

[RionaaM]

Pretty much.

Except my friends know I don't have my shit together, but not how crazy I am. haha. It's just an uncomfortable subject.

Yes, this. Also, I don't want to sound like I'm constantly complaining about my life. Doing that made me grow apart from some people I considered friends, or maybe they got tired of me, I don't know.

So yeah, you may be surrounded by family and friends, but still feel like the loneliest person in the world. Or is it just me?

 

[neojubei]

Took 2 more pills tonight trying to offset my thoughts on relationships. i cannot help but think about all those gay couples at the club and me there again as always alone. at this age i am never going to find anyone that actually likes me. i think i hate myself even moreso than i usually do. i might take another pill since it seems to not be working at all.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Took 2 more pills tonight trying to offset my thoughts on relationships. i cannot help but think about all those gay couples at the club and me there again as always alone. at this age i am never going to find anyone that actually likes me. i think i hate myself even moreso than i usually do. i might take another pill since it seems to not be working at all.

Stop taking the pills. Don't take any more than you're supposed to. If you continue to have these urges, you should flush the pills and make an appointment to see your doctor. Tell them what's going on.

 

[Windam]

Do you excercise at all? I was a runner in high school. It was extremely awkward at first. I ran like half a mile from my house in shorts and sneakers. But then the longer you do it and the better you get the more confidence you get. It's a life long hobby for me now. It also is great for stress after a run unusually feel better and it really pushed me through that first real depression I had in high school. You're older than I was though, and running may not be your thing. Still I bet there is some sport that is right for you. Try stuff until you find one your good at!

Nope. I used to enjoy running, but now, I have absolutely no motivation for anything
anymore, including exercise. I'm really out of shape, though I doubt you'd be able to tell (I'm skinny as hell; the curse of having a fast metabolism).

If you do get those jokes coming at you, just ignore them.
They're insulting you based on ignorance and lack of understanding.

It's pretty hard to ignore when almost anything can send me over the edge now. I've slipped back into the habit of becoming angry/frustrated at the drop of the hat (yay for mood swings!).

May sound silly, but people on depression GAF are like a group of friends that are dealing issues together, in my opinion.
I don't think you're as alone as you think.

I feel the same way, too, but outside of GAF, I really have no one anymore. There's only so much I can feel thanks to strangers over the internet. But thank you for reminding me that I do have a haven away from the world.

 

[Finaika]

Took 2 more pills tonight trying to offset my thoughts on relationships. i cannot help but think about all those gay couples at the club and me there again as always alone. at this age i am never going to find anyone that actually likes me. i think i hate myself even moreso than i usually do. i might take another pill since it seems to not be working at all.

No one is too late for love.

 

[neojubei]

Stop taking the pills. Don't take any more than you're supposed to. If you continue to have these urges, you should flush the pills and make an appointment to see your doctor. Tell them what's going on.

Whats the point i do tell my doctor whats going on and he prescribe the pills. even if i take all of them it doesnt matter it wont change anything. i'll was alone yesterday, alone today and will be tomorrow.

No one is too late for love.

for me it is, especially if i die.

 

[The Hermit]

Last week I was feeling awesome... now I feel like shit.

I hate this disease

 

[Windam]

Last week I was feeling awesome... now I feel like shit.

I hate this disease

Started off feeling like shit this morning, slowly started to feel better, and now I'm sure I'm going to start crashing again.

Edit: And now my mom doubts that I really need therapy. I don't think my GP would refer me to the crisis centre at a hospital and then a crisis worker would refer me to a clinic if I didn't fucking need it.

 

[~Kinggi~]

Meh, i figure when i finally lose my job will be when i eat the bullet. I've always been meaning to do it but kept some hope out shit would change. Been like that since i was pre-18. Its all a blur back then. I spent a bunch of it home from school and locked away in mental institutions with kids that liked to burn shit. fun times. Right now im just coasting. I make alright money, able to live on my own. Can keep things relatively problem-free. But thats all gonna crash down when i cant make money any more. In this economy i dont got the willpower for jack shit.

In the meantime though, ive been depressed so long its just who i am now and can distract myself enough to deal with it. Try to get out as early as possible is all i can say.

 

[OpinionatedCyborg]

Last week I was feeling awesome... now I feel like shit.

I hate this disease

feeling great and feeling terrible in such a short time span surely gives you a better understanding of your illness, does it not? unlike people who slowly slide into a depression and begin to forget what normal is, you only have to look back a single week! it's like jumping into ice cold water vs sitting in water that is slowly imperceptibly getting cooler. does understanding that these feelings are transient help you cope?

 

[Ether_Snake]

The main thing that has been making me feel like crap is not getting my stupid driver's license. It seems to simple, I woke last year and decided I need the license, I did the classes and all, but I want to be able to practice just before taking the exam, I want to be sure I pass it. The problem? I don't have access to a car, my father and mother don't have one, no one I know has one or is in a position to let me drive one. This stupid crap should have been done with over a decade ago when my father had a car. Last time I wanted him to rent one but he couldn't because they won't rent if the driver doesn't have a permit (temporary permit isn't accepted).

Every fucking thing in my life I have to do it myself. I get no support for anything, all the mistakes my parents made I have to pay for it, all their lack of effort I have to make up for. I have parents yet it feels so often like I've been growing up on my own all my life. At some point it gets exhausting, especially when you feel life went by too fast. I turned 30 recently so it makes it worst. I'm sick of playing catch up with a big void still there ahead.

Just like I didn't have an actual family, if I get a wife and have kids one day (starting to look unlikely), he won't have family on his father's side, just as it was with me. Some things you can't fix. When you grew up pretty much your whole life on your own with no family, no siblings, no birthdays, it doesn't make you a very interesting person.

I want to get the driver's license, then I want to buy a house. But I'm wondering if it will really make me feel any better.

 

[Windam]

The main thing that has been making me feel like crap is not getting my stupid driver's license. It seems to simple, I woke last year and decided I need the license, I did the classes and all, but I want to be able to practice just before taking the exam, I want to be sure I pass it. The problem? I don't have access to a car, my father and mother don't have one, no one I know has one or is in a position to let me drive one. This stupid crap should have been done with over a decade ago when my father had a car. Last time I wanted him to rent one but he couldn't because they won't rent if the driver doesn't have a permit (temporary permit isn't accepted).

Every fucking thing in my life I have to do it myself. I get no support for anything, all the mistakes my parents made I have to pay for it, all their lack of effort I have to make up for. I have parents yet it feels so often like I've been growing up on my own all my life. At some point it gets exhausting, especially when you feel life went by too fast. I turned 30 recently so it makes it worst. I'm sick of playing catch up with a big void still there ahead.

Just like I didn't have an actual family, if I get a wife and have kids one day (starting to look unlikely), he won't have family on his father's side, just as it was with me. Some things you can't fix.

The classes you did didn't offer in-vehicle instruction? Where do you live? The (accredited) driving schools here in Ontario all offer 10 hours in-vehicle instruction for you to practice (after doing 20 hours of in-class instruction). And you don't know anyone who could lend you their car at all?

 

[Ether_Snake]

The classes you did didn't offer in-vehicle instruction? Where do you live? The (accredited) driving schools here in Ontario all offer 10 hours in-vehicle instruction for you to practice (after doing 20 hours of in-class instruction). And you don't know anyone who could lend you their car at all? :/

Yes I did drive, I finished some time back in December 2011. My license expired in January, I went on a month vacation in February, and didn't renew it since. I'm going to, but I still want to be able to drive before going to the exam, otherwise I'll fail it. It's easy to drive, but I still want to do a few hours of driving before going. Plus, I can't rent a car for the exam itself.

I don't have friends who have cars no.

 

[Lucian Cat]

Having a really bad time atm. My partners parents won't let me visit when he has his son. My parents are going nuts on me. I can't move out coz I'm on workcover and earning sweet f/a. As such I'm fighting with my partner constantly and hiding in my room so I don't cause anymore arguments with my parents. But I've been feeling pretty down lately and haven't been able to stop crying for the past 2 hours. I have been depressed and suicidal in the past and I'm worried I'm gonna do something stupid. I have no support network and the only person I can talk to is my partner who pretty much doesn't care. I'm at the end of my tether here :'( don't know what I'm getting from posting this, it's not making me feel better. Fml

 

[Collete]

It's pretty hard to ignore when almost anything can send me over the edge now. I've slipped back into the habit of becoming angry/frustrated at the drop of the hat (yay for mood swings!).



I feel the same way, too, but outside of GAF, I really have no one anymore. There's only so much I can feel thanks to strangers over the internet. But thank you for reminding me that I do have a haven away from the world.

I know it's hard to ignore but you have to at least try to ignore.
I understand it's easier said than done but you need to at least do some effort to block them out of your head otherwise nothing can get done.

If it's any condolences, I no longer have friends outside of the internet either.
It's been some 4 years since it's been like that, but I learn that the friends I made online were 10x greater friends than I had in reality.

 

[EleventhDoctor]

Does anyone here have experience dealing with a depressed spouse? My wife is heavily depressed and it is very difficult supporting her, because even though she is seeing her own therapist AND we are seeing a marriage therapist, she seems to have no interest in solving it. She makes a lot of lip service in the meetings, but then has no interest in following up with her "homework". She would rather rant about how angry and depressed she is, and how she would rather just leave and disappear off to Europe. I can't bring up any solutions or ask how to help because it just sets her off. Needless to say it is a tremendous stress on the marriage and our sex life is nonexistent. I have considered divorce-this has been going on for years-but I have a daughter and her well being is my top concern.
She will freely admit she's depressed aaa a generality, but won't attribute any of her behaviour to it-instead likes to make me the focus of her anger.

 

[mescalineeyes]

the only person I can talk to is my partner ... who pretty much doesn't care

What the hell? :/

 

[Windam]

I know it's hard to ignore but you have to at least try to ignore.
I understand it's easier said than done but you need to at least do some effort to block them out of your head otherwise nothing can get done.

If it's any condolences, I no longer have friends outside of the internet either.
It's been some 4 years since it's been like that, but I learn that the friends I made online were 10x greater friends than I had in reality.

At least my mom didn't bother to say anything at all to me this morning when I got up (about 20 minutes ago). Don't know what her deal is, but I really don't care right now.

And it gets lonely, doesn't it? For me being the kind of person who doesn't give friendship away that easily, having had one person who I could consider a "best friend" was a pretty big thing for me (I know a lot of people, but I mainly just put up with many of them and don't really consider them friends. Don't know why.). It sucks.

 

[Collete]

At least my mom didn't bother to say anything at all to me this morning when I got up (about 20 minutes ago). Don't know what her deal is, but I really don't care right now.

And it gets lonely, doesn't it? For me being the kind of person who doesn't give friendship away that easily, having had one person who I could consider a "best friend" was a pretty big thing for me (I know a lot of people, but I mainly just put up with many of them and don't really consider them friends. Don't know why.). It sucks.

She either doesn't believe what's happening or is just being idiotic, one of the two.
(I know for my parents it's the first one.)

Eh, it doesn't get that lonely. (Sometimes it does with depression kicking in, but after talking to them, it kind of negates the feeling)
Knowing I have friends I can talk to and actually speak my mind is comforting.
I had a bunch of horrible friends in reality that let's just say were not the greatest friends (maybe just one was ok...).
It doesn't matter if a person is nearby, across the continent, or even around the world.
As long as they're a friend that's understanding of you and doesn't ditch you at the first sight of trouble, that's a brilliant friend you don't want to let go.

 

[bitoriginal]

Any of you suffer from fibromyalgia? Can you post your experience with it please?

i had a girlfriend for a few years that had this. seemed like serious discomfort, stiffness and weird pain

Yeah, I do, for ten years. It ended my career, forced me onto disability and because that's not enough for me to live in, it looks like I'll soon be moving back in with my mom, at the age of 32.

Obviously, this is a large reason why I'm a certified member of Depression-GAF.

Cheers for the responses. I'm trying to establish the varying degrees of severity of fibromyalgia and how debilitating it can be. Wish you all the best jb.

 

[Smashing Drive]

try traveling sometimes it just takes a change of environments.

 

[ccbfan]

The main thing that has been making me feel like crap is not getting my stupid driver's license. It seems to simple, I woke last year and decided I need the license, I did the classes and all, but I want to be able to practice just before taking the exam, I want to be sure I pass it. The problem? I don't have access to a car, my father and mother don't have one, no one I know has one or is in a position to let me drive one. This stupid crap should have been done with over a decade ago when my father had a car. Last time I wanted him to rent one but he couldn't because they won't rent if the driver doesn't have a permit (temporary permit isn't accepted).

Every fucking thing in my life I have to do it myself. I get no support for anything, all the mistakes my parents made I have to pay for it, all their lack of effort I have to make up for. I have parents yet it feels so often like I've been growing up on my own all my life. At some point it gets exhausting, especially when you feel life went by too fast. I turned 30 recently so it makes it worst. I'm sick of playing catch up with a big void still there ahead.

Just like I didn't have an actual family, if I get a wife and have kids one day (starting to look unlikely), he won't have family on his father's side, just as it was with me. Some things you can't fix. When you grew up pretty much your whole life on your own with no family, no siblings, no birthdays, it doesn't make you a very interesting person.

I want to get the driver's license, then I want to buy a house. But I'm wondering if it will really make me feel any better.

As a 30 year old you sound like you're very dependent on your parents. Why is it their fault you don't have a car for your driving test?

Isn't this your responsibility?

 

[Tawpgun]

I'm trying to help a friend out.

She claims she has depression. I never really noticed it. She says its because shes good at hiding it. It's weird because she says all these things and how she has low self esteem (which I don't notice AT ALL) but she doesn't seem depressed or like someone with low self esteem.

Apparently she really respects her father, saying hes a smart man, lots of wisdom, but her father basically told her she shouldn't chase after photography for a career since the prospects aren't good, and I think he may have told her she wasn't good enough, which she now believes.

But she can't imagine herself doing anything other than photography. Studying journalism now for hopes it can lead to photojournalism.

I'm just not sure what to do. I try and cheer her up and she appreciates it but says its pointless, that she just accepts that she is this way.

 

[Windam]

She either doesn't believe what's happening or is just being idiotic, one of the two.
(I know for my parents it's the first one.)

Eh, it doesn't get that lonely. (Sometimes it does with depression kicking in, but after talking to them, it kind of negates the feeling)
Knowing I have friends I can talk to and actually speak my mind is comforting.
I had a bunch of horrible friends in reality that let's just say were not the greatest friends (maybe just one was ok...).
It doesn't matter if a person is nearby, across the continent, or even around the world.
As long as they're a friend that's understanding of you and doesn't ditch you at the first sight of trouble, that's a brilliant friend you don't want to let go.

I'm pretty sure it's both. I don't think she understands the concept of depression, nor does she care to know about it. She'd rather just pin everything on me.

At this point (no offense to anyone here), I don't even know what I'd consider a friend anymore. Talking to people just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. Within a matter of seconds I'm back to feeling like crap again. I had one person like that in the bold, but now I have been ditched, and I don't know how to feel. I must sound like a broken record.

 

[jb1234]

Cheers for the responses. I'm trying to establish the varying degrees of severity of fibromyalgia and how debilitating it can be. Wish you all the best jb.

It's different for everyone but as a general rule, the younger you're diagnosed, the more debilitating it is. Women have more symptoms (like bladder infections, very uncommon in men and vulvodynia, obviously nonexistent in men). It also tends to get worse over time.

And thanks. Not sure how much longer I can endure it. If I decide it's time to move on from this life, I at least take comfort in knowing that I had a kickass early 20s.

 

[99hertz]

Yes I did drive, I finished some time back in December 2011. My license expired in January, I went on a month vacation in February, and didn't renew it since. I'm going to, but I still want to be able to drive before going to the exam, otherwise I'll fail it. It's easy to drive, but I still want to do a few hours of driving before going. Plus, I can't rent a car for the exam itself.

I don't have friends who have cars no.

In the driving schools here you just pay around $20 per lesson and $40 if you want to use the car for the test.

I don't know how it works where you live but just tell the guy/woman you want to drive around a little and some tips for the exam, and get 2 lessons or something. That's what I did.


If money is not a problem I would just take the exam 2 times, but everything is always incredibly expensive with Americans.

 

[Collete]

I'm pretty sure it's both. I don't think she understands the concept of depression, nor does she care to know about it. She'd rather just pin everything on me.

At this point (no offense to anyone here), I don't even know what I'd consider a friend anymore. Talking to people just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. Within a matter of seconds I'm back to feeling like crap again. I had one person like that in the bold, but now I have been ditched, and I don't know how to feel. I must sound like a broken record.

Well you mentioned that you were referred to a clinic?
Are you going to it yet?

 

[Windam]

Well you mentioned that you were referred to a clinic?
Are you going to it yet?

Not yet. With it being Thanksgiving Day here today, I have to call them tomorrow to set up an appointment. Don't know when I'll be able to start going.

 

[heidern]

I've been fighting social anxiety for over 6 years, but now I've started to realize that the only solution is to accept that I'm an introvert (been seeing a therapist for a while and she agrees). I've always been forcing myself to be social and it drains all my energy.

Becoming anti-social has it's own dangers and can cause severe psychological damage, I wouldn't recommend that at all. The best solution would be to overcome some of your social anxiety. However you don't need to rush it. There is always a balance between introversion and extroversion. Don't think that you need to be social. Think that you'd like to more social. Then just take small easy steps towards it.

Connecting with people requires honesty from both parties. You have to expose your true self to others before you can truly feel connected to them. If you're constantly shitting your pants but not telling anybody you're basically being dishonest and it's not surprising you're not feeling connected to anyone. You should tell just people about your anxiety and the issues you face. It'll make it easier, not only for you but the people your anxious about interacting with will be able to make adjustments to help you.

Great, so now my parents are going to tell my whole family I'm depressed, as if it's any of their fucking business. No one really understands it though, so I'm in for a myriad of sarcastic jokes and insults ("So they're going to label you as 'mad' now, right?" "Just get a girlfriend and everything will go away!" etc.). Fuck. I hate my life. I wish I had friends. Or interests/hobbies. I got nothing.

You'll probably find at least some people are supportive. And the ones that aren't are just ignorant, so don't be too harsh on them. Seeing as they are ignorant you're free to ignore them or educate them if you see fit. If you want to go dramatic anyone being negative you can say to them "You do realise this is completely destroying my life?". If they start taking you seriously job done. If they don't just retort in a sarcastic but calm tone of voice "thanks for your support" and turn and walk away. At this point they'll either leave you alone or start trying to be nice to you. Either way job done.

Every fucking thing in my life I have to do it myself. I get no support for anything, all the mistakes my parents made I have to pay for it, all their lack of effort I have to make up for.

Sounds like you're taking your parents and all they've done for you for granted, unless that is you somehow managed to raise yourself. You should be happy that you're free to build you're own life. If you are having to do everything for yourself now, well you should be proud of that instead of whining about it...

I can't bring up any solutions or ask how to help because it just sets her off. Needless to say it is a tremendous stress on the marriage and our sex life is nonexistent. I have considered divorce-this has been going on for years-but I have a daughter and her well being is my top concern.

It's sad that your wife is depressed, but it's not right that you have to suffer like this(and no doubt your daughter will have been negatively affected too). Seeing as your wife is heavily depressed wouldn't you get custody in the event of a divorce? I don't want to say you have to get a divorce, but fear of divorce is holding you back from reaching a solution. She's depressed and not thinking rationally, anger shows her losing control. You as the right thinking person should take control of the situation. So bring up your solutions and ask how to help and if it sets her off, well you need to shut her down. This isn't about her, this is about you all as a family, so you need to be authoritative. Being depressed doesn't give someone the right to abdicate their responsibility to their family. If she doesn't work with you to a solution well then your daughter is either going to have suffer a divorced parent or a depressed parent.

 

[Ether_Snake]

As a 30 year old you sound like you're very dependent on your parents. Why is it their fault you don't have a car for your driving test?

Isn't this your responsibility?

I'm not dependent on them, I have been living on my own for a long time. My parents divorced when I was really young. Having no siblings and parents who did nothing forced me to be on my own. When your parents aren't raising you, it can take longer for you to realize where you stand. That's what happened with me, it was past my mid-20s that I realized that I wasn't doing anything with my life. My dad should have taken the opportunity to help me learn to drive when I was young, he never even brought it up, and yet he always asks about my jobs and how it's going, etc. They ask a lot, but they did nothing. Everything my parents could have taught me they didn't.

So when I blame my parents, I don't blame them for what I must do, but simply to state how when you leave a kid to figure out everything on his own, it can feel difficult to steer the ship in another direction at a time when you know less people, have fewer friends, etc. It took a long time for me to realize what I needed to do, and now I feel tired and without motivation.

I had been going to the gym for two years (was never fat but still went for the sake of it), traveled, improved my look, etc. But it changed nothing. Bought a guitar, didn't play it. Not drawing anymore. It all seems pointless and doesn't make me feel better. I don't have a life baggage behind me, at a time when I need it most and when it's more difficult than ever to build one.

 

[Kwixotik]

I was feeling unusually great for the past few weeks. This morning I had a test that I walked out of thinking I made a B+ minimum on, but I found out later I made a 69%. Missing 3 multiple choice questions took it from 87% -> 69% and took my max potential grad school pre req GPA down quite a bit, to the point that all of my plans for the future are jeopardized.

It's not really depression, but I don't know if I've ever felt more anxiety. I haven't slept in 36 hours and I still can't fall asleep because I'm so nervous about where I'm going to end up. I don't have a back-up plan, so I have no idea what I'm going to do if this doesn't work out. I am freaking the fuck out.

 

[Valhelm]

A very good online friend of mine has rather serious issues of depression which she refuses to tell her therapist about. She sees him on a regular basis for unrelated reasons.

Gaf, do you have any idea what I should do or say to console her? She's very mildly suicidal (says that she's thought about it but wouldn't do it) but seems really down quite often, and I hate seeing her so unhappy.

Would it be best to leave her alone?

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

Stop taking the pills. Don't take any more than you're supposed to. If you continue to have these urges, you should flush the pills and make an appointment to see your doctor. Tell them what's going on.

I just wanted to say I think you're a great poster. Always giving support to other people here. You told me something similar. It made me feel a lot better. It was really nice of you. The same with Feep.

 

[Feep]

I was feeling unusually great for the past few weeks. This morning I had a test that I walked out of thinking I made a B+ minimum on, but I found out later I made a 69%. Missing 3 multiple choice questions took it from 87% -> 69% and took my max potential grad school pre req GPA down quite a bit, to the point that all of my plans for the future are jeopardized.

It's not really depression, but I don't know if I've ever felt more anxiety. I haven't slept in 36 hours and I still can't fall asleep because I'm so nervous about where I'm going to end up. I don't have a back-up plan, so I have no idea what I'm going to do if this doesn't work out. I am freaking the fuck out.

Relax. There's nothing you can do in hindsight...you got the 69%, and you can't change that. You'll deal with the issues that arise...if they ever do. For now, no sense worrying.

 

[jb1234]

A very good online friend of mine has rather serious issues of depression which she refuses to tell her therapist about. She sees him on a regular basis for unrelated reasons.

Gaf, do you have any idea what I should do or say to console her? She's very mildly suicidal (says that she's thought about it but wouldn't do it) but seems really down quite often, and I hate seeing her so unhappy.

Would it be best to leave her alone?

It's hard to say. People react very differently to depression. Certainly don't treat her any differently (unless it's a desperate situation) because that might just piss her off. Just be there for her.

 

[FilthyLies]

Does anyone here have experience dealing with a depressed spouse? My wife is heavily depressed and it is very difficult supporting her, because even though she is seeing her own therapist AND we are seeing a marriage therapist, she seems to have no interest in solving it. She makes a lot of lip service in the meetings, but then has no interest in following up with her "homework". She would rather rant about how angry and depressed she is, and how she would rather just leave and disappear off to Europe. I can't bring up any solutions or ask how to help because it just sets her off. Needless to say it is a tremendous stress on the marriage and our sex life is nonexistent. I have considered divorce-this has been going on for years-but I have a daughter and her well being is my top concern.
She will freely admit she's depressed aaa a generality, but won't attribute any of her behaviour to it-instead likes to make me the focus of her anger.

That's just a rough situation to be in man. I was in a similar bind with the first girl I ever really loved. No matter how supportive you try to be, it's a disease that ruins their thinking and makes it seem like it's an inescapable blackness. And if something is truly inescapable, why should she make any effort to change things if she thinks it's doomed? You end up trying to take on their pain and hold them up, but putting an entire relationship on one person's shoulders just isn't sustainable :/

I honestly can't give you any advice, since I failed spectacularly when I was in your shoes, and ended up just cutting my losses as it was in both of our best interests, even if it hurt. A lot.

Good luck man. I feel for you

 

[Kingbrave]

I just got put on a 3rd anti depressant Remeron. I take Cymbalta (for depression and nueropathy pain stuff.) I take Prozac. That's not counting my two anti seizure pills Tegretol and Lamictal, which I know are used for various mental problems....bleh. I now take 13 pills and 2 insulins. Hold me!

 

[Bel Marduk]

Last week I was feeling awesome... now I feel like shit.

I hate this disease

Manic depressive disorder?

 

[Bloom]

I already take high quality fish oil and a high quality multi (complete with the most recommended vitamins and minerals, along with antioxydants). I also take lots of fats and meat in the day, a bowl of berries (blueberry, cherry, blackberry) every morning, along with broccoli and spinach. I take spices like ginger and cayenne.

I have made changes to my regimen in these last few weeks, and I started taking more herbal supplementation.

I take ginkgo biloba, which helps improve blood flow, and ginseng, which helps relieve from hormonal imbalance. For the times where I am more stressed, I use a combination of chamomil and passiflore. This already helped a great deal. I used to be regularly in despair or feeling tremendously doomed, but now although I am still concerned about my situation, it's just so much easier to deal with.

The most surprising of all is a combination of chinese herbs meant to clean the colon and fortify the liver. It works the best out of everything. I have started reading up a lot on sources of depression, and it would appear that quite often, depression is linked to an overworked or malfunctioning liver, which isn't able to eliminate toxins well enough and sends the rest in the blood. There are also a lot of serotonin receptors in the intestines.

The chemical imbalance exists, and of course it is mostly situational, most people here seem to be unable to change their situation... but most of the times, depression is caused by something physical. Even though you're unable to change things and that makes you feel terrible, you have no energy, you feel lethargic, you react very badly to the smallest unpleasant thing... so these factors just compound the problem.

I certainly feel quite well about the whole thing in spite of all. So I think it's definitely an avenue worth exploring.

 

[ClassyPenguin]

Any study you want to cite? As in my research has only found it to be the case with liver damage due to drug abuse or disease with a positive response to SSRI's such as citalopram. I'm not a fan of "detox" or any other mumbo jumbo.

 

[Sixfortyfive]

I was feeling unusually great for the past few weeks. This morning I had a test that I walked out of thinking I made a B+ minimum on, but I found out later I made a 69%. Missing 3 multiple choice questions took it from 87% -> 69% and took my max potential grad school pre req GPA down quite a bit, to the point that all of my plans for the future are jeopardized.

It's not really depression, but I don't know if I've ever felt more anxiety. I haven't slept in 36 hours and I still can't fall asleep because I'm so nervous about where I'm going to end up. I don't have a back-up plan, so I have no idea what I'm going to do if this doesn't work out. I am freaking the fuck out.

I was in a situation somewhat similar to yours once. Then I failed all my classes, withdrew from college, and nearly killed myself in an 80mph car wreck after nodding off on the road due to several prior sleepless nights of anxiety, all of this on the same day. A bit of a setback, but I rebounded within a couple years and actually finished my degree as originally planned.

If there's one piece of advice I can give, it's to not worry about things you cannot control. Life goes on; take it one task at a time and don't sweat it more than you have to. Any consequences that may or may not come probably aren't as grave as you're making them out to be.