Depression (major depression)

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• March 20, 2011 10:04 p.m.

  Anyone know a place where non war vets can blog that suffer from PTSD and everything that goes along with it?

  - J

• March 20, 2011 2:34 p.m.

  My husband of 25 yrs has been diagnosed with depression, Dysthymia. I am at my wits end. He never has energy always wants to sleep. Stuff he used to love, ie huntin, fishing, he has no interest in anymore. My dr has just put him on temp disability. I just hope it gets better. We will be celebrating our silverwedding anniversary and I just want the man i fell in love with back. Someone just told me he may not be able to collect I hope this is not the case. He is sick and needs help.Prozac made it worse so he just went off it as per the dr. Any suggestions? Need help b4 I go crazy.

  - jo

• March 15, 2011 10:13 p.m.

  I'm 48 yrs old & have been chronically depressed since I was 16 yrs, but I'm at my lowest now. I act happy (takes extreme effort). I work out 3 hrs a day just to stay alive. My spouse recently transffered out of state to another job. I have been unable to find one. Financially we are getting by, but it is a small town & I am totally isolated. Since I'm not working I feel like a failure. Been married 25 yrs & my spouse has NEVER been sexually interested in me. I am not that hard on the eyes, but obviously something is wrong with me. Thought about leaving my husband, maybe there is real love out there, but can't afford to leave. Thank you for listening. May you all have another day, if not a good one.

  - ROBIN

• March 11, 2011 6:17 a.m.

  I've been diagnosed with postpartum depression & generalized anxiety disorder. I've never had a problem with depression or anxiety before giving birth but now I feel like I am never going to feel "normal" again. I feel so guilty that I am not happy - I have an amazing, gorgeous, healthy baby and a supportive and loving husband and family... what reason do I have to be so sad? I've gained 30 lbs from emotional eating and can hardly stand to look at myself in a mirror. Sorry to be such a debbie downer. I know there are others that are much worse off than me and have legitimate reasons to be depressed. It does help to feel like I'm not the only one who feels this way, though. Thank you.

  - Maggie

• March 7, 2011 10:19 p.m.

  It is so important to know that there could be an end to the depression. I lived with it for 30 years or more, just winding up daily to go to work, to do the daily things but just wanting it to be over and never knowing when I would cross the line and kill myself. I had a daughter and the guilt nearly drove me crazy because I thought I was such a horrible mother. I'm so glad I finally found the right meds now my life is totally different. Just try to hang in there.9X2

  - Ruby

• March 5, 2011 1:29 p.m.

  I developed a clinical depression when I started going through pre-menepausal symptoms and additional stress and anxiety at home. My 11 year old son also developed some mild depressive symptoms. When I saw a neurologist to seek help for my son, he recommended Neurofeedback -- basically biofeeback for the brain. It has worked wonders for both me and my son. I am coming out of the depression and my son is much better too. Check it out on-line. I researched it a lot. No drugs and it worked great.

  - wendy

• February 26, 2011 10:26 p.m.

  many years of medications and therapists have left me feeling even worse now then i ever remember. I am 49 and have been suffering since my early teens. I feel that i am at the end of my rope right now. I dont live near any family any longer and yesterday I called my sister just to talk. We dont talk or see eachother very often and while we were talking she suddenly asked me if everything was okay. I just froze. couldnt say anything for what seemed to be a very long time. I suddenly felt embarrassed that she somehow knew what was going on and i could not tell her. I quickly ended the conversation. I feel like i just cant take it anylonger

  - bm

• February 21, 2011 6:05 p.m.

  A genetic test to determine how you metabolize an anti depression medication is called CYP450. I had this test done. I can't remember how I found out about the test. But it will show if someone is a slow, extensive, or ultra metabolizer of anti depression medications. I asked my psychiatrist to write a an authorization for me to have it done. It is just a blood test. This test should help them determine the dose of medication you should be on.

  - Lydia

• February 20, 2011 4:57 p.m.

  Karla and Laura Lee find a therapist that takes you seriously and don't be afraid to move on from your current one if they are not working or helping you. That is what I had to do, eventually I found someone who was good at what they do. There are more bad ones out there than good ones but keep moving on, don't waste your time with the bad ones who don't help. I understand how hard life is for you, I have been there myself with no one helping me but myself. I still go to therapy and will be on medication for the rest of my life, I can't risk not being on meds and seeing my therapist, otherwise I would relapse in a short period of time. Make sure you tell your therapist how you are feeling. If you feel that you need to be hospitalized go yourself or call someone who will come and help you get there. Do not hesitate.

  - Lydia

• February 19, 2011 9:03 p.m.

  I have to fight with myself to get out of bed. I am always tired. I self medicate with food, internet shopping, and alcohol. I don't enjoy anything. I cry everyday. Life for me is unbearable yet I have to live it because suicide would not be fair to my mother. When I have reached out for help, my therapists don't take me seriously. Prozac made me feel terrible and even more suicidal. I have no friends, no kids, no one. I have social anxiety, general anxiety, and depression and I pray for death everyday. I want to run away, but there is nowhere to go.

  - Karla

• February 17, 2011 12:39 p.m.

  Diagnosed with BP 2, MEDS are:Lamicital,prozac,Thyroid( synthroid),abilify Ritalin..My Depression is killing me. I dont know what managing my condition means. I no longer work,cant clean my house. I have told him these things. I miss important appointments, due dates with returning documents ect When manic I can at least function,I know what risky behaviors are SO I feel I can swing coming off some of the crippling medications. I dont want to make meals,its like just sitting and watching things in a dire state of a " Living Death". I just felt like writing, thanks for reading .

  - Laura Lee

• February 14, 2011 2:27 p.m.

  I just want to put some information out there for everyone who is trying to manage their depression. What I have learned is that all the anti depression medication does is allow the serotonin to remain in the synapse and not be reabsorbed into the neuron. What it doesn't do is make serotonin which is what I am lacking. So I researched and found 5HTP a supplement that actually makes serotonin and passes the blood brain barrier and it has made all the difference in how I feel. I would suggest that if you want to try this that you consult with your doctor. I just told them that I was taking it and it had took away all those risidual symptoms. I still take my two anti depression medications, and probably will be on them for the rest of my life. I am working on accepting this illness and I am so thankful that I discovered 5HTP. It comes in 50Mg to 200 Mg. At first I started with 50Mg and then increased it to 100mg. I take it everyday at bedtime. It will make you tired so this is the best time to take it. Besides my therapist (to know that one life has breathed easier because you have existed, this is to have suceeded. )Thank you Charlotta for coming into my life at the right time, you saved my life. If your therapist is not working for you, move on until you find the right one. Lydia

  - Lydia

• February 14, 2011 1:30 p.m.

  Zoe, Your father isn't talking and have a conversation with you because he is clinical depressed. I didn't want to talk to anyone either. Perhaps his medication needs to be increased or changed especially if it is not helping him to more forward. Ask to go with your father to his therapist appointment and talked to the therapist. You'll get an idea if they are good. Somethimes it takes several until you find a good one. Don't give up on your Dad. Change doctors and try someone new. Ask your Dad how he feels about his doctor and therpaist, he just may feel that they haven't help him. Lydia

  - Lydia

• February 14, 2011 12:24 p.m.

  My father is "depressed" i just dont understand how he can act like he does. He doesnt talk, all he does is stare at nothing. I just spent an entire weekend with him and never had a conversation and we went to dinner 3 nights in a row. Its horrible and i cant deal with it. Hes been in therapy for years......?????

  - Zoe

• February 13, 2011 3:38 p.m.

  Hi Larry, I think that you wife is depressed. I've been there and isolation is part of the depression, not wanting to do anything that I use to do. It got so bad that I was spending alot of time in bed. Your a great husband to have noticed this about your wife. I would suggest that you talk to her about going to a therapist and if she is reluctant tell her that you will go with her. She has all the signs that I had and the sooner she gets help and medication the better. For me I had to be hospitalized. Don't put off making a decision for her well being. Take her to her family doctor but call him first and explain to him about what is going on and that you are concerned about her. Lydia

  - Lydia

• February 13, 2011 3:28 p.m.

  Hi Kristen, I am with a therapist. It took five years to find a good one. The reason your therapist wants you to go on medication first is that it will help you to be able to participate in your therapy, that is what my therapist just told me when I said that I thought that the therapy helped more than the medications. it made sense than to me. Something I would suggest is to find a good therapist and if you are not happy with the one you have, you actually have to feel comfortable with them, sort of like bonding, if that is not there look for another one. I had three before I found one that I liked. Don't waste you time with a poor one,,more on. Lydia

  - Lydia

• February 13, 2011 3:19 p.m.

  I have chronic and acute major depressive disorder. For a while I felt that I was on my why to totally being beyond its grasp. I had supplemented my two anti depression medications with 5HTP and it difinitely helped get rid of the residual symptoms. My liver function tests were elevated so for a a month I stop taking the 5HTP and the levels came down. But I had elevated liver function test before I started the 5HTP most likely do to my anti depression medications. When I started feeling less motivated and put off doing things that I was normally doing before I knew that I had to start the 5HTP again. It has been a week but I still am having symptoms that are discouraging. I guess that I thought that I could beat this illness between medication and therapy. I guess that I just have to accept it like any other illness or disease.

  - Lydia

• February 12, 2011 9:45 p.m.

  Kristen,,I have been in therapy for about 4 years now .I have PTSD.Suffer from all the awfull things that go with it . There was never a mention of meds until the panic attacks were so bad I couldnt function.You shouldnt feel pushed into anything .It is your body ,not theres .Maybe this isnt the therapist for you .

  - k

• February 12, 2011 3:05 p.m.

  Just recently I took a big step in seeing a therapist for feeling depressed on and off for quite a while. The first session, the therapist recommended that I start on anti-depressants. This really scares me. I feel like at times I function ok and then I go through periods of time when I am really sad, feel like a failure and worthless. I was hoping that I could try therapy for a while to hopefully get some strategies to help turn these negative feelings around, but I kinda felt like she thought it would never get better unless I went on meds. I was such a big step for me to go see the therapist and I was just hoping I could avoid taking medication. Does anyone have any feedback about this?

  - Kristen

• February 9, 2011 3:34 p.m.

  Although my wife is the most pleasant person to live with that she ever has been she doesn't want to leave the house anymore. She doesn't want to go out to dinner or even to visit our grandson let alone go on the annual cruise we used to do. She doesn't seem to want to have people, including our kids, to visit us either. My doctor says it sounds like "Isolation Depression", but I can find nothing about that type of depression to help me deal with it. He can't or won't tell me what to do. She has to ask for help, but she doesn't believe she needs any help. She has excuses for not wanting to go anywhere or have people in. She doesn' think she needs to go to the doctor for anything. She is otherwise healthy and happy. I am frustrated. I would at least like to know more about it and what, as a husband, I can do to get her back to her normal self again.

  - Larry

• February 9, 2011 12:55 p.m.

  First time i come to this blog.......it does not ease my pain, but it is a consolation nevertheless.....

  - Adele

• February 8, 2011 11:29 p.m.

  For me I had to have meds. Therapy did not help at all. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain and had to find the right meds, 4 me its paxcil. I hav been on it for 6 years now and feel good - like I think normal people must feel but I no without it I wouldn't last long until the depression came back. I hav had it most of my life. Thanks.

  - Ruby

• February 8, 2011 2:05 p.m.

  April, you should try light therapy for SAD. Renee and Ann, it does feel awful when you are depressed and feel you aren't there for your children or not enough. I have had episodes of major depression and mood problems ever since the last one. I guess all we can do is hang in there for them and ourselves and do the best we can. I have one son who is almost thirty and one who is seventeen and are doing well. My older son has inherited some mood problems, but seems to have it under control and my younger one doesn't seem to have mood problems. They both are productive and have various interests they enjoy. So, we seem to have weathered things pretty well.

  - Sarah

• February 2, 2011 1:17 p.m.

  Denise the calmness has stopped and things are worse than ever I think I am done writing on here and wanted to thank you for listening

  - Mark

• February 2, 2011 11:29 a.m.

  Renee - I feel for you. I also suffer from anxiety and depression. I have a 14 and 17 year old and when I am at my worst I have the same feelings that you are having. This happened recently when my Doctor tried to lower a dosage of one of my meds. Instantly, I was back in the depths. I could not put my children, husband, or myself through it any more. I was the cause of all things bad. The good news is my doctor upped my meds back to the original dosage and slowly but surely I am making it through. My kids mean everything to me. I am sure yours mean the world to you. Just take it day by day and make sure that everyday you look at your little boy and remember something about him that makes you smile. I also strongly suggest calling your doctor and get some help. It may just be a dosage issue. I have gone even further and had ECT therapy. It snapped me right out of it. I don't know what works for you, but I do know is you need help immediately. Please call your doctor and keep thinking those thoughts that make you smile.

  - Ann