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Dealing with depression

With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.

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April 29, 2008 1:59 p.m.

Know the keys to successful treatment

36 comments posted

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By Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.

Need more help?

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Go to the nearest hospital or emergency room
Call your physician, health provider or clergy
National Alliance on Mental Illness
www.nami.org
1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Thank you so much for sharing all of your stories. I know this takes courage, especially when you are not feeling well. You all need to know that help is available. If you're actively thinking about suicide, get help now!

I was struck by the number of you that have lost someone to suicide. I was also moved by the number of you that have had significant losses in life for any reason. I am sincerely sorry for the losses that you have experienced and know your emotional pain will get better with time.

Depression severity can vary between individuals and episodes. For instance, some people will have anxiety that accompanies their depression, while others do not. We call medications "anti-depressants," but almost all of these effectively treat anxiety as well. While it is true that there is no quick fix or cure, there are keys to successfully treating depression to decrease suffering.

Obtaining the correct diagnosis is so important and sometimes this will change over time. Considering the patient as a whole is crucial to determine how to develop an effective treatment plan. Medications alone are rarely enough. You may need to try more than one medication or a combination. Medications are not always needed for depression, depending on the severity.

Therapy alone can be extremely effective, yet therapy is not for everyone. You need to be comfortable with your provider; therapy is meant to be a safe place where you can talk and not feel judged. Therapists can help by listening and facilitating change, if the patient has insight and is ready for change. Therapists don't make people better or fix them. Therapy is a partnership and takes working together. Keep an open mind during therapy as well. Being your own expert on your illness is important too. Obtain as much information as you can, have your questions answered, know your options, and then you can choose which form of therapy (medications, talk, etc.) you'd like to begin.

On this site, we will continue to read your comments and address topics as best we can. More later on ECT, but know that it is available all over the country. Thank you again for your interest in depression.

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36 comments posted

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June 1, 2008 1:05 a.m.

Suffering from an addiction. This website has a lot of great resources and treatment centers. http://www.treatmentcenters.org

- jmathew

May 17, 2008 7:49 p.m.

For years I have also pretended that I'm just fine. I keep everything bundled up inside, people would be appauled if they knew this real person inside me.

- Ann MN

May 13, 2008 5:12 p.m.

Ellie, I understand very well what it is like to have a family that does not understand depression. (I didn't understand depression either until it hit me.) Now, I pretend I'm fine, when the opposite is true. Someone once said that every severely depressed person should get an Academy Award for acting! The stigma of depression is nasty. By all means, get help. You will find depression soulmates in group therapy or in the hospital, if you need to go there. I don't know what I would do without my therapist. She is the only person I can talk with about my depression. I resisted taking antidepressants for years. That was a mistake. There is help out there.

- No name given

May 11, 2008 11:11 a.m.

Amit, I fail to see how getting up early in the morning can cure depression. Maybe it worked for you, but would not be effective for most people.

- carol

May 10, 2008 Midnight

AM NOW 62 YRS & DEPRESSION HAS BEEN TRACED BACK AS FAR AS 4 YEARS OLD. prozac saved my life in 1990, & improved things great deal, but not to where I was perky. After ten years, the procac no longer was helpful. after many years, I am now taking Cymbalta as my main antidepressant, as well as Wellbutrin, ritalin, & seroquel.My doc monitors me frequently & we will be fine tuning this the rest of my life.plz don't scoff at any of the other medications. what didn't work for me may work for you.

- dahlia

May 9, 2008 7:36 a.m.

Ellie, you poor darling, so much going on in your life. Get help with your depression, you don't have to tell your daughter or anyone what you are doing. Its confidental and if you don't tell then no one will know. Then you will be able to take on the other responsibilities you have, you may only need councelling as i think anyone would feel down going through what you are. The son that is giving you some trouble, love it out of him, make him know how important he is to you, how much you need him. Good luck

- DB

May 9, 2008 3:57 a.m.

getting up early in the morning helps to cure depression one can be cured from ot in 9 months

- amit

May 8, 2008 9:24 a.m.

I don't know what to do. I have to hide my depression from everyone. My husband is suffering from early dementia and needs my care a great deal. My children all have their own problems and I can't add to them. We moved a few months ago to be nearer our eldest daughter, because of my husband'S deteriorating condition. She doesn't believe in treating depression and so I don't tell her anything. Our former church, friends, counselor are all far away. I wake up every morning wondering how to get through the day. To top it off my younger son is looking like he is getting into a mess and my older son confided in me that he is contemplating a divorce and needs to borrow money from us for legal expenses. I want to lend him the money so that he can get some sort of custody for his children. His wife is very abusive. I know because we have been the object of her abuse ourselves. However, I don't know if we will need the money ourselves eventually for long term care if we can't manage my husband's deteriorating condition. This is not a pity party I just need someone to whom I can express my feelings. I even feel guilty about writing this.

- Ellie

May 8, 2008 7:22 a.m.

You can't count on dying!!! Keep on breathing. Keep on keeping on! (I survived 2 suicide attempts a week apart 10 years ago, both of which resulted in painful physical disability and scars.) A homeopathic practioner told me, "She, your body, wants to live!" Find one friend or relative who believes in you, who will advocate for you. Find a psychiatrist who believes in you. My adult daughter's love; Paxil, then Celexa (which I continue to take); an excellent psychiatrist/therapy, and situational improvement over years (trust, love for myself & others; home & job) brought me back to rewarding reality. A book published in 2007, "The Brain That Changes Itself" which makes sense out of what goes on in my head. There is no easy fix; however, there is help. Sandy, Denver, Colorado

- Sandy

May 8, 2008 6:47 a.m.

Amitriptyline is a medication that falls under the class called tricyclic antidepressants. (anti-anxiety too) It can be used to treat pain, anxiety depression and insomnia. This class of medications has been around for some time and is available in generic. It is not for those with significant cardiac problems though and does have other side effects too. check with your Physician.

- MC.com staff