Depression

[jonsie]

There has been so much published about this and it's something people who don't suffer or have never suffered from depression,  cannot really understand. Speaking as someone who has been on the edge many times, recently too, it's something people can hide with a smile outwardly whilst feeling inner turmoil and not wanting friends and family to worry.

Medication alone is not the answer and this from someone who was prescribed the wonder drug Prozac  in the late 80s. Over the years my doctors have treated me as a guinea pig. In the words of the Verve song, the drugs don't work, they just make you worse....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12126146/Antidepressants-can-raise-the-risk-of-suicide-b...

Antidepressants can raise the risk of suicide, biggest ever review finds Antidepressant use doubles the risk of suicide in under 18s and the risks to adults may have been seriously underestimated, researchers found

Antidepressants were found to double the risk of suicide in under 18s

[Curr946]

It's tough, I was diagnosed with GAD and suffered from multiple panic attacks for months. Medication and self held and stress classes did help. I still suffer from the symptoms but can manage them. But agree, medication on its own doesn't do it.

[Anonymous]

The medication is suppose to be helpful but its what is inside you will still be there no matter what. You dont want family to worry but the person will need to know that you are there & ready to talk when they feel they need to

[Cleoriff]

The problem with depression is that many people wont admit to it. They avoid diagnosis because of shame

Some people still think that depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They're wrong. Depression is a real illness with real symptoms, and it's not a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of" by "pulling yourself together".

I have suffered with it some time ago and it is easy to hide. Put on a brave face and carry on...... thinking that if you bury yourself in work....it will go away. Sometimes this helps.... depending on the cause.

A very very complex disease that needs more research. What suits one person will NOT suit another.

Conversely it is interesting to note that many people with a simple depression are helped as soon as they receive medication.

I pity anyone who has chronic depression and need more than pills.....

[ComaChameleon]

I think especially men don't want to ask for help - as they (think they) have "to be brave".

Another problem is, many doctors choose to give antidepressant pills instead of looking why people have that problems. There are lots of people (especially old ones) getting them, but the cause of the depression is a simply thyroid hypofunction.

It feels the same, but you can live without the side effects of antidepressants. I had the luck to have a brilliant general practitioner who checked the blood-levels first instead of going the easy way and just write a prescription.

[Toby]

Hi @Curr946,

I'm sorry to hear this, but I'm glad you have found a way to manage it. Do you mind if I ask what has worked for you? I realise this could be a very personal question, so do  not feel obligated to answer. I'm simply interested in it as it is a foreign state of being to me.

[Curr946]

Well, @Toby it started several years back. Twitches here and there, worrying about things without even knowing I was worrying, disaster planning for no reason (ie thinking about worst case scenarios and trying to figure out what I would do). The terrible headaches and then it moved on to chest pain and full blow panic attacks. I am not really sure what triggered it all but the small signs had been there for many months' maybe even years before escalating. Anyway I didn’t know the underlying issue was stress and anxiety and continued to ignore that problem.

I still remember the pure embarrassment at the peak of these attacks, I had just finished delivering a team brief when it hit. My colleagues assumed I was unwell and suggested I head home, but on the way out I collapsed in the stair well. I got up and brushed myself off, I was sweating, chest was tight, body was weak, head was dizzy and was having heart palpitations. There was no way I could drive home but I kept thinking, if only I can make it to the car. A colleague spotted me and fetched the first aider who in turn asked for an ambulance.

When the medics arrived they established I was tachycardic and said I must go in. At the hospital all sorts of tests etc was done but after a while my heart rate and rhythm returned to normal(ish). I was kept in 3 days to due to the irregular rhythm. Anyway to cut this story down a little, they eventually confirmed there was no heath reasons for these episodes but were concerned with the strain that was being put on the old ticker. I was proscribed propranlol and referred back to my GP. After speaking with my doctor he said it was stress and anxiety gradually leading to more sever panic attacks. He sent me off to do a stress management course and also prescribed sertraline, and anti depressant.

After the stress course was complete, I was then given a councillor who helped build on the coping skills to manage this condition. I felt daft to begin with, but the skills have helped dramatically. I am still using them today, but unfortunately remain on the medication, doctors advise. I can now spot the signs; those weird twitches you wouldn’t normally think about, these are the start. I still get chest pain, I still get feelings of panic. I may not be able to stop them, but I have the skills to manage them.

I used to be ashamed, but I am not now. I'll talk openly to family and friends as I no longer see myself as weak. I think part of the problem was that I didn’t want to admit I was stressed, and worried about stuff that really didn’t matter, or that I couldn’t control anyway.

I know this thread was about depression, but these conditions are similar and would strongly advise anyone feeling low, stressed or just "out of sorts" for more than a few weeks to consider speaking to their GP.

[Toby]

Thanks for sharing your story @Curr946. I hope this thread inspires any readers to think about this kind of stuff and be more aware of it in themselves, their families and their friends.

[liggerz87]

I know this post is old do we have a thread were we can all help one another as I feel I'm in a bad place I'll go more into detail if need be thank you

[pgn]

Hi, @liggerz87!

Not seen one, but some of the others might know... I usually just dip into any of the Off-Topic threads now and then.

This one was hot for a while, but not probably what you are after:

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Access-For-All/Mobile-device-amp-mental-health-your-tips/m-p/1148538

Anything I can help with on PM, or spin up a topic of your own and see what comes back?