depressed

[Scuba Pete]

I also battle depression from time to time. Usually it stems from things not working out. When this starts, I usually give my cat a long cuddle and then get busy finding someone to help. The deeper the depression, the more I throw myself into helping others. It could be designing a web site, or helping out feeding the homeless, or even mowing some church's lawn. I just KNOW that I have to get into serving others and then my issues always seem to get resolved.

[The Voice of Reason]

Johnny's 4 Life -

I don't have the slightest idea what is causing your depression, but for me, that baby in the picture would be my avenue out of it. That is a package of unconditional love, and no questions asked. It doesn't get any better than that. Hang in there.

TVOR

[Majikthise]

When I get depressed it works for me to think of someone who has it alot worse than me. It makes me think of things I should be thankful for.And it works pretty quickly.

[Hope]

Johnnys4life, hang in there. I've struggled with depression almost my entire life, so I know what it feels like. Does your husband know about how you are feeling? It's good to have someone to turn to when feeling down---bottling things inside is the worst thing to do, at least in my experience.

Some mood elevators for me include exercise, being out in nature, and being around animals. I also agree with many who said helping others does wonders. It gets one's mind off oneself.

Take care of yourself. I'll pray for you....

[Unedited]

I take medication. I really don’t like having to rely on it, but after struggling for four years, I finally gave up and took it. I just can’t function otherwise. Sometimes though, even my medication doesn’t work. Sometimes I’ll go outside, but this seems to only distract me for the time being. I usually just concentrate on taking care of the things that I need to do (homework, showering, eating) and spend the rest of the time curled up in bed. I find doing things that I enjoy to be even more depressing because I can get no enjoyment from them.

[johnnys4life]

Thank you all for the good advice. It helps enormously just to know I'm not alone feeling like this. I think I'm getting better. I feel alright a lot more of the time now...though there are still times when I'm just looking out the window or something and suddenly burst into tears and I even have to stand back and ask myself what just happened. But I am trying to spend more time with my daughter because she is always happy and cheerful and it does rub off. And my husband is helping when I need somebody to lean on - physically and emotionally. They say married people live longer, and besides being there to take the other person to the hospital I think I can see why.

I don't believe I have serious depression anymore - but there are 2 types, situational and chemical. This is situational - and hormonal too I think. The kind that goes away.

I was diagnosed with a chemical depression when I was a teenager, and went on every drug they had with no results. I attempted suicide at least 3 times that I remember. One landed me in the hospital in intensive care for 3 days and kept alive for a while by machines that breathed for me. I was determined to kill myself, I had given up on God and myself and hated everyone and everything, especially me. The only thing that helped was when I met this wonderful counselor named Michael and he talked things out with me and we decided that I really wanted to live after all and that this all started with something as little and simple as a broken heart from some silly boy who I thought was so perfect and I needed to just get over him and take my life back. So I think it can really help people just to talk things out even if it is chemical depression, and find out what is so wrong inside them. Because your problems just FEEL so big and lonely when you think there is no one else who understands.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by johnnys4life

I was diagnosed with a chemical depression when I was a teenager, and went on every drug they had with no results. <snip> So I think it can really help people just to talk things out even if it is chemical depression, and find out what is so wrong inside them. Because your problems just FEEL so big and lonely when you think there is no one else who understands.

J4L,
Sounds as if perhaps they misdiagnosed. When your depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, "talking it out" with someone will not fix the problem. It's like saying you are diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes but after talking to someone about it, you no longer have to take insulin.

I take Wellbutrin (used to take Prozac) to control the depression and I do not see a therapist to talk about anything because my depression isn't situational. What's there to talk about?