Depression

Serenity · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:58 am Post subject: Depression

Have you suffered from depression of any kind? How did you cope? Where did you get help? Was medication the answer, or therapy? Are you still suffering? Share your thoughts and hopefully help someone along the way

pompeylil · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 7:18 am Post subject:

Hello.
I dont suffer with depression. But i do get very depressed since my husband died in march. As i have said befor, it is my lovely daughter and her 4 children that keep me going. I have some smashing friends that also help. We often sit and have a laugh about the silly things he got up to.
And i find that also helps me get through it. But it does not make up for my loss.

Serenity · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:52 am Post subject:

Hi pompey

Thank heavens for friends and family to talk to !

I suffered from post natal depression after the birth of my first son, I'll go into that at a later date.

I do suffer from S.A.D though, which stands for SEasonal Adjustment Disorder, hence me HATING winter lol. Its to do with the amount of natural light you receive, that sets off certain hormones, the feel good ones in a gland behind your eyes/forhead. These hormones are triggered by sunshine, hence some people feel really good and full of life in Summer time. The lack of sunshine and daylight hours during the shorter winter months, can trigger depression from mild to severe, mine is usually mild. I have no energy, and some days feel joyless.

There is a solution that is an alternative to drugs. A light box, which looks kind of like a sunlamp, my mum bought me one as a Christmas present the year before last. You put the lamp on and sit in front of it, me for about 45 minutes per morning. Usually if I'm online I'll have it sat beside me so my eyes take in the rays. Obviously it is a special kind of a lamp, your normal 40 watt bulb lamp wouldnt help. lol I did find that last winter whilst using it, I didn't feel 'low' at all, and I know millions of people swear by it, and the doctor endorses its benefits too.

It did take quite a few years till me and the doc realised it was SAD I was suffering from, so it's worth keeping a check on your moods throughout the year

Amber · Member User Online: Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 381

I have suffered with depression, was put on tablets which did help,had to see doctor again to see how things were and was gave me script for 2mths ,but i never did get that script cos i really didn't want to become dependent on them.

WIth the love support and help from family i got better .

I ocaasionally now get very down, but now say to myself Stop it you have 3 beatuiful son's,a loving caring, hubby a good home, my health, i have a lot really to be grateful for and kinda of get myself out of it.

redhead · Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject:

I had depression for 18mths evryone around me could see it ,but Icouldn't always been the strong one of the family ,hit me real bad 3mths after I lost my brother through accident he was 43 , I couldn't eat ,sleep, absolutely no energy ,lost my house as Icouldn't face work and turned to drink ,which helps and hides the pain for a few hours then reality s back so the circle starts again , didn't want to see anyone for months even my own parents and kids used to hide when they came to see me had the phone cut off couldn't bear talking to anyone as it brought back the pain of losing my brother , in the end my daughter came down kicked the door open ,we chatted ,for hours she made the appointment at the docs and basically dargged me up there ,doc put me on prozac ,but I didn't take them as they had bad press ,also sleeping pills which I took and although I was sleeping they gave me a settled nights kip , my daughter stayed with me ,made me eat I. was at the point of being sent to the secure unit for my own safety as I want ed so desperately to end my life but couldn't go through with it because of the guilt I would leave for my kids and family , I saw my doc every week for 6wks and slowly started to turn the corner ,it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do ,but with the support of family I made it back started back to part-time work and had a purpose to live again , I saw the hurt I put on my family , but at the time I couldn't see the harm I was doing . depression is a terrible terrible illness and if you let it , it will take a grip on your life don't ignore it or anyone who has it be patient it will get better.

I still get down sometimes and tell myself" DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOU "

Serenity · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:00 am Post subject:

Looks like youve both had a hard battle, but so glad you've come out the other side and have taken control of your lives

WTG you, it IS an awful thing depression, but it CAN be overcome with the right help. Bravo to your daughter too, for helping you get the help you needed. (((((((hugs to all of you )))))))) xxxxxxxx

Thumper · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:17 pm Post subject:

You've both done really well to get through it, It helps to have a supportive famliy around you, Big hugs to you both

_________________
Shelley xx

redhead · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject:

thanks serenty and thumper

Selious5 · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject:

Red - Can't add more my love to what has already been said just send
(((hugs)))

wozza · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

I suffered from post natal depression after the birth of my eldest 'It affected my relationships with everyone i became very intravert keeping things deep and in other ways i was an extravert (not ways i'm proud of now) My daughter didn't even feel like she was mine for nearly 2 years i put that down to having 3 miscarriages before she was born. Any way when she was 2 i was dagnosed with post natal depression after a friend convinced me that my very angry temper wasn't normal. The doctor put me on anti depressant and for 7 years on and off i took them. Every time i tried to stop taking them i went down hill .Then one day i realised that i hadn't taken my tablets for weeks and yes i was bad tempered but not suicidal any more so i worked through the bad temper , stopped people that were taking me for granted from doing that and eventually got through to the other side. i found that taking the anti depressents made me not exactly vulnerable more gullable ,people i thought were close to me were infact just taking the micky and taking advantage. I have been off the pills for about 7 years now and i think i'm closer to being the real me now than i have been since i lost my babies. I still have hard days like when diana went to live with her dad but i got through it without tablets. Im not saying that tablets arn't right for some people but i do think my doctors over prescribed them every time i tried to come off them they would find the first excuse to put me back on them. Family can be as big a drag as it can a support but i wouldn't be without mine ( except the step mom lol)
I wish anyone suffering from depression all the love in the world it's a lonely place to be but if you open up there are some genuine people out there willing to help and support you
Good luck red i hope the future stays bright for you but if you have a set back don't let it get hold you have been there once you know how dark that place is compaired to the bright place you are now