Anyone here dealing with depression

[Taylortractornut]

I hope I'm not posting this in the wrong place. I was wondering if any of you deal with depression. And how you deal with it. I haven't been on in a while but I've always valued the opinions of you folks. I recently went to counseling at the request of my exgirlfriend because she thought I was down too much. It got bad In 2013 mom suddenly passed away and my wife and I separated but I stayed busy through the divorce and that kept my mind off things. My work has been good but I took on too much being short handed. I also had some health problems but now have them under control. Anyway I started feeling down and lost interest in my shop what little social life I have and my exgirlfriend asked me to get help. I'm going to a therapist but wanted to see if y'all had any suggestions on a matter like this.

 

[crash325]

Hang in there.
In time it will pass & you will be ready to move on with your life.

 

[blackdog2086]

Volunteer some time at a VA hospital. Seeing people who have some serious reasons to be depressed sucking it up and moving forward does wonders to put your life in perspective.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Counseling can be a big help. I've been there... and I'm still here, I made it thru the roughest spots, and have learned how to cope with it... even without meds.

You're on the right track, the hardest part is the first step, getting to the point you know you have to ask for help, once I got past that point, the following steps were easier.

Hang in there... look up 'the secret' by Rhonda Byrne.

 

[dadster4]

One of my daughters has suffered from depression since her early teens. It took a few years to find a doctor and the right combination of drugs to finally get her feeling "right". Her best move was a voluntary stay at a mental health facility tied in with a hospital complex. She learned, as well as myself and other family members at group meetings, to recognize the triggers and other behaviors that led to a depressed state of mind. I didn't realize that the cause of most problems are a chemical imbalance in the brain...something the drugs definitely help to control. By posting on a public forum, it is good to know you are ready to ask for help and ready to help YOURSELF get well. Talk to your doctor and gather all the information you can to find a path to a more positive outlook. Good Luck!

 

[rgr33]

Depression is an awful affliction. But even though you feel like this is going to last your whole life, it probably won't. My best advice is two part

Seek medical help, there is a remedy out there for you, but you have to put some time and effort into finding the best method of overcoming it. Then, stay with it, even when you think you feel fine.

There is something about helping others in need, that really does wonders for your own mental state. There are plenty of people out there that could use a helping hand, meals on wheels, big brother etc. I guarantee you will get more out of it than you put into it.

On the days you just don't feel like doing anything, that's when you gotta strap up and get going. Best of luck, it's no fun but it can be defeated.

 

[TripleR]

First, go to a competent professional, my preference is a Psychiatrist, if not available a psychologist. Probably a third to half the people with which I worked were licensed counselors or therapists. Get a diagnosis to determine if it's the depression most of us experience from time to time due to outside influences etc. or if it's "Clinical Depression". If it's Clinical Depression, you, in all likely will not be "cured, but with proper treatment often including pharmacology as well as regular therapy, you can deal with it. Over time, your levels and types of meds will be adjusted as well as duration and nature of therapy sessions.

Other common types of depressions can be dealt with by some meds by an MD, BUT get a proper diagnoses and your girlfriend, mom, wife, pastor simply can't do it.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Thanks for the advice, my counseled to me seemed more interested in in my insurance card than me. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist this morning. I recently lost 2 close friends one in an accident the other was a suicide. I took both pretty badly. I usually have good days at work it's just after when I get home.

 

[dmccarty]

Thanks for the advice, my counseled to me seemed more interested in in my insurance card than me. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist this morning. I recently lost 2 close friends one in an accident the other was a suicide. I took both pretty badly. I usually have good days at work it's just after when I get home.

We have had to find help for a family member and it is a really difficult to find competent help.

Finding a competent doctor can be very difficult and a lot of work. We have had doctor's perform operations that were not needed and that later had to be fixed. We have had doctor's tell us family members were just fine and days later the person was going to the ER in an ambulance very close to death. I can go on and on and on. Unfortunately.

Finding a competent mental health professional has been even more difficult. We have fired several so called professionals and just not gone to others after doing a bit of research. A family member is now going to a psychologist who is competent but it was tough to find the doctor and took quite a bit of effort and time on our part. It is not easy but it most be done.

I say this to not discourage you but to encourage you find someone who you feel comfortable talking too and to not just settle for someone who has an appointment opening. It is critical you find competent help. Having said that, help for depression should not be that difficult to find compared to other problems. Unfortunately for us, our situation demands experience and knowledge that is more specialized and thus harder to find a competent doctor. But look we did and so must you. Give the doctor a few sessions to see how things go. I suspect you will be ok with the doctor, but if things are not right between you and the doctor, go find another.

Just remember you are not alone in fighting this problem and realizing you need help, getting that help, as well as being willing/able to discuss it openly on TBN are good first steps! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Later,
Dan

 

[Andy in Gap]

I would recommend joining a gym. Exercise is the last thing you will want to do but you will feel so much better after you do something physical. There is a social aspect too. Take some classes, make some new friends, drop a few lbs. Make it something you look forward to in the evenings. Train for an obstacle race or some other goal. And stay away from people that tell you to "cheer up."