Depression

I can't say anything helpful. But just want to thank you for sharing this as you have made me more aware of how someone close to me may be feeling.

I have tried Cbt before via a telephone consultation with a practitioner. Appointments are hard to come by now. This was for insomnia and I couldn't do it. What is the difference between cbt and mindfulness based therapy. I can understand gp reluctance to give out diazepam, but they all seem to assume that patients are abusing them.

I suffer from insomnia and can never get enough sleep. I rely on tablets to get me to sleep, but again gp is reluctant to dish them out because of abuse. So when he or she decides I have had enough I will have to do without and the. Long term depression will ensue. It's a vicious circle.

I have suffered anxiety and depression for most of my adult life, but like most others I just get on with things and regularly attend my yoga classes and meet up with friends. If I get less than six hours sleep then I feel ill.
It's a horrible thing as insomnia and depression go hand in hand.

I think my sister might have to get help with the 'emotional stuff' FIRST and THEN they 'physical stuff'

With me I need the emotional help the most ( as am still having a BIT of a hard time at the moment ) and then if I need the physical stuff like a break I can get / ask for that , but the most 'urgent' bit is my soul , THEN my body , hence eg coming on here and sharing my stuff , then being able to go off and actually get some good sleep feeling all the more better for ''offloading'' it first and sharing it all and getting it all out xx

I think a 'multi' approach is good , there is reactive depression which is a reaction to an event or events or build up of events and it is hardly surprising as we are only human

I am a believer of good counselling if nessessary to get 'rid' of the possible unresolved emotions being carried around and even if it is to talk to someone about how you are feeling at the time , talking helps as does doing something nice and peaceful for yourself , even smelling a flower!

It is difficult as my sister has a health problem which affects her mood , she has seen doctors and specialists to no avail and has given up on finding any 'medical help' but without it she has to live in chronic pain plus she does have some other emotional issues to go with it so it is a big struggle for her and am not sure what the answer is , would probably say for the emotional stuff it is layer by layer with a good counsellor and for the medical stuff to try and find someone in the medical profession who will listen and help which is easier said than done , it makes me wish my family had money as then she could see a private specialist who would possibly get to the bottom of things as they do not know what is CAUSING her chronic sinus pain but SOMETHING is wrong , so it is highly frustrating and I know she wants to 'get her life back' but no one knows how but if there is help out there I want her to get it

I got the help I needed when I needed it MOST of the time but I did struggle and rang helplines when feeling really low so I had someone to TALK to which really did help me get through some dark times , we all need support and that can be any time day and night when others aren't available so personally I am a great fan of Samaritans as well as they can help you through some really difficult days or nights even which is often the hardest time but I would say talk , talk and talk some more because that is personally what helped me and STILL DOES coz life certainly isn't always EASY for sure! lol xxxxx

P.S And sharing online on forums etc helps a GREAT deal ( I have a right old rant on forums when having a bad day!!!!! lol ) as you not only can 'get it all out' on there you get the added bonus of possible advice and encouragement and real support and if there is a group for people who suffer with similar problems that can be a GREAT help as it's other people who truly understand what you are going through because they are going through or have been through it themselves so you really do feel supported by people in the 'same boat' as it were and they may suggest something you have not thought of or help get you through a bad day but I wish you all the best in the world as I feel for my sister but nothing seems to change and I feel sad and frustrated about it but don't have all the answers xx

I do hope things ''change for the better'' one day though of course x

Yoga know what you mean! Don't have what you have but have suffered with depression for many years. Medication works for a while. Drs unfortunately aren't interested after a while. Tried everything.
On good days I try and cook new dishes for my adult children. I also cook for two neighbours who are widows.
My thoughts are with you. Xx

Looking up AVM and anti-depressants there does seem to be a suggestion that the SSRIs are not good in this situation, but some of the older anti-depressants are not a problem.

Worth discussing with a specialist I would have thought.

I have tried CBT to no avail whatsoever but the new Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) seems to offer more success. I have had depression for the past 20 years and my psychiatrist tells me that I have exhausted the list of available antidepressants and the anxiolytic drugs have a load of unpleasant side effects with me. I have learned to cope with the episodes with the help of a very loving, understanding wife. I take 10mg Diazepam and sleep for 24 - 36 hours which normally kicks my system back into gear. My new GP has "issues" with my use of Diazepam quoting addiction problems in spite of the psychiatrist advising that I continue with my method. Any discussion of my depression goes right over the head of my GP - he considers it a behavioural problem!!!

eh?

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jingle I have seen it often, people assume that many things they have experienced are the same for others. Depression is not different to cancer, death, broken limbs in that respect.

Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand.

nonnie who on earth would assume that? [confusion]

However, there are some things in depression that are common to most. Perhaps even all.

Well said Nonnie. I have analysed how I feel. I think mine is severe anxiety. I have had so many bad things happen that I am fearful of life.
I agree that there are many degrees. Before I began to suffer, I was one of the 'pull yourself together' brigade. It's not until something impacts on your own life that you can truly appreciate what other folks are going through.

My grandson's wife has an AVM that has been successfully treated with laser surgery. Has nothing like this been suggested to you Yogadatti?
Lots of good advice given to you above I hope you managed to overcome you depression with help

There are many different levels of depression and I believe that serious clinical depression cannot be managed by the individual concerned. If it has reached the stage where it seriously impacts on the lives of those around you then you need specialist help. If you have reached the stage when you no longer want to live then you need urgent help.

CBT works well for some but it depends on how you and the therapist relate, if it doesn't work get another therapist and it may work with them but it doesn't work for everyone.

If you suffer with depression do not assume you know how someone else is feeling or you have the answer to their depression. You only know about your own.

Crun - in answer to your question. Initially when I began to feel awful, I saw medication as masking the problem. I wanted to get better by myself but now realise that all the years I have been struggling could have been happier and easier for my family if I had had some help. Good wishes to you yoga I hope things improve.

Is the AVM inoperable? I know someone who had this and it was successfully removed. A very big and serious operation though. I suppose it depends on the exact location of the AVM.
Whatever the possibilities, the other Grans have offered good advice. I'd echo jings re just getting out. There's something about a change of scene that helps. Its particularly good somehow to get out in nature. Just seeing and absorbing views really helps me. I'm not explaining it very well. Sorry. Good luck anyway and keep posting or just lurking. You're not alone.

"Personally, I have never taken medication but I think this was the wrong path to take."

Can I ask why? I haven't either. My mother has been doped up to the eyeballs on antidepressants and tranquilisers etc. for 50 years, and she's worse than I am. I'm convinced that the brain becomes habituated to prescription meds just the same as alcohol or heroin etc., so I'm steering clear of them. I can't see the point in having a drug dependence as well as depression.

Exercise helped, but I can't do that now.

Yoga I forgot to say that the folks here on Gransnet were with me every inch of the way as I struggled through that difficult time, so you are in the right place here.

Yoga I too suffer from anxiety and depression as do many there on GN. We all have ups and downs and sometimes the downs are hard to shake off. I find it difficult to make friends too but recently plucked up the courage to join a group of knitters (no I can't knit very well) and found them very friendly and easy to talk to. Try and see if your local library has any groups going or perhaps join a local group going for walks locally. They are not all route marches and can just be people of all ages who need some exercise and companionship. I wish you well.

There have been a few threads on this subject on here I think. I suffer with acute anxiety and depression due to life events. Personally, I have never taken medication but I think this was the wrong path to take. I might feel better than I do if I had. I just get on with it to be honest, but it's not easy. As others have said above, posting on here is a help.

Keep talking to us yoga about anything and everything

Hello galen made it back then?

You have all my sympathy - an acute depression dropped on me about 9 months ago and it was a shock to the system to say the least. I am taking medication, but it does have some problematical side effects.

Have you seen a consultant psychiatrist? The trend now is for GPs to treat depression, but with your specific additional problem there is a need for expert input. My treatment was complicated by a cardiac arrhythmia and I saw a cardiologist to advise about the safety of different anti-depressants. You may already have had a consultant referral, but if not it may be time to ask for one.

It is a difficult journey and I hope that there will be people on here who understand the problem and can walk beside you.

We're very good for depression on here!