Depression

In most surgeries you can ring up first thing in the morning and fill one of the slots that are kept free for relatively immediate needs. I do not think you should wait 3 weeks - you are suffering and that matters. Otherwise I should sit and wait in the surgery - you need some help now.

Thanks for replies, my next available appt is in 3 weeks! Unless I sit and wait in the surgery. I'm glad to hear it's not only me re over analysing, I go over the same sentence in my head over and over again, how did I say it, why did I say it, I mean I now it's stupid but I can't stop until I'm all talked out. I've had an episode this weekend after a blasé conversation with my daughter (28) my poor hubby has had to listen to me for 24 hrs going through every scenario! I will make an appt. Good luck to every one xxx

I believe that antidepressants help enormously and have used them myself . The trouble with being depressed is that all the recommendations of things to do to when you are down are actually almost impossible because of the state of mind you are in. AD`s help to lift the cloud enough for you to feel able to go for a walk or try a hobby or be sociable . To me depression feels like a huge great emptiness inside me and as if my limbs are made of lead .
I hope you find something to make you feel better soon YODA x

And bugger, not hugger! Stupid iPad

Florentine my ar_e, I meant Prozac!

I've been on Florentine for yonks too. I always think it isn't helping but I must admit to being less "self destructive" shall we say since I've been on it. I take zopliclone at night whereas I was on temazepam but they stopped that. Unfortunately it runs in the family with my dad being the only sensible one and even he had awful rages ha ha! My brother's a brilliantly clever bloke but latterly has extreme manic depression since he lost his high powered job. I think that's where he used to channel all his energy. I'm a hugger for over analysing conversations and I get on my own nerves.

Likewise. I've taken fluoxetine (Prozac) for about 16 years, never had any side effects, and I drink regularly.

Spacemum - there is no point in suffering if there is help out there. You would not think twice about seeing your GP or having insulin if you were diabetic. It makes no more sense to avoid help for an illness like depression. You definitely need help if it has pushed you so far that you need to lie to your OH. There really is help to be had, and your GP will not bat an eye;lid of you go and see her. She will see this every day and will be happy to help.

I am on a tiny dose of an antidepressant and another tiny dose of HRT, both of which help me to feel well. I would not dream of not seeking help when it is bad.

Please do go and get the help you need and deserve. We only have one life and there is no point wasting it feeling grim. Go for it.

jingle ditto.

I've been on fluoxetine for years. Never made me sick when I have a glass of wine. It's very helpful in fact.

Ive been interested to read the posts in this thread. Ive had depression on and off for years but since before xmas i came down with a bang and am still struggling. I keep making appts at Drs but then convince myself im ok and cancel them. 50%of the time im close to tears and constantly over anaylise conversations. Ive had to take early retirement due to ill health and have very few friends. My husband gets worried about me so i make up friends i say ive met so he thinks im busy all day. I was on a depressant but it made me sick if i had a glass of wine, do you think they all do this?

korky and everyone who suffers from depression and hugs.

I was a very anxious child after my parents got divorced when I was 4, but somewhere along the line I got on top of it. I don't remember when last I was really anxious.

I must also have a skin like a rhinoceros, because very little that people say upsets me. I used to be a lot more sensitive...

I particularly like the "anti-ruminating activity". My son is an over-thinker, and he has suffered from depression in the past. Now I hear his sister saying to him "Stop cogitating". Thankfully he's fine now. He didn't take medication when he was depressed (although it probably would have helped him in the short term). The circumstances that contributed to his depression, passed.

I would whole hearted agree with all those activities in helping depression. Trouble is, if you are already depressed, it is difficult to get the incentive to do any of them.

For me, meds help.

Tes, I think social connection is very helpful.......if one can get it.

Well, I get disproportionately upset when anyone's horrible to me. You can tell who are the tough nuts on GN. Perhaps they don't realise. I hope I haven't upset too many people!

Here's a very interesting article and TED talk on depression:

youtu.be/drv3BP0Fdi8

"Though he’s not entirely opposed to medication, Ildari says we can throw all the drugs in the world at the depression epidemic, and it won’t make a dent.
Anti depressant use has gone up 300 percent in the last 20 years, but the rate of depression has continued to increase. One in nine Americans over age 12 is currently taking an antidepressant, and one in five have been on them at some point.
The answer, Ildari says, is a change in lifestyle. He says the results of his six step program have exceeded his wildest dreams:
1. Exercise
2. Omega 3 Fatty Acids
3. Sunlight
4. Healthy Sleep
5. Anti-ruminative activity
6. Social connection
In his presentation, he emphasized the importance of exercise and social connection, as they are two of the hardest parts of the program for modern Americans".

Just as applicable here in the UK I think. Depression is universal.

Wot....some people are sensitive, perhaps people should just learn to be kinder to each other. Everyone is entitled to their views, but I think some people on Gransnet think its funny to belittle other people's views.

Pompa, it's amazing the power of things that someone can say can make us feel terrible. If I get out of the house, I do get another perspective on it. Too damn sensitive!

Gransnet is a godsend for depression and loneliness. Until you get in a n argument!(but that doesn't last long!)

To all those that are posting with depression. Take heart, with time be assured that it will pass, not necessarily permanently, but it does go in cycles (in my experience)

If you can accept your current state of mind as a phase that will pass, you are on the first step to recovering to normality. Please seek professional help, however sceptical you may be, it does help.

I had counselling many years ago, thought it was a waste of time, but, strangely, after a few weeks I was seeing life a little clearer.

Again medications can help, if you don't get on with it, talk to your doc, there are many alternatives.

I have been on fluoxetine for years now, it keeps me normal (that's debatable) most of the time, but I still have dark spells, but I now know that they will pass, some times in a day or two, sometimes it may take several weeks.

Remember you are not alone, talk about it, many people will understand how you feel. Don't ever be ashamed of depression, it is an ailment just as any physical ailment is.

Only yesterday something was said to me that sent me spiralling down, today I managed to get it into perspective and caught myself in time.

This is my first attempt so please bear with me. I am now 70 and suffered acute anxiety since a dreadful childhood. At 43 I had my first big depression and after that about 7 more times. I don't know how I've coped except a wonderful caring husband. Last year I had a bad time, we had to have 4 cats put to sleep one after the other and found our little granddaughter had autism. I survived but a few weeks ago went down with a bang. My doctor told me that pounding heart to take more Propanalol, two days later i collapsed with low blood pressure. I take antidepressents and lithiam but the mornings are dreadful and the exhaustion like nothing you'd imagine.It started when someone, not a doctor rang to tell me to drop one of my anti-depressents, no advice on how slowly. All I heard from a doctor was some people react like that. I take Diazepam while in the awful stage but soon stop it, we eat healthily and look after ourselves. This second dose so soon has really scared me, sorry to be keeping on but know I will find friens here.

I think a lot of people including doctors don't realise depression is a physical illness as well or instead of a mental one. There are chemical changes in the brain and I can't see how counselling therapies can reverse this. I'm sure they help a lot of people but many people simply would not be able to function without medication and there are plenty of unfortunate people who see suicide as the only way out, when everything fails them.
No one tells a person with high blood pressure or thyroid problems , arthiritis etc etc that they will become addicted to the drugs and should try to get off them. Why do so many people assume that anti depressants are something you should strive to do without?

I don't have AVM so don't know whether this will be helpful for you but it worked for me.

Most talking therapies concentrate on facing things from your past which cause the depression. These sessions left me feeling worse and I would always leave in tears. I found a different therapist who uses solution focused hypnotherapy. This states that what is past is past and cannot be changed and focuses instead on anything positive in your life. This can be hard at first, in my first session all I could think of was that my favourite ice cream was on sale at half price!! Together with hypnotherapy I find this has worked and I have a much more positive outlook on life and I stopped taking the anti-depressants I had been using for 8 years. I am also much more confident about meeting new people.

I hope you find a treatment which helps you - depression and anxiety is a real illness which a lot of people don't understand.

Hello Yogadatti , Like you I have depression caused by various life events. I am now housebound with arthritis BUT I have found two things which have been a lifesaver for me. (1) is Facebook so I can keep up with family & friends & made some new ones (including joining Gransnet) and (2) I got a Pinterest account which is most interesting because it has something for everyone whatever their interests are ! Just ideas but might help if you don't want to socialize but this way you socialize without going out ! Thinking of you !