General Chat

Gaynor. I have suffered from depression for over 30yrs, since the death of my father. I have had tabs, which usually upset my stomach, and I don't wish to be walking around like a zombie. After my mastectomy last year, I saw a psychologist at the hospital, and met with a counsellar, who helped me to knock the nail on the head. I was blamed for a lot as a kid, and when anything goes wrong now, I automatically blame myself. I saw a shrink who prescribed tabs, and I took one, and fainted.

Got to see him again this week, 6wks after he gave me the tabs, that I was told to stop.

Still have good days and bad days, and at times feel I want to be left on my own, but at the same time I don't, so I know have clinical depression.

Have had it so long, I can't see a magic pill working.


Hope you can make a good recovery from it.

xx

Gaynor, I am glad you got checked out and are having some time off work. Hope you feel a bit better each day.
If you can try and get out for a little walk when it is bright and dry, or even bright and rainy, get a good brolly lol, and if you find you can't sleep, now you don't have to go in to work, get up and do something rather than lay there with your mind churning things round and go back later.
Depression is a rotten thing to have, I have suffered most of my life, and sometimes the tablets the docs prescribe work, sometimes they make you feel worse before you feel better, and sometimes they don't work and you need a different one, but they do take a while to do anything so give yourself time to adjust and try to eat healthily with treats too, of course, but give up the vitamins, red bull and anything else like that while you are trying the prescription medicine.
If you can't sleep there is usually someone around here at night to talk to, often me with my funny sleeping habits lol.
Take care and hope things are brighter for you soon.
Lizx

Well I am glad you have seen your GP.
I had a breakdown in 2004 after losing my last 2 brothers and my sister in 12 weeks.
My brain lurched between shutting off and going into overdrive. The overdrive was usually at night - hence poor sleep and I was tired during the day.
I still take Cipralex and I work in a very pressured job, when I get home from work I usually sleep for 30 - 60 minutes. Dinner is put on hold otherwise I couldn't function.
I stay up late (check the time of this post) because I do suffer from chronic insomnia but at the weekend I make up for lack of sleep and stay in bed as long as I can.
You can adjust your sleeping pattern by going to bed earlier (so they say) but if your body says you need sleep that's what you need. It may be physical exhaustion or it may be your brain telling you subconsciously that you need to switch off.
I avoid caffeine as much as I can but always have.
I am sure that you will get better in a fairly short while but if you don't see any improvement go back to your doctor.

Take good care of yourself and don't worry about what anyone else thinks at work or elsewhere.

Sue xx

You poor thing, I suffered a near breakdown back in 1999 and didn't see it coming, I had struggled for a few years after my business failed in the mid 90's but one day it just hit me. The Doctor diagnosed acute depression and and treated me for some 6 months before I decided that I was well enough to stand up on my own two feet without the need for any more drugs. At almost 6 foot tall I weighed 8 stone and to put it mildly was a bit of a mess. Now in 2007 I still have my moments and can go days without eating but I can control the depression with; lots of walking, long warm baths and coming onto GR and having a 'chat'. Whatever you do to aid your recovery, take your time, stuff work and don't even begin to worry about what other people think. Those who have suffered from depression will understand and those who haven't should count themselves lucky. Lots of love Colin

Hello Gaynor - aww well done for going to the dr's. l, like many others have had depression (fine now) - hated the thought of taking tabs - but they did the trick for me - even though l did go back on them twice. They may take a couple of weeks to kick in. Just relax now whilst your off work, do things for you and take care.

jude sarf wales :o) xxxx

Hello Gaynor --- another sufferer here. I'm taking Sertraline. Just concentrate on you and don't worry about what anyone else says. You need time to heal ... it may be a couple of months or a couple of years but it will improve. You may not see the improvement but it will happen. We that suffer/have suffered understand what you're going through.

Viv
xxx