how to cope?
 

hey, this is just a question for people who have dealt or are dealing with depression? I have been having so many problems in my life in the past couple of months, and it has been recommended by my counselor to get onto anti-depressants. I have been having health problems, I was in a car accident, my boyfriend and I broke up....so all these things have really been incredibly stressful on me...


if any of you guys have any advice on what to do, or your experiences with anti-depressants, please let me know! Thank you

you situation is right up my alley. look on the last page of threads, cause i started one on depression. i would like to talk to you. we could help each other out. i will send you a pm later on tonight.

I've struggled with depression on and off for the last eight years.

Usually, if the depression is due to a certain set of circumstances, I would not recommend medication. I had a friend whose doctor prescribed her anti-depressants simply because she broke up with her boyfriend, which I think is silly . . . we need to learn how to deal with bad situations without medication. However, if you were depressed before the situation happened (in your case, the breakup, or the car wreck, or whatever) -- then medication might be a good choice. It also might be a good choice if you think that your problems have triggered a case of clinical depression.

Basically, I think you have to decide if your problems triggered some sort of depression, or if your sadness is just a natural reaction to the stress of the problems you're facing. If it's serious depression, it's affecting your ability to deal with everyday situations, and you don't think you'll be able to fix things by yourself, medication would be a good option. If you think that you're just having a rough time right now because of all your problems but you'll come out of it okay on your own, you'll probably benefit more from not taking medication. If your counselor is recommending anti-depressants, he or she probably feels like you fit in the first category.

It's good that you're getting counseling, though -- that's the first step. I hope you start feeling better . . . just remember that millions of people deal with this and you are definitely not alone.

I agree with Sugar and Spice. I think it's important that people learn to cope with problems without medication. However, sometimes medication is needed.
I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression after my about 3 years ago. I also started taking medication. But I had been in and out of therapy since 11 (around the same time I was diagnosed with Diabetes).
Anyway, medication has been very helpful, but if there is one thing that I cannot stress enough is that medication will not fix everything. Medication is a treatment. I cannot stress enough the importance of talk therapy in conjunction with meds.
Obviously I am not a doctor and I don't know your situation, so I can't say whether or not medication is apprpriate for your situation or not. But meds do help. I use them my self, but I also see a counselor, (which IMO helps more than meds...it's an unbiased party that can listen to my problems without judging me, giving me the freedom to let it all out, so to speak).

Now of course with meds, there are other things to think about, like side effects. Everyone will react differently to different types of meds, but some of the more common side effects are things like weight loss/gain, dry mouth, hunger/loss of appetite, and sexual side effects. However, some people don't experience any at all.

But I think the most important thing is that you're getting help, and that's the best thing that you can do for yourself.
Take care of yourself, and feel free to PM me anytime.

Pi Phi Love and Mine

I've had a lot of experience with depression - personally, family members, and I've got an educational background in psych. If you'd like to PM me, please feel free...

Depression usually comes from anxiety . . . YOu kind of get tired of being anxious.

The above advice was good.

I would say this. Almost everyone has reported feeling depressed at times.

Its normal. We exist in endless little circles of feeeling good, great, not-so-good, and bad.

If its long term and interferes with yor life, then medication may be a very good option AS LONG AS LIFESTYLE CHANGES COME WITH IT, otherwise the medication will merely mask the anxiety/depression leaving you in a kind of rut.

I would do some reading, go to a bookstore and maybe check out two or three types of books.

One would be on relaxation. I think there is one Titled : the ten Second Relaxation REsponse"

Two: Maybe something about basic self image, like Pychocybernetics (I think there is a new version) The author, Maxwell Maltz kind of help start the self help movment.

Three: Check out your diet. If its too carby, or you are not eating frequently enough , it can really intensify any bad feeelings.

Good luck. Remember, you are normal. Half the people around you feel the way you do all the time, you just won't know it :) Anything else please pm me.

To kind of sum-up and personalize what i rambled about above:

If i have been consistantly not been sleeping well, and not eating properly, even small things can make me feel really overwhelmed.

Oh. Go cash in a free credit for a HUG. Make it a long one too . . . they work wonders. ;)

James is right!! Aniexiety is a Bitch, been there also! Was going to bite the end of a gun Barrell, called my best friend who is a COP and talked me off of the wall! Still got all of the weapons as an ex-cop too!

Living through drugs aint the best way at all, I dont like asprin!:o

If You need some help getting together right now, there are many people on GC who have great ears to talk to and are more than willing to help.

Just at the beckon and call!!!:)

We are here for you! K?