Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
I have suffered from depression/anxiety/trichotillomania for 30+ years. I am 51. I think I have been on every medication out there. The medicines help for awhile, then stop. Each time my depression comes back, it is worse. This is the worst it has ever been. I have been in bed for 4 days. I don't want to shower, or eat....just sleep. Depression runs in my family on both sides. I recently lost my mom....she had dementia and severe depression. It seems like my grieving is worse as time goes on. Some days I can make it to work....I didn't today. I am currently on 4 medications for depression, and I am in therapy. I am about ready to give up on myself, and just realize that I am going to be this way for the rest of my life. My husband is supportive, but helpless. My dad understands to a point, but he gets frustrated with me very easily. I am overweight. I don't exercise....I just cant make myself. I don't have any girlfriends. I groom dogs for a living. I get up, go to work, come home, and get in bed, every single day. On the weekends I sleep all weekend. I cant live this way anymore. My therapist mentioned electroshock therapy to me. Has anyone ever tried this? She says that I will lose some of my short term memory. At this point, it may be worth it, as I cant continue like this. My mom died in Sept. of 2014, and since then, every day has been the same for me. Work. sleep. Work Sleep. I feel SO much shame and guilt for not being able to lose weight or exercise. Thanks for listening.....
It is too easy to say something like "just do something", but there are times when I do this to myself, and I almost literally have to force myself to do something. I find that physical tasks can be better for me, but it has to be something that requires me to be an active part of what ever I am doing.
So it can't be watching TV or listening to music. But it can be weeding the garden or working a Sudoku or cooking or some such thing.
Depression is a very cruel master, and it uses what ever it can to drag us down. The loss of a parent can be a huge opportunity for the daemons of depression. (I have lost my only sibling, my mother and my father over the last 4 1/2 years now, and that can really drag me down.)
I also like to be able to say at the end of the day that I got something done. It can be simple, or it can be a lot, but having something to claim can lift my spirits.
Again, welcome!
You say you go to work every day. That is an accomplishment. Now build on that. Say you are at work for 8 hours. Tomorrow be out of the house for 15 minutes more, even if it is just a walk around the local mall. If you add a few minutes every so many days things will change.
I know when my breakdown happened I lived on my couch. I did my required work around the house and taking care of my kids but didn't do anything extra. I got to the point where I wanted to make a change because I couldn't live that way any longer. And I kept looking for answers until I got my life back. Maybe its not just depression that has you in its grips. I was diagnosed with depression from my therapist, my pcp diagnosed me with anxiety and my first psychiatrist said it was a combination of the two....but the meds were causing more problems than helping. A second opinion in psychiatrists got me a bipolar NOS diagnosis. I don't have episodes like many on DS but the bipolar meds have worked wonderfully for 8 years now.
Look into new options if the ones you have don't seem to be helping
:D don't feel guilt without someone else being harmed. Just don't. :) And don't ask for much from yourself either. Just one tiny thing. EG "I will have an egg on toast for breakfast every morning instead of cereal." One tiny change. Hold it for 3 weeks and it will become normal.
Tiny tiny baby steps. :) You're grieving. You're healing. Tiny little achievable goals. :)