Hey Julie :)

I gotta ask...are you experiencing anxiety or depression? The reason I ask is because I have always heard that anti-depressants are definitely not immediate relief...maybe anxiety medication would be more helpful?

Sorry if that's a stupid question lol...but I take pills for anxiety, and they're definitely more helpful than the antidepressants I tried years ago, which literally did nothing.

For your question....

Hard to say. it's so different for everybody. Eating right, exercising, distractions...pretty much whatever can keep you focused on something healthy.

As someone who is still depressed (but no longer constantly suicidal), I'll mention what's helped me. I never had any success from anti-anxiety medication and anti-depressants, but the one thing that kept me from constantly wanting to die was the fact that it would affect my little brother who's the one person I care about despite our differences in other ways. I realize that he also dealt with a harsh family environment, and I did not want to make him suffer. Thinking about that frequently when things got bad helped, so I'd recommend focusing on one person you care about if there is such a person. Now, I'm still in a hopeless state, but I actually worry about what happens when you die -- that and thinking of my brother helped.

If I think of anything else later, I'll let you know. Sorry you're feeling so horrible and hope you hang in there.

Have you done Cognitive Behaviour therapy. I found it the most helpful, in retraining my thoughts and challenging my negative and trapped fellings. I work hard to plan things out and find solutions when I get over worried.

What has helped me alot is therapy..........along w/ Cognitive Behavior Therapy classes, as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy classes. Also in all the therapy I've had, I've learned many different coping skills for stresss, anxiety, depression....some are guided imagery, autogenics, religion ( if that is something you'd like ) and so many more. Also I agree w/the other post.........eating well, exercise and sunshine, and helping others is important for our health and especially for those w/depression and/or other mental healht disorders.
I feel for you and can relate to your depression. I can only hope that you feel better soon and also hope that you can find something that will help you. Take care of you and know that I care.
((((((((((hugs))))))))

I started going to a Counselor in 2009. I really didn 't think He could Help Me but He did & I am getting Better. I also take Anti - Anxeity Meds & Anti - Drepression Meds. At First I sleeped all the time, I was still dealing with Anixety & Depression then the Dr. Change My mg & Now It helps. If I wasn' t taking them I would probably be More Depressed & Have more Anixety. I don' t go out of the House that Much but I am working on that Problem. Be Positive, Talk to People whom understand what Your going through & do things that will get Your Mind off the Aniety & Depression. ( Example Your Hobbies, Writing & Etc. ). I pray that it gets alot better for You. God Bless You.

thanks for everyone's responses. I really appreciate them! I did go and speak with a counselor yesterday and she gave me a list of up coming events at my university that offer workshops to help with depression and anxiety (+ stress).

As for your q (Summerwind81) I think it's mainly depression that's making me feel like i'm drowning, but also a bit of anxiety (which my mom also deals with). I'm also the type of person who overthinks a lot and gets easily stressed out so i think it'll take some time before i figure out what works best for me.

Immortalkaim: that's a great idea i'll keep that in mind!

Rain31 & sky56
I haven't tried cognitive therapy, but one of the workshops did mention that so i'll def look into it!!

thanks again :)

Copied and Pasted from my Last Post:

How to Cope with Depression

1. Try to avoid your triggers, if possible.
2. Pets can help significantly.
3. You may feel the need to isolate but the majority of the time, if you don't, you'll feel significantly better.
4. I try to sleep the pain away sometimes.
5. Don't become sleep deprived or that will make depression a billion times worse.
6. People claim exercise can work as well as antidepressants but it didn't help me much.
7. People say writing and journaling helps but it doesn't help me too much. By the way, I believe writing is the most effective treatment on the side of this group.
8. Music, listen to it and/or produce it. Sing, play an instrument or just listen to it.
9. Getting some sunlight, even if you don't have SAD, is often effective.

That's all I can think about off the top of my head. I can't think of anymore at the moment.

I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I hope you feel better soon.

I try to find something good about me and stop the negative thinking loop as best as I possibly can.

Hi Julie. CBT helped me a lot and if you don't want to take antidepressants beta blockers helped with my anxiety which in turn helped me feel less depressed and they just slow your heart down so not as bad side effects