I have enormous issues that are responsible for my depression; sudden death of both of my parents, prolonged unemployment, foreclosure/eviction from my house, divorce, gender bias, seperation from my three young children (unable to afford legal representation), this disease, blah, blah, blah...

So I have problems.

But I also take professional medication like Cymbalta for my depression. I treat depression no different than that of my chronic incurable disease because depression is a serious medical condition; hence, I treat it as such.

Malina, it sounds like you are having not just depression but anxiety. Depression is like Ravenous said a very serious illness.

I am suggesting the first thing that you do is get evaluated by someone skilled in that area. I would suggest a phsyciatrist because they are an actual doctor and know about medications and side effects.

How are you sleeping at night? Sleep depravation can be dangerous. I have suffered with mental illness for years now and even though I have everything in my life to live for, there was a time I didn't want to. It didn't make sense, but that is the brain.


So fragile, so delicate that the least bit out of balance, can literally be dangerous. Ravenous, I cannot believe what you have been able to go through.


YOu are one strong lady. Just think how easy it would have been to not have gone through alll of that, but that has helped you to be who you are.


I want to paint a pretty plaque on my wall for my bad attitude days that I don't want to learn any of these life lessons that says

"Sometimes I'd rather leave Stupid!"

You have dealt with more than I ever will I dare say, although it hasn't been a peice of cake.

There is always someone struggling harder than you are and there is always someone who, on the outside seems to have it easier. I feel my challenges are custom made.
I have been hospitalized for depression more than once.


I have meds up the wazoo for it. I have been diagnosed with bi polar ll and I have had 26 total ECT treatments over the last five years. So I know about depression, not the kind from a med. but hereditary causes.

Go to someone who is qualified to help. Hope I didn't scare you, just wanted you to know that your doing ok. It could be alot worse. carla

I also would advise to go see a doc to get evaluated. I also did not want to go on med's. I resisted for over a yr.
I was evaluated & was told I did not have clinical depression but I have neurological depression she said it was caused from the brain damage from the MS.
I have gone on Celexa & I feel better.

There are some doc's that know about natural ways to deal with depression.
St. John's wort is one way to treat depression.

I have noticed since I have been on the med's I do not cry as much. I feel more stable. I have more energy .
I found out that certain med's work for different kinds of depression.
There are some that can help with anxiety as well as depression.
I hope you feel better
Just make the decision that works best for you

Hi

That's a bad experience, but it sounds like a panic attack. I would seek medical help, if you don't like meds, you can see a psycologist.

Alma

You have received some excellent advice from these people. Please, seek medical help. I refused it for over a year. It got to the point where I could not stand to hear my family's voices. I love them dearly but I could not sit at the table with them or even ride in the same vehicle. I cried at everything. And this is definitely not like me. Like you I knew I was depressed but the thoughts of suicide never cross my mind. I am now on medication and it is helping me. I use to see it as a sign of weakness but I know now it is not. There is nothing wrong to ask for help. I wish you all the best.

I can relate with the irrational emotions at times... I think that sometimes we just lose it because we are overwhelmed by life. And that is Ok. We can own our anxiety. Try this!
http://eft.mercola.com/

Since my doc and others constantly are checking in with me about being depressed I think of it like this... "Can I get out of bed in the morning?" "Do I have an overwhelming sense of dread for the day that I just can't face?" Since I can answer no- I do not consider myself depressed. Am I "blue"? Overwhelmed? Yes but that has do do with dealing with life with MS. People are confused about and overuse the term "depressed". This is a serious disease... I hope this doesn't happen to you. Good luck and take care.

I've been on ALL the interferons, and they all caused extreme depression for me. I took Betaseron for several years before it started, but when it did, it got so bad that the neuro took me off of it and will not allow me to take any of them anymore. I currently take Effexor, have never tried the natural stuff, and on Copaxone for MS. Hope you find what works for you, God bless!

thanks for all the replies! they really are helpful, i wonder about anxiety because i lost my job and have been overly stressed about running out of money during school, and i've definitely been a bum too, i hate not having a job so it could be the cause of all of this together, or rebif, not sure.

@KatnissK, thanks for the video! it's helpful. I'm also wondering if i could get free counseling through my university, i know some offer it, so i'll definitely look into it for a start at least, i feel like it's important to deal with, like you guys are saying, since i definitely feel abnormal, for myself