What started out as a group post got longer and longer and I couldnt stop writing so I decided to post it here.
DEPRESSION:
We need to recognise the signs and take action.
Don't ignore these feelings, you need help.
Anyone can suffer from depression at any time in their
life. It may be due to illness, stress,
a crisis, long term health conditions, a break up, even the happy things in
life. Moving house, marriage, the birth of a child. These things cause so many
changes to our emotional levels that sometimes our bodies simply can't cope and
we need help to get back on an even keel.
Firstly, See your Doctor, let them know how you feel and
what you think may have caused it. You
might not have a clue why you feel this way. Tell your doctor what has happened
in the last 6 months. They may be able to see something in your life that could
be a cause that you wouldn't have considered. Be honest with them.
Sometimes it might be that you need treatment other than
antidepressants. Pills are not always the answer.
However, if your emotional state is so far off balance that
you need medication to help, then DONT LET YOUR GP FOB YOU OFF. If one won't listen demand to see another. If you KNOW you need the help then you deserve
to be taken seriously.
Secondly, Talk to someone .... ANYONE..... talk to a stranger, a friend, a family
member, the cat........ No ok, I'm
trying to make light of it but seriously, you need to talk. Oh I know, the last thing you want to do is
talk, you don't feel you have the energy to get the words out, you can't make
sense of your thoughts, how could you possible communicate with someone? It doesn't matter what you talk about, or how
confused you are, if you find the right person to talk to they will do most of
the talking for you, you just need to make the 1st sound.
I have suffered for 20 years. I have what is known as Major Depressive
Disorder. It's a roller coaster ride of
emotions and you never know when the next dip will be. It took me years to
recognise the signs but now I know what is happening I can deal with most of
it.
I've had breakdowns, huge amounts of time off work (when
I was still fit to work), hurt and hated myself. But the one thing that I have
had through it all is someone to talk to.
It hasn't always been the same person. In fact, until recently I
struggled. I relied on counsellors and
family. Family members do their best to understand but unless they have
experienced it themselves it isn't easy for them to get to grips with what you
are feeling. My husband understands that I suffer, but he
struggles to know how to help me. If it
wasn't for the people I have met online over the last 5 yrs I suspect I would
have really lost the plot by now.
Social media can help. Yes, it may be taking away our
ability to talk to each other face to face, to socialise outside our homes, in
the general sense ......... but for
those of us confined to our homes it is a life line.
The bad times can be VERY BAD, you feel like you simply
can't cope, don't know what to do with yourself. You might even feel that you
want out of this life.
It doesn't mean you WANT to hurt yourself, to die. The emotions you are feeling are so
overpowering that they take over. The mind
wants out of the situation, out of that moment, out of your body. You want to escape the cause, the pain, the
fear.
Yes I sit and cry, sob, shake, break my heart, rock in my
chair, for days on end. I've had those thoughts of wanting to escape from it
all. It's very scary and it physically hurts in your heart and head. But I know
that when I can see clearly, for just a brief moment, that if I just send a
simple message out to someone on here, I will get the hug I need, albeit a
virtual one.
PLEASE REMEMBER, there is no shame in suffering from depression. It is a medical condition that millions deal with all across the world.
DON'T SUFFER IN SILENCE, Seek out support and medical help.
There will always be someone there that WILL understand what you are going through....... Reach Out.
This is my experience, my opinions, my realisations and lessons learnt.
Can relate to all of this. I have used councillors and been on pills for a while but I have recently come to realise it's just real changes that effect me. So instead of not knowing what causes it and being like it for days on end (I used be like that during an awful time in my life tho) things do trigger it and so it only lasts a day or so. Arguments, money worries and pain are my triggers I barely said 2 words for 48hrs last week due to pain/tiredness and I really thought my deep depressive state was returning. Once I got a good sleep I felt so much better. So I think I am just extra sensitive where an argument would go over my head a few years ago it really effects me now. Since realising this I am considering coming off the pills. Thanks for this post. May your good days out weigh your bad. X
ReplyDeleteSadly Saffra, as much as I can often recognise my triggers, without my meds I simply wouldn't function. After 20 years, my body simply refuses to produce enough of its own "happiness" (serotonin). Coming off the meds could take me years of slowly reducing doses and seeking alternative management options.
DeleteAlso, there are times when there simply isn't a clear reason for it. I get Depressive flares in the same way I get physical pain flares with the fibro.
The thing to remember is that anyone can suffer at any time. There should be no stigma attached.
It is no different from needing meds for an under-active thyroid, diabetes, anaemia, blood pressure etc ..... everyone needs help from medication now and again, whether it be western or alternative.
xxx
Even those who seem the happiest................
I still cant believe the news today that Robin Williams has passed away. He appeared to be the happiest man you could possible imagine, but he wore a mask to hide his sorrow.