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| Clinical Depression & SAD | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 26 2008, 02:03 PM (468 Views) | |
| pinkribbon | Oct 26 2008, 02:03 PM Post #1 |
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Anyone else suffer? I feel so low with the clocks going back and winter looming over us. I was just wondering if any of you suffer. I weaned off my anti-depressants, and really don't want to end up taking them again. Any advice greatly welcomed, thanks. T-issues |
 
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| sherry | Oct 26 2008, 02:17 PM Post #2 |
sherry
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There are some flower essence drops which are supposed to be good for lifting your mood and are said not to have side effects or intefere with medication - though I would always double check on that. My mum has had them and says they help her. There are different ones for different moods - should find them in health shops. If I'm down I try to tell myself it'll pass as it has done in the past. And Iwatch funny films - short ones mainly like the old sitcoms if they are on. And Carry on Camping always make me laugh and relax. Try not to put anything on tv or radio that will make you feel worse. 
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| pinkribbon | Oct 26 2008, 02:37 PM Post #3 |
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Thank you Sherry, good ideas there. 4d544553 |
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| lifesmate | Oct 26 2008, 02:42 PM Post #4 |
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A friend of mine suffers badly from SAD. He has got a lamp that is supposed to help. Something to do with the rays I believe. He had to pay for his as he couldn't get it on the NHS.Quite expensive. We all get a bit down in gloomy weather and like Sherry said ..do something to take your mind off it if you can. |
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| Millie | Oct 26 2008, 03:07 PM Post #5 |
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Relive some happy memories, maybe look at some holiday snaps and listen to a bit of uplifting music Have a good walk in the fresh air and splash through the puddles! Most important remember it will pass and you will feel brighter again Grouphug |
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| Jovi | Oct 26 2008, 03:10 PM Post #6 |
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Yes PR I do and it's bloody awful. 4d544553 I don't mean any disrespect to other posters but it's not as easy as thinking positive. Depression never is I'm afraid, and SAD is a depressive illness that is caused by lack of sunlight, those that have suffered from depression in the past are more likely to suffer from SAD. I use a lamp twice a day and It has helped. Cost me over £200 but it was worth it. It doesn't make it go away just more bearable. Strange thing was that my doctor asked me if I found it useful because her husband suffered from it too. You would have thought that a doctor would have at least tried it. I'm afraid even doctors can't see the wood for the trees at times. |
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| lifesmate | Oct 26 2008, 03:27 PM Post #7 |
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Never suffered myself so cannot imagine what it must be like. Grouphug I always thought that if you are prone to depression then the winter months would make it worse. I get moody in the winter but luckily not to any great extent. Must be awful. Grouphug |
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| Jovi | Oct 26 2008, 03:59 PM Post #8 |
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It is Cam, and I do appreciate than unless you have suffered it's difficult to understand. Many years ago I used to think that people who suffered from depression should pull themselves together, then antenatal depression hit me. It nearly killed me and almost destroyed my family. I was totally out of the real world and hit the bottle big style. Luckily my family called a doctor who thankfully saw what I was going through. I was on anti-depressants for several years and came out the other side back to normal. I've been good since except for black periods during the winter. During these times I wake up with my stomach churning and it goes on all day. It can be horrendous and I do feel for PR and others who suffer the same. As I said the lamp helps a lot, it's not a cure but alleviates the worst symptoms. Much as I love the winter months, I do heave a sigh of relief when spring comes. Grouphug B-lowKiss |
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| sherry | Oct 26 2008, 05:53 PM Post #9 |
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I do understand what depression is like, Jovi Grouphug and it's a terrible thing to go through. I had it rather bad some ten years ago now and was on antidepressants - but only for a short time thankfully. And it is different to feeling stressed/ anxious - though they are bad enough - but they do pass. I still have days when I feel the black cloud hanging over me - but not like it was back then. I have learnt from experiencing it - the difference between the two. And I suppose it's easy to forget the depth of exactly what it is like when it was all those years ago. It's awful to have that churning feeling as soon as you open your eyes of a morning and feeling that even something like a massive lottery win wouldn't make you feel any different. I suffer down days fairly often - but they are different to having real depression - I have found that when it's just down days putting something funny on tv or even going for a walk to the shop can help. With depression you can't be bothered with anything. It's good PR you are aware of how you are feeling and want advice on how to help yourself. Grouphug |
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| pinkribbon | Oct 26 2008, 06:10 PM Post #10 |
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Thanks peeps. Grouphug I have seen those lamps, Boots stock them. Wish I'd bought one when they last had a sale.No doubt they will have another before or after Christmas. :rolleyes: I didn't know of anybody that had one for me to ask what they thought of them. Some people look at me with unease if I mention having being diagnosed with clinical depression.As though I'm likely to jump in front of a lorry whilst talking to them.It's not an easy subject for me to talk about.......... |
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| Jovi | Oct 26 2008, 06:42 PM Post #11 |
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I'm glad PR put up this thread. So many people go through hell with this and when they come out the other side they have lost self confidence. Speaking for myself, I just felt that I had let my family down, and was so ashamed I could hardly face folk. I certainly wouldn't have spoken of it after someone I thought was a dear friend, ridiculed me for not pulling myself together and getting on with things. That bloody hurt and knocked me back badly. But I lived to fight another day, and I'm glad those of us who have suffered are no longer ashamed of it. Grouphug B-lowKiss |
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| pinkribbon | Oct 26 2008, 08:28 PM Post #12 |
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Thank you Jovi 4d544553 I do have a close friend that suffers also.But I think we find it so hard to talk to each other as we feel so sad when we talk about it, we can't comfort each other.It's difficult to be strong for someone whilst your crumbling yourself. |
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| Jovi | Oct 26 2008, 08:50 PM Post #13 |
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I agree it is difficult, and to be honest it's hard for someone to understand unless they've been through it. It never ceases to amaze me that a broken arm or leg gets so much sympathy while a bout of depression gets dismissed as hypochondria. |
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| pinkribbon | Oct 26 2008, 10:14 PM Post #14 |
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I guess it's because a bandage or a plaster can be seen.Inside a mixed up head takes someone else that has suffered to be able to notice it in a fellow sufferer.In a way, it's like suffering a loss.It's the best way for me to explain it to somebody who doesn't fully understand depression. I feel like part of my personality is dying.What may make me laugh out loud some day will make me feel nothing on another. |
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| sherry | Oct 27 2008, 04:14 PM Post #15 |
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My doctor was really good about it. He actually said to me that same thing - about people not understanding you have a health problem when you have depression - because it isn't like a broken leg that everyone can see. I also recall one time I saw him and I said I felt awful but that a friend had asked me how I was and I'd said awful but had burst out laughing when it was the last thing I felt like doing. He said I was doing it to protect myself ... thought it was a strange thing to say at the time, but afterwards I understood what he meant. |
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| miss-spider | Nov 3 2008, 04:53 PM Post #16 |
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Its far easier to understand depression if you have suffered it, I had a really bad time during my dissertation and took st johns wort which helped as I wantedto keep prescribed anti depressants as a last resort. I was also given bea blockers to stop panic attacks and heart palpitations (they did nothing) and sleeping pills. The problem with St Johns Wort is how much it interferes with other medications. Have stopped taking it now, but considering going back to it as have had a few bouts recently, but thats mostly to do with the way my life is running at the moment, which I am gladly working on! |
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| sherry | Nov 3 2008, 05:31 PM Post #17 |
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There are more young people affected by depression and especially panic attacks, than we realise, Lynz. I had my first panic attack in my 20s and thought I was dying - I'd never heard of them before - I had lots of palpatations too. I know it sounds daft, but that first time I had one I felt as though I couldn't breath properly and I lay on the sofa with a jar of Vic taking deep slow breaths to try and calm down. Whether it was psycological or not, I don't know, but it did help. I always feel calmer doing that. Also sipping iced water helps. But when it was really bad I had to lie down as I felt so weak. I still have them occasionally. Kalms tablets are good too, and aren't as strong as St Johns Wort. I found out only recently that some foods and drinks can start them off in people prone to them. Caffiene is an obvious source - like in tea, coffee and fizzy drinks. Sugar based things likes cakes, especially the ones sprinkled in sugar. Those 'mood' dropper flower essences are supposed to be good - especially if you're out somewhere, they are small enough to keep in a purse or pocket. Best thing to remember is they are harmless - even if they don't feel like it.
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| Jovi | Nov 3 2008, 07:26 PM Post #18 |
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Panic attacks are horrendous. They are very debilitating and the fear of further attacks often brings on the next one. It's like living in constant fear for no apparent reason. |
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| sherry | Nov 3 2008, 07:53 PM Post #19 |
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That's it, Lifesmate - it's a vicious cirlce. A distant friend of mine has been like that - having one after the other morning noon and night - she's on proper medication now as it was destroying her - she does have a reason for her attacks however - a delayed reaction to something that happened. But lots of people don't know where they come from or why. I was on the way back home from picking the kids up from school, had felt fine and wasn't worried about anything and it suddenly hit me - couldn't stop shaking - heart racing - pains in chest and felt so weak. Horrible things to experience. |
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| jellybabe | Nov 4 2008, 12:33 AM Post #20 |
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I've never suffered from depression or sad so don't really understand the depths of it. However I was on the brink of post natal depression after the birth of my first. A very good friend of mine who had her own baby just a few days before me saw the signs and came to visit me most days!- just for a coffee, gossip and a laugh. Having friends support, outside the family was the answer for me. Even though family was supportive, I always felt if I needed their help then I was failing as a mother (most peculiar). Having a friend over or meeting someone for coffee was the answer, it was the change of situation and not being alone to think about things to deeply and for too long that got me through.Also making the effort to get out in the fresh air and go for a walk, even when it was cold helped no end!!
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