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Dealing with depression
With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Welcome to our new depression blog
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Welcome to our depression blog. I am excited about this opportunity to provide information and stimulate discussion on depression.
I think it is important to know that depression is treatable. There is hope and medicine is making tremendous strides in understanding depression and how to best treat it. Depression can erode one's sense of self, self-esteem and self-confidence.
People describe not having the same zest for living that they normally do. Characteristic signs and symptoms that can accompany depression include depressed mood, decreased interest in pleasurable activities, sleep, energy, and appetite disturbance, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness.
Thoughts of suicide also may accompany depression. Talking about suicide does not mean that one will act on the thoughts. It is imperative to ask for help so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. Use resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Be active in your treatment and make sure you're well-informed about your illness. Learning what steps you can take to manage your depression is empowering!
My hope is that the stories you share will help both yourself and others. Depression can feel like an ongoing battle at times. Instead, let's reframe depression as a chronic illness like diabetes or chronic pain. We don't have a cure, but there are tools that help you to manage depression effectively. You don't have to do it alone. Thanks, and I look forward to your comments.
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Ann, I agree with Jen, you need to contact your professionals. You should not have a gun within your reach. I know the sometimes trite "suicide is not the answer" seems hollow, but that would not solve any problems. Depression is a many headed monstor and must be attacked at all angles. If meds aren't working, try others. Admit yourself if you need to so professionals can observe. Be open to them about all your negative thinking and hopelessness. I can identify with all that you say. I encourage you to look at your words -- "many areas" i.e. not ALL areas. What ONE thing gives you pleasure - looking at a flower, hearing a child laugh, letting a dog lick you, a cartoon. Some people listen to Christmas music in July because it lightens your mood. One of the monstors of depression is the one that makes us give up and feel we have no power. Fight that monstor with all that is in you. If your life truly is in ruins begin building another. Make it simple and full of laughter. Spend your days outdoors, talk to a stranger, shout at God, call a hotline, write the blog again. Let us know how you are doing. We've been there and do understand. -Sandy
In response to Ann I understand where you are at. I would call your doctor and also discuss having a gun.
So tired all the time fighting this monster depression. Often feel really overwhelmed with dispair trying to fight the struggles onlt to survive. So many areas of my life are causing me grief and I can't do anything to fix them. It drags me down my life feels like its in ruins. I can't even find the words to explain it only to say that I'm really at the end of my rope. The meds I've been taking aren't helping, I'm not sleeping properly lots of nigtmares and panic attach god i just wish this was over. I keep looking at the gun on the shelf in the closet willing myself to use it. I just sit and stare at it maybe some day soon.
Good afternoon. Thank you for all of your stories! We read all of the comments you send to us. Just a friendly reminder that our hope is to provide you with accurate, helpful information for managing depression. We want to stimulate constructive dialogue between visiting bloggers. We apologize, but are not able to reply to all of the entires received.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in Mayo Clinic.com.
I check this blog fairly often as well, and have also been disappointed to see the number of participants drop so dramatically. It can be encouraging to share struggles and stories so we know we're not alone, but it can be kind of hard to read too. Sometimes there just isn't anything else left to say. When we know what it is we're dealing with, we have to do just that. I like having a place to talk about it without being in a circle and watched through a two way mirror though. :-)
Welcome aboard, Katie, the number of posts on this blog sure has dropped off. Perhaps the quantity is not as important as the quality. I like the last line of your post, "God loves me and I know that life will be better in eternity. That is very wise and, oh, so true. Here is an update on my situation is. I got an ECT treatment yesterday, which I really wanted to prevent my mood from slipping again. I went to the emergency and told them it was unacceptable to have to wait for 4 - 6 weeks just to see a new Psychiatrist in order to get maintenance (repeat) ECT. They agreed to speed the process but it required that I stay a few days on the Psych ward. It is a bit of an adventure, and interesting to say the least, but mostly boring. I told my wife it is “Loony Camp …. kind of like Bible Camp but with less Bible”. Best wishes and prayers, Katie, get well soon. Btw, ECT is supposed to be good for bi-polar illness.
Hello,
I'm new to this space. I too have struggled with depression most of my life. I also have bi polar disorder. I take medication for each along with a medication that aleviates tremmors that the bipolar med. causes. I am better than I would be without the meds, but I don't think meds alone will ever remedy it. I also have to take meds to counteract the side effects of the meds which cause problems in themselves. It is a vicious cycle. For years I thought that some day I would get to the point where I could functiion normally and accomplish some things in my life that I desired, like finishing college, and having a job that I enjoyed, but I have come to the conclusion that it is not necessary for me to have these things to be content. I have decided to just go with the flow as best I can, and to try to not feel shame for what I cannot accomplish. My life is not what I would like for it to be, but I'm doing my best to make it the best I can in the circumstances and to be content with that. God loves me and I know that my life will be better in eternity.
My ECT is wearing off. I had a series of treatments in Jan 2007 and everything was good until about a month ago. I am now in my third depression in the last month but thankfully I have been up more than down during that time. It is normal for ECT to require periodic "refreshing"(my word). They are called maitanence treatments. I am curently frustrated because our government healthcare in Canada has a somewhat bureaucratic proceudre where I have to go through a waiting list for a specialist to get these treatments which, in my opinion, is a follow-up to my previous treatment. I sometimes tell people I wish we had separation of healthcare and state. I was, however, encouraged by the level of acceptance and useage of ECT at our public hospital in my part of Canada. I know many government hospitals in the USA discourage ECT or do not offer it.
My doctor has just put me on CYMBALTA. Has anyone taken this before?? Just curious as I don't know much about this medication.
Adrian
My dad was very ill for a year and I was the primary caretaker. I tried to work in my career and be there for him while he was at home, then in a nursing home and then at the hospital.I'd wear my cellphone on my neck waiting for his emergency call. I'd sleep with home phone and cell phone next to my pillow ready for the next emergency. I was stressed and I was depressed. What I did to maintain my sanity was go home and dance ZUMBA for 10 min. I am a ZUMBA FITNESS INSTRUCTOR and teach ZUMBA FITNESS in Scottsdale, AZ to seniors, seated ZUMBA and wheelchair ZUMBA. That was the only thing I could do to relieve my depression and anxiety and be able to do what had to be done for my dad.Thank God for ZUMBA.
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