Treating depression

Closed Thread
Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast
  1. #21

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    120

    I suffered from depression about 5 years ago and like you did not want counselling.

    I went onto Zoloft and visited my doctor regularly with him increasing or decreasing the medication as required.

    They helped me get over the 'hump'. It took about 10 days for the positive affects to kick in and some immediate side-effects (feeling a bit jittery) to go but after that I felt much better. I was able to get my job sorted out (and actually found a new one), go back to the gym and start seeing my friends again.

    About a year later I went off the medication. I still have ups and downs (and deep down know I need to treat the root of the problem but like you am not ready to do that) but have not needed to go back on the medication.

    Sometimes feeling bad about being depressed (and all the things that go with that) is just as bad as the thing(s) that caused you to be depressed in the first place. So treating the depression is a good way to start...then you can start tackling the things causing you the problem (with or without counselling).

    One other thing - I in no way became 'addicted' and was able to go off the medication with no problems. This is 2006 not Hollywood in the 80's. Images and tales of people popping loads of anti-depressant pills to get through the day is just bulls**t. They might be popping pills but they are not anti-depressants.

    To be honest I think the advice suggested by Louiseamanda is the most sensible on here.

    Don't listen to anyone that says 'get a life'. They clearly have no understanding of what it is like to feel the way you do.

    Good luck.


  2. #22

    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    1,002

    Ct1 thanks for your post. Very informative.


  3. #23

    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong island
    Posts
    254

    Thumbs up

    CT1

    yes, thanks for posting too and best wishes to onthlake for a good recovery.

    LA


  4. #24

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    6

    nature and self

    I think HKNewbee100 explained it clearly in his first paragraph! medication is another kind of drug. It's short term.

    We need to be with the nature more. Connect to yourself, see your self by, I think the best is, execising. I am not sporty at all, but every time do, I thought to myself I should do this much more often. I m sure it releases your stress and u can feel your body that it is not just flesh with a beating heart and an empty soul. So, connect to the nature and your self.

    Don't know if you like it, but going out to have a drink (not too much though) with people once in while is another option. We are all stressed with life, work and stuff, a glass of wine helps to relax.

    I hope you are feeling better already.


  5. #25

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    120
    Quote Originally Posted by takohk:

    Don't know if you like it, but going out to have a drink (not too much though) with people once in while is another option. We are all stressed with life, work and stuff, a glass of wine helps to relax.

    I hope you are feeling better already.
    Isn't alcohol another drug? It is also a depressent too I believe.

  6. #26

    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    mid-Levels
    Posts
    873

    Onthelake

    Given your problem also seems to be waking up in the middle of te night, not getting enough sleep etc. I would suggest regular exercise in the evning such that you are tired and have a good nights sleep.

    Exercise will also give you a feeling of general wellbeing and a lot more positive feelings rather than mopping around.

    One other thing to try on top of counseling etc is think about hypnotherapy. It does work and will relax you and take your mind off things that make you anxious.

    Good luck.


  7. #27

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    14,414
    Quote Originally Posted by ct1:
    Isn't alcohol another drug? It is also a depressent too I believe.
    It is indeed a depressant.

  8. #28

    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    KTK rules!!!
    Posts
    776
    Quote Originally Posted by donabel_beltran:
    Because he's a scientologist?

    Try to laugh a little each day... that's all...

    :-D
    hahaha, very funny, dona!

    Just consult a doctor you trust. He would know what's best for you.

    Or perhaps it's just as simple as quitting your job and starting a better one! (which I did!)

    Personally, I would never resort to taking anti depressants, but it differs per person.

  9. #29

    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong island
    Posts
    254

    hi

    agree exercising is a good idea and reduces stress.It may not help the EMW (early morning wakening) since this is a biological aspect of depression, which will resolve with improved mood (which, in turn, might need antidepressants to achieve, or simply a change in lifestyle, this depends on your situation/causes for the depression etc etc
    Additionally, motivation can be a problem, if you are depressed and socialising could add more stress (pretending things are normal?) though if in the right company (with a supportive friend) it is invaluable.
    Alcohol improves mood initially then acts as a depressant and also, with regards to sleep it shortens the duration of sleep (though may help you drop off to sleep initially)
    Agree the odd glass is no harm and may help if you are anxious.
    With regard to work issues, I agree that a conscientious person,working hard and trying to improve matters within a company and being thwarted (even nearly disciplined) is a very stressful situation to be in. You have to be very thick skinned or have a big ego to deal with this (both of these carry problems too)
    For the average individual who has work problems, since a full timer spends so much time at work, I imagine it is very stressful for all and more fopr a sensitive individual. I have spoken to many Hong Kongers who have told tales of in-house 'fighting' in offices and though some remained at work, they have few regrets at all when they did leave. In some large corporations, they employ clinical psychologists to help with stress within the work setting, but doesnt sound like your company is this type.hope this helps,good luck
    LA


  10. #30

    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    in a little hole
    Posts
    1,229

    Quite a mix of responses here...

    Onthelake - it is sad to hear of anyone going thru periods of depression. I think you have received some good tips here, as well as a few useless bits of neanderthal thinking and lack of understanding of depression. As stated previously here, ignore those telling you to get a life, get a grip, move on da de dah... despite what these people may think, depression is not a state you "will" yourself into, nor a trough that you can just magically pull yourself out of. There is a whole discipline in medicine devoted to it, with much peer reviewed research. See a pro, they don't spend their life learning about depression and mental illness because is it is a farce - it is real, and needs to be dealt with.

    Also ignore those telling you that the drugs don't work. Sure, there is a bit of marketing there, and some people try drugs without really dealing with the issue at hand. But these people knocking the drugs are the same people that knock any profession they beleive is preying on society and reaping in the money for those little pills etc. Generally these people are ill-advised lay people who think they are gurus as they had a mate who's mate too some pills and this or that happened, therefore in their supreme knowledge the drugs are bad. The prescribed drugs have their part in a wholistic approach to the treatment of depression (i dont mean wholistic as in "alternative medicine", i mean as in whole-istic - the whole picture).

    Sometimes taking a break and reflecting on things can help narrow the source of anxiety/depression. Other times not. We are each different, which is why it is best to seek help from someone whose job it is to deal with this sort of thing. they see a lot of people a day, and monitor their progress as time goes on. they know their stuff, despite the cynics.

    best of luck, hopefully things will settle down for you.

    DDF

    Last edited by dropdedfwed; 23-05-2006 at 11:11 AM.