Community Chat

[arizona babe]

@gellen sorry to hear you are not feeling well- as an RN i can tell you one you are not alone these days and secondly antidepression meds usually take a minimum of 6 weeks before you might notice changes- I don't know where you live but going outside and getting in the sunshine does wonders, exercise even if it is walking and we can all go out for walks, listen to music , turn off the news, try crafts like paint by number, or adult coloring books- computer games are good, I use Pogo.com, read books and maybe not heavy books but a good romance or comedy book, get some soothing candles to light like lavender or lemon balm, ask your doctor about taking high does of vitamin D3 - maybe you need your thyroid checked- cook- and keep in touch with friends and family- you will get through this, this covid is affecting all of us and for people that have depression and anxiety it can be worse- most of all don't give up on your treatment - if you are religious maybe go talk to a pastor or priest- make sure you are eating fresh food and not junk food and try to sleep- I have been through this myself and I know first hand that it doesn't last forever- stay positive

[hckynut]

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@gellen wrote:

I am two months into a serious depression.  It began with isolation  (solitary) during the beginning of Covid.  My depression began in June.  I have tried many different meds and therapy.  Was there any one thing that got you through? 

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@gellen 

I can't speak to the virus caused depression, but I was in a mental hospital. Diagnosis was Clinical Depression and Panic/Anxiety Disorder.

Your meds I assume are a prescription given you by a Psychiatrist. You don't say what type of "therapy" you have had, or are having. Why you Psychiatrist would have "tried many meds".I cannot relate to with you. My Psychiatrist told me for some patients it can take weeks, or longer, to know if a psych med is helping their patient, and you are saying "many in 2 months".

For me there was no 1 thing that got me through my 7+ day stay, and the subsequent years now after. It was/is a combination of several things for me. For me I think the primary thing is Optimism, without it I am not sure where I would be now 20+ years later.

Since you are seeing a Professional and have been given a diagnosis, I can only say stick with it and take it 1 day at a time. Unfortunately, that is what worked and is working these many years later.

I have been in that Black Hole, and no physical problems I have faced, which is many, comes close to what a human goes through dealing with these types of problems.

Sending you my sincere thoughts and wish you the best,

hckynut(john) 🏒

[Burnsite]

Almost everyone is saddened by what is going on right now.  I am working and that helps, but the sadness is still there. My family members are dealing wirh health crises (non-Covid) and I can't see them or be there for them. 

Reach out to your primary doctor, or bestie, or pastor, or favorite relative.  You need support right now.  

I'll be thinking the good thoughts for you. It's going to be a while before a vacciine, though the trials are starting, and until that happens not too much will change.  Open a line to talk with someone supportive. 

[Nuttmeg]

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@EatWell wrote:

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@Mz iMac wrote:

For me there were several things....

Fire TV

Massive DVD movie collection

Trips to BJ's

Walks in the woods (I live in the boonies).

Car trips to nowhere.

I'm retired.  Pandemic has not changed my way of living except I never leave home w/o a mask.

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@Mz iMac 

Sorry to ask, but what /where is BJ's?

“Stay safe. Stay home.”

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Please check online. BJ's is a warehouse club store similar to Costco. You can find BJ's stores in central and northern NJ. 

[Nuttmeg]

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@gellen wrote:

I am two months into a serious depression.  It began with isolation  (solitary) during the beginning of Covid.  My depression began in June.  I have tried many different meds and therapy.  Was there any one thing that got you through? 

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@gellen

I suffered a nasty depression about 20 years ago. It took me about 10 years to recover.

I do hope you have a psychiatrist as your treating doctor. Ask your doctor about being treated by a psychologist with talk therapy.

Medications are tool. It may take a while for them to work.

I hope you are doing happy things,playing up beat music, and watching funny movies.

Please do a Google search for mental health resources online.

I do hope that the gray clouds will lift soon. 

[panda1234]

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@Mindy D wrote:

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@panda1234 wrote:

@MindyD I read your post and can relate to so much you have said. My daughter suffers from major depressive disorder and none of the meds have helped her, she is drug resistant. She did do a treatment which also did not help but may help you. It is called TMS and is similar to EST but uses a different technology. It is a commitment, five days a week for seven weeks. Each session lasts for one hour. Just thought you might be interested.

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@panda1234 @thank you for trying to help me. I think I wasn't very clear. I'm not much of a writer. My medication does work for me. I'm sorry your daughter is suffering with drug resistant depression. I did have second cousin with drug resistant depression. This was many years ago. He had ECT, which finally helped him. I have heard that ketamine is now being used to treat drug resistant depression. Even when a medication is working, sometimes there can be a symptom that does not resolve when on the medication. This is called an unresolved symptom of depression. 

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@Mindy D  Sorry I misunderstood but very glad your meds are working. Because my daughter hears voices they don't want to give her ketamine, could make it worse. I have however, heard good things about it. The only thing I can say is mental illness sucks, it's a cancer of the soul. 

[Bella2022]

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@DiAnne wrote:

With everything that is going on in the world and the change in our lifestyles, I would think everyone is a little depressed.  

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        I agree but everyone handles the situation in different ways.

[gellen]

My MD feels the depression is more a result of too much time on my hands to mull over regrets from the past and what the future will hold.

[hckynut]

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@gellen wrote:

My MD feels the depression is more a result of too much time on my hands to mull over regrets from the past and what the future will hold.

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@gellen 

Does this mean you are doing better? Knowing the cause can certainly help, and I hope just hearing that, is what you have needed. 

Sounds like you now have to find a way to follow through with this if you agree with your MD.

Optimism/Optimism, Optimism was and still is my best friend during my last 14 year battles with several different serious health issues. I never looked behind/live day by day, and always see the good in my future, the very next day.

My best to you,

hckynut(john)

[dooBdoo]

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@gellen wrote:

My MD feels the depression is more a result of too much time on my hands to mull over regrets from the past and what the future will hold.

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Thanks for posting this, @gellen.    Is your therapist giving you specific "homework" as part of new tools to use and also to help you focus on activities?   

During sessions it's important to focus on the conversation, but I try to take simple notes along the way.    Then, immediately afterward I take a few minutes in the waiting room or even in my car and I make a few more notes, so I have a plan, something concrete to look at and do in the next few days.   

I know none of us are exactly the same, but I think I can empathize with you -- I've tended toward worry (and anxiety) as long as I can recall...  all the way back to childhood, and sometimes it has been paralyzing.   

Once I began therapy, I discovered how much regret and worry can be something we mull and ruminate over to the point of catastrophizing.   And also it can be wasted time and energy -- we can't time travel back and make the "if onlys" different, and we can't have complete control of the future "what ifs."   However, we can use it as fuel, as experience transformed into knowledge and new tools -- to make changes -- no matter how subtle, those changes can add up to a better and brighter path.   

In my case, I learned that keeping on top of my regrets and worrying isn't something I can "fix" permanently and then not think about it again -- it's something I have to do, actively, sort of like physical exercise that only works if we keep it up.

And it's important to say this:  I don't want to make it sound like it's simple because it isn't.   Or that it's easy, because (for me, at least), it isn't.   But it's worth the work and you are worth it.❤️   I sure do wish I were there, in person, so we could be friends, sit together and talk, and really help one another.❤️

I want to share these quotes I keep posted, along with scriptures from my faith, in my kitchen so I see them often as reminders:

"Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength -- carrying two days at once.  It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time.  Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”  (Corrie ten Boom)

“Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.”  (Wanda E. Brunstetter, author)

"Write your worries in sand.  Carve your blessings in stone." (not sure of the author of this)