help for people with chronic depression

[somebody1209]

I have chronice depression and i go through everyday with a pretend smile on my face and thinking about suicide. I am on medications but sometimes they struggle to work sometimes. Im just wondering if there is somebody out there that can help me

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[Doolhof]

Hi Somebody1209,

Welcome to Beyond Blue and to the community here. There are so many people who have posted here over time who can relate to your story.

I am so very sorry to read that you have found yourself in this situation. Please do not struggle on alone in this. Return to your Dr. and let them know the medication you are presently on is not very effective and you would like to have a change of medication.

If you become really desperate, please call up the people at Beyond Blue, Life Line or a Suicide Prevention number for a chat.

Late last year I became really ill mentally. I had not realised how sick I was! In the end my husband organised for me to have an emergency appointment with our Dr. and I was placed in hospital for almost two weeks.

I had suicide thoughts daily. I knew I didn't want to act on them, but they were there and would sometimes freak me out. The thoughts were disturbing. No one wants to feel that way.

To cut a long story short, my Dr. changed my medication and I am now feeling a lot more stable and calm. No thoughts of suicide evade me any more. It can be a bit of a process finding the right medication but it is worth it!

So please, use the phone lines for immediate help and assistance. I did and the people on the other end of the line really helped me out in a very tough time.

Return to your Dr. and explain how you are feeling. Is it possible for you to have a rest in a hospital for a while? It was the best thing I did. I am working and it was a little difficult to organise the time off, but I needed it. If not I would have gone Bang as I call it!

You are not alone in this! People here at Beyond Blue totally understand how you are feeling. Once again, please get the help you need.

And please get back to us so we know how you are going. Sharing your story here with me and others will help you as well if you need to do so.

Thinking of you and wishing you well in your recovery, from Mrs. Dools

[somebody1209]

I am back to my doctors tonight to have a talk about medication. I would love some time to rest to be able to get away from everything. Thank you for getting back to me it means alot

[somebody1209]

if i forgot to put it in the last post i am st7dying so it will be hard for me to get time off

[Doolhof]

Hi Somebody,

If you don't mind me asking you some questions how did you get on at the Drs?

Do you study full time or part time?

If you are financial enough could you take off for a weekend away?

I like to stay in a cabin in a caravan park or in a motel for a weekend now and then by myself to just escape and rest for a while. I prefer to be some where near water. The beach is best, if not then at the river.

Could you consider that option? Or do you have relatives or friends you could stay with for a weekend?

Sometimes I even find just going out for the whole day is like taking a mini holiday. I treat myself to a walk along the beach, a nice lunch, a swim, a look in the shops, maybe dinner as well and then go home. It saves the expense of an overnight stay.

Have a think about it and see what you come up with.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

[zailleh]

Hi somebody1209,

 Just wanted to say that you're definitely not alone. I've had chronic depression and anxiety for about 15 years. So long so that I thought it was just a part of my personality and I was just stuck that way.

I now know that there are things I can do and people who can help to get past it; and that goes for you too. Things are hard now but they can and will get better with support from friends, family, and professionals and, of course, all of us here on beyond blue!

~zailleh

[somebody1209]

My doctors appoitment was allright. He did not do much other than i have a follow up appoitment on saturday. He did not change my medication. I am studyibg 2 days a week but it is called full time. I am not finacialy stable enough to go away for the weekend and rent a cabin or something. I have started seeing a physcologist on tuesday was my first day but it felt good.

[somebody1209]

Thank you for replying it means alot

[Doolhof]

Hi Somebody,

Congratulations on making it to see your Dr and also for starting to see a psychologist, I hope this person is able to help you.

Okay, I totally understand the lack of finances for such luxuries as weekends away. I have certainly been there too!

So let's think of other things you can do to give you life a bit of a change in direction and to inject new interests into your life to help with the depression.

Are you in a town or in a city? Do you like bush walking, taking photos (you don't have to print them) some kind of sport, can you join a group or an organisation of some kind?

Have you thought of volunteering somewhere? There could be hundreds of options in your area that could open up all kinds of opportunities for you. Check it out under your local council on the net.

Are you making any friends where you are studying? Could you ask someone if they want to join you for a coffee. You never know where that could lead. Even if you get a No at least you have tried.

I may be barking up the wrong tree here totally! Sometimes we just need to think outside of the box! (what ever that is!)

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools