Dear GMC7~
I'd like to join Tony and others in welcoming you hear to hte Forum I've read your other thread "Depression is taking hold of my life" which seems to be to be very much related.
The reason I say this it I was invalided out of my career due to what was diagnosed as depression. Part of that was hopelessness, part caused by my work situation problems, and part not being able to enjoy the things I used to enjoy before. That basically applied to everything from my relations wiht my partner, intimacy, reading (a major pastime in the past) and a whole raft of other things.
I felt is was my failings that caused this, and that I had no faith in psychiatrists or other clinical personnel. This left me feeling trapped and on a downward spiral. Eventually things got completely unbearable and I told someone else (my partner) just how I was feeling.
I had been receiving treatment in the form of antidepressants but could not honestly say they did any good. As a result my life and family became more and more distant.
After I opened up to my partner she insisted I go back to hte psychiatrist and explain the treatment was only allowing me to get worse, not better. Fortunately he listened and then began a set of trials of different medications and therapies. Franky the only therapy that did any good was talking wiht him, and it took quite a while to find the medicine that suited me.
This was a drawn out process as I had to tail off one before building up on another BUT when hte right combination was found it made a huge difference. I became more motivated, went back to reading and enjoyed simply being with my partner and family. In turn htis change led to new career. I am now back with structure, satisfaction and interest as well as identity.
I guess waht I"m saying is tow things, there is hope. Also oyu have to take charge of your treatments and ensure you are with a clinician who is flexible, beleives your assessments and is willing to keep on trying.
Croix
