Ive been dealing with depression for ten years or more

[bel1701]

Im so sick of it, bringing me down, im not able to do anything because it feels like its controling me. Help.

[Neil_1]

Hi there bel

Welcome to Beyond Blue.

So few words expressed, but they reveal so much.

And that’s something I’ve never been good at either – being able to keep my posts to just a few words.  But bear with me as I start my ramblings.  By the way, isn’t the english language weird!  I said bare with me, and it threw up something as being an error;  so I had to change it to bear with me – and so it describes a large potentially dangerous animal in the wilderness regions of Canada and America.  I guess that’s better than being naked.  But I digress.

Bel, are you currently working in a job?

Are you seeing a doctor, or have you seen a doctor about this in recent times?

What other support mechanisms do you have?  Ie:  any close friends or close family members who you may be able to chat with?

Sorry about the questions – but am just hoping to find out a little more, so we’ll be better informed about what support and advice we may be able to offer.

I do hope to hear from you again.

Neil

[Cestro]

Hey bel.
Depression can be a very difficult battle, but there are allot of avenues you can take when in need of help.

I don't know too much about what you're going through, but I know that when times get tough, there's some great ways to help yourself feel better. These can work for many people.

For a start, it can often be a good idea to seek a GP who can provide medication for things like depression, anxiety, OCD, etc. They can also offer great tips and info that you can use to prevent and control youre depression. Medication can often make things allot easier and might be an idea if you haven't considered it yet.

Secondly, it can be very helpful to talk about you're problems and feelings with other people. It can provide a sense of relief and allows other people to understand what you're going through so they can support you. I know that some people think getting others involved in their problems is a bad idea until they try it and often find that it really helps. So if you haven't spoken to you're family or friends about you're depression yet, perhaps now's the time.
Also, if you would prefer to talk more in private, a counsellor can help talk through your problems and offer tips and ideas.

If you find that you spend allot of time at home, have a very busy work life, work from home, or something along those lines, and you don't spend much time doing things that you enjoy or keep you entertained, you could try and change that. I find that when I'm feeling depressed or have high anxiety, having nothing to do or doing things that don't interest me allow depressing or stressful thoughts to slip into my head. Whereas, if I'm occupied with something that keeps me focused, those thoughts and feelings don't get stuck in my mind.
So try doing things that interest you, like going shopping, creating/discovering a new hobby, going out and socialising, or just reading a cool book.

Also, exercise is a great way to make yourself feel good and in control. Running, cycling, hitting the gym or even a brisk walk releases happy hormones such as Serotonin and Endorphins that help regulate the mood, prevent depression and reduce anxiety.

Lastly, keep focussed on you're goals, dreams and passions. Don't lose sight of them. Use them to drive you forward, a reason to keep fighting as hard as you have been.
Never feel lost, never feel alone, never feel without hope, because at some point everything will get better, even if it's a gradual process 🙂

[gmc]

Hello Bel,

I have been dealing with depression and it's been 4 years by now. I know what you mean. As Neil and Cestro say, do you see a psychologist, a psychiatrist? It would be good for you.

I understand your feelings. I have been feeling bad for a very long time while seeing specialists also. But the more I was down, the more I wanted to get better. It's been four years since I last felt better. But I never gave up. I recommend you a book. Andrew Solomon - The Noonday Demon. An Atlas of Depression. Between the information and the multiple sources, there is the story of a man that had a continuous and successful battle with depression.

What you need, Bel, is hope. And this is what you have to look for and your deepest corners of the mind and the soul. I think you wrote this thread when you had a relapse, I'm sure. But when you'll have a small sparkle of a moment when you're a bit better, remember, Bel, and read my message again.

Look for hope in everything and it will show up. In what you like, in who you love, in a little thing. Look around and find something.

Thanks for reading 🙂

[geoff]

dear Bel, I really welcome your comment, because 10 years is an awful long time to suffer from this terrible illness.

There's not much more I can add but I can say that it feels as though it constantly always pulling us down, and yes it certainly does, because every door we try and open it's always locked, and every friend that we once had, we don't know them any more, oh, and I almost forgot to say what happens to our marriage and/or relationship, well generally in the long run it will be damaged so much that it will probably end, or maybe put a huge barrier between us, so there's only one place that it is safe, not that we assume this, but it's in a deep hole.

I can as well as others empathise so much with you, because this amount of time we have to try do and something different, so that it would break this chain that is holding us back, such as medication review, change schools or workplaces, if you are able to be working, or try another way of therapy.

Wanting to talk to other people, those that have been through this wringer themselves, could spark a another idea that registers with you, because it maybe something that no one else has mentioned but you can relate to.

I know that such a short post means that your not well so please contact us. Geoff.