Newly diagnosed and reaching out

[Hamrock]

Hi,

Thank you for providing such an open forum for people to learn and discuss these issues  I was diagnosed with depression only a couple of weeks ago but the battle has been ongoing for about 12 years. Until recently I didn't know what I was dealing with and why I behaved the way I did.

I'm finally starting to gain an understanding of what has been happening and why but I'm struggling at the same time. I have only spoken to my wife about this battle and she is an endless source of support but I still feel somewhat alone with this battle.

i've started taking medication and have found it's levelled me out from the extremes I'd been showing - irratability, anger, sadness and self loathing. I've also found though that days like today I struggle to get motivated about anything. I'm an active person and train very regularly but days like today I can barely get myself out of bed, am not hungry and it then turns into feelings of guilt for being so inactive. 

I guess im looking to anyone to talk a bit more about this battle. I'm a bit lost and unsure of what to do.

thanks

[gnull]

Hi. Not being able to get out of bed some days is dairly standard. I've had anxiety and depression nearly all my life but wasnt diagnosed until i wss 15. It comes and goes now. 

[geoff]

dear Hamrock, it's good to have you on board, because everybody who has suffered from some kind of depression has their own story to tell.

Maybe it would be a good idea to click on 'resources' at the top of the page and order all 'the printed material' from BB, it's all free but the information it provides explains so much about this illness, what to do, how your carer can help and the list goes on, it's very good, and will also help your wife understand this illness.

Your GP can organise a medicare plan for you, which entitles you to 10 free visits per year to see a psych, but the important thing is that you have to be able to connect with this person, the reason being that you have to feel comfortable in talking to them otherwise it will be a waste of time.

Can I ensure you that you aren't alone here, as everyone on here has suffered from depression, and when I say depression it is the tip of the umbrella, because under it it involves everything which are listed in 'the facts' above.

There are so many comments for you to read, but we also want you to reply back to us so that we will try and help you through this. Geoff.

[Hamrock]

Hi Geoff,

thanks for your reply. This forum has been my first opportunity to talk a bit about this. Thanks for the tip about resources up the top, I'll definitely have a look at it.

As for the GP and psych plan, that's how all this came about. I've been chatting to my psych for about 18 months now and it has been a fantastic help. Throughout the process is what brought me to the realisation of having depression, it's only recently that it was confirmed although there is probably a lot more to it stemming from my childhood and then it being compounded as time has gone on. My childhood and an abusive relationship with my dad plus the incredibly saddening and stressful work I do as a detective in the police has pushed things to an extreme limit.

Since starting the medication I've felt it has given me some consistency but it hasn't taken long to realise it is far from a cure!

thanks again for your help

matt 

[geoff]

dear Matt, I certainly appreciate being a detective would be frightening to see what atrocities people are capable of doing, and wonder what makes them do any of this, greed, sex, money or domination, probably the whole lot.

Medication will absolutely help but it's not, as you say the cure, because the problems that do and have existed will still be there, and the medication won't erase any of them, but they will make you to think in a more rational way.

We have a lot of people who have posted about their childhood and the physical abuse that they have suffered, personally thank god I didn't have to encounter any of this, but I know what devastation it would have caused, but as a child you weren't to know and that's why it should be taught at a school level, and I suppose at primary level would be a good start. Geoff.