Medicated, eat right, sleep enough, see psych, exercise - still low! Options?

[BecomingAThriver]

Hi all,

I know we can't 'will' ourselves well, or I'd already be well. I know it's an illness and that it's something I suffer from but at this point, I just want to know what other things I can do to improve my mood?

I currently take an antidepressant, I eat very healthily,take an Omega 3 and magnesium supplement, exercise vigorously regularly, see a psychologist every couple of weeks and sleep as best I can (considering I am suffering major anxiety and depression that's hit and miss). I'm being kind to myself as best I can and trying to recognise that tomorrow will hopefully/likely be a new and better day. But today, SUX.

I'm not sure if anyone has any other ideas for what I can do? Figured that if I don't ask, I won't know.

My life is in disarray at the moment (not opinion, possible understatement) and I know it's depression telling me that it's not going to get better, but I need help. I feel like I'm out of options (depression specifically tells me I am). My friends keep asking if there's anything they can do, but there's not. They listen and are supportive. I don't know what else they could do, I can't even help them feel less helpless.

I'm exhausted and spiralling... need advice from others who know what I'm going through and some options, cause I'm out of ideas

[Avex88]

Hey,

I just wanted to let you know you have been heard. It sounds like you have some good insight into how you are at the moment. I'm not sure what you should do. If it's just one bad day, then maybe you'll feel better by the time you read this. If not, then maybe it's time for a different approach in therapy or maybe a medication increase. Maybe you should just let yourself rest and lay in bed for a couple days. At the very least, just keep on keeping on. 

Avex

[Girl_Anachronism]

Hi Thriver (do you mind if I call you that?),

First of all welcome to the BB forums. I hope you enjoy your time, the refreshments table is that way ------>

I am not a trained professinal but I am a fellow sufferer. I am going through somewhat of a similar experience- I am doing everything irigh ton paper from meds to psych sessions to exercise. I have been trying things I never thought I'd be interested in, in the hope it sparks something in me. I got nothing and lately, things have been very rough for me. I spent 6 hours in bed yesterday because the monsters in my head decided it was lay in bed, doin g nothing or kill myself. A grand time was NOT had by all.

When I talked it over with my psych today she believed that increasing the dosage of my antidepressant was possible answer. I went up last week and am waiting to see if it kicks in before going up further in a month.

So I while drugs may not be the answer - there are both psychological and physiological components to mentall illness; maybe it is time you went back to your health care professional and asked about an increase or a different antidepressant. Also, maybe you can get something aside from antidepressants that will help you sleep. My life is Hell right now, but atleast I can get regular sleep ( thanks to chemicals).

My only other suggestion would be to follow your instincts. I don't have a grat appetite but I like to make myself a cup of tea and just sit there, hands wrapped around it enjoying the warmth and smell. It's my little luxury. I don't know what you like as beverages or luxuries, but maybe you could try some of them.

One really dark day my good friend really wanted to help and I said to her honestly that if I knew how she could help me, I would tell her in a heartbeat, but I didn't so I couldn't. She asked me if I could be anywhere physically right then where would I be? I said some where with greenery and grass (it wasn't an immediate response it took a half an hour of driving to figure it out). So she took me to alovely park called Araluen. While it didn't cure me, I didn't instantly get better, it felt good to be there somewhere different and natural.

If I was going to be depressed, at least I was somewhere nice with a friend. I kept a petal from a Peace rose from the garden with me as I went to the hospital that night. I was in such a state that I wasn't thinking much of anything, but that little petal made me feel a little calmer.

I hope I can be of some help to you, even if only to say what Avex has said above- I hear you.

GA

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[BecomingAThriver]

Thanks Avex.

[geoff]

dear BecomingAThriver, there are times when in depression that we feel as you do, but it's not enough to get you out of this hole, this sunken that depression has on us does not allow for any relief, and although we are doing all the right things in life there is something that is missing.

There could be a few reasons for this and whether any of these can resonate with you, only you would be able to say.

I just wonder why you are doing all the right things at the moment and nothing is happening, could this that your psychologist hasn't got any more to give to you, or are they on the wrong path for any recovery, because sometimes these psych's do need a kick up their rear, and instead of going full bore they tend to slack off, and just take you as a money machine, and if this is the case then you need to say to them 'that nothing is working for me, and that maybe another approach is necessary'.

Everything that you are doing just doesn't seem to inspire you, it's just not something that stimulates you more than usual, so what I am saying is that if you can do the things that you have mentioned then they are mundane events, so you need some more stimulus to get you out of this trend, so I would be very interested in what you can do. Geoff.

[BecomingAThriver]

Thanks GA, (hopefully as you sign off this way, you won't mind me taking the liberty),

No, I don't mind if you call me Thriver... although at the moment I'm not sure it's particularly apt.

Unfortunately, I do have an anti-anxiety chemical option that I can take if I get absolutely no sleep but I don't like to take it as I am also a single parent of a toddler and often get woken up by him in addition to my own sleep issues.

I like your idea of getting out somewhere, sometimes a change of scene does seem to be what is most helpful. I know I'm supposed to try to do something that makes/made me happy too.... which is great in theory... I would love to sit and draw/paint until it made me feel better... unfortunately, I'm a single full-time working mother.... wanting some time off to do what I would like to do makes me feel more helpless... and trapped.

Thanks for the ideas though.

[BecomingAThriver]

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for taking the time to respond too.

Unfortunately my psych is amazing and I am not feeling like she is letting the team down.

I know what you mean about searching for inspiration. I guess I just need to find something that I can do to get out of this funk.

Thank you all for your responses,

I really appreciate you all taking the time to help out.

Take care of yourselves too