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Hi i'm new ... and all of this depression stuff is new too!

NiceOneGary
Community Member
Hi all ... just started meds for depression some 4 weeks ago and it has been really hard. Thought I would join you and share and learn from each other. I have found it really really tough going ... the zombie-like feelings, headaches, confusion, nausea, ... i am sure many of you know the drill. I am driven by hope that I will feel and be better ... I do feel a little better each day and feel like I am emerging from this 'black could' i have been in for many years but didn't know what to do ...didn't even realise i needed help. Anyways ... will look forward to hearing from you; life CAN be a tad lonely when people find out you have depression ... it's like a "oh ...good luck with that, get well soon!" scenario. No one really talks about it (i know i didn't too!!!) Look forward to hearing from youse all soon! Cheers.
13 Replies 13

james1
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hey,

Welcome to the forums! It's great to hear you feel like you're coming out of the cloud a bit and hopefully the medication continues to help.

It's important to make sure you continue them until your doctor says it's okay because, as with any medication, they're only really a temporary fix until other things in life do the real heavy lifting; exercise, changing habits, counselling or therapy...whatever it is that will help with the original cause of the depression.

Anyway, there are lots of topics in the depression board which you might find interesting and please feel free to post whether about yourself, or to support others. It's a wonderful community here and there are always people happy to lend an ear 🙂

James

blondguy
Champion Alumni
Champion Alumni

Hello Gary

Welcome to the forums and good on you for having the courage to reach out!

Depression is a dark cloud that can tend to hover but the intensity of the illness will lessen with a pro-active approach like yours....Good One

I understand your situation. This is my 21st year and the dark clouds do give way..The zombie feeling the headaches will lessen too.

Can I ask how often you are seeing your GP with follow ups so you can have a talk about these common side effects? I used to see my GP every week for a chat and some re-assurance which always felt good.

You will feel better Gary....no worries there. The meds arent a total fix...they do provide us with the strong foundations we require so we can utilize the benefits of regular counselling as well.

You are right about people getting verbally constipated about this common yet awful illness. I still have the same ignorant puerile responses too. To me depression is partially chemically based which makes it similar to a physical health issue. People just cant see that we use invisible crutches....

When we dont have much to do we can overthink our illness..so some 'gentle occupation' is always a bonus whether gardening...computers...reading....whatever you can find to occupy your mind in a gentle way.

Great to have you as part of the Beyond Blue Family Gary 🙂 You are more than welcome to post about anything you wish....symptoms, depression or even if you just want a chat!

You have a great attitude and nice to meet you too!

my kind thoughts

Paul

Thanks so much! Really appreciate your encouragement and wisdom. I am in contact with a doctor every second day and in counselling now ... trying to get to the gym MOST days ( i said most ...I try for all but not quite there yet). The openness and honesty of the forums here have been a beacon for me .. that light house in the storm! Thanks blond guy and all others too!!!!!

Thanks james1 too ... as you might see above I am in counselling now and trying my best to exercise every day .... i am also told to try and get a new interest when the meds settle down so that I have new 'things' to do that aren't associated with the way i used to be? Did that make sense???

Thanks again for the wisdom - very much appreciated!

james1
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hey that totally makes sense. I guess it's kind of like starting a new life really. Exercise is good to do too and eventually it becomes part of your routine which is nice to have. A bit of structure never hurts when everything in our minds is haywire, haha.

Thanks for replying 🙂

James

Ok guys well I am in week 6 now ...and have been ramped up to a higher dosage of medication and yesterday finished my third lot of counselling. I am struggling. After counselling yesterday (was a tad brutal for me, went some places I don't want to deal with hence why i am depressed i guess) i can't stop crying and just want to be left alone for a while. My wife (who has been ok to date) says I am being 'precious' and 'over the top'. I need more sleep (doing about ten hours a day) and can't get rid of that background nausea and headache that has haunted me since i started on the drugs. Tips ... advice? Help me say 'nice one Gary' again PLEASE!! Cheers all.

james1
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hey Gary,

You're doing super well to stay in there. It sounds like it's been really hard which is normal and it sounds like you do acknowledge that there are issues there which, again, is really great in terms of progress.

Perhaps these are more tips than advice, because you know how you're feeling.

Counselling - you can always be upfront with your counsellor and tell them you felt like last time may have been too much. It's good that you are struggling, but there's a delicate balance between struggling and being overwhelmed. To me, you should be able to leave the session in control of things, even if the issue isn't dealt with completely.

Drugs - if you find the side effects are too much and interfering with your daily life, it might be worthwhile telling your doctor. The side effects shouldn't last much more than a month each time you change, so if they continue and become disruptive, it's might be good to change to a different medication. They should be helping, not hindering.

Support from your wife - it's hard for people who don't have experience to understand what depression is like. It can really hurt us when the people we love say those things, but it comes from a place of non-understanding. Have you tried explaining to her what it's like? It could also help, possibly, to have a chat to your counsellor. They may have ideas including bringing your wife along for a session to help her understand.

Keep at it. You're doing really well, and please feel free to keep posting. We know from experience how hard it can be.

James

Nice one James! Timely and very very helpful. I HATE feeling alone and at times it takes 'everything' to stay on track. Cheers my friend.

NiceOneGary
Community Member
First up - thanks for all the help and tips and support - very much appreciated! Week 10 now and 'things' are not so good. Sick of the meds. Sick of being depressed. Sick of the regrets of my behaviour in the past that no doubt have hurt so many. Wish it was all over. Sick of keeping the facade up at work etc etc. I really don't want to whinge but it's how I feel right now. Feel like I have dropped into a 'pothole' to be honest. Thoughts/advice please people ......... much needed right now.