Help

[SkyeValkyrie]

I suppose first of all, I should introduce myself. You can call me Skye, feel free to come to me if you need any help of your own, I tend to be better at sorting out other people's problems than my own. Now, onto the point.

Clearly, you can already guess that it is I am asking of you. I thought that this might be a good place to start in trying to look for some help, and trying to find some clarity to improve my life. I suppose I should explain just what is it that is the problem then. As you can guess, it's depression, something that I have been dealing with for a long time, but has been particularly bad in the last 9 months or so. It runs in my family, so I suppose I should have expected it at some point in my lifetime.

I was just wondering what all you you could suggest for me to do. I'm currently taking anti-depressants daily, my interests involve art, literature, music and animation, but none of these hobbies have been helping me at all lately, in fact, in some instances they seem to make things worse. Looking into it more closely, I'm beginning to notice that I show a lot of symptoms that are found in diagnosed patients of Asperger's. Of course, I am not doctor, and would not go as far as to diagnose myself with an illness, but it just makes me think. After all, if it were true, it would explain a lot of things.

I've tried everything I can think of, reconnecting with friends and relatives, I've certainly become a lot healthier and lost a lot of weight over the past two months or so, I never use drugs or alcohol, so I'm unsure of what my next step forward should be. I'm beginning to become a little desperate.

Please, if you can spare even a moment to lend me some advice, I will be most grateful. If you have any further queries, feel free to ask them, right now I'll do just about anything to feel better.

Bless you all.

[white knight]

Hi Skye, welcome to beyond blue forums

I would definately seek psychiatric evaluation. In most cases traces of other illnesses overlap another.

Briefly, I was initially diagnosed in 2003 with ADHD and bipolar type 1. I took said medication for 6 years not knowing I had no such illnesses. That 6 years was hell. Then I sought another opinion and that psychiatrist diagnosed bipolar type 2, depression, dysthymia and anxiety. And it was spot on. Mood stabilisers and small amount of anti-depressants was the medication and am happy to take those for the rest of my life.

So you can see the issue there.  In your case Aspergers may well be present. Dont forget there are positives too in having mental illness. It isnt all doom and gloom. In fact in your case you have talents just like famous people in our world with mental illnesses have talents. If it wasnt for my dysthymia I wouldnt have my poetry that I can only write when in a down mood.

It all has to do with management of your illness not the sure of it. You are a bubbly character that deserves that bit more psychiatric evaluation to fine tune things.

Take care.  Tony  WK

[White_Rose]

Hello Skye

Welcome to Beyond Blue. It is a good place to look for help though we cannot help with a diagnosis.

Tony has made a number of good suggestions so please consider them. As you have said, self-diagnosis is not good.

I presume you must be seeing you GP to get anti-depressants. Is there a psychologist or psychiatrist in your life also. If not, please talk to your GP about a referral so that you can get a correct diagnosis one way or the other. It's always better to know what you are managing.

With your depression, it is a classic symptom to be disinterested in your hobbies, even to find they make you feel worse. Ironic really because we need activities to stop the constand whirl of thoughts in the mind. One thing I have found is not to try too hard. It puts too much presure on you and becomes a self-defeating loop.

Becoming healthier and losing weight are always good things to do and I admire your efforts. Or should I say I am jealous of your results. Losing weight is a constant battle for me. Perhaps you could pass on your secret.

From what you write it seems you are doing all the right things but maybe you need professional input. Have you considered seeing a psychologist. Usually very helpful people. Explore the other threads on BB as there are discussions on what works for different people.

Let us know how you are going.

regards

Mary