Support circle for depression
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Anna Burrell
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:55 pm
I have to say I am really thankful for everyone's interest in a support circle specifically for depression. I surely have anxiety but as of these past few months my depression has become something bigger than me.
Everyday I feel like a piece of me dies. I am just existing and not living. NOTHING make me happy. I take 200 mg of Zoloft and I am so scared that my doctor will want to switch my medication which I have already done so many times. I already deal with so many side effects (NO sex drive, night sweats, etc)
I try very hard to think positively and try thinking I WILL get better, but it feels like im drowning. I try so hard to keep my head above water(depression) but nothing is helping..
Everyday I feel like a piece of me dies. I am just existing and not living. NOTHING make me happy. I take 200 mg of Zoloft and I am so scared that my doctor will want to switch my medication which I have already done so many times. I already deal with so many side effects (NO sex drive, night sweats, etc)
I try very hard to think positively and try thinking I WILL get better, but it feels like im drowning. I try so hard to keep my head above water(depression) but nothing is helping..
Hi beckyl and LisaWoo, Welcome to this support circle.
Anna, I recall Lucinda talking about her overwhelming sense of bewilderment, and that is one of the best words I can choose to say how I increasingly felt for the past two years. Most of my friends and family started out with cheerful advice, then when their cheery advice did not help me, they seemed to think I was choosing not to accept their advice. I simply was sinking, and I could not swim. You mention no sex drive, night sweats, -- sounds like our old friend menopause. I'm right in the middle of that, too. As you can see, I don't have any advice, just a lot of compassion because I know how you feel. I really do. Let me share a couple of things off our homework assignments that are helping me with the positive thinking. I had so many negative thinking things to write down, I think I wrote a book. Out of session three, I also started a separate journal. I call it my negative letters journal. I write letters, sometimes really long letters at 3 in the morning, to people I have held on to resenting. Top of the list, my ex husband and current boyfriend. Of course, these letters are not for sending. After a few days, and more progress on this program, I reread early letters. I have actually been able to see the ridiculous enormous energy I have invested in all this resentment. And I am feeling better. I have noticed positive kind thoughts toward each of these men in the past couple days. As for the physical aspects of hormonal upheaval of menopause, have you ever read Christiane Northrup's books? She is an OBGYN, and she has some very excellent lifesaver material for those of us in this menopause boat. Keep checking in here to the Depression forum, and look for all our names on posts. We will all be needing you, too. Pecos.
Anna, I recall Lucinda talking about her overwhelming sense of bewilderment, and that is one of the best words I can choose to say how I increasingly felt for the past two years. Most of my friends and family started out with cheerful advice, then when their cheery advice did not help me, they seemed to think I was choosing not to accept their advice. I simply was sinking, and I could not swim. You mention no sex drive, night sweats, -- sounds like our old friend menopause. I'm right in the middle of that, too. As you can see, I don't have any advice, just a lot of compassion because I know how you feel. I really do. Let me share a couple of things off our homework assignments that are helping me with the positive thinking. I had so many negative thinking things to write down, I think I wrote a book. Out of session three, I also started a separate journal. I call it my negative letters journal. I write letters, sometimes really long letters at 3 in the morning, to people I have held on to resenting. Top of the list, my ex husband and current boyfriend. Of course, these letters are not for sending. After a few days, and more progress on this program, I reread early letters. I have actually been able to see the ridiculous enormous energy I have invested in all this resentment. And I am feeling better. I have noticed positive kind thoughts toward each of these men in the past couple days. As for the physical aspects of hormonal upheaval of menopause, have you ever read Christiane Northrup's books? She is an OBGYN, and she has some very excellent lifesaver material for those of us in this menopause boat. Keep checking in here to the Depression forum, and look for all our names on posts. We will all be needing you, too. Pecos.
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CarolynEd.Dir.
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:31 pm
Keep the support going!
I, too, eventually found depression to be the ultimate pain. There is no way for us to explain to Anyone how awful it is. In the end it is only important that we know and are doing all that we can to help ourselves.
In recent studies two things were found to be extremely helpful: daily exercise and sunlight.
They propose just 15 minutes will raise our seretonin level, an inexpensive boost.
Stay with you medication until you and your doctor decide it's time to wean, but add the walk and the sun [grow lights if no sun].
Check in every day - give support to one another and know that you ARE making a difference. Love and Peace, Carolyn
I, too, eventually found depression to be the ultimate pain. There is no way for us to explain to Anyone how awful it is. In the end it is only important that we know and are doing all that we can to help ourselves.
In recent studies two things were found to be extremely helpful: daily exercise and sunlight.
They propose just 15 minutes will raise our seretonin level, an inexpensive boost.
Stay with you medication until you and your doctor decide it's time to wean, but add the walk and the sun [grow lights if no sun].
Check in every day - give support to one another and know that you ARE making a difference. Love and Peace, Carolyn
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Mary Wargo
- Posts: 274
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:37 pm
For those feeling the effects of hormone changes maybe from menopause - I struggled on and off with depression years ago after several traumatic life events in a row finally got the best of me. I have to say though as frightened as I was of menopause and it's effects, once it was over with and the hormone cycles stopped effecting my moods it has since been a positive force in my life. I no longer get the depressive ups and downs every month and feel much more evened out. I never realized how much the hormone changes actually affected my moods until they were gone. The best is yet to come ladies - it really is.
Yes....I am in about the same place....it is the ongoing, nagging depression that eats away at me. One minute I think I am OK...and then out of nowhere comes the next wave and throws me down into that dark well again. Probably don't have to explain that image to you....but I think a group dealing with depression would be a good idea...
JChick
JChick
Originally posted by pecos:
I am working this program, which I think is very good by the way, to overcome a depression which had taken over my life. I am following the program according to all the instructions and feel improvement already. One of the program assignments is to check in to our peer group daily online ... this group. I am finding that mostly the forums are for stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety are not my problems. Perhaps those of us who are primarily here for depression could reply here, and we could create a depression support circle? It would be helpful to me. I hope others would be interested.
Yep, count me in too! Seasoned depressive vet, (22yrs, 15-37yrs old), spinal birth defect that keeps me in chronic pain, lots to be miserable about!
But the program has opened my eyes, and hopefully everyone's learning that in spite of our issues, it's our choice to respond on a regular basis. I have considered myself a prisoner in my body, not able to do the things I loved to do, and nowadays just waking up has a measure of pain to it and really make waking up the hardest part of my day. I have allowed this to dominate me, torture me, and keep my mind mired in an abysmal, helpless muck of negative thinking. But the reality is I can choose a different life. I can say 'good morning back pain', do a quick stretch, get a motrin and almost do ok after that instead of completely mentally shreeding myself to pieces.
I hope the tools are working for everyone, and everyone's seeing there's another life out there waiting....although man the work is hard! Somedays I'd rather carry a wheelbarrow full of heavy rocks, be in excrutiating pain, than try positive thinking! But that's where we got to endure, we got to do the things we haven't and keep trying even if we slip. Hopefully we can all support each other, and help each other get there!
But the program has opened my eyes, and hopefully everyone's learning that in spite of our issues, it's our choice to respond on a regular basis. I have considered myself a prisoner in my body, not able to do the things I loved to do, and nowadays just waking up has a measure of pain to it and really make waking up the hardest part of my day. I have allowed this to dominate me, torture me, and keep my mind mired in an abysmal, helpless muck of negative thinking. But the reality is I can choose a different life. I can say 'good morning back pain', do a quick stretch, get a motrin and almost do ok after that instead of completely mentally shreeding myself to pieces.
I hope the tools are working for everyone, and everyone's seeing there's another life out there waiting....although man the work is hard! Somedays I'd rather carry a wheelbarrow full of heavy rocks, be in excrutiating pain, than try positive thinking! But that's where we got to endure, we got to do the things we haven't and keep trying even if we slip. Hopefully we can all support each other, and help each other get there!