I Am Woman Forum Depression

Yira Simone	Depression 18 Years Ago I have it. It count it as a blessing and curse. Do you suffer from this as well?
Ameashi	[no subject] 18 Years Ago i sometimes do -_- it keeps me from wanting to do much. it definately affects my daily life. some days it worse than others. but i hate dwelling on it and TRY my best to live life with happiness. i refuse to take medication for i could be a very dependant person, i can't live that way. but i do see a psychologist at least once a month. i admit i'd love to see her more but with my money situation it's not exactly possible. but i will say i have over come depression quite a bit. i focus and visualize happiness. i live for today and try to remember we could be here today and gone tomorrow. i sympathize for anyone who experiances it and hope the best for them.
Yira Simone	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I can relate to you Skye. I refuse medication also. I don't see anyone...yet. I also try to uplift myself with writing and other things to help me not slip back into that black hole.
Katie B	[no subject] 18 Years Ago Yes I suffer from depression as well. I hate the feeling because I don't want to anything, which is partly why I haven't had a huge rush of new writings. There have been points where I had thoughts and almost went through with suicide. My big thing is I am an emotional eater. I get depressed and I eat, way beyond the capacity that I should. A nearby college offers free counseling. I'm working up the courage to go. Most people who I try to confide in about what is going on, try to one up me with their problems. Which doesn't help. I know there are people who have a worse situation than I have but that doesn't make my problems trivial. I think it is time to get a neutral party involved. I don't want to feel this way for the rest of my life. Kate
Chloe..Across the Unive..	[no subject] 18 Years Ago ::sad:: Oh yes, very much so! It is a curse
Yira Simone	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I tend to overeat at times too when my emotions are off the charts. I have sought help, but it will be a few months before I'm seen. I use to think about suicide, but not anymore...I still think about homicide though. ::tongue::
Alyssa Dufresne	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I do. I got it from my grandmother. Although I am constantly being pestered to do so, I refuse to be on "happy pills". I've never been to a shrink; however, I talk to a lot of my friends and once found a teacher [she ended up as my friend] who knew how to help me. Everytime I'd talk to her my life seemed to improve. Best of all, she didn't tell anyone else. But it's been a while since I've seen her. :-( Now I've got to find someone else to help me. Grrr. I want my friend back.
Lynn Mariposa	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I have gastroparesis which is delayed stomach emptying. So when I eat the food just sits in my stomach until I get sick. ANYWAYS, I was put on this medication called REGLAN. Reglan is supposed to help the food move faster through your stomach, its called a pro motility agent. REGLAN has alot of nasty side effects. I got severe depression right away--I swear, I took the pill and no more than 10 minutes later my mind was affected! I could not figure out why I felt so sleepy, sluggish and just felt down. I am an optimistic person and yet nothing seemed to help. I tried to exercise, dance and go outside but I still felt terrible. I literally felt like I was facing a deep, black wall and could not escape. Iwas so tired that I could barely keep my eyes open and was always dizzy. Only after I joined a support group for gp did I learn of the effects Reglan can have, and that other people have had similar mental side effects. I stopped taking the drug and felt like myself again. Being on Reglan was the scariest thing I have ever felt. A great book for emotional eaters is "Feeding the Hungry Heart" by Geneen Roth. The book is about compulsive eating but really touches on alot of topics including empowerment, facing self-destructive behavior, hunger as a metaphor and self-image. The book is a compilation of personal stories and includes insights by Geneen. It really helped me. I have a picture on my blog about binge eating: www.shadowwings.wordpress.com Blessings~ Lynn
Katie B	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I, too, don't want to be on antidepressants or any other medications. I don't like the idea of being dependent on a pill for the rest of my life. I think part of it has to do with the fact that in my immediate family alone (including grandparents and aunts/uncles), I have two people who addicts. One is addicted to painkillers and the other is an alcoholic. I have always been funny about any medication, even aspirin and cough syrup. Also Lynn's story is another reason. You hear these stories about medications that are suppose to help people but instead they cause more damage than good.
Emily B	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I have chronic, resistant depression. Looking back it started around age 8. Through the years it has manifested itself different ways. I didn't seek treatment until two years ago. Before that, I read, I exercised, I changed my diet. I tried everything I could think to not have to take a pill. The chronic part means my depression never goes away, it lessens and worsens. Resistant means that one or more methods of treatment hasn't worked. It's a process. Maybe this combination of drugs will work for a year, then I may have to go back and start over. I remember when I first began a medication that worked for me. It was like a film was removed from my eyes. Everything was brighter. My husband said I smiled. For the first time in a long time I felt like who I think I am. I kinda figure it's genetic. I can't do anything with the chemicals in my brain. Other than what I've already tried. If I had high blood pressure, I would take a pill if I had to. . . I wish all of you better days. Life is too short to live in the dark. Love and thoughts. Emily

Carrie Montgomery	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I am bipolar so yes I have it- a lot. I DO consider it a blessing and a curse...blessing b/c I write better curse b/c I cannot function as a wife and mother as well as I would like at times.
Nicole (Carpe Diem)	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I have had bouts with it... never clinically tested or any of that... but there have been times i have been in such funks that its just not normal sadness... recently i had a bit of it... i am slowly getting out of it... i also have that seasonal affective disorder stuff... when winter really sets in... my mood is just not as good... i dont want to get out of bed or do much of anything..
Kim	[no subject] 18 Years Ago Well I am bipolar. I have the severe depression and then the mania. I was diagnosed 2 years ago after a lifetime of highs and lows never really knowing something was wrong. I had a major breakdown 3 years ago, at that time I was facing major back surgery, not being able to work and I am a single parent, and my first born, my baby girl was heading off to college. I basically hit a brick wall, I had always been a person who just went and went never really stopping. I got by on 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night, was at work by 6:15am and worked in child care mostly with infants and toddlers......a very demanding job that has very little down time. Anyhow with this breakdown (which was actually a suicide attempt) I ended up in a psych ward for the first time. That experience was scary to say the least. In that following 3 years I would find myself there a total of 4 times. I have faced the fact that I will be on medication for it for the rest of my life. Every time I went off it ended up in a hospital stay eventually. Along with the bipolar I have COPD I am also on several medications for that as well as having oxygen. I don't have to use the oxygen all the time, but use it when I sleep and as needed. I mentioned surgery ealier, that was major back surgery I had fusion done on my lower back. The surgery and year long recovery time was difficult and lost not only my job but my carreer, I loved working with the young children. It also caused permenant nerve damage in my right leg and foot. It was the best decision though as I don't live in constant severe pain any longer. I do have a new job working with Junior High kids and I like it, but I still miss the babies. So back to the depression/bipolar I know now that I have lived with it probably most of my life and without medication but major life events brought me to a place that I could not recover from and the need for medication is a must. Other things I use are music, if I am having a really rough time I will put my headphones on and listen to music (mostly Matchbox 20 and Rob Thomas) Walking also helps me. Most of my peotry is written when I am really depressed, I think that is when I write my best stuff. Anyhow that is some of my story..............meds and I are friends for without them I would not be here
Breezie Kae	[no subject] 18 Years Ago I used to have really bad depression, which lasted for about three years. I was never tested for it or anything, but I knew I had it. For the most part I'm over it now, but it still seems to come back at random times, and when I get sad, I don't just get sad, I get severely depressed. There's not many people I talk to about it - very few people even know. The main way I deal with it is to do something to distract myself, or spend time with people that help boost my confidence and make me feel loved and appreciated. I consider it a blessing and a curse. It's a curse because it can do horrible things to you. But on the other hand it's a blessing, because I've gotten so much out of it. I've learned so much about who I am as a person, and I wouldn't be the same person I am today if I hadn't gone through it. And plus, it's given me some awesome writing. :)
Valorie J. Shearer	[no subject] 18 Years Ago *Of course! I am going through menopause so the estrogen patch, and therapy once a week is essential! LOL.. Take care~~~*
Ashley Parrott	[no subject] 17 Years Ago I'm in constant limbo with it. I have found that keeping a constant revolving door of new activity is the biggest help. It keeps me active, and distracted. It also helps me to feel fulfilled and just more satisfied over all. Mine has always been at its worst when my life gets too routine. So now I have thrown myself into the world, and between work, and volunteering, and book clubs, and shows and events I have no time to be depressed, ha-ha. It took me years to understand it; it was just like I had all this emotion and could not understand or distinguish my feelings at all. I felt confused, inadequate and just despairing constantly. The least thing could make me feel like a total failure. All I wanted to do was sleep. Finally though I just took a realistic look at myself, and really set out to figure out what the hell happened to throw me into all of this. Then next came figuring out what triggered it, and when it was at its worst. After that everything else got a little easier.