Connect
← Return to Long-term depression
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Were we separated at birth? Your journey is exactly as mine. I experienced a traumatic event when I was 9 years old and have suffered from low-level depression since then with periods of major depressive disorder. I am also now a senior and I'm experiencing the same feelings as you: not looking forward to anything; feeling blah; crying a lot; having anxiety; and the unrelenting fatigue. I wasn't diagnosed until I was forty. I've been on medication since then, but after a while it didn't work anymore and I had to change meds. Recently a psychiatrist gave me samples of a medication to supplement my regular antidepressants. It is named Vraylar and it worked beautifully; I hadn't felt this good in years. However, my insurance would only pay for it for six months. The cost out of my pocket would have been $1300/month after that 6 month period. Now I'm back to where I started. And talk therapy doesn't help at all. This is a brain condition and no amount of talk therapy will change that. It's biological, folks.
You didn't mention what medication you've taken.
Replies to "Were we separated at birth? Your journey is exactly as mine. I experienced a traumatic event..."
Hello @roochie. I understand and agree with your point about talk therapy and it's benefits if one has a chemical imbalance in their brain chemistry. I do think it can be beneficial in combination with medication by helping me, at least, understand where my anxiety comes from and how if I entertain negative thoughts borne of anxiety, it is going to turn into a depressive event. As @mamasitalucita said, mindfulness has really helped me realize when I am seeing bad things happening that are unrealistic and highly unlikely. The realization is usually enough to get my thoughts reordered to not entertain the barrage that one negative thought can become.
Connect
Cymbalta daily, low dose Xanax as needed, no more than once daily. Magnesium, multiple vitamin and minerals tablet Mindfulness, prayer, meditation. Church fellowship. Keeping up friendships with supportive family and friends Reading, when I can finally sit down and focus. Listening to positive music. Getting my feet dirty in the yard once a day. Knowing I am not alone.