Long-term depression
I have been depressed, when I think about it, since I was a kid (I"m a senior now!) I have been treated off and on with meds and minimal talk therapy, but nothing changes. In the past it has been underlying but as I grow older it is becoming more intense. People ask: 'why are you depressed? I never get depressed, just get a better attitude'. Or they don't hear my (probably passive-aggressive) cries for help. Or they say: 'what do you have to be depressed about?' Actually although I agree with these opinions to a certain extent, it does not address the problem that depression is not a 'why', not is it a 'choice'. It's almost like being gay, you just are. Maybe I should just accept it (guess that's what I have done for decades 🙂 But I don't want to. I want to feel better now. Earlier in my life I was able to enjoy things, although the depression would keep popping out. But now I seem to have trouble enjoying anything, including my own family, and it's harder and harder to 'push depression down' once it's popped. So I have longer periods of depression and sadness and sleeplessness and lonliness, an shorter periods of being able to enjoy my life. Or want something. Or look forward to anything. I will say too that I have as much to be happy about as I do to be unhappy - but as I said, it's not a 'why'. I'm looking for people to explore this idea, and to help each other begin to overcome. Or maybe it's just me and there's no one else who feels this way -- 😉 Thank you for reading all this.
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Sorry for your loss ! Dogs Rock !
VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS ! SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE IS HAPPY !
I would like to learn more about your coping mechanisms and hope you will share them with us. This morning I spent time being thankful for the good things in my life and that seems to lift my spirits before I have to deal with any daily event that may make me feel sad.
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.
Soul sisters! Iron sharpens iron. And we are better together!
Thoughtful insight! I am concentrating using the "one thing at a time" and it was very helpful in taking away that overwhelmed feelings of having too much to contend with this morning.
I am also experimenting with, instead of making of list, I am using the backs of my old business/professional cards to write down items that I must do or make decisions about. I accomplished quite a few of them this morning and throwing away the completed card gave me a good feeling. I wonder if anyone else has tried that method of throwing away a completed action instead of crossing the item off on the list?
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.
Try giving yourself permission to feel sad for a certain amount of time. Really feel what you feel. Then, if you need more time, repeat as needed. Don't let yourself drown my n your sorrow. We are here for you. There is hope.
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.
She is beautiful. I had a dog that looked like her when i was a kid. Is she a boarder Collie?