1. < Depression & Anxiety

Long-term depression

Posted by seeker70 @seeker70, Oct 11, 2017

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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

anniegk | @anniegk | Apr 30, 2018
In reply to @anniegk "I hear what you are saying. I have had depression and Anxiety for 30 years and..." + (show)
@anniegk

I hear what you are saying. I have had depression and Anxiety for 30 years and in the past was given medication and i pulled out of it. Not anymore. Iam now 72 years old and have not been able to pull out of this depression/anxiety. This depression has been going on for 1 1/2 years. Iam so sick of the anxiety and depression. I also have a heartbeat irregularity that really makes me nervous and anxious. It is also getting worse with age. I have also developed cramping and weakness in my lower legs I go to a doctor and they pour tons of pills on me and PHYSICALLY I feel worse than before. I worry I am having a heart attack. I fear that i will have to be hospitalized for my heart and that they will take me off all my meds cold turkey and that it will cause withdrawals which could also kill me. I have been on 250 mg er Seroquel 1 time a day and Buspar 10 mg 2x a day for over a year and Remeron for 10 years at varous doses. I also take BP Meds Lisinopril and a waterpill and Propanolol. I try to tell my husband about my fears and how i feel but after all these years, he is tired of listening to me. I just feel alone and like Iam circuling the drain. You are not alone. I just want to feel relaxed and tranquil and enjoy .whats left of my life. It is hard to get good mental care in our area. Iam going to my physician. and he sees me every 3 months. I dont feel any support from him. I do have a physchologist i see but i have problems with all the mindfullness, CBT and relaxation etc. In short, iam a mess.

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This was my beautiful Toby. A 95 lb Giant Schnauzer. He was only 2 years old.

REPLY
jeannegordon4 | @jeannegordon4 | Apr 30, 2018
In reply to @gailb "@angiegk, I hear your pain, and encourage you to search for an antidepressant that will work..." + (show)
@gailb

@angiegk, I hear your pain, and encourage you to search for an antidepressant that will work for you. I am taking Citalopram, which has been remarkably successful for my depression. I must go to a previous appointment, but I will check in with you more later. There is testing that can be done to determine what drugs and antidepressants will work for you. Medicare will pay for the tests. More later . . .

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

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To Posters gailb and angiegk: I'm about to accept a referral to Psychiatry for resumption of psycotropic medication having been on Prozac and Wellbutrin for decades and discontinued them last year. WHAT IS THE PROPER NAME OF THE TEST TO DETERMINE WHAT ANTIDEPRESSANTS WILL WORK BEST FOR A PERSON. I don't want to waste time on "just trying out" a drug to see if it helps (I'm 78 years old and my time is short and precious). Thanking you for any help.............Jeanne.

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lizziemae | @lizziemae | Apr 30, 2018

could you depression be a mask partly for anger? Is there someone that deeply gets you angry? Try gently saying "Ouch that hurt" if someone offends you. You will get a response and you will feel better....pray...count your blessings...read happy books...or spy novel so intense you can not think anything else...try Daniel Silva...get hooked on a good book...drink hot tea...walk...rock...good luck and God Bless YOU whereever you are...

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1 reply
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Apr 30, 2018
In reply to @anniegk "I hear what you are saying. I have had depression and Anxiety for 30 years and..." + (show)
@anniegk

I hear what you are saying. I have had depression and Anxiety for 30 years and in the past was given medication and i pulled out of it. Not anymore. Iam now 72 years old and have not been able to pull out of this depression/anxiety. This depression has been going on for 1 1/2 years. Iam so sick of the anxiety and depression. I also have a heartbeat irregularity that really makes me nervous and anxious. It is also getting worse with age. I have also developed cramping and weakness in my lower legs I go to a doctor and they pour tons of pills on me and PHYSICALLY I feel worse than before. I worry I am having a heart attack. I fear that i will have to be hospitalized for my heart and that they will take me off all my meds cold turkey and that it will cause withdrawals which could also kill me. I have been on 250 mg er Seroquel 1 time a day and Buspar 10 mg 2x a day for over a year and Remeron for 10 years at varous doses. I also take BP Meds Lisinopril and a waterpill and Propanolol. I try to tell my husband about my fears and how i feel but after all these years, he is tired of listening to me. I just feel alone and like Iam circuling the drain. You are not alone. I just want to feel relaxed and tranquil and enjoy .whats left of my life. It is hard to get good mental care in our area. Iam going to my physician. and he sees me every 3 months. I dont feel any support from him. I do have a physchologist i see but i have problems with all the mindfullness, CBT and relaxation etc. In short, iam a mess.

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Sadie is a rescue, but she looks like the model for McNabb on Google.

REPLY
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Apr 30, 2018
In reply to @charlie75 "Hi Sharlynn62, I've read the sharing between you and others in our group. I've been depressed..." + (show)
@charlie75

Hi Sharlynn62,
I've read the sharing between you and others in our group. I've been depressed for so many times that it became a comfortable space for me to occupy as I knew where I was and what was happening. I learned to feel the pain and continued to function after several years of suffering. I would put on my actors face and go out into the world and fool those around me although I was crying inside. My Father would tell me that I was my worse enemy. I was so sick that I didn't understand. Of all the lessons that I've learned is that once I accept my illness, I have been able to work on the illness by people who are willing to help me recover. These people are professionals and others who share the same sicknesses and hope is instilled. I've learned that acceptance and hope are two verbs that require action on my part. Action helps with optimism and optimism brings me out of my depression. I have no idea what your mental diagnosis is and the medications you take. Hopefully, your Doctor can help you with this portion of treatment. The best to you.
charlie75

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@choppy -- wanted to see how things are going for you?

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 1, 2018
In reply to @lizziemae "could you depression be a mask partly for anger? Is there someone that deeply gets you..." + (show)
@lizziemae

could you depression be a mask partly for anger? Is there someone that deeply gets you angry? Try gently saying "Ouch that hurt" if someone offends you. You will get a response and you will feel better....pray...count your blessings...read happy books...or spy novel so intense you can not think anything else...try Daniel Silva...get hooked on a good book...drink hot tea...walk...rock...good luck and God Bless YOU whereever you are...

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@lizziemae -- thanks for the suggestions for day-to-day coping with depression. These sounds like great suggestions for self-care, which is so important with this diagnosis.

I also like the "ouch, that hurt" suggestion. I have found this effective, as it doesn't really put the other person in a defensive posture, yet they seem to quickly realize they've caused hurt.

@lizziemae -- if you feel comfortable sharing, do you have a diagnosis of depression?

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 1, 2018
In reply to @parus "@sharlynn62 I am 66 and there is nothing anyone else can do. It is up to..." + (show)
@parus

@sharlynn62 I am 66 and there is nothing anyone else can do. It is up to me. If I cannot use my CBT skills then what else is there? I am 66 and I do not mention the "D" word to anyone. I feel like a leper in society. I surely will get back on track. Currently I lack the desire to even try. Yup, listening to the depression demon. Native Americans left the tribe when they were no longer of value. Welcome to my pitiful world.

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That is a big really good idea about making and then tossing "to-do cards," @ladybugmg, especially for those who get a sense of satisfaction when they get to throw something out.

How are you implementing the one-thing-at-a-time approach, @ladybugmg? Curious about what that looks like, as I'm guessing quite a number of our members also feel overwhelmed at times.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 1, 2018
In reply to @jimhd "@seeker70 - I totally connect with what you say, and I know it would be helpful..." + (show)
@jimhd

@seeker70 - I totally connect with what you say, and I know it would be helpful to me to enter a conversation with you. Trouble is, I'm part way through a cold, and I'm just not up to writing or thinking. Give me a couple of days and I'll try to remember to join in. I've been going through a month or so of increased depression, and being sick right now is the pits.

Jim

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Thanks for your post, @elwooodsdad. Sounds like a long time with depression and anxiety/panic attacks.

You mentioned knowing and practicing coping mechanisms in your toolbox. Wondering what those are and how they help you?

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Parus | @parus | May 1, 2018

If someone were to hurt me and I would say aloud, "ouch, that hurt", I would be forever shunned. It might help if I said it to myself. The world I live in is filled with hurt and one does not dare state that something hurts. The world I live in requires not saying anything. Much safer this way. Only from my own perspective. Others do not want to know about depression and I learned long ago to always present with a smile. Afterall, it is only depression and for some a way of life. It is different for everyone. Depression is a disease and admitting it can turn some of us into a leper. I believe that others think it may be contagious. Best to not mention it. Just how it is...no one else can fix another's depression.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 1, 2018
In reply to @jacquienina "Please, please continue exploring options for remediation. It's really difficult to connect, I know that. For..." + (show)
@jacquienina

Please, please continue exploring options for remediation. It's really difficult to connect, I know that. For me, medication has finally been the relief I needed. But that isn't for everyone. But I know the difference between being able to feel okay most every day, as opposed to the opposite feeling of not wanting to leave my bed, ignoring the phone, and friends day after day after day.
Please don't give up on yourself.

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Hi, @jacquienina -- welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

Sounds like medication has helped you a lot. Is that what brought you out of ignoring the phone and friends, and not wanting to leave your bed?

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