Clinical Depression

Posted by maw258 @maw258, Jun 21, 2019

I have all but a couple of symptoms listed under Clinical Depression. Due to my age, I'm not open to starting on an anti-depressant for help with it because of the statistics sighting possible cause of early dementia onset as an affect from the meds. I believe I do know what threw me INTO this state of being but since it is my family and my career there's not much I can do to remove the stress and causes. Hoping someone out there has some suggestions on how to deal and get my health and character back. I'm 61 and feel 91. I want to live ... I want my joy back ...

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

@maw258 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We're glad you found us. We are all patients, and not medical professionals. A few of us are nurses. You will find we are sometimes a chatty group, and share our experiences and stories to help others, and ask for assistance when we need to. It must have been hard to look at that list and tell yourself, "Yep, I have that one. Yep, I have that one" and down the line.

Knowing what a big part of the root cause is, is a wonderful start to working out of that depression! Not wanting to go onto medication is commendable, but sometimes necessary to get our brain "kickstarted" towards healthier thinking. I have done a few short rounds of a mild SSRI a few times, and was able to wean myself off. Non-traditional chemical intervention can include counseling or therapy of some sort, group interaction, getting outside in the fresh air and nature, exercise, journaling, making and taking time for yourself. Are you able to modify any of the family or work stressors, so that you can help alleviate your depression? Have you spoken with your primary care Dr about your concerns, for a referral to some assistance?

I hope you will continue to post, and let us know how you are doing. Some people who may be able to offer more insight include @parus @mamacita @merpreb @lioness We care here.
Ginger

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@gingerw Are you watching channel 2 whistleblower on back surgery wow

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@lioness

@gingerw Are you watching channel 2 whistleblower on back surgery wow

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@lioness No, I spent a quiet evening crocheting.
Ginger

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@gingerw I don't blame you but I was interested in it for the back surgeries that go awry. This happened right down the road in Pacific hospital we wondered in 2014 why a name change and a new medical group bought the hospital now I know why . Shady back surgeries with weak screws fake screws implanted in people It was terrible . Now I diffinately know I wont be getting any surgery

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@gingerw

@maw258 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We're glad you found us. We are all patients, and not medical professionals. A few of us are nurses. You will find we are sometimes a chatty group, and share our experiences and stories to help others, and ask for assistance when we need to. It must have been hard to look at that list and tell yourself, "Yep, I have that one. Yep, I have that one" and down the line.

Knowing what a big part of the root cause is, is a wonderful start to working out of that depression! Not wanting to go onto medication is commendable, but sometimes necessary to get our brain "kickstarted" towards healthier thinking. I have done a few short rounds of a mild SSRI a few times, and was able to wean myself off. Non-traditional chemical intervention can include counseling or therapy of some sort, group interaction, getting outside in the fresh air and nature, exercise, journaling, making and taking time for yourself. Are you able to modify any of the family or work stressors, so that you can help alleviate your depression? Have you spoken with your primary care Dr about your concerns, for a referral to some assistance?

I hope you will continue to post, and let us know how you are doing. Some people who may be able to offer more insight include @parus @mamacita @merpreb @lioness We care here.
Ginger

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@maw258 I can understand what you are going through. I have had depression all of my life. I took tranquilizers in my teens and went on antidepressants in my 40s. I am so glad for them. Side effects of them are different for different people. Just because some people have problems does not mean you will. Have antidepressants been suggested to you by a doctor? Has a doctor told you that you have depression?

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@gingerw

@maw258 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We're glad you found us. We are all patients, and not medical professionals. A few of us are nurses. You will find we are sometimes a chatty group, and share our experiences and stories to help others, and ask for assistance when we need to. It must have been hard to look at that list and tell yourself, "Yep, I have that one. Yep, I have that one" and down the line.

Knowing what a big part of the root cause is, is a wonderful start to working out of that depression! Not wanting to go onto medication is commendable, but sometimes necessary to get our brain "kickstarted" towards healthier thinking. I have done a few short rounds of a mild SSRI a few times, and was able to wean myself off. Non-traditional chemical intervention can include counseling or therapy of some sort, group interaction, getting outside in the fresh air and nature, exercise, journaling, making and taking time for yourself. Are you able to modify any of the family or work stressors, so that you can help alleviate your depression? Have you spoken with your primary care Dr about your concerns, for a referral to some assistance?

I hope you will continue to post, and let us know how you are doing. Some people who may be able to offer more insight include @parus @mamacita @merpreb @lioness We care here.
Ginger

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@maw258 I agree with what Gingerw said to you It's hard to have anxiety and depression but at times you need some medical help to get started then as you feel better you can tapper of Talk to your Dr first tell him about your feelings ,he can help you be your own advocate let him know how you feel. Try to get rid of stressors in your life if family relegate some of your work and you can say no to friends if it's to much for you Remember you are important to yourself so be kind to yourself

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@johnhans

@maw258 I can understand what you are going through. I have had depression all of my life. I took tranquilizers in my teens and went on antidepressants in my 40s. I am so glad for them. Side effects of them are different for different people. Just because some people have problems does not mean you will. Have antidepressants been suggested to you by a doctor? Has a doctor told you that you have depression?

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Yes I have spoken with my doctors however after researching going on antidepressants this late in life and the potential for it contributing or causing onset of dementia I'm just too fearful of them.

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@gingerw

@maw258 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We're glad you found us. We are all patients, and not medical professionals. A few of us are nurses. You will find we are sometimes a chatty group, and share our experiences and stories to help others, and ask for assistance when we need to. It must have been hard to look at that list and tell yourself, "Yep, I have that one. Yep, I have that one" and down the line.

Knowing what a big part of the root cause is, is a wonderful start to working out of that depression! Not wanting to go onto medication is commendable, but sometimes necessary to get our brain "kickstarted" towards healthier thinking. I have done a few short rounds of a mild SSRI a few times, and was able to wean myself off. Non-traditional chemical intervention can include counseling or therapy of some sort, group interaction, getting outside in the fresh air and nature, exercise, journaling, making and taking time for yourself. Are you able to modify any of the family or work stressors, so that you can help alleviate your depression? Have you spoken with your primary care Dr about your concerns, for a referral to some assistance?

I hope you will continue to post, and let us know how you are doing. Some people who may be able to offer more insight include @parus @mamacita @merpreb @lioness We care here.
Ginger

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I believe I am able to tie into when it started and the things that happened in a short period of time that actually kickstarted me into this spiral. I let it go far too long without doing anything about it. I'm super stuck now and it's gone on long enough that I've developed more and more of the Mayo's symptom list of clinical depression. It's a scary, sad place to be.

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@maw258

Yes I have spoken with my doctors however after researching going on antidepressants this late in life and the potential for it contributing or causing onset of dementia I'm just too fearful of them.

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Thank you for your reply @maw258 I can understand your concerns. May I ask a quick question? Which are you more concerned about? Living a life of depression or possibly becoming a person whose memory is declining? Remember that untreated depression can cause loss of memory.

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Wow. I guess I hadn't thought of it like that. You could certainly be right. I think more than anything I am caught up in a panic disorder that literally comes on out of nowhere and when it does I'm literally paralyzed. And I mean from out of the most unexpected places and situations. Heart begins to race and I am literally frozen in fear. I do know that I cannot continue in the state I'm in though. Perhaps I will inquire with my doctor about one of the meds that controls both panic and depression but I cannot take one that causes weight gain! I did that once before and although I FELT better I literally gained 30lbs in less than 3mo and didn't see it coming. I've worked too hard to get the weight off and keeping it off. I think you might've just given me that lil nudge I've needed for too long about medication to help me. Thank you!

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