Long-term depression

I just read your post about battling depression and taking medications that don't seem to help. Your entire post could have been written by me. I too have battled depression all of my life. I presently am taking Effexor and have been on it for quite a while. I think I am going to call my doctor and see if we can "try" another drug...but I am not hopeful. I've been on SO many different medications and they seem to work for a long time pretty well but then just seem to not help at all any more. Presently I am not seeing a psychiatrist...been there done that for SO many years. Spent two different stays at a psych hospital (locked in my room at night....such a HORRIBLE feeling!) I know this is not any encouragement to you but perhaps it will help to know that you are not alone. I will pray for you and hope you choose to write back. ~Sharon

Sharon, @misssharon and @magspierce

You have both shared your feelings beautifully with @mlbaier and most of all you have encouraged her to keep posting and talking!

Teresa

@misssharon Sorry to read that your medications aren't working. I hope you do call your doctor to ask about trying another one. I too, have taken a lot of different ones over the years, but I know there are much more out there that I haven't tried. With me it was the same, they'd work for a long while, then seemed to stop working. I am on two different ones at this time and they have been working. One was one I've been on for several years and seem to be working the best for me. When I hit a rough spot and it didn't seem to be working any longer, my doctor added another one that is a lower dose and works to help with anxiety and I've been doing well on them for about 3 years now. You mention that you aren't seeing a psychiatrist now, but you don't say if you are in therapy with any other psychologist or counselor. It took me about 35 years to find one who I felt comfortable with and we were a good "fit". I've been going to her for over 4 yrs now and have had so much growth and healing because she had "guided" me work on my issues. By that I mean, she would give me homework to work on an issue that is disturbing me at that time. Now, I do my homework on my own in between appointments and that it to her and share with her. This is the first time that I have really gotten in there and work on my issues, always before it was just "talk therapy", which is good to do at times, but for me, I wasn't really working to figure out why I was going through the depression. Sorry, this is so long, I guess I just want to encourage you to keep looking to find a therapist who you feel comfortable with and has your best interest in mind. I believe that taking antidepressants and therapy work together in your recovery.
I also wanted to ask if you are in any support groups for depression, etc? I have a local NAMI (national alliance on mental illness), and even though I don't share all my issues at the meetings, it helps to talk with others who have gone through if not the same thing you are, then similar things that the feelings are very similar. For one thing, you know you are not alone and that there are people who understand what you are going through. I hope you can get your medication figured out and start to feel better very soon, I know it can be debilitating at times when you aren't on a medication that works for you or a combination that work for you. Take care and know you are not alone! Feel better soon!

I am seeing a therapist which I have seen for 10 years. It is very hard to get a psychiatrist in this area. My therapist knows a lot about medications and also the naturopathic. I want to go to someone who performs Reiki. I understand this is a relief for anxiety. My anxiety is being brought on by feelings of abandonment from childhood. I suffered anorexia at age 19 when it was labeled malnutrition. I have those same feelings now. My mother passed away 4 years ago and my Dad is not doing well. I have written a book "Fear of Life" which I haven't published yet. It is the struggle with anxiety no matter how you handle it for your life. I went from anorexia to bulimia and I am afraid I will do that again. In the middle of that are the hormones. I did find a wonderful website "hormonerestoration.com". I am dealing with that doctor by e-mail. He says all of our feelings are governed by our gut and I do believe him. It is hard to do that when going through a panic attack. No matter how many friends you have it is still a very lonely place because they don't understand. I am glad I found this site.

Hello @mlbaier. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We are glad to have you here. I'm sorry to hear about your Mom and Dad.

I think you will find our community a safe place to talk with others about some of the same problems you face.

I have a family member that sees a Reiki therapist for anxiety and has had a wonderful response to it. Make sure you look into it. 🙂

I am feeling pretty low today. Can't even get out of bed. Feel like crying anytime. No one calls or even stops by. I guess I have to be the first step. It is pretty tough today. I find it harder when my husband goes to work. I work out of my home and some days I have no clients. I used to read and walk but that is a chore now. I pray for someone to call when I am like this.

@mlbaier

Thanks for sharing your feelings with us today. Sometimes, just getting those feelings out in the open can be very helpful. I have learned one thing that I'd like to share with you: When your happiness depends on anyone other than yourself, you are setting yourself up for feeling unhappy. A proactive approach is most important for you right now.

I'd like to share a personal experience with you, the day before a major surgery I was feeling anxious. So I went through my church's prayer list and sent 3 "thinking of you" cards to people who were on the prayer list. I felt much better after doing that.

Here are some thoughts: I realize that picking yourself up out of depression is easier said than done. Since you said, however, that you wish someone would call you, can you think of anyone that you could call right now and just admit to them that you need a little encouragement today? Or can you think of someone else that you could call who could use some encouragement today? Is it worth a try?

Teresa

That is a very good idea. I am going to call someone. Thank you for your words of encouragement. It has been 3 years of this and I am getting hopeless.

@mlbaier I'm glad to hear that you will give it a try.

Will you send us an update later today?

Teresa

@mlbaier So sorry you are having a bad day today! But I'm glad you are going to try Teresa's suggestions, I know that those things have helped me when I'm feeling low or having a bad day. Hope you start feeling better soon! And just know, you are not alone!