My Battle With Depression

This is a really real health problem. My ex also had the GAD and Panic Disorder, well he still has it..lol My oldest son has had some bouts of it...when my ex had his issues it really affeceted my son, and when the divorce happened, it affected my son. He has not gotten to the point where he needs medication, but he may get there...the poor thing

I probably should go get checked, but I am so scared to. My ex had a lot of issues with his medication and I don't want any of those things to happen to me. I have usually been able to hold it all together but lately..i haven't been able to.

Holli,
If you are concerned that you have some mental health issues. Please seek help. there are lots of meds out there.

Some people just don't understand. I have been on and off medications since 1978. I am better off on medication. Too many try to self medicate and it ends in disaster. Some of us just need some help. Some think that counseling is the only answer, it helps and it can be the answer for some of us. I now go once a month...and that works for me. It has been a long road but I think there is no one right answer. Like a broken leg, we need a cast to heal, or like one who needs a wheelchair, I need my medication.

Good article! As it was explained to me, my brain chemistry is off, so just like I need insulin for my diabetes, I need medicine for my brain chemistry.

It can take a lot to find the right medication and the right counselor. The important thing is to get help. It is a smart person who decides to get help as it shows the want to find better ways to cope and improve their life!

I'm glad you now have help. Wishing you better days in the future.

blessings dear friend.. for a time i was disagnosed with manic/depressive state (i was dealing with the trauma of childhood trauma) many years of counseling I can say my life is back on track.. take care and remember depression is a medical condition and is not "all in your head" as one doctor told me.. I hope you find the help you so rightfully deserve...

I used to have panic/anxiety attacks, I'm so thankful that time is past.

God will be with you and carry you through when you cannot go it alone. Blessings on you Connie. I have one daughter diagnosed with depression, she also likes to drink. I pray for her constantly.

Connie, I'm glad you went to the Dr so they can help you with this.

Connie I'm glad you found help.Thank you for posting this,It may help others understand.

glad you got the help you needed and they found somthing to help you

Good advice. Glad you got the help you needed.

I am glad you went to the doctor Connie, and I hope you will soon find the right treatment for you.

I'm so glad you're seeking the help you need. I hope the right medications can be found for you soon.

i was diagnosed about 4-5yrs ago and have been on and off meds for a while now. i can totally relate to every word in your article! every now and then, i'll have an "episode" and talk it out with my mom until i calm down. admitting there is a problem and seeking help is the best thing anyone can do if they suspect they have depression/anxiety. some folks refuse to admit they are suffering b/c they don't think that medication is the way to go. no one knows their pain . . . until it's too late.

I've tried meds twice after the death of my late hubby, thinking they would take care of the pain and heartache I was experiencing..I ended up feeling like my head was about the explode, plus they didn't help. So, I dumped them and came to terms with my grief....

I am glad to hear that you are getting some relief finally. It's so hard to take the first steps, but boy doesn't it feel good to take some of that weight off of your shoulders? I know it does to me anyway.

I have suffered from panic and anxiety since I was in high school. It didn't even have a name, so I got no treatment until I was in my 20's and no medication until my 30's. I still struggle, but I've built a life around it. It is wonderful that people talk about it now-and that young kids can get help before they have their lives shaped forever by things they can't do. Thanks for your honest article.

I am sure, Connie...things will be in your favor...You think a lot , every aspect you take it deeply and think by your heart too...I wish you to get every happy moments and no time for depression

Hugs...I love you

Yes, I have an Indian friend, of my age..she is going through bipolar disorder and in this age medication is helping her out...I understand the situations coz she talks to me all about...

take care

Mental problems run on my mother side of the family...anywhere from being depressed to Bi-polar and schizophrenic and borderline personalities. I am not sure why these things occur. But they are real and should be taken seriously.

I think it took a lot of strength for you to realize that you needed help. I am glad that you are feeling better. Keep strong!

I can't imagine the number of people that will read this and it will make a difference. So many people on Gather look up to you and to know that you are willing to open this part of yourself up to those people means a lot. I am fortunate that I currently do not have these issues, but I know people that do and it is so difficult to go it alone !! You are awesome !

Thanks for having the courage to share your story. Every time someone talks about a mental health issue it helps to chip away at the stigma that still exists around mental health issues.

I've been struggling with severe depression for about 25 years now and found out 2 years ago that I am bipolar. Looking back, I realize that I actually was experiencing bipolar symptoms for nearly 20 years (I was just in denial). Even though I have told a little bit of my story here, I'm not so open in my "real life." Only my mom, grandmother, and 3 friends know. I am very closed mouth about my illness because I am afraid of the repercussions. I think the stigma still exists in leaps and bounds.

One thing that you touched on that is so important for people to understand, especially those that may be newly diagnosed, is that finding the right medicine can sometimes be a trial and error type of proposition and doctors often will not get it right on the first try. It's not because they are bad doctors, it's because our bodies react so differently to these meds and what works for one person is not going to necessarily work for another. Prescribing meds for mental health issues is almost more of an art than a science. I can't wait for the day when they find better ways of knowing what meds will work for each person.

I am so glad that you got some help!

The stigma is slowly changing, but it is still tough to deal with at times.

I can relate to all the comments above and to your article Connie. I have been through the gamut of medications and have finally found something that works. Paxil. However, it does have side effects but not so severe that I can't live with them. It causes me to have weird dreams and occasionally I would kick or pound on my wife during one of the episodes. Thankfully I have never hurt her and she puts up with it like a champ. Even so, Paxil has brought me out of the depression. Before medications I was in pretty bad shape. Everyone could notice my depression but not me. Sometimes I would think about suicide but never really considered it as an option. But who knows, it might have become more serious if I had not found the right medication.

To LaRue. Your daughters' drinking is her so-called solution to the problem. It is taking thee place of proper medication. She needs help. Find her help soon,,,,,,please.

Depression has many faces. Sometimes it cannot be recognized for what it is. That's why it is important to seek professional help.

Good for you for having the courage to get the help you need. I am so sorry you have been in so much pain for so long. The last few years I have also been in pain every day and I can certainly see how constant pain might lead to depression.

I pray I never suffer from it because my husband is one of those people who believes it should "just be dealt with by sucking it up."

Holli,
Yes it is a real medical problem. Many people still do not understand that.

Heather,
Thanks for sharing your story with me.

Edna,
Thanks for the concern and well wishes.

DiAnA,
It can be difficult with so many peole still not accepting the fact that it is a medical problem. I am glad you are doing better now.

Shelia,
I am glad you are doing better now too.

LaRue,
I do hope your daughter will be able to quit drinking. Drinking and medication does not mix

Priscilla,
Thank you

Elaine,
That is the only reason that I did publish it.

Denise,
Thank You

Marianne,
It is still a struggle each day.

J,
I do too. It can be a long process finding the right medication and that is frustrating.


Bob,
I do too. Thanks

Kelldogg,
I am glad you are doing much better now.


Lynn,
I am glad you are doing better now. I am sorry for your loss.


Heather M,
It is a relief to get help.

Sue,
I am so glad people are beginning to understand. It is still a subject that is not talked about enough


Bhawana,
I do hope your friend gets better soon. I know how hard it is to find the right meds. Thanks for your kind words. You are a great friend.

Patricia,
It is hard to admit that you have a problem when you have that drilled into your head from birth. Isn't it?

Sandy,
you are so correct. They are real

Mary,
Thank You for your kind words.

Karen,
The only reason I wrote this post was in hopes that it would help others. Thank you for being so nice.

Regina,
I get aggervated because it is such a slow process to find the right meds but the Doctor said not to because there are a lot of meds out there.

Cybergwen,
You are so right It is "slowly" changing.

Harrel,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me.

Marge,
It did take a lot of courage. Courage that I did not know that I had.

I understand what you are going through, Connie. I am still trying to get mine under control.

Many people just don't understand it. I get the "You don't look sick" comment a lot. Some people are just ignorant.

Thank you for sharing this Connie. As you know, my friend is battling this and during the past week her parents have come to realize that their daughter's health is most important. And they're also amazed at the treatments that are available. I know this may sound hard to believe, but they actually thought if they told the doctors she had been acting depressed, she would be institutionalized.

I think the worst thing for her is the complete fatigue.

Shannon,
You are so correct, many people just dont understand.

Amanda,
Yes I do believe that. I have to admit that was my fear. Years ago, that is what happened.

Great Post Connie. I understand how you feel, I have ptsd and panic disorder and yet my mom was almost mortified that I was seeing someone for help. She has since gotten used to the idea but that was only after she saw me have a major attack; it was that way back then. But, the important thing is to get help and know these kind of issues are no different from a physical ailment. Hope you find the right med combination Connie.

Angie,
I still have not told my parents. My daughters both know as well as my husband

Wow Connie - you'd be amazed how widespread mental disorders are. I'm sure that EVERY family is affected by this is some way or another.

oh Connie... i'm glad you got the help you needed...
God bless you and yours...
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Thank you Connie for speaking out on this important issue! I battle this every day, and it has taken its toll on my education, physical health, relationships, etc...I hope you are doing better now!

Oh Connie, I had an episode after we returned from WV in July, I wanted to stay in the house all the time and all I did was cry. I think if I had had the nerve, I would not be here today. I had it all planned out. My husband knew something was wrong and he would not leave me alone. I need medication and this I am sure of now. Because I am still depressed but doing a little better. I have alot of problems sleeping at night as well. Does this happen to you?

Maybe it runs in our family because all of my sisters and my brother are on anti depressants.

Wonder where my pic is?????????????????

It runs in hubby side of the family

my dear friend i have lived with mental illness my whole life my mother was a manic depressant and some times she was good and other time where very bad for her and us for we didnt know what to to do for her and has a child it was very scary never be a shamed of this it isnt shameful i am so happy that you have gotton help for this good luck to you

My doctor has been telling me for over 2 years I was depressed and kept saying "No, I'm sure it isn't that. Finally she sent me to another doctor (She had called him to tell him what was going on. It was the doctor that gives me colonoscopy when I need them. He asked me why I was there and I couldn't remember. I felt like an idiot. I saiid, I'm not sure. I've forgotten. I hadn't been able to stand without feeling that I was fainting for a long time. My arms and legs had lead in them and I wasn't strong enough to carry them. And of course began to cry which was embarrassing.
I had taken care of my aunt in a nursing home for several years and my sister with brain damage. Then my Mom began to be senile and my aunt died.I've taken care of my sister for 17 years. A very difficult lady. I couldn't stop crying. He said you have a severe clinical depression and never gain back your physical of mental health unless we treat it strongly. It took 3 Mo's and 2 wks for it to work. It was unbelievable to feel semi normal again. Then it crashed and I'm slowly working my was up a 2nd anti depressant.
I would never have guessed all my problems were depression. I think we're going the right direction.
I've been a little groggy a few night when I'm typing but I'm so glad they finally pushed me to treat my self for Depression. It turns : ) to :)

I've been fighting depression ever since I retired from the service;I'm glad you're feeling better,Glome.