Depression is a real illness. It is no longer something that is swept under the table and hid from others. It is now openly discussed on television, radio, and the written word.
Along with the new openness of depression comes medications in various forms to treat depression. The anti-depressants are good at helping to decrease the depression, but alone they do not cure depression. Depression is best treated when combined with counseling.
Finding the right person to be your counselor is not always a success right from the beginning. Sometimes people’s characters just do not make the right mixture and then you have to try a different counselor.
I have been going to a counselor for a couple months now. The first one I saw was the most horrible excuse for a counselor that I have ever seen. She totally did not care about anything I had to say. I knew right away that she was not the type of counselor that I cared to talk to. Luckily I had already had an appointment set up with another counselor. Right from the beginning I knew that she was different from the first one.
For the counseling to help you must be open and honest about what your feeling. They can not help you if you only tell them part of what you are feeling. You also have to be willing to listen and do the advice that you are given.
I am amazed at the difference going to a counselor has made in my life. Before, I was skeptical that anyone could help me through some of the hurt and anger that I have kept bottled inside for many years. Now I am shocked at what my counselor has taught me about myself and my strengths. She has not forced the changes on me she has helped me see my ability to make the changes myself.
I am still depressed, and probably always will be. Depression is an illness. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. But, depression is also directly related to circumstances that happen in people’s lives. Some people are more prone to depression than others. Some people are better able to cope with depression. But for those that can’t cope with it there is hope. With the help of the medication and the counseling I can now see past the depression and focus on the rest of my life. Where before all I could focus on was how miserable I was inside and how much I hurt inside.
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Comments: 22
Deb
I am glad that you are more stable now. Don't beat yourself up over the past, like I said it is an illness. And you are right we don't choose this type of condition.
There are so many people out there who pooh-pooh depression, it makes me depressed.(lol)
I just read article by A.Z., she thinks like us, but the people who commented on her article are so much against counselling and meds; I sent her a message , she replied that she is not letting these people discourage her from doing the right thing for herself, she is going to keep on speaking up about this disease called "depression" forever. Lots of luck both of you.
Jody, that is really sad, but it happens to so many. I refuse to give into it and let it consume my life. I have a wonderful husband and wonderful children who need me to be a loving caring person, not one that is consumed by my past. I hope one day your grandma wakes up and realizes what she is doing before it is too late. It is a sad, sad world when you alienate yourself from those that love you.
Cheryl, my heart goes out to you. There is really nothing you can do to make him accept his illness. Men tend to have a harder time accepting that this could happen to them.
You are right Connie
Yes Anne Marie they can and it makes it hard for those of us who try to battle it to seek help. They don't understand there is a difference in getting depressed over something that has happened recently and chronic depression. They are two very different types of depression.
Leigh it is a good thing you had a good counselor. Also glad you have the proper medication.
I have been working on my depression. I agree drugs are not the answer but can help you sometimes. I think they help to break the spiral I can get into. It seems more drepresson brings on more depresssion.
I am taking yoga, acupuncture and make a BIG effort to get out of the house, get out of bed, shower etc. I am lucky. Right now I am on the upside of my depresson.
It's like a more public form of counseling :)
I've been on anti's for about seven years, although I've battled it since I was a young child. It was harder to deal with when I was marriedtho', because my wonderful inlaws would say stupid things like, "there's nothing wrong with her, she's just depressed"--and it gets worse. And while mine's a combination, I've a family in denial, so I'm jkust "imbalanced", lol. But that's ok, I deal with it.
Recently, my counselor moved about an hour or so farther awya, so I opted to drive--get a good one, stay with them no matter what(ok, if possible).
Anyways, thanks for sharing. It's nice to not feel so "alone" all the time.
Of course you know my situation. I will always be on meds since I am bipolar. Depression comes in all forms. There is situational depression, which is temporary and related to things like loss of a loved one and divorce. Then there is chronic depression that is caused to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some types are major where meds are a must. Some people can deal without meds with exercise and eating better. The illness comes in all forms but having a counselor to guide you is the first and main key to getting better like you said. My counselor is my best friend. Besides you of course. I do not know what I would do without her. There is not a thing in this world I can't tell her. No matter what, she is always there for me. She has even cussed out the ER doctors before because of me when they treated me wrong and said she better not ever hear of them treating another one of her patients like that again. She definitely takes care of me and always has my best interest at heart.
There are so many positive statements on this article, it makes me feel good. I wish the people who bad-mouth depression, meds, counsellors, etc. would read this article and the comments after it. Maybe they would relize how much they are in denial!
Serina thanks for the awesome facts on depression.
It sounds like you have found someone who "makes sense" to you, and that is a wonderful thing to have.