[Freak Out]

Have any of you had blood tests to work out underlying causes? Or, like me, did doctors diagnose it straight away, assuming everything else is fine? Personally I'm about to start a ruling out phase.

Here are some things to discuss with your doctor:

Tests

• Full physical, including complete blood count (CBC),
• Vitamin D3
• Ferritin
• Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid - Associated with pernicious anaemia
• Food-intolerance (gluten, dairy etc - if you can't get tested then try an anti-inflammatory diet for a month anyway)
• Thyroid (basic thyroid tests the GP order aren't thorough, you need to be tested for TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and Thyroid Antibodies - if you have other thyroid symptoms but a normal blood test came back normal ask to be referred to an endocrinologist, they also specialise in the adrenal glands)
• Adrenal gland function / Hypoadrenia
• Hypoglycemia
• Sleeping problems / Sleep apnea

Things to do

• Supplement with Omega 3 and a multivitamin, or vitamins you're deficient in
• Exercise vigorously 5 times a week
• Make life changes, where possible
• Get a hobby or join a yoga class (or something similar)
• See a counsellor, even if only temporarily, to get everything off your mind and lessen anxiety
• Don't hide away - get out whenever possible
• Get a pet - Animals are therapeutic
• Don't drink alcohol in excess
• Do voluntary work

I'm no expert by all means, but I thought it could prove to be useful to share the research and findings of others. Good luck on your road to recovery.

[Exopaladin]

(Original post by Freak Out)
Have any of you had blood tests to work out underlying causes? Or, like me, did doctors diagnose it straight away, assuming everything else is fine? Personally I'm about to start a ruling out phase.

Here are some things to discuss with your doctor:

Tests

• Full physical, including complete blood count (CBC),
• Vitamin D3
• Ferritin
• Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid - Associated with pernicious anaemia
• Food-intolerance (gluten, dairy etc - if you can't get tested then try an anti-inflammatory diet for a month anyway)
• Thyroid (basic thyroid tests the GP order aren't thorough, you need to be tested for TSH, Free T3, Free T4 and Thyroid Antibodies - if you have other thyroid symptoms but a normal blood test came back normal ask to be referred to an endocrinologist, they also specialise in the adrenal glands)
• Adrenal gland function / Hypoadrenia
• Hypoglycemia
• Sleeping problems / Sleep apnea

Things to do

• Supplement with Omega 3 and a multivitamin, or vitamins you're deficient in
• Exercise vigorously 5 times a week
• Make life changes, where possible
• Get a hobby or join a yoga class (or something similar)
• See a counsellor, even if only temporarily, to get everything off your mind and lessen anxiety
• Don't hide away - get out whenever possible
• Get a pet - Animals are therapeutic
• Don't drink alcohol in excess
• Do voluntary work

I'm no expert by all means, but I thought it could prove to be useful to share the research and findings of others. Good luck on your road to recovery.

Bear in mind you can have non-situational depression that isn't necessarily related to an underlying physical illness. I know I do, although it looks like I'm bipolar which is a different ball game and is known to have actually problems with your brain similar to epilepsy. That said, getting a standard blood test panel is a good idea. A couple of times I've had thyroid tests, blood count and the standard vitamin panels, probably some other stuff too. You again probably won't get a non-NHS standard thyroid panel at all, unless you pay privately.

You won't get sleep apnea tests unless they really think you have it unless you pay to have it done privately. Again, you won't get referred to an endo unless you have a lot of symptoms of thyroid problems.

Adrenal fatigue/hypoadrenia isn't a real thing, it's a term coined by 'alternative medicine', there aren't any real tests for it although alternative medicine practitioners will happily take your money to pay for a test that doesn't mean anything.

The advice list you've come up with is fine though, although pretty standard/similar to what the NHS will say. One other thing is that standard doses of omega 3 fish oil don't really help with depression. You need at least a gram of EHA to get results similar to the tests that show it helping, most standard dose stuff only has about 100mg.

[Snikle]

I want a pet o.O
And I have to admit.. I do feel a lot happier when I'm around my cats and dog.

Exercise.. will never happen for me. I get migraines when I try to run. So I've given up.

Counselling has helped.. but recently I've been asked to play in the sand and be more active in sessions, which I don't like.

And yeah, my sleep pattern is awful. It's affecting my mood to a ridiculous degree now.


Thank you muchly!

[Freak Out]

NHS recognises Adrenal Fatigue as a real thing, just as a different name. Hypoadrenalism or Addison's disease.

[Thomas2]

Mindulness meditation is also very useful for combatting, or rather, preventing feelings of depression.

[jazzykinks]

Hmmm, this is interesting. I think my depression is hereditary (mum's had depression her whole life and a lot of her cousins and other relatives have had it). Is there any way I can find out if it is indeed genetic?

[fallOfHades]

I believe it’s all psychological, mind is too powerful that it can rein your whole being but if you have a strong control depression won’t lure over you.

[Kenocide]

(Original post by fallOfHades)
I believe it’s all psychological, mind is too powerful that it can rein your whole being but if you have a strong control depression won’t lure over you.

Congratulations, you just won most Most Ridiculous Comment of the Day! And it's only 10:20am.

[Freak Out]

(Original post by Kenocide)
Congratulations, you just won most Most Ridiculous Comment of the Day! And it's only 10:20am.

I agree. What a stupid thing to say. Clearly this person has never had real, persistent depression!

(Original post by jazzykinks)
Hmmm, this is interesting. I think my depression is hereditary (mum's had depression her whole life and a lot of her cousins and other relatives have had it). Is there any way I can find out if it is indeed genetic?

Don't think there's a way to find out, unless there's a physical cause that runs in the family i.e. thyroid, which is more common in women but men can get it. Have a look around