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Depression...
As opposed to me actually having a problem, it seems that SO many people, particularly girls suffer from very severe depression.
Thought I would just chat about my own experience and give my advice, so people can read and see that they arent alone.
My depression started at the beginning of year 12, when I was 16. Ive never had any serious problems in life- been abused or anything but still I managed to really struggle to deal with everything in my life. The changes that most year 12s face, changing from GCSE to A Levels, really put a strain on me, plus friendship changes and taking on loads of extra curricular activies. After one, very drunken night, and having to go to hospital the depression really kicked in, I was really ashamed of having gotten so 'off my face'. I told all my friends i was grounded, but i mean my parents never ground me! This went on for 3 months, I was feeling more and more alone, I stopped talking to everyone.
Then the crying started, before school and after, until eventually i stopped going to school altogether. This took around 5 months... my family forced me, I mean FORCED me to go to my GP... and i was transferred to a psychiatric and counselling clinic. Despite the fact that it sounded really scary, I was i guess relieved. It was thought that I was at such risk I had to be put on anti-depressents right away- Flouxetine (cant spell that despite being a biochem to be student!).
I dont know whether it was actually the pills, or knowing something was being done. The crying stopped almost immedietely. It was really really tough, especially being so close to the exams, and of course there were side effects but they were worth it. I had to push myself sometimes to get up in the morning, and Im not at the end of year 13... having offers from my unis, being able to do what I want to do. Im still on anti-depressents, and I still have to see a counsellor, to ensure that we dont just 'quick-fix' this and sort it out thoroughly. But I want anyone who is suffering to know that it seems like the end of the world, but with support from other people, its possible to beat. And its so common these days with the pressure we are all put through! Good luck everyone facing exams...and if anyone needs to talk Im here...
Thought I would just chat about my own experience and give my advice, so people can read and see that they arent alone.
My depression started at the beginning of year 12, when I was 16. Ive never had any serious problems in life- been abused or anything but still I managed to really struggle to deal with everything in my life. The changes that most year 12s face, changing from GCSE to A Levels, really put a strain on me, plus friendship changes and taking on loads of extra curricular activies. After one, very drunken night, and having to go to hospital the depression really kicked in, I was really ashamed of having gotten so 'off my face'. I told all my friends i was grounded, but i mean my parents never ground me! This went on for 3 months, I was feeling more and more alone, I stopped talking to everyone.
Then the crying started, before school and after, until eventually i stopped going to school altogether. This took around 5 months... my family forced me, I mean FORCED me to go to my GP... and i was transferred to a psychiatric and counselling clinic. Despite the fact that it sounded really scary, I was i guess relieved. It was thought that I was at such risk I had to be put on anti-depressents right away- Flouxetine (cant spell that despite being a biochem to be student!).
I dont know whether it was actually the pills, or knowing something was being done. The crying stopped almost immedietely. It was really really tough, especially being so close to the exams, and of course there were side effects but they were worth it. I had to push myself sometimes to get up in the morning, and Im not at the end of year 13... having offers from my unis, being able to do what I want to do. Im still on anti-depressents, and I still have to see a counsellor, to ensure that we dont just 'quick-fix' this and sort it out thoroughly. But I want anyone who is suffering to know that it seems like the end of the world, but with support from other people, its possible to beat. And its so common these days with the pressure we are all put through! Good luck everyone facing exams...and if anyone needs to talk Im here...
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Reply 1
hey, i think that's a really nice thread and i'm glad you got through depression. Im in year 13 as well and i agree that it is very stressful and we have to deal with so many difficult issues. I hate it when i read in the papers how A levels are supposedly getting easier; it makes me really angry. They are anything but easy! I have a serious lack of motivation at the moment and work wise, nothings really happening. I know how you feel honestly, you are not alone. But despite all the stress of school and boys, I pushed through and luckily never let myself get depressed. I have a wonderful group of friends who wouldnt ever allow me to get too low, they are brilliant, but i know that without them life would be hard. I worry about uni sometimes and leaving them all in October but everyone goes through it. It's just nice to know we are not alone. Well done for getting on with your life and good luck of the future. just remember to stay strong and positive xxx
Reply 2
Thanks for posting that 
My depression started 3 years ago, when I was 15, after a family friend passed away.
I was bullied at primary school, mainly becuse I was slightly overweight.
I was tearful, angry and I hated life and myself. I was diagnosed with OCD last year (after suffering with it for 10 years). I was referred to a mental health counsellor. After my second session, she discovered that I was suffering from depression.
Over the past few months, I've self-harmed a couple of times. My depression has got worse over the past 2 years, mainly because of college pressures and weight issues. I still dislike the way I look, I know I'm not fat, I'm a size 8, but it's very hard to train your brain to change... I'm on the waiting list for cognitive behavioural therapy and I'm also taking citalopram (spelling) 10mg and I've got an appointment with my doctor to see about raising my tablet dosage.
To anyone else, remember that you are not alone, and there is always someone who will listen to you, whether it's GP, counsellor, friend, parent, teacher, whatever
My depression started 3 years ago, when I was 15, after a family friend passed away.
I was bullied at primary school, mainly becuse I was slightly overweight.
I was tearful, angry and I hated life and myself. I was diagnosed with OCD last year (after suffering with it for 10 years). I was referred to a mental health counsellor. After my second session, she discovered that I was suffering from depression.
Over the past few months, I've self-harmed a couple of times. My depression has got worse over the past 2 years, mainly because of college pressures and weight issues. I still dislike the way I look, I know I'm not fat, I'm a size 8, but it's very hard to train your brain to change... I'm on the waiting list for cognitive behavioural therapy and I'm also taking citalopram (spelling) 10mg and I've got an appointment with my doctor to see about raising my tablet dosage.
To anyone else, remember that you are not alone, and there is always someone who will listen to you, whether it's GP, counsellor, friend, parent, teacher, whatever
Reply 3
I would urge against anti-depressants for anyone in the position of being depressed. The best solution is to let out your emotions by talking about your problems.
It is also extremely useful to try to make positive steps every day, write lists fo the things you need to achieve, sing a song, take a bath, eat a bit of chocolate. There are loads of ways to beat even major depression without resorting to pills.
It is also extremely useful to try to make positive steps every day, write lists fo the things you need to achieve, sing a song, take a bath, eat a bit of chocolate. There are loads of ways to beat even major depression without resorting to pills.
Reply 4
I think this is a really nice thread too; I'm currently mid-depression and have been (on and off) since I was thirteen. It helps to hear that other people have come through it in one piece.
Can I just ask if anyone has any suggestions for when you're having a bad patch? I just had a good phase for a year or so and it's a bit scary to be backsliding again
Thanks everyone!
Can I just ask if anyone has any suggestions for when you're having a bad patch? I just had a good phase for a year or so and it's a bit scary to be backsliding again
Thanks everyone!
gideon2000uk
I would urge against anti-depressants for anyone in the position of being depressed. The best solution is to let out your emotions by talking about your problems.
It is also extremely useful to try to make positive steps every day, write lists fo the things you need to achieve, sing a song, take a bath, eat a bit of chocolate. There are loads of ways to beat even major depression without resorting to pills.
It is also extremely useful to try to make positive steps every day, write lists fo the things you need to achieve, sing a song, take a bath, eat a bit of chocolate. There are loads of ways to beat even major depression without resorting to pills.
I wouldn't - not for endogenous depression anyway - they saved my life. Somehow 'singing and taking a bath' didn't help.
Reply 6
gideon2000uk
I would urge against anti-depressants for anyone in the position of being depressed. The best solution is to let out your emotions by talking about your problems.
It is also extremely useful to try to make positive steps every day, write lists fo the things you need to achieve, sing a song, take a bath, eat a bit of chocolate. There are loads of ways to beat even major depression without resorting to pills.
It is also extremely useful to try to make positive steps every day, write lists fo the things you need to achieve, sing a song, take a bath, eat a bit of chocolate. There are loads of ways to beat even major depression without resorting to pills.
Different methods work for different people. So it's not fair to say that depression can be beaten without taking medication, as it doesn't always work.
*huggles* Phantom Phoenix. I've had a bad patch recently. What I found helped was having some 'chill-out time'. I made time for myself, where I went shopping, watched a film and listened to music. It's amazing what that did to me. I also found that the sunny weather we've had recently put me in a good mood...
Reply 7
Thanks guitargirl03 tho not sure about the sun, I live in Cumbria and we don't really do nice weather!
tho not sure about the sun, I live in Cumbria and we don't really do nice weather!Reply 8
Phantom Phoenix
Thanks guitargirl03 tho not sure about the sun, I live in Cumbria and we don't really do nice weather!
tho not sure about the sun, I live in Cumbria and we don't really do nice weather!Shine a torch in your face, it's near enough, lol... (Don't look directly into it though, I did that and I couldn't see for an hour, lol...)
Reply 9
Haha! I'm supposed to be doing coursework, think my tutor would accept that as a valid excuse to stop for the day? (argh, TSR addiction kicking in already - they warned me about this!)
Phantom Phoenix
Haha! I'm supposed to be doing coursework, think my tutor would accept that as a valid excuse to stop for the day? (argh, TSR addiction kicking in already - they warned me about this!)
Well, if you can't see you can't do coursework. But that's a bit drastic, so just pretend you can't see.
Reply 12
BellaCat
I wouldn't - not for endogenous depression anyway - they saved my life. Somehow 'singing and taking a bath' didn't help.
I think my main message was to talk openly about everything and get emotions out - although the other stuff is still valid and although it may seem trivial it can help.
I've been through alcoholism and the death of both my mother and my older brother, so I think I know a little bit about depression - and didn't need drugs to deal with everytihng I've been through, very few people genuinely do need them!
What is more. Traumatic events can be used for very positive things, if not now, in the future! It's often very fortunate to have an interesting life because you've got some eomtional grounding to fall back on in times of trouble.
I hope some of what I've said helps!
If I can convince one person to choose to talk about their problems rather than altering their neurochemistry with drugs I'll sleep a little easier!
About anti-depressants. Different cures work for different people.
Me? I was in counselling for years. And it didn't help one tiddly bit. They treated me like I was baout 8, it was really frustrating. They were telling me things I'd heard before, I knew that I had to do this and that...it just didn't help, at all.
Anti-depressants helped me get past the first hurdle, and once I started, I started feeling ok-ish.
my story? Been depressed from about the age of 11, no particular cause. Battled with Self-harm, eating issues, and OCD since then.
Been hospitalised because of eating issues before, talk of getting hospitalised again soon, because the depression has kind of swung out of control.
Ho hum. Interesting thread. Jo x
Me? I was in counselling for years. And it didn't help one tiddly bit. They treated me like I was baout 8, it was really frustrating. They were telling me things I'd heard before, I knew that I had to do this and that...it just didn't help, at all.
Anti-depressants helped me get past the first hurdle, and once I started, I started feeling ok-ish.
my story? Been depressed from about the age of 11, no particular cause. Battled with Self-harm, eating issues, and OCD since then.
Been hospitalised because of eating issues before, talk of getting hospitalised again soon, because the depression has kind of swung out of control.
Ho hum. Interesting thread. Jo x
Reply 14
The medication should be your last resort. I've been through a depression phase before and I know how it feels - and have been on medication for that purpose. It has been years since I recovered. Medication only represses the symptoms and won't cure it.
The sole thing to ask yourself is 'what's the root of all this?' - you cannot catch depression, it's not a disease, so it must relate to your outlook on things. From your post, it sounds like the root is your management of 'change' in your life. Know why you hate it so much and then ask yourself whether you're magnifying it out of proportion. After dealing with it, you can then move on. Solving these internal issues would be the only way to rid depression permanently.
The sole thing to ask yourself is 'what's the root of all this?' - you cannot catch depression, it's not a disease, so it must relate to your outlook on things. From your post, it sounds like the root is your management of 'change' in your life. Know why you hate it so much and then ask yourself whether you're magnifying it out of proportion. After dealing with it, you can then move on. Solving these internal issues would be the only way to rid depression permanently.
Interesting. BUT depression can be caused by many things, including physical illness, and passed down through family genetics.
And therefore, the single cause could be because your father, and his father, and your aunt, and your uncle all had depression. But that doesn't cure anythign, really.
And therefore, the single cause could be because your father, and his father, and your aunt, and your uncle all had depression. But that doesn't cure anythign, really.
Reply 16
Sure, it can very possibly be physical or genetic - in that case, medication is the only answer to managing the symptoms.
However, often it's psychological and people tend to mistake it for it being physical because of all the physical symptoms like tiredness, crying and so on.
If you suddenly became depressed when you hit puberty or in teenage years, the chances are it's psychological.
However, often it's psychological and people tend to mistake it for it being physical because of all the physical symptoms like tiredness, crying and so on.
If you suddenly became depressed when you hit puberty or in teenage years, the chances are it's psychological.
Reply 17
Inquisitive
The medication should be your last resort. I've been through a depression phase before and I know how it feels - and have been on medication for that purpose. It has been years since I recovered. Medication only represses the symptoms and won't cure it.
The sole thing to ask yourself is 'what's the root of all this?' - you cannot catch depression, it's not a disease, so it must relate to your outlook on things. From your post, it sounds like the root is your management of 'change' in your life. Know why you hate it so much and then ask yourself whether you're magnifying it out of proportion. After dealing with it, you can then move on. Solving these internal issues would be the only way to rid depression permanently.
The sole thing to ask yourself is 'what's the root of all this?' - you cannot catch depression, it's not a disease, so it must relate to your outlook on things. From your post, it sounds like the root is your management of 'change' in your life. Know why you hate it so much and then ask yourself whether you're magnifying it out of proportion. After dealing with it, you can then move on. Solving these internal issues would be the only way to rid depression permanently.
As far as I know, there is no 'cure' for depression. It can come and go. My mum took anti-depressants and they worked for her. I'm taking anti-depressants and am on the waiting list for CBT therapy, and the medication has helped me.
Solving depression is not as easy as you have stated. Depression is caused by changes in the brain, and it takes a long while to rid yourself of any thoughts which you may have.
Reply 18
guitargirl03
As far as I know, there is no 'cure' for depression. It can come and go. My mum took anti-depressants and they worked for her. I'm taking anti-depressants and am on the waiting list for CBT therapy, and the medication has helped me.
Solving depression is not as easy as you have stated. Depression is caused by changes in the brain, and it takes a long while to rid yourself of any thoughts which you may have.
Solving depression is not as easy as you have stated. Depression is caused by changes in the brain, and it takes a long while to rid yourself of any thoughts which you may have.
Of course there's a cure and I'm 100% certain - if the cause of depression is psychological like I said. If the depression is physical, meaning that there is an imbalance in your brain chemistry or that you possess a medical condition which gives depression, then it's much harder to cure, but still curable.
Anti-depressants, herbs, other medications and so on can only repress symptoms - hide them - for the time being which is why they will always resurface.
I didn't say solving depression was easy. If psychological, you need to search really hard inside yourself for a long time to unearth the roots and beliefs causing the depression; if physical, you need to find out which part of your body is causing it.
Reply 19
Inquisitive
Of course there's a cure and I'm 100% certain - if the cause of depression is psychological like I said. If the depression is physical, meaning that there is an imbalance in your brain chemistry or that you possess a medical condition which gives depression, then it's much harder to cure, but still curable.
Anti-depressants, herbs, other medications and so on can only repress symptoms - hide them - for the time being which is why they will always resurface.
I didn't say solving depression was easy. If psychological, you need to search really hard inside yourself for a long time to unearth the roots and beliefs causing the depression; if physical, you need to find out which part of your body is causing it.
Anti-depressants, herbs, other medications and so on can only repress symptoms - hide them - for the time being which is why they will always resurface.
I didn't say solving depression was easy. If psychological, you need to search really hard inside yourself for a long time to unearth the roots and beliefs causing the depression; if physical, you need to find out which part of your body is causing it.
Depression is a mental illness, it's not a 'physical' illness. Anti-depressants help to control depression, and you're advised to use other methods, rather than just solely relying on medication.
I don't think there is just one method which will help treat depression, I think you have to use number of different benefits to reap the rewards.
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