Some sort of depression?

For some months to a year now I've been feeling some symptoms on a fairly regular basis, and I've suspected I may be depressed. The major issue with me is very low self esteem, and very poor body image. I generally feel quite hopeless and apathetic sometimes. I have periods when I want to binge eat because I crave comfort food. I've had suicidal ideation. My sleeping patterns are all over the place. I feel generally lack lustre and ill all the time. My sex drive is virtually nil, and on the odd occasion I do have sex, it's purely because my partner wants it and I want to make them happy. I rarely derive that much pleasure from it.

Thing is though, I don't feel like this all the time. Sometimes I can be in a really good mood, sometimes I just feel normal. This is generally when I'm really busy with something, or at a party or something where I don't really have a chance to think about things. But it doesn't last long, and I normally end up in tears sooner or later. Someone suggested atypical depression or dysthymia as opposed to proper depression, I don't know.

I know the standard advice is 'go see your GP', but I felt so stupid that I didn't think I could bring myself to do it, I just kept thinking "What on earth do I say?" Eventually I did go, grudgingly, and at the insistance of my partner. I tried to explain everything to the doctor, and she suggested that since the problem stemmed from me feeling bad about being overweight, that I try a healthy eating and exercise program and by treating the root cause I would feel better about myself and the other symptoms would go away, and that was all she could do for me. Trouble is, due to injury, I really can't do much in the way of exercise atm, but I am trying to eat healthy, but I'm still feeling awful.

Is there anything I can do to make myself feel better?

Reply 1

matt@internet

Well I'm going to give you the standard advice and tell you to go and see your doctor. It also would be a good idea to go and talk to a councellor.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

I saw a doctor, it says in my OP what she said, wasn't particularly helpful :frown:

Reply 3

Zarathustra

If you agree with your doctor that the cause of your feelings is your weight, then that's what you should focus on - eat well, exercise as much as you can given your injury, etc. You could see a nutritionist to help work out a healthy diet, and if you speak to a trainer at your local gym they should be able to tell you which machines you can safely use given your injuries. If none of that works then you could reapproach your doctor regarding the possibility of help with weight loss (i.e. pills etc).

However, if you're not convinced that it's your weight and you think that you really do just have depression that wouldn't be cured by weight loss, then the best thing you can do is go back and make this very clear to your doctor, see what she says then, book some counselling and so on.

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

I dunno, I guess the problem is largely with my appearance. Not just my weight though, I really don't like any aspect of how I look. But sometimes it just feels like everything's wrong, I just feel like a total failure and that nothing will ever be right again :frown:

Is there much point seeing a doctor? Based on what she said last time, I doubt there's much more they can do.

Reply 5

squeak

different doctors approach problems differently, try and see a different one.

i went to a doctor once, for a pill check up. complaining of mood swings.they took my blood pressure saw the cuts on my arms..i ended up with a counselling session.

i went to another they just said see how it goes.

why dont you try thinking a bit more positive -seems stupid but worked short term for me.

and if you think it's your weight, then that might stem to your appearance, and when you feel **** about yourself you feel **** about everything..probably hence your feeling like a total failure. I'm pretty confident you're not a complete failure. and i'm a believer in cognitive therapy : if you think nothing will ever be right, it wont ever be right... believe in yourself, and things will be better.

why not try joining weight watchers or an equivalent group, so you can get support from people in the same situation as you, and feel better about yourself?

hope you're feeling better soon.

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

Ok, seriously, I'm having the most ridiculous mood swings :frown:

This morning, I felt amazing, on top of the world, I felt like I could fly, my sex drive was back in full force, I was cheery etc. Then later on, I felt really grumpy and I had to really bite my tongue to stop snapping at people. Then I was miserable, I cried until I fell asleep, then when I woke up I felt ok, then I was happy, then I was flat and empty, then I was ok again, and now I feel like I want to tear my hair out, scream, cry and throw myself down the stairs :'(

My sleeping patterns are shot to pieces, I can't sleep when I should, and then I can't stay awake when I need to. My appetite is yo-yoing, and I seriously just want it all to stop :frown:

If I go to my doctor, realistically what can I expect from them? Will they just right me off as moody and hormonal? WIll they make me see a counsellor?

Reply 7

Kabloomybuzz

See another doctor

I suffer from depression, have done for the past 18 months now and I have the same symptoms plus. Being oerweight doesn't help, bu it isn't the cause alone of something like this. There should be a counselling service at your college/uni try them out

"I dunno, I guess the problem is largely with my appearance. Not just my weight though, I really don't like any aspect of how I look. But sometimes it just feels like everything's wrong, I just feel like a total failure and that nothing will ever be right again"

These are symptoms, not causes

I really would advise you to see a doctor. A different one to the one you saw before, some aren't that helpful. Tell them you think you need more help than you're getting. They may send you for psychotherapy or give you some medication

here are some useful websites

www.studentdepression.org

http://www.mind.org.uk/

http://www.mind.org.uk/

Reply 8

YAP

Anonymous

If I go to my doctor, realistically what can I expect from them? Will they just right me off as moody and hormonal? WIll they make me see a counsellor?

They won't make you do anything, but they will allow you to do anything which they think is appropriate and to which you agree.

Go and get a second opinion, one doctor's 'quick dismissal' is another doctor's 'has depression' or whatever. Different doctors work best for different people, they're human after all.