Treating depression

onthelake · 14-05-2006, 11:40 AM

I'm quite sure that i'm clinically depressed. The source of my immediate unhappiness is work related, but it's constantly weighing on my mind to the point that I can't think about anything else, have trouble sleeping, have become antisocial, no appetite, etc. I went through a prolonged bout of depression when I was younger and would like to nip this in the bud rather than go on moping like this. Can anyone recommend a place to get treatment? Frankly, I just want to go on medications with minimal fuss/embarassment and don't particularly want counseling.

goodkarma · 14-05-2006, 11:44 AM

Your GP can treat you right away.
Start with him/her first.

sylvesterjay · 14-05-2006, 12:44 PM

http://www.resourcecounselling.org/index.htm

Katanga · 14-05-2006, 12:59 PM

If its work thats bearing you down all the time you should think about quitting for a while and pull yourself together.

The constant worrying seems to put you in this vicious circle which makes things worse as you get les and less sleep.

The fact you can admit it in this forum is a good start that you are ready to get treated.

I know we leave in this stressful World of a lot of peer pressure of doing well etc and trying hard at work and all that bollocks but nothing in life is worth it if you are constantly depressed.

Seriously, ask for some time out, get treated, go away somewhere hot for 2-4 weeks and just put your worries aside.

Are you in some high pressure, stressed out, pressure cooker kind of work environment or is it the people that are stressing you out ?

Either way go see a doctor and seek treatment.

Good luck !

vonDutch · 14-05-2006, 01:15 PM

I agree with Katanga. First things first. Get yourself in shape first and from thereon take a look what the further steps are. I think yr body and mind on a deeper level is giving you signals that things are not right at this moment. Find them and do not ignore them. Taking a break to clear yr mind helps you a lot. You will see things from another angle and distant yrself from the previous one. As I always say ' We work to live, not live to work'.

Go talk with friends/ people who are able to support you and try to relax yrself. Hope you find your way out very soon and best of luck!

ayukobaby · 14-05-2006, 02:04 PM

hey you're doing the very right thing to seek help. Im a social worker and i do have clients who have depression too. I normally refer them to see psychologist to do an assessment or see a psychiatrist to make a diagnosis. they can give u anti depressant and its just like a clinic and its not embarrasing at all. i know a very good doctor in central. but trust me, depression is usually cured with both medication and counseling. i know u may not want counseling, but only counseling can help deal with the root of the problems as depression is not just a physical thing. even if u dun wanna get counseling, talking to friends really help. they may not be able to help u to solve the problems, but it will make u feel good that u got all the care and support from ur friends and "force" yourself to join the social activities will give u less time to stay alone n think and get the vicious cycle effect. if theres anything i can help, pls let me know n i hope u do feel better.

Life is short, and if the difficulties dont kill you, it will only make u stronger. stay tough!

HK_Newbie100 · 14-05-2006, 05:40 PM

Medication has two effects: one primary and one secondary. The primary effect is to physically stimulate you into a state of well-being, like taking drugs, but as soon as the effect wears off, the secondary effect kicks in, leaving you, just as drugs would, wanting more, being more depressed. Anti-depressants are basically just another form of drugs, and leave you feeling the same. In short, they do not work as a long term cure.

On one level (a kind of spiritual Buddha level), you might say that there is no such thing as depression. You think yourself into depression and then it becomes a reality to you. The whole spiritual thing is about undoing those thoughts, realizing how they create your problems and therefore are at its’ root and then making peace with them. You use the term ‘constantly weighing on my mind to the point that I can’t think about anything else’. That is precisely the problem. But what is it that’s weighing on your mind? Look closely! Is it not a constant stream of (negative) thoughts about work, thoughts about certain colleagues, thoughts about how they treat you and so on? Is it not at the point of these thoughts appearing in your mind that you feel depressed? No thought, no depression; thought appears, depression. That’s how it works.

By seeing into the mechanism with which we create our thoughts and therefore depression, those thoughts automatically loosen their grip on us. The deeper we ‘see’ into our minds and understand its whole nature, the more we undo the whole foundation of problems in our lives. Clarity and freedom from an inherited lifetimes’ worth of cultural conditioning is what you really need for long-term peace of mind. And it can be gained in an instant like being hit by a bolt of lightning. A sudden jolt of realization can lead to a dramatic shift of consciousness, and it can be all over.

I know all this sounds a little other-worldly at this point, but there are practical and very simple steps that you can take to ease you into a clearer mind frame. I would be happy to try and help (for free) if you are willing to give it a go. I think you will walk away with a huge smile. If it doesn’t work, then you can always try your merry-go-round of counseling, medication, socializing and so forth after (at a great cost).

jimbo · 14-05-2006, 09:57 PM

Definately only resort to medication as a last option.

I have suffered from depression in the past and I openly admit that about 5 years back I did in fact take an overdose on painkillers.

onthelake I sympathise as I have been there and go through these bouts of highs and lows on a frequent basis. Some of my friends here have tried to help me get over these bouts and I am grateful for that. Definately talk to somebody about this as soon as you can. A problem shared is a problem halved and all that.

In the meantime have you thought about phoning the samaritans?