If you have got through depression without tablets, come and talk to me

[NAB3]

Sorry, that it is me again.

[iris66]

don't apologise! What's up? Do you feel you need tablets? (i've no idea of your history BTW)

[iris66]

sorry - should have said. Yes, I've got through two big bouts of depression in the past 5 years without tablets but it was hard and I didn't do it on my own.

[hpsaucey]

Hello - also don't know your history. Are you surrently pregnant? I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression this year (it built up nicely over a 2-year period from my last pregnancy). I'm waiting for CBT but have SO FAR got through it without taking the prozac that's still sitting in my cupboard.

I have been taking a supplement called avena sativa - basically concentrated oat extract - which has REALLY helped a lot. I've been told this is totally safe throgh pregnancy although there's not much research on it.

Worth asking at your local good health shop (I'm not talking Holland and Barratt but somwhere with qualified advisors/practioners).

I stopped taking it when I became pregnant but my midwife said it should be OK to take again fromthe second trimester.

[StaryNightSky]

Hi

Yep I've made it through a breakdown and 3 doses of clinical depression. It can be done and there is lots you can do to help your self.

Just keep asking for help, we have all been there at sometime and life can really get to you.

But you do need to know what type of depression you have. Certain things can not be controlled with out medication.

Hope you are ok, or as I always say that you have your lips above the water line!

[MotherFunk]

Message withdrawn

[NAB3]

how?

[StaryNightSky]

NAB3

We can only really offer advise if we have a general out line of the problem and your syptoms.

Are you stuggling with SAD, are the nights worse, can you not leave your house. Is it OCD, fear of something,

what I am saying is that we can offer support for the fact that t is possible or we can offer you advise. But we can only offer if we were or are in a similar position. Otherwise what we might suggest may be completly impossible for you.

Eg. I loved to walk, jog, run miles with music. Preferable out side what ever the weather I would run untill I felt physically exausted as I felt emotionally. But if you are agrophobic Not going to be much help!

[iris66]

NAB3 - StaryNightSky's right - we can only help if you let us in a bit.

FWIW I went down the counselling route first time (I was off work with stress for over 6 months and ended up jacking my job in - and feeling a whole lot better, despite being mega skint) but used homeopathy, dietary supplements (mainly B vits) and reflexology the second (post natal with a whole raft of other crap going on).

[NAB3]

I find it a bit disorrientating that people who haven't been on my other down threads are coming on this one. Feels a bit hard to open up.

[dooley1]

my dh thinks i've been depressed for a long time.
I've never told thr gp, family or friends.
Things that help are getting out of the house evryday and (I know this is awful) a couple of glasses of wine after the kids are in bed.
I find if I have things to do - evenings spent with dh watching a series on dvd like Bones or The OC, going out with Friends etc help

[iris66]

I don't look through posters' other threads. Everything changes for people from one day to the next so there'd be little point IMO.

You don't have to go into great detail or anything. We're only asking for a littl more from you because we do want to help and know from experience how isolating depression can be

[StaryNightSky]

Hey Nab

can you point us to your other threads.

We are only trying to help, not be noisy or drag things up for you.

Maybe you would feel more comfortable talking to some one in RL. The samaritains are excellant if you don't want anyone to know who you are just give a false name. They wont offer you advise but will listen, which is some times the most important thing.

I never look through other treads just thought I might be able to help on this one given the title.

[NAB3]

HERE

[dooley1]

well from your other thread I see that you have used tablets before so I guess my post is pretty irrelevant?

[NAB3]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2100&threadid=403096#8199964here

[NAB3]

here

[NAB3]

There is no point me going back to the doctor as, even if he puts me on tablets, I will still have to come off them again and be back to sqaure one.

[dooley1]

The thing is though that obviously your gp thought you needed to be in them.
Did he/she advise you to come off them?

[dooley1]

are you a single mum? I see that on one thread you say you have no me time?
Could anyone babysit for you so you could do an exercise class once a week? Something like salsa or line dancing so you make new friends?

[NAB3]

yes

[NAB3]

oops, cross post. No I am married and DH is a hands on dad when here as obvioulsy he is out of the house for most of the day at work.

[twinsetandpearls]

I don't take any medication as none of them work unless I take such a high dosage that I am doped up which means my life becomes a blank emotionless void.

I exercise, eat well and try and hvae a bit of me time. I am also a great beliver in positive thinking , it sounds corny but every morning I remind myself of the great things I have in life and I make an effort to be cheerful, so saying hello to people in the village, smiling and making an effort to find time for the things I enjoy and that make me feel calm - in my case painting, walking and when the weather is nice camping. I only get really ill around the time of my period at which point almost every month I become suicidal and dd has to be sent to her dads and we adopt a batten down the hatches approach. I take to my rrom dp hides any tablet, knives, razor blades etc and we just get through it.

I think I do very well considering that I hold down a very stressful job with management responsibilty and very few people who know me actually know how ill I get. We are saving money frantically so I can afford private in patient treatment.

I do think the support of those who love you is crucial and I couldn't do it on my own although when very ill I will push away the people who help me the most.

[onlyjoking9329]

tablets maybe a good idea for the short term. are you reluctant to take meds?

[twinsetandpearls]

I do think if the tablets work and you can function while on them they can be a good thing

[NAB3]

Not at all. Have been on them on and off for 6 years nearly. My point is I would still have to come off them at some point and I know that what causes my depression will still be there. Counselling doesn't work for me.