I think I may be depressed and I'm not sure what to do

[DonaldDucksTowel]

I think I may be depressed

I thought I maybe had pnd a long time ago and I went to my gp who sent me away with a counsellors number and I never called it or mentioned it again

This time it's much worse though

I don't know what to do now, I don't want counselling, I haven't got the time for a start plus I just don't have the energy, physical or mental, to talk about my feelings
It'll just be another thing to worry about, another chore on my list, another pressure
Plus I don't even know what I'd talk about, there's nothing 'wrong' with my life

I just don't know what to do

If you think counselling is not for you then maybe consider medication. Go back to your GP.

Go and see your doctor.

A lot of people find meds very helpful, and they don't take up time.

Depending on what services are offered where you live, you may be able to access telephone or online therapy.

Not all therapies require you to talk about your feelings either.

Definitely go and see your doctor though. Obviously your OP doesn't provide a full medical history, but the symptoms which are apparent - low energy, mood and motivation - could have a physical cause.

I wasn't really given any options before, she just gave me a phone number and a tissue and sent me on my way
I felt really stupid and embarrassed so just didn't mention it again

Can I ask for meds and if they offer counselling instead can I refuse and ask for medication?

Thankyou both for answering btw

Hey

I posted a very similar post yesterday. I actually thought this was my post from reading your title lol, I’d forgotten what I’d written. Anyway. Pointless reply but I know sort of how you feel.

It tends to be better to have meds and counselling. Go back to GP , preferably a different doctor. You should get better treatment than you had before. Don't be embarrassed, depression is very common.
Good luck

State the reasons to your gap why you don’t think you would benefit from counselling. Your gap should offer the next route. Counselling doesn’t suit everyone. CBT made my condition worse but EMDR helped as did medication.

See your GP & ask for meds. It's OK to say counselling is not for you. It takes a couple of weeks for meds to kick in, and it can also take time to find the right ones for you, but the right ones will make you feel normal again.

*GP not gap

Thankyou all
I'm going to go back to GP (I'm at a different surgery now) and ask about medication

Yes Drama I just want to feel normal I keep finding myself just watching people doing normal things and them seeming so easy and people just generally going about their day being fine and feeling so jealous

Junippers so sorry you're struggling too

About 2 months ago I finally plucked up the courage to see the gp about my depression and anxiety which I've had for at least 20 years - best thing I ever done!

I was offered counselling but turned it down for the same reasons you gave. I was prescribed 100mg sertraline and finally I feel normal! I knew I had to get help as I had turned into a raging screaming dm and it wasn't fair on my dc. Since I've calmed down I've noticed my dc have too. I just wish for all our sakes I got help sooner.

MunchMunch that is exactly what I needed to hear
I've turned into a horrible snappy shouty Mum too and I hate myself for it
Thankyou, so glad to hear you are feeling better

I can tell you what I did.
I went to the GP and said: this, this, this and this has happened. I’m not coping very well, I can’t sleep, I have all sorts of weird reactions to seemingly benign events.
Bless him, his eyes widened and said: I’m not surprised! Have you ever been on antidepressants? Nope. Would you like to try setraline? Sure!
I took 50mg for 6 months. It was bliss, gave me enough peace of mind to sort myself out. The deal with the GP was review after 6 months. By then, I was sleeping like a log, dealt with everything, I was ok.
So I came off them. As simple as that.
Go back, it’s ok :)

Thankyou 8FencingWire I hope the doctor I see is as helpful as that
Maybe I just got a really shit one last time
I assumed they'd all say similar and weren't really keen to prescribe medication, it looks like I may have just been unlucky there

I've told my DP the full extent of how I'm feeling this morning and that I think I need hel
He's having kittens now bless him he didn't know how much I was struggling
But now he knows there's no going back is there, I can't continue to stick my head in the sand

So glad you’ve told your DP how you are feeling. Depression is such an isolating and lonely state that it can be hard to open up to even the people you’re closest to about it.

The next step is to go back to your GP and hopefully this new one will be more helpful. I so remember being jealous of people around me who were just normally going about their lives without feeling disconnected, weird and in some altered state of reality. It’s almost impossible to describe how it affects and spoils every aspect of your life . Medication was a blessing for me. Took a while to kick in but when it did it was such a relief. I never found counselling very helpful either and as you say it can be impossible to get the time to yourself to go to sessions anyhow. Go get that appointment made and here’s to feeling much better soon.