How can i stop getting depressed?

[Anice]

I think I am getting depression again. It will be my third time - the last was two years ago.
Its always the same pattern... first I feel stressed, then i cry a bit more easily than i should (Tv programmes have me brushing away tears before anyone can see!), then I maybe get irritable, then I get sad a lot for no good reason (that's what's happening now), then I feel really bad about myself and start feeling angry with myself, then I'm crying all the time and angry with everyone and everything for no good reason and then I want to die and then finally I reluctantly get medical help and it all starts get better.

I just don't want to go through this again or put my family through it. My mother has been like this since I was a child so I know how hard it is to live with. I don't want to have get medical help either because I find it humiliating and I start dreading things like questions from insurers when I apply for life cover.

Does anyone know of anyway of breaking this cycle before it takes over my life again??

actually that's wrong it will be my fourth time.

Anice, I think you have answered your own question:

'then finally I reluctantly get medical help and it all starts get better.'

I am on ADs and it took a lot to get me to the doctor; I felt the same reluctance that you do. But why not consider just doing it now before you go too far down?

If they work - and it sounds as though they do - then ADs must be the way to go, however reluctant you are. I totally understand that reluctance, but as a friend said to me, if you were diabetic, you wouldn't not take the insulin, would you?

Of course, you could try the exercise/fresh air/mood gym route as well.

I know it's hard, it's a bloody nightmare.

did you try therapy yet as well as ads? cbt can work well for some people. always ship dh off to his ace hypnotherapist/counsellor the second he starts feeling down and that seems to work wonders. obv not for everyone but worth a try

I got therapy once and it helped. I think it was called cognitive therapy. I understood that I was bullying myself - "I am too fat", "how could I let that happen?", "why didn't I do that on time?" (I am fairly fed up with myself for not doing my tax return at the moment!).

I hoped the therapy would help me to help myself if it ever happened again, but the next time was even worse.

Maybe if i just give it one more week and try my best?

Anice, I haven't done my tax return either

Am MNing instead of doing it right now ...

Try being kind to yourself. It sounds daft, but I find it really helps to talk to myself gently, reward myself for little things achieved and not let the shouty, critical voice have a say.

And on that note, I am going to go and attack the tax return now!

Have you tried The Mood Gym? Online CBT course, quite interesting and something to do for a quick ten minutes that makes you feel a bit more positive.

if it worked before,give it another go ... don't think the effects usually last forever, maybe it needs a bit of a top up - a reminder to be kind to yourself. and dh recommends the hypnotherapy too

thanks to everyone who replied today.
I had an appointment booked with the GP this afternoon anyway and somehow I found the courage to tell him about how I am feeling. So I am on prozac again.
If I hadn't done it today, I'd have ended up getting into a dreadful state in a few weeks or months time and then having to go away. I don't know if you can nip these things in the bud but I hope so.

not go away!! Go on see the GP then anyway!!

that's a really positive outcome - hope it starts working for you soon. did he mention counselling also?

no, the GP did not say anything about counselling. He just said come back in three weeks time.

My DH works away during the week and comes home for weekends, so he is back tonight. I don't want to worry him. Would it be wrong to just not tell him about it?

don't keep anything from your DH - he will be your strength int he months to come

I was told by my GP that AD forts and later will look into councelling
unfortunately that is cheaper for the NHS...
so once I was ready Ibooked a visit with therapist and I went to see him for about 10 weeks and decided that was enough then
it helped me a lot to understand my issues at that point and now (3 months later) I stil lfeel benefits of doing it

please don't resent takign medication, talk to your doctor about your conserns

in any case my GP said - at least 12 months of taking AD's and you are telling us that in 2 years time this is your 4th time when you feel depressed
whos decision was it to get off them last time?

you don't mention which GS you are hoping for
have look at this forum for more info

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/index.php