I feel horrible and nobody will listen

[valleyqueen]

I feel so down and depressed, I have been to the doctor who gave me fluoxetine (on my 5th day so early days) he also suggested I needed to find a man!!! So I go out of there asap.

My mum listened but told me just to see how the tablets go and not to tell anyone. The only friend I told said I don't have anything to be depressed about. The thing is I don't, I have a nice home, food in the cupboards and a lovely dd.

I feel like crying all the time and am constantly thinking about bad things happening, I also have to check my handbag and it's contents all the time which I know the fluoxetine will help with. The last month I have got worse and everything I do feels like an effort.

valley, so sorry you haven'i been met with better help in rl.

are you being referred for counselling?

your doc, mum and pal have been useless.

anyone else in your life who might help?

No he never mentioned counselling, I am going to book my next appointment with the other GP and see what she says.

I am frightened of telling anyone else in case
I get brushed off again. I have felt like this before bit have coped and come out of the other side, this time it just seems 10x worse with no end in sight.

i hopr your other gp will be more use.

it can be hard finding someone to listen. some people just have no idea what to say, so say unhelpful things like your friend. it's not thay she doesn't care or doesn't believe you.

feeling no end in sight is part of the depression/anxiety disorder. hopefully the seroxat will help a wee bit in a few weeks and you will get some decent long term help.

good on you for seeking help - it is not easy.

Depression is an illness in the same way as arthritis, etc, things you would take medication for. Just because you have a nice house, money, etc doesn't mean you won't get depression. It is a chemical inbalance in the brain and anyone, anyone can get it. It is nothing to be ashamed about.

I have no money I think that is contributing to the anxiety, luckily I was able to make my flat nice before all this happened. I don't want money though really I just want to feel normal again.

Depression can hit anyone in any walk of life, your Mum and your friend are sadly totally misguided. I had the same experience with my parents years ago, they were more embarrased and ashamed than I was and didn't want me to tell anyone . It is an illness like any other. nickytwotimes is right, definately push for some counselling.

I will def ask about counselling, I don't want to take ad's for too long.

Once you start them though you have to take them for a good 6 months to a year to get the full benefit and they can be very tricky to get off, I don't think your doctor spelled this out.

As others have said depression is often due to a chemical imbalance rather than what is happening in life.

Your poor thing to have had such a lack of support.

Not sure strawberries comment was that helpful. ADs can be hard to come off, or they can be a breeze. And plus it takes far less time than 6 months to see full benefit.

Good luck and use the people on here for fantastic support although I know this should not be a replacement for RL support.

Thanks. I feel a bit better today I am working and keeping myself busy helps a lot:

I am aware that it may take some time for the tablets to work and atm I am not even thinking about coming off them. No side effects so far apart from feeling a bit woozy which is kind of a welcome.

You really have to look at depression as they same as any other illness and accept you might have to take medication for a long time. I am on them for life and believe me the alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

Valley don't worry abotu taking the meds!

I am on antidepressants and probably will be for life. It s not diferent to my db who injects insulin every day for his diabetes - its a chemical imbalance, it needs to be treated.

Please dont focus on taking the meds for as short a period as possible - 6 month is a minimum, and I recently read that many psychiatrits are now recommending 2 years to make sure all is well.

Being on ADs is NOT a stigma. You are ill, like I am ill. We need to take the tablets we need to get better, and be nice to ourselves in the meantime.

And do ask again about counselling or psychotherapy. It makes a huge difference if done well.

Well said weegiemum

How are you feeling now, valleyqueen?

I am kind of ok thanks. I have been at work again today and managed to go most of the day without getting upset, although I keep getting paranoid that people don't like me still.

I have suffered from paranoia for years in one form or another, I can usually tell myself I am being daft though. I am just hoping that I have more ok days, I never know what mood I am going to wake up in next.

I wouldn't care whether people like you or not. I know that is easy to say but I have spent my whole life caring what people think of me and I have been through so many different things now that I realise what a waste of time it was.