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Mental health

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Original poster

So am i truely clinicallydepressed or is this just a reaction toeverything going off at the moment?

30 replies

onlyjoking9329 · 20/09/2007 10:18

A couple of people have said that they think that i am depressed, i am not sure sometimes i think they are right but other times i am not sure, can sadness and stuff seem like depression?

OP posts:

3Ddonut · 20/09/2007 10:22

There's a difference between depression and feeling sad, there are symptoms of depression such as lack of appetite, insomnia, early waking, lack of interest in things you used to be interested in, tiredness..... I remember you have a lot going on at the moment and you're obviously going to react to that, your friends are just looking out for you, if you feel you need to why not see your GP? Good luck, sending you love.

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 20/09/2007 10:26

thats just it i do have all those things along with being terful over allsorts of things, but could just be our situation? i am reluctant to go down the AD's route as i need to be able to hold everything together so i don't want to be feeling flat and unresponsive and wiped out like i did before when i took them.

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elkiedee · 20/09/2007 10:27

onlyjoking, it's probably a reaction to what's going on but I don't know if that makes it any easier to deal with. If you see your GP or another health professional, you could ask about counselling or some sort of talking it through based help, whether there's something like that they could refer you to or if there are relevant support groups.

My health visitor/GP suspect PND with me but I think a lot of it's causal (a reaction to things that have happened just after the birth of my baby) rather than hormonal, and I've been offered various non-drug support although it's eased off a little since I last saw them.

3Ddonut · 20/09/2007 10:31

It probably is your situation, I'm sure anyone of us would feel 'depressed' if we were going through what you are. There are two types of depression, reactive, is what you are experiencing, in a reaction to something that has happened you may benefit from counselling rather than AD's or maybe you could discuss with your GP (who can refer for counselling also) alternative AD's which may suit you better, the other type of depression is 'organic' or 'intrinsic' it's just there for no real reason, which is not what is happening to you. Sometimes the last person to know about depression is the person who is suffering it. Have you been offered any follow up's from the hospital, nurse specialists or anything?

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 20/09/2007 10:39

we have been refered for a macmillan nurse so when she starts to come that should help a lot.

OP posts:

3Ddonut · 20/09/2007 10:40

yes it should, shame she's not involved now, is there no other point of contact for you?

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 20/09/2007 10:41

We have the social worker coming at 11 for a review, fingers cross they up the hours respite for the kids

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gess · 20/09/2007 10:51

Would recommend some form of counselling. You have a lot going on OJ and will need someone to talk through it all.

Nemo2007 · 20/09/2007 11:01

You do have a lot on your plate...I would howver also be weary of drinking etc Also reccomend a counsellor to say those things you cant say to others.

FioFio · 20/09/2007 11:05

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FioFio · 20/09/2007 11:05

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TotalChaos · 20/09/2007 11:33

You are in a very depressing and stressful situation. But I agree with the others about getting some sort of counselling, as you probably spend so much time keeping the family life going, and dealing with DH, that you don't get a chance to express your own worries in RL.

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 20/09/2007 12:51

i think the counselling will be covered by the Mac nurse and they are for the whole family so that should help us all.
nemo you are right i am very weary with the drinking but for now it is helping me get throu the evenings.

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Nemo2007 · 20/09/2007 14:43

I know OJ and can completely understand but as long as you are aware...lol I have just seen it happen where it became the crutch and would hate that to happen to you.

TheMadHouse · 20/09/2007 14:49

OJ I have followed your threads and am really sorry for what you are going through. I just wanted to add that the Ad's that I am on (I have been on them for 5 months now) have not made me feel flat and unresponsive. If anything they have brought back the old me and made it easier to deal with day to day life.

I am also having councelling and was worried that they would change me IFKWIM, but according to DH they have made me more acccepting, awake, aware of others, tolerant and motivated and they have also helped with my sleeping.

Again I am sorry for what you are going through, you come across as a really strong and selfles person, but you need to be together for yourself and your family and you also need to look after yourself.

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 20/09/2007 21:11

i do think the drinking is a bit of a crutch, but for now it gets me throu the long evenings. i don't drink in the day time so don't think it is a huge problem for now.
maybe it was the ADs that i was on before that made me feel so flat and disconnected, at the moment i really can't do disconnected.
i will see how things go and bear the AD's in mind.

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Pickie · 20/09/2007 21:22

OJ am in a difficult situation with family as well(DH fell 10 metres down a walkway on concrete slap and somehow survived) and drinking was an help for me as well (so I thought). Numb myself and try to forget how difficult life is but 4 weeks ago i gave it up (ahum with the occasional glitch) and must say i feel much better for it.

From reading your posts I think you are a very strong and capable woman and you will get through this!

orangehead · 20/09/2007 21:28

Sorry I have only read some of the thread. There is a difference between sadness to a situation and depression, however clinical depression can be triggered by situations/events. If how u are felling is connected to something counselling tends to work better. Maybe explain to yr gp how u feel but explain what u believe the reason to be and ask to be referred for counselling. I hope u ok

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 20/09/2007 21:56

sorry tp hear about your DH pickie, how is he doing now?
well done on the not drinking front.

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lucyellensmum · 20/09/2007 22:13

OJ with everything you are going through just now i think you are amazingly strong. I think that depression can be triggered by events but i do understand your reluctance to go down the AD route as you do need to keep things together for your family. But honey, that is such a strain for you. What ADs were you on before? As you know, im on citalopram (just gone up to 40mg) i do feel a bit "away with the fairies" although that tends to be a) when im tired and b) when dp is around so i dont have to be on the ball for dd. This really has only been since ive been on 40mg. I just feel more able to cope, its weird, i had some difficult stuff to deal with about two years ago and it wasnt until it all was finished that the anxiety and depression hit me like a ton of bricks. Sorry, i dont want to waffle on about me, the point i guess im trying to say is, i have the pills and i dont feel distant and unresponsive, i feel more able to hold it together. To be totally brutally honest, i really dont know how the hell you cope and i admire you greatly, your family are so lucky to have you. Talk to your GP, see if he thinks some meds will help you through, i just wonder if they are easier to keep tabs on than the drink. The only thing is, drink is a no no when on the meds. I thought this was going to be a huge problem for me as i was doing about 4 bottles of wine a week, but strangely enough ive had no urge for alcohol whatsoever, even on a girls night out! I dont know if that is the effects of the drugs or because i am thinking i might react badly to it and it puts me off.

Anyway, not sure how much help that was, just passing on my experience of the meds as i remember you were kind to me on my thread.

Big hugs to you

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 21/09/2007 09:47

i think with everything that is going on at the moment then it is little wonder i feel down at times, i am holding off from the ADs for now but at some point that might change. thing is this is going to be a difficult situation for a long time, even if steve is one of the lucky 2% that survive a year, he is still terminal he will still be very ill and will lose some of his abilities and is likely to develop seizures and lose his sight and i need to have my wits about me really.
thanks for sharing.

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Pickie · 21/09/2007 15:14

OJ DH is okish thanks for asking, as with brain injuries (amongst other injuries) you know how people can change! DH used to be a very confident man with excellent multi tasking skills (and that for a man!!) and now is very insecure, cant always say what he wants to be becasue cant find the words, insomnia, impatient ect..

Anyway not want to hijack your thread! I think you are doing amazingly well given the situation and re the depression side I find (or maybe I am just in denial) that people expect you to get depressed because of the situation. IThe positive thing I got out of this (and it is the only thing believe me) is that I really appreciate the small normal things in live now. Such as having a laugh about something silly, going out for a meal or a drink or spent some time as a family.

Anyway if there is anything I can do for you pl let me know!!

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 21/09/2007 15:40

Will your DH improve with time?
you are not hijacking, all are welcome on my threads.
i have a thing someone could do.
i have been to the chemist and looked on google but no joy, i want a pill box with just for compartments, but it needs to be a fair size for up to six tablets four times a day, i can only find weekly ones or really small one, steve gets confused so i need to keep it simple and be able to show him he has/has not taken his tabs as it is causing major probs.
am off to pick kids up from school bus.but will be back later.

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Pickie · 21/09/2007 16:52

OJ My DH used a seed box, can post this to you if you like as he had to take 4 x 6 tables a day. If you email me your address i pop them in tomorrows post.

Re recovery, they say the brain can heal up to 2 years and we are nearly there so hopefully a little more but we'll have to wait and see. Therapy has only just started to use parts of his brain not affected by the bleed and time will tell

Original poster

onlyjoking9329 · 21/09/2007 19:37

does it have a lid and somewhere to put labels on for different times? if so it sounds like just the thing

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