Never ending depression

[Itsnotme33]

I'm an older woman and have always had bouts of depression and anxiety. They usually last 6 months at most. However the latest one has been going on for 3 years and despite different antidepressants it's just not lifting. Do I just accept this is my life now, maybe it's an age thing and ditch the antidepressants as they just don't seem to be doing anything and I've tried a few

I can offer some suggestions:

Make an appointment to see your GP and ask for blood tests. You could be low on vitamins like Vitamin D or B vitamins.

Try to eat better. Try to add more fruit, vegetables and other nutrients to your diet. It can be hard to motivate yourself but there are hacks like frozen vegetables you can steam in a bag or can be added to meals.

Take a good multivitamin, B complex, Vitamin D, magnesium glycinate and Omega 3s.

Stop drinking alcohol and stay hydrated.

Practice yoga or Tai Chi. Both are available on YouTube to practice at home. Yoga can be done on a chair and adapted if you have mobility issues. There are also courses you can do online.

Do an online class if you want to keep occupied. WEA has many classes and they're free if you're on a low income.

Practice mindfulness. The Headspace app is good for meditation and you can find courses online.

Journal. Getting it out of your head and onto the page can really help.

If you fancy doing CBT, there's a free course you can do online called Beating the Blues.

Do therapy. If you have limited funds, Anxiety UK does affordable therapy for those on a low income.

Have a bath with magnesium flakes, it really helps relax you.

All the best.

@MoonDruid I definitely don't move enough, it's so hard. I feel like I'm wading through treacle. I know it would be good for me but at the moment I can't do it.
@FoFanta not sure about ECT, sounds a bit scary but maybe it will be mentioned

@username299 thank you for all your suggestions. I've had blood tests and all are ok. I take supplements. Could definitely eat better but have little appetite or interest in food. I don't drink alcohol tea or coffee at all just bottled water as I really like it. I will look at some of the other things you mentioned. I just feel so pathetic because I have zero motivation or energy or joy to do anything. I have forced myself to do some things like hobbies but there's no enjoyment or feeling of achievement. It's 2.30 am and I'm wide awake again with my brain whirling round. So sorry I know I sound extremely irritating and believe me I'm sick of myself but I can't drag myself out of the pit so they are going to have to help me with meds or whatever else so I can start to climb out of it. Have never been so bad in my life for so long and I don't understand what's going on and why.

I completely understand, I know how frustrating it is. It's like being underwater and unable to surface..

Sometimes you have to put one foot in front of the other and really push yourself. Medication can obviously make a big difference but while you're waiting to find the right one (don't give up), you can try other strategies.

You could try meetup.com to see if there's a walking group nearby. Near me they do weekly walks by our local canal and I believe through the park. You don't have to talk to anyone, just walk alongside them and get out amongst people and in the fresh air.

That's why online courses are so good. You're focusing on something for an hour or so and doing something sociable without risk.

Mindfulness, with daily meditation helps. The London Buddhist Centre has a YouTube channel with their courses and you can listen to the meditations on their website.

You'll have some days which are better than others. That's ok.

I just want to add. There's always the Samaritans and the Silver line helpline. Both are available 24/7 should you need to talk.

I find my depression cycles just can’t lift without outside exercise. i tried inside online classes but that made me feel worse. It’s all very individual. I also need something to do each day otherwise I will just spending all day in my pjs doom scrolling and watching tv. I don’t live on my own and have many pets which force me to have something to do each day.

Do you feel able to go to a local park and walk around each day? Start small 5 mins out the house and work up.

Is there a local animal shelter or wildlife sanctuary you could volunteer at. I am of course suggesting the things that work for me. I think you need a purpose - not an all day commitment but something that means you have to get dressed and out the door and also some time interacting with other people.

How long till you next appointment with psychiatrist? Mine is excellent if I call up and will usually call me back the next day with a phone consultant.

Take care.

Thank you both @MoonDruid and @username299 for your replies, I really appreciate them. I will definitely look at meetup, not tried it before but have heard of it @username299 . I have a park very near me @MoonDruid so that's something I could do, set myself a goal of walking round it once ( it's small).I think you're bang on right that I need a purpose, although I'm older I don't feel like a little old lady and I think I have something to give if I can find the right thing and get myself doing it - that might take a while till I'm ready. Covid and retirement has a lot to do with it. I do need to look at what there is locally that I could start off with. The walks etc with meetup sound good as it's no pressure to interact too much which I find hard at the moment.
You've all given me a lot to think about and I realise I'm going to have to push myself out there to get out of this. The house becomes a bit of a prison in the end, not good.
I'll also look at the online courses. Maybe one of those plus getting out of the house will be enough to kickstart my way out. I'm seeing the psychiatrist this month to discuss meds, I'll let him know they're not working and I need to try something else.
Thanks again for all your help. Will update as and when there are any changes.

If you're looking at Udemy have a look at Kain Ramsay's courses, especially the CBT Practitioner one. It would really help you understand yourself.

(other courses are available!).

Thank you! I'd not heard of Udemy, will check it out along with the WEA courses and Beating the Blues. It's so helpful of you all ❤️ I just hadn't thought of anything like this so it gives me something interesting to look into and hopefully find something that helps. It gives me a start so I really do appreciate it. I've been so isolated and not really had any input from anyone.

I just wanted to check in on you OP and see how you are doing? Isolation or feeling isolated is really tough and you seemed a bit lost in your posts. It struck a chord with me. Hope you’ve been able to try some new things?