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Is depression taken seriously enough?

151 replies

Peaches · 14/04/2001 00:03

I've had depression for three years and to me it seems like the modern society still has not moved forward in this area.I feel that it is not being taken seriously.My G.P handed out prozac and for a while I believed I would get better taking this drug everyday.I haven't taken this drug for four months now and I don't miss it.In fact I can't work out what it actually did for me.What I needed was to be able to talk.I had therapy sessions (only temporary mind you then she left and never was replaced),they were the best thing for me. I could vent my anger out about how I felt and she would never judge me just ask me to think about why I was actually feeling the way I did. I not saying the drugs should not be used, but the doctors should not hand them out so easily.The older generation were always told to get on with their lives,feeling depressed and low was not a complaint you went to the doctors with twenty years ago.Does anyone else feel they haven't been treated the way they should have been. We need greater support barriers, we do not need to be waiting months on the NHS waiting list to see shrinks.

OP posts:
Winnie · 25/04/2001 08:04

Hi Peaches, glad you are staying posted (although you didn't say how you are doing?) Have you had any success with your GP? Thinking of you. Take care.

Tigger · 25/04/2001 09:17

Hi Peaches, I watched this message board with great interest. I too suffered from depression and still do at times, only now I can see the symptoms myself. I don't want to be intrusive, but if you are on medication what type is it, I had 3 before I found one that helped me. Some made me feel worse plus I couldn't sleep and the last one made my mouth dry but it helped me immensely. My biggest problem was that I thought people would think I was potty, but with the support of a very good friend and I mean a very good friend and my husband and family I got through it. I still have days where everyone avoids me like the plague as they know I'm not having a good day. Good luck and keep us posted.

Peaches · 25/04/2001 22:19

Hello,
I am trying not to think about how I'm feeling.I've had one hell of a bad day today again.I too read this columm with interest and I have noticed that a lot of you have really supportive family around you.I don't,infact they act like they couldn't care less about me.I won't go into it now cause it'll take me all night but believe me when I say that they think it's all going on in my head.When I was regularly taking Prozac my mother accused me several times of being unstable and unable to take care of my kids properly.She said that the tablets were making me agressive but I feel they make me more assertive.I am a green eyed monster towards my younger sister,alway's have been and alway's will be.What makes it worse is that she has just had a baby (two months early)All the things that I thought would happen have,like my parents running to her side,offering her money and that sort of thing.They never offered me or my husband any help.They say it is because he's too posessive.It's like she can not do anything wrong.
I can't get the whole thing out of my mind.I spoke to my mum tonight and all she could talk about was my sister.Like I said before it's great if you have a supportive family who have time for you but I haven't so I think I'm the greened eye monster of envy with you guys too.

Speak to you all soon,
Peaches

OP posts:
Jac · 25/04/2001 22:54

Hi peaches, just to say I'm thinking about you.

Hope you have a reasonable night's sleep

Take care

Winnie · 26/04/2001 08:14

Peaches, Hi, I am sorry you've had a bad dáy. Dealing with other peoples attitude to one depression is hard, it can be so undermining and simply serve to make a bad situation worse. If it is any help go to the discussion on RELATIONSHIPS here "Am I the only person with a miserable mother?" and you will find that you really are not alone; mother/daughter conflict is rife!

Winnie · 26/04/2001 08:26

Peaches, I vanished due to a sudden explosion of baby vomit (which we all know is a delight worth sharing... sorry). I just wanted to say there are people who are thinking of you, people who care... how are things going with the GP? It is so utterly disgusting that you are simply being left to cope. I wish that I could say something more constructive but keep badgering the powers that be, you must remember that you do deserve help and you deserve it now! Thinking of you, take care

Jac · 26/04/2001 12:19

I wrote the following last night, but didn't want to make you feel worse before you went to bed..

Hi Peaches, I was just thinking about you.

Sorry you've had a bad day. That's really not fair what your mother is putting you through, I would even go as far as saying she is contributing to your depression. Whilst not wishing to say depression is 'all in the head' I feel that the past has a lot to do with it and we need to confront things that have gone on in the past. When you did see a therapist did you talk about your childhood and how you feel about your mother/parents? Don't answer if you don't want.

Depression is very complex and it is not always one thing, for me it has many issues and one by one I'm 'sorting' them out, but that's not to say it's gone forever. Anyway I'm rambling.

Please take care.
...

by the way I admit over the last couple of days I've not been feeling too good and I don't know why, that's what's bad about it for me that I don't know 'what's the matter' as my husband keeps on asking me and he can't 'handle' me like this at times.

bye for now

Take care

Tigger · 26/04/2001 13:31

Hi Peaches, I wonder if you have a close friend that you could talk to, and I don't mean chit chat, I mean really talk to, someone who will listen to the nitty gritty and not be pass remarkable. Depression is still not taken seriously enough by many, even in the medical profession. I do wonder though if your medication is helping in one way, but holding you back in another, i.e. the balance is not right. Has your GP checked your chemical balances?, and done other blood tests as well, I had so many blood tests I'm was quite sure I was having a date with Dracula!. The root of my depression was Delayed Bereavement, on top of other things as well. Go back to your GP, but before you go, ask some of your friends if they have noticed any difference in your mannerisms, behaviour etc. I did and was shocked to find some of the things they saw, like being agressive to my husband, in fact really vile to him, and to my mother and to the very friend who helped and advised me to go the doc. If you don't want to ask friends, then keep a diary of how you feel for one week, what you eat, drink, when you go to be bed, how long you sleep, if you feel tired, write down the time you feel tired no matter what time of day.

One thing I do advise is, if you cannot talk to anyone, write down how you feel don't keep it locked away, let your feelings either good or bad out, don't keep them bottled up. The last medication I was on was called Dothiepin, it helped me sleep and made me calm down a bit, because I couldn't sit still, literally I just fidgeted the whole time, even if we were out for a meal. If I got fed up when we were out I'd get up and leave without a word to anyone, leaving my husband to face all our friends, I was lucky none of them judged me, well one did and told me to pull myself together, I never said a word, my husband who I had been so horrible to, did explain to him why I was like that.

Please keep writing on this board, and I am thinking about you.

Batters · 26/04/2001 18:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Weez · 26/04/2001 20:46

Twinsmum, thanks so much for your reply. As I said before I'm not sure what my anti-depressants are actually doing for me, I don't cry everyday like I used to, but I still feel very stressed and I find that my patients are always at their limit. I'm not as unhappy I used to be, but not as happy as I should be. I find myslef rushing around all the time, here there and everywhere, just to avoid being in the house. I should take your advise and RELAX, I think that keeping a diary is also a great idea - I'll start tomorrow!

Thinking of you Peaches, hoping you're feeling better?

Take care everyone

Peaches · 26/04/2001 21:48

Hiya guys,
It's really great to check the board everyday,it gives me something to look forward to when the children are in bed.What I do want to say though is that I worry about you too.We are all writing on this board for a reason and sometimes it can be quite theraputic(hope I spelled that right) to read about other peoples problems because for those minutes I'm reading and replying to you I'm not thinking about me.I have contacted my GP today,the earliest appointment that I can have is on 14th May.There are walk in clinics everday though and at the moment I'm trying to find out when the lady doctor I was seeing before when I was at a really low point is on shift.The receptionists don't seem to know anything at these places.Jac,I contacted the hospital to say that I still want to remain on the waiting list but the receptionist there said it could still be three or four months until I'm seen.Apparently there is no priority it's just when your name gets called next.The first stage will be an assessment.God,assessments!I've had too many of those already.I'm not consistently taking my prozac at present although I have been for the last few days.I know they take at least a month to kick in though and that's the problem,I need a kick fix in the meantime.Does anyone know of medication that can do that?I don't like my kids seeing me cry,they are too young to understand.I'm on my own at the moment,my husband is at work and I'm thinking to myself boy am I lonely.That is why I'm typing away to you guys,it's almost like writing a diary.Spilling out your feelings to people who will listen and won't judge,I think it's great that you can support each other.I hope that I can support you in some way like you guys are supporting me.This may sound like a bit of a sad story but I don't have many friends.I have two infact.One is so messed up herself that I really don't want to worry her with my problems and the other well she seems truly happy with her life and I wonder why sometimes,well most of the time why I can't be like her.That's the thing though,when you feel down everybody around you seem the happiest people in the world.Sometimes I can talk to my husband,other times I can't.He gets angry about things and reacts negatively.I feel I don't want to worry him with my problems.I know that's what husband and wife means though.Sometimes there are things I can't tell him and that's why I bottle them up.Anyway I've gone on far too long,I just want to say thanks for thinking about me all of you.I just want you guys to know I'm thinking about you too.

I'll leave a message tomorrow,take care
Peaches

OP posts:
Winnie · 27/04/2001 10:48

Hi Peaches, glad you are okay but don't feel guilty about people caring about you! Despite the hideous wait I am glad you've not given up with the doctor & hospital... I wonder if you've tried anything like meditation, yoga or t'ai chi. It is something you can do for yourself (going to a class might be beneficial; getting you out, meeting people etc.,) or if you don't feel up to it getting a yoga video and doing it at home. I have suffered from depression on and off over the years and have found all three have helped me at different times. In fact without regular t'ai chi I can get easily stressed. Just a thought... it just might help you relax and wind down... take care

Batters · 29/04/2001 20:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Peaches · 29/04/2001 21:08

Hi,how is everyone?Hope you are ok.Did you have good weekend's?Mine wasn't great to say the least,but never mind tomorrow is another day.My thought for the weekend:FAMILIES,who needs them.They want you there for them in a jiffy if they need you but if you're the one in need it's another story.Anyway hope you are all well,let me know how everything is going.

Take care!
Peaches

OP posts:
Winnie · 30/04/2001 21:17

Hi Peaches, I am sorry you had a rotten weekend. Hope you've had a better day today... take care, and I am fine, thanks for asking...

Jac · 01/05/2001 12:42

Hi peaches, sorry about your weekend. Hope your feeling a little better today. It's hard to feel better when the weather is as crap as it is today isn't it?

I think I have mood swings more than depression these days. I will just have an off day here and there and more around the time of the month. I might check out this chemical imbalance thing with the doctor that Tigger suggested earlier.

Keep us posted, take care.

Tigger · 01/05/2001 12:48

Jac, do go and get your chemical balances checked out, I went and was vampired this morning as I go once every 2 months. Also whilst their doc asks if there is anything else, so, I proceeded to tell him that dreaded roids were back, and are they painful ask the doc, yes replied me, a bannister is getting more attractive every day! Ah well better reach for the Bran Flakes and oranges, god it's like being pregnant again!.

Peaches, just to say hi and I am thinking about you as well.

Jac · 01/05/2001 13:02

Thanks tigger, I will. I usually go too when I want a few things sorted out. I'll book myself in for an MOT!!

Peaches · 01/05/2001 17:33

Just a quickie,please inform me about chemical inbalances.What does it involve?Hope you are all ok,take care.

Peaches

OP posts:
Tigger · 01/05/2001 19:58

A quick reply here, it is to do with chemical imbalances within the brain, also your thyroid gland will be tested as well or should be and diabetes will be tested for as well. Also check out certain foods that you eat as my mum has to watch what she eats and drinks. Ask your GP for all the info they have on it, and good luck, please keep us up on how you are feeling, good or bad.

Tigger

Kate71 · 01/05/2001 21:05

Tigger, Hope you feel better soon. The thing that really got/gets me down are 'roids. Will my bum and digestive system ever be the same again? I gave birth a year ago. I'm still a fibrogel regular.

Peaches · 01/05/2001 22:52

Thanks for that info Tigger,I will talk to my doc about it in two weeks time.The thing is that if you have to have blood tests then I'm buggered cause I've got a bad needle phobia.I fainted when I had my blood tests when I had the children.I'm a real woose!I've had a bad day(seems like that everyday).I put the children to bed at 6pm and I feel bad.They were stressing me out all day and I needed some space,but it's not their fault.I FEEL GUILTY!Help,they are too young to know that mummy's not feeling well.They're are nearly 3(this month)and 14 months.Thanks for listening,take care.

Peaches

OP posts:
Tigger · 02/05/2001 09:32

Kate 71, my GP gives me Scheriproct cream (hope thats the right spelling), it does help. Grab the oranges, all bran, brown bread etc, try cutting down on coffee and drink lots of water. I've had the beloved roids for over 4 years now, they do seem to "errupt" when I come under a bit of stress. I have been due to the recent F&M and it was my birthday yesterday there you go I am now 31, and don't feel any older than I was when I was 21. Ask your GP about the above cream, and if they give you it, it will help.

Peaches, I do get the feeling that you are very, very down just now. Do you have kids with you all day, or do they go to Playgroup or Mother and Toddlers?. Is there a Park near you or an open area of ground that they could run their steam off on?, even if you don't feel like going out take the kids to let them get the air in them it doesn't half tire them out. Also it would give you some time to sit and just be "you" again, I have to wholeheartedly agree with Batters, I think that your GP may not be taking you seriously enough. I will write soon, lamb has just escaped from the field, husband in hot pursuit and the swearing is well ..........

Take care and speak to you soon.

Twinsmum · 02/05/2001 15:10

Hi Peaches. Make sure you ask to lie down if you have to have blood taken. I too have a phobia of needles and have done the fainting 'thing'. Ignore the nurse or doctor if they look at you as if you're a woos. I'm sure they'd prefer you on a bed than on the floor. Since I've laid down to have it done (although I still really really hate it ) I've never passed out.

Jodee · 02/05/2001 18:57

Peaches - hi. I hope you have had a much better day today. BTW thanks for your message re. my 13 month old and walking early/late.
I'm going over old ground here but would definitely say to make a fuss if you want to change doctors. Maybe your neighbours can recommend one? I've not suffered depression but was ill for months with what turned out to be an overactive thyroid, and my doctor basically said it was all in my head. After changing doctors and having numerous blood tests (not nice for you i Know, but got to be done) it was finally sorted.
Don't let your doctor fob you off.

Best wishes,
Jodee