Several quieries on Depression?

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ask the aliens!	Maybe your just a pesimist? try to see the up side of things that go wrong like I didnt get a loan for a car I wanted but then weeks later lost my job if I had the car I would be in serious finacal trouble but as a result I was no worse off. there is a up for every down. I tried anti depressants and the side affects just werent worth it. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

harrierzero1	Depression is the hell of all diseases it is caused primarily by the lack of ceretonin in the brain drugs correct this imbalance you dont really notice the change you just feel better if that is the right word, good luk to you mate hope it all works out Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Rebel	change your Dr... I suffered a spell of depression, and I found that St Johns Wort really helped. Hope you feel better soon !!! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

markhatter	Also, what does it feel like to be on anti-depressants? Numb and horrid If a doctor suggests Seroxat say NO Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Boudica Warrior Queen	Hello there so sorry to hear that you a feeling low it is not fine but there is help out there somewhere it's just finding the help that is going to suit you. Yes this sort of pressure can put a strain on a relationship, however, you will come out the other side stronger believe me. I have looked through the answer and there is some good advice, however I am of the opnion that you ought to consider Jules professional advice. Plenty of signposts to other organisations for support and advice. And I'm sure that Mind will be able to refer you to somewhere in London for the help you require. You can make an informed descision once you have all the options and facts laid before you. Meanwhile get out and exercise that mind and body. It is the best way to release the natural endorphines in the brain. These endorphines will help you to cope until you get the help and support you need. Take your partner with you and enjoy the Marathon in London this week- end. I wish I could be there too. Try not to be too disappointed in the response of your doctor. Whilst the treatment for depression is much improved many doctors still do not have either the right approach or understanding of mental health problems so most either give you antidepressants or just whitewash over it. At your age it is specially important that you have the right treatment and no it is not stupid to ask questions. All the best and take care and keep the pecker up. We all care you know. PS If at the end of the day antidepressants are suggested to you as the way forward. Remember you want to know all about them and if they have any side effects. Though taken as directed and under strict supervision life can get better though it can take time and patience. There is life at the end of that tunnel. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Neeboo	make love man Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Wantstohelpu	Hiya Sounds like you have been struggling for a while. I know you have had a lot of answers, but hope this adds a useful perspective for you. Depression generally is best described by feelings that alter your everyday life to a noticeably adverse degree than the normal ups and downs of life such as: Insomnia, feeling tearful / melancholic, tiredness, black and deep intense moods, mood swings from low to manic, isolated from others and feeling 'outside' of things, not wanting to participate in things, only seeing things in a negative light and so on. It doesn't mean you have all of these and there are many more other symptons, but if you are experiencing 3 or more of these symptons, I would recommend you see another Doctor. It may be helpful to think of depression as a chemical imbalance in the brain, that makes you think and act in a depressed way - modern anti depressants seek to redress that balance by correcting the imbalance you may have. Do they make you think differently you asked? Yes they do but they can take a few weeks to build up in the system and start having a meaningful effect. You will notice that you start to enjoy life a bit more and things don't seem so bad or 'dark' as they did before and bit by bit they will help you over time. You may have to try a few different types before finding one that suits as the down side is that they can have some side effects - they usually wear off after your body gets familiar with them, but if they don't suit then ask the Doctor to try some different ones. I hope this has helped, but don't delay go and see another Doctor and get yourself better. Very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

AtisAngel	I knew from the way i was feeling that i needed help, talking to someone was not the right answer for me because i could not point out was was actually making me cry all the time. I am 21. i went to my doctor and he put me on a very mild dose anti-depressant, it took about 4 days for me to feel the difference and about 2 weeks for it to change my life completely. It makes you think in a more clear and rational way and makes you feel like you can cope with anything that comes your way. they saved my life and now my life is actually worth living to me. Your friends and family will definately notice the change in you too. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Nightingale	I don't know about a clinic in London but I would suggest you find a different doctor at least. It is better to do without anti-depressants if possible, but if you need them, then you need them. Counselling should help somewhat, if only to discuss how you are feeling and learn about coping with symptoms of depression. It is good to talk over how you are feeling, perhaps with a good friend or someone who has suffered/suffering depression. A lot of people who have not suffered themselves do find it difficult to understand it. Being on anti-depressants should make you feel more 'normal'. Taking away the depressive feelings. They normally take around 9/10 days to begin to work, after that you should notice a difference. However, some can take around 3 weeks before a noticeable difference. As far as 'seeming like the same person to other people' goes, it really depends how they already see you. If they see you at your worst then, yes they will notice a difference. If however, you are cover up your feelings around others, then maybe they won't notice much change. None of your questions are stupid, keep asking if it brings you help. Hope this is some small help. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

sparkle	Well, for a start it might not be depression. When you're a teenager theres lots of hormones kicking about. Which can make you feel really down. I know I've felt like this. And so do most teenagers. So you're not alone. As far as I know you have to be 18 to take anti-depressents. Because of the hormones in your body. They could end up making you feel worse. If you go to another doctor they won't give you anti-depressents. How long were you getting counselling for? You can't expect results in just weeks. It takes time. In my opinion, if you really do have depression. Don't just think that the drugs are going to help. You need to explore other options. But your mind seems set on the drugs. And you say you're pretty sure you're depressed. Did your doctor not tell you you were depressed then? What did he say? Hmm. Sorry, but in my opinion it might just be the hormones. I might be wrong. Teenagers do get clinical deppression. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Mr Jolly	Not stupid at all! It depends on the type of person you are i reckon. If you can cope well on your own and work things out yourself then go for it. If you are the type of person who needs support then i agree with some here and change your doctor. Counsellors just listen the one i saw definitely did not offer me help, i wanted answers she couldnt give me, then i decided to sort it out myself. i thought about what was making me feel that way and whether it was something i could change - most things i could change and i did. I also found out i had a hormone imbalance which affected my moods. Also it depends on what is making you feel depressed, make a list and work through it - think about each thing logically. i personally wouldnt go down the route of anti depressents, i was given Prochlorperazine (an antipsychotic) for Labyrinthitis and it made me very suicidal, i felt so down, i cried a lot, i couldnt think and i didnt know what i was doing. i went back to my GP who gave me some different pills. But you've made a start by admitting you have a problem - in my experience that is the hardest step. keep your chin up and take each day as it comes. it might not feel like it now but things will get better. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

mr nice	the problem with taking anti-depressants,are the side effects, sometimes the side effects can be worse than the depression itself.they can help but are only ashort term fix. try alternative medcine.homeopathy/hypnosis you could try saint johns wort/herbal remedy.take one omega 3 per day believe me it helps. exercise is good to combat depression walk 30 mins per day. diet can help wholemeal foods ie:bread rise pasta,help maintain seratonin the chemical in are brain,which needs to be replaced,to stop us slipping into depression. find ahobby set goals for yourself,give yourself things to look forward too. join a self-help group. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

spin	This gets me so mad when DR just shove people away when they need help and don't do anything about it even tho a person asking for help in the first place as not many don't go to the Dr's and try fight alone but end up worst. Also to thoes people that take the piss when they don't even know how a person feeling wile depressed, I'm on anti-depressants at the moment and I've had to try all kinds of tablets to find the right one that works, They not a quick fast way to get over depression but they do work in time, you need to be around people also if you can and try not to be alone, i know it sound hard at first I've been there, but it does help not been on your own. I do hope that you do find the help you need. also there is loads of forums that can help for people that are depressed that have help me in the past to talk to others. But has for your DR i would ask to see another one in your practise or even change DR, Just leaving your depression and trying to fight it alone does not always work and it can make it wost. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

itsjujubeans	Anti depressants helped me a little while I was on them. Although I did feel like they were altering my view of reality. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Richie	As you can see about 40% of people suffer with depression and have or recieved some form of medication and counselling.Counselling can be a hit or miss so try not to disregard it too quickly what i mean about a hit is you may find someone you can relate to a miss being like their on another planet or do you find it diffcult talking or pin pointing what may have triggered this depression could it be something that runs in your family as in genes depression is linked to a shortage of substances which carry messages to the brain one substance being serotoin another noradrenalin these can be treated with antidepression tablets and monitored by a gp i would approach your doctor again and stress you are on a downward slide generally this time of year depression suffers perk up i'm not aware of any clinics in london unless you went private i'm afraid the part you mention of thought changing is the chemical balance taking place with the brain so you find yourself with a half glass full rather than half empty which will make you seem more positive to other people so your questions you now know were not supid 40% remember please try your doctor again and if you can try spending time outdoors hope this helps abit so take good care and hopefully your be half full soon. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jugular	Depression can be caused by situational pressure, genetics or imbalances in neurotransmitters, or sometimes a combination of those things. Your doctor probably believes it's caused by situational issues which is why they haven't prescribed you drugs. There are things you can do to alleviate depression, talk to your friends or the samaritans. Take some moderate exercise, stop drinking or taking drugs if you do those things. Smile, even if it feels false. Pet your pet. All these things promote the natural endorphins in your brain and you'll feel both sunnier and in more in control of your emotions. Lots of people suffer from depression at some point in their life, and it's a lot more socially acceptable to admit it these days, so try not to feel alone. I hope things get better for you Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

stainless_stevie	my wife suffered depression and was put on a course of anti depressants they do work but and the big but is that they do take about 3 or 4 weeks to work when they do kick in the change is amasing i sudgest you change doctors or insist on a second opinion or you could try herbal tabs like St Johns wort Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

george j	Hi I've been suffering from depression now for several years the best thing i did was get a dog pets are really good for depression, Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

_endlessly	Change your doctor... how old are you? I'm 17 and I'm on antidepressants. I can't tell you how it feels because everyone reacts differently and what works for one person won't work for another. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Megs	Depression is a serious problem, and it can affect anyone at any age, really, but most medications were developed for adults - and medicine often affects children differently. Try an online screening test, like http://www.depression-screening.org/screeningtest/screeningtest.htm to find out if your problem is just teenage angst (how old are you?) or possibly depression. Remember that these tests try to err on the over-protective side; I was depressed for several years and learned how to manage it, but when I take one of these tests to keep track of how I'm doing, they often tell me I could be in worse shape than I feel. If your problem is biochemical, then counselling alone won't help, but not all counselors are created equal - keep looking for someone you feel comfortable and safe with, and your counselor can tell you if you need to look for another doctor or psychiatrist who can prescribe medicine for you. If you do need meds, once you're on the right dose, your life will be a lot more like "normal" - you'll be more interested in life and hobbies, focussing on classes etc will be easier, and you'll probably smile more often without even really realizing the difference, because the effect is pretty gradual (it can take up to 60 days for full effect). Good luck, and hang in there! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Robin	Firstly, there are never stupid questions when it comes to depression. There are many types of depression. I have been on anti-depressants since my dad died (that was 22yrs ago). I do not think I have changed in any way and my family do not think so either. I think depression covers so many areas of our life. Can you pin-point when your depression started? What age did it start ? If you want to e-mail me, you can. Regards. Christine. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Rob E	Good question, and great that you're thinking about your mental health. Alot of prescrption medication for depression has not been fully tested and approved for people of all age groups. There is thus a safety issue for prescribing drugs that aren't approved for the use that a dr. might have considered appropriate. There are current legal cases against drug manufacturers who concealed research information that seemed to show that some of their antidepressants could make people worse, and even more suicidal. Alot of young people's lives may have already been lost through the inappropriate supply of Seroxat to them and subsequent suicide. There is therefore a climate of dr's now taking their prescribing responsibilities more seriously - they could loose their jobs! With the NHS patients are free to change their doctors. Otherwise, it is possible to see some dr's privately. You have both of these options available to you. Medication is just one treatment for depression and most studies show that therapy coupled with medication usually offer the best long-term chances of becoming and staying free from depression. How does it feel to take them? Anti-depressant medications have various methods of activity upon us. Some of them take several weeks to become effective, some of them work very quickly. Side effects vary too. So it is harder to answer this point. If you see a dr. who believes that you would benefit, she/he can describe how they would help you feel etc. It's to complex to go into the various curative symptoms. Overall, your mood would be elevated, though some of them appear like tranquilizers and offer a sedating effect. Only medically qualified people would be able to take a view on what type of medication, if any, would be appropriate. Counselling / Therapy: There are a bunch of differences in approaches taken. Counselling tends to be passive/reflective whilst some therapies are interventional and are likely to have the objective of helping you change behavioural or thought patterns that might drag you into other patterns that could lead you into more positive states. Outcomes for therapy would be determined and set by you, in conjunction with your therapist. There are alot of private therapists, not accessible via the NHS. There are whole books dedicated to explaining some of the many therapy approaches, so it's not easy to go into that in a short-ish answer. If one approach didn't work, then another may. One person might respond better to therapy than someone else who might get minimal or no results. Just a quick overview. I really recommend that you revisit your GP. Perhaps then you could consider an alternative GP or private dr. There are also support groups, where like-minded people aim to help each other. The Samaritans also provide a confidential 24x7 service, not just for the suicidal, but for anyone who feels that talking something through with someone, outside of their immediate social or medical circle, might help. Often they have walk-in centres, where you can visit too. http://www.samaritans.org Continue taking care of yourself and good luck! Rob Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Jules	These are NOT stupid questions......... You are suffering from an illness and you are seeking information - that is good, so well done!! I've given some links below to the National Mind website, hopefully these will answer some of your queries...... http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Understanding/Understanding+depression.htm http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/Children/young+persons+introduction+to+mental+health.htm http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/Children/Children+and+Young+People+and+Mental+Health.htm http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Making+sense/Making+sense+of+antidepressants.htm http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Booklets/Making+sense/Making+sense+of+counselling.htm Please take a look at some of them, if not all, and they really should help you. I would also suggest using this link http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/ to see if there is a local Mind near to you. They are easy to access, it only takes a phone call, and you don't have to wait to see someone. I work for my local Mind and we offer various services, including a Young Persons Service, which sounds like the kind of thing that would benefit you. So ask if the one near you offers that service, or if they can point you in the right direction of one near you. The beauty of Mind is that they are informal and have staff who are very knowledgeable about all aspects of mental health and usually about what services are available and how best to access them. If the counselling didn't work for you then you obviously need some other treatment, so you do need to go back to your GP, but if it is a large surgery, why not try seeing a different one? I know from personal experience, and also when supporting clients, that there can be a huge difference between GP's who work in the same sugeries. There are some really understanding Dr's about, it sounds like you haven't found the right one for you. Please try and access your local Mind, I promise they will be able to help and support you. You need and deserve to get help, it is out there, you just need to know where to look. Take care and good luck. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

K. F	I don't think they're stupid questions at all. I don't know anything about the health system in London, sorry. Here's a link to a website that offers psychological tests for a number of different things, depression among them: http://counsellingresource.com/quizzes/index.html A lot of the time when people are depressed, their emotions are dramatically up and down and there is very little in the middle. Anything could set them off. Anti-depression meds can help to even the emotional roller coaster out so you can concentrate and do beneficial work in counseling. As for how they might make you feel, I would imagine that it would depend on the medication that was prescribed to you and how your body reacts to it. You can Google anti-depression medication and look at the lists of side-effects. My suggestion to you would be to find another counselor who is effective. Counselors each have their own approaches, personalities, and styles. What works for one person might not work for another. Don't give up on counseling. Really give that a try before you go the pharmacy route. It may seem to be easier now to take a pill, but in the long run you will eventually have to face the reasons behind your depression and the longer you wait to do it, the worse it will be. P.S. After re-reading what I wrote, I need to clarify something. There are different types of depression. Situational depression is caused by SOMETHING such as a death of someone you care about. Clinical depression is caused for a number of reasons, for instance, you could have an imbalance of certain chemicals in your brain that are making you depressed. Sometimes people can be bi-polar (alternating episodes of depression and mania) which is very hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. There are other forms to depression but this isn't a psychology class. When I said that people with depression have ups and downs and not a lot in the middle, I was saying that they could be very sad and down, when getting out of bed was almost too difficult for them to do one minute, and then extreme emotion (not mania) the next. When I found out about my husband's affair, I ranged from deep sadness to flaming rage. I skipped the irritation and anger stages and went right for the throat, so to speak. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Paul P	I'm pretty sure I've got major depression, too--it's in my psychiatrist's chart and everything. You didn't state your age, but yes, they've found within the past couple of years that youngsters on anti-depressants have a higher risk of suicide. So do oldsters like me, but it's higher than the average population but lower than for young folks. Being on anti-depresants (let's see, I'm coming up on 4 years shortly), you'll feel less depressed. You won't be bouncing off the ceiling, and you'll still have sad times and bummer days. They just don't stick around forever. Yes, other people will notice a change in you--for the better. They'll notice more than you will; some part of you will still be worrying if you're depressed, can people tell by looking, etc. I'm a bit far from London, Ontario and London, England to help specifically, but you should be able to find a mental health clinic, regardless of whether they specialize in depression, and try another counselor. That's the solution for failing to establish a rapport with one particular counselor--find another. Every patient doesn't click with every counselor. Good luck and God bless and keep you! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Peter Gorris	You should get a second opinion, because there are antidepressant drugs for all ages. And keep up with the counseling. Results are not immediate, it takes a while to get to the root of the problem and solve it. When I took anti-depressants, I did not notice a significant change in my personality or behavior, except that I didn't get so deeply upset. It's not a matter of changing one's thoughts, it's a matter of allowing the receptor neurons in your brain to pick up the right amount of seratonin. And my family and friends said that I seemed just like the person I was pre-depression. That's not to say that everything is bright and shiny on medication... you will still have the full range of human emotions. The only difference is that you don't get so desperately sad. They're not stupid questions, it is good to ask so that you can get the best help possible. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

AUNTY EM	I was put on Valium for depression aged 14 and it zonked me out - I just slept a great deal! I realised I was wasting my time taking it and stopped but obviously was still depressed. My doctor wouldn't prescribed anything else but this was years and years ago now. Sometimes counselling is helpful but there is a tendency then to dwell on yourself and your feelings far too much. It sounds like your depression is still quite mild so there is an easier solution if you would be prepared to take it. I am in danger of being patronising which I don't want to be but I found 'keeping busy' the very best kind of therapy. I made sure I didn't have much time by myself over analysing and pondering my feelings. It didn't take long for the depression to lift and I have found it a useful mechanism ever since. My kind of keeping busy meant socialising (even when I really, really could barely face it), walking (for miles and miles), and voluntary work (having to see what others have to put up with puts your own worries in perspective). I am pleased to say I have never required anti-depressants since despite having had bouts of depression e.g. when my dad died. Keeping busy saved my life - it might be good for you too! Good luck. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Col du Galibier	I for one would change your Doctor if your unhappy with him. I personally don't rate Anti Depressants either they just mask the problem and don't solve any thing they don't give you a feeling of happiness far from it the majority have you like a zombie, and takes weeks before you notice any change.I felt clumsy and slow all the time which doesn't work to well in life, esp your job. I have come off them after years and would never go back on them as they don't change anything but delay the recovery . They deal with the symptons not the causes. You truly need to get to the root of the problem pills will not do this ,soul searching will there is no quick fix to Depression but time certainly helps at the end of the day the choice is yours it's your life :) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

kay_flood	you don't mention how long you went to the therapist. Giving antidepressants to teenagers is contraindicated because they often make the depression worse due to the hormonal changes going on in the body thru the teen years. I suggest that if the first therapist didn't help you, then you find another, sometimes it can take several visits to different therapists to find one that you can relate with. But it is to your benefit to go. Even if you started taking antidepressants, you would need a therapist, the medication is not a magic Bullet, all they do is help you to think more clearly, so you can deal rationally with the issues causing your depression. They are NOT happy pills. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

mintycakeyfroggy	Your doctor is being cautious under 18's on anti depression medication has more risks than others. The medication doesn't change your thoughts more numbs the anxiety and sadness it's hard to explain but any distresses you ahve are still there just dont bother you as much. You are more likely to see a change in thoughts through counselling. Try another counseller not all of them suit you i had many. The changes people noticed in me was me being far more clumbsy and tired more often but I noticed that in myself. Try another counceller and embrace it as though they are going to help. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Petit Chou	well i was convinced i was depressed too until tonight. have been on sleepers cos i couldnt get my sleep pattern right and as they didnt work i was put on anti- D drugs. Which as anyone knows, actually increases your sensitivity for a few weeks before they actually kick in. this is why the initial dosage is low, as in the first few weeks you can become manic or suicidal as anxieties seems ten times worse. After your GP has seen you manage your dosage correctly they then up the dosage and the drug kicks in (supposedly), though there can be side effects too such as vivid dreams, increased anxiety , loss of sleep self harm, basically whatever you are being treated for gets worse before it gets better as a result of taking the tabs. Im stopping taking mine today, as i dont wanna become a zombie. I still have an irregular sleep pattern and i still have thoughts whizzing round my head, so what's the point of tabs? what i dont have, is the love i had, i lost that through being anxious, selfish and childlike while being on the drugs. So, even though your GP wont prescribe drugs for you, it doesnt mean there's no help. You need someone to talk openly and frankly to, a counsellor as well as loyal friends, and together you can work out what is causing your anxieties and create a get back to fitness routine. All is not lost, dont give in. God bless. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No