How many people on this site actually suffer from a form of depression at the moment?

Hi, I've suffered with clinical depression for over 20 years!

In answering questions, and in my work, I point people in the direction of the Mind website:

http://www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/

Mainly because I have found my local Mind association to be the greatest source of help and support to me over the last 12 years or so. And also because I am now priveleged to work for the same association that has helped me so much.

I've had counsellors in the past, who have helped at the time and I've been on medication for more years than I care to remember........... lol.

I used to hate taking medication and feel that it was something that I didn't want to do for the rest of my life, but now I think that if it helps me, why not?

For me the safety of my local Mind drop-in centre was always the best thing in supporting me. I could go there and be myself, I didn't have to hide anything or pretend to be OK when I wasn't. I could sit in a corner huddled up if that is what I wanted to do, but I always found that eventually I would slowly start to take notice of what was happening around me and then join in.

Having a place to go where you aren't judged, people genuinely understand and care, is a huge thing when you are depressed. Also because activities or outings are available, but not forced upon you, it's a nice way of slowing joining in with the real world again, when you feel ready to do it. Again all at your own pace!

I've even had support to attend appointments or they have contacted either my GP or psychiatrist on my behalf when I've been unable to do it for myself. That kind of support is priceless and very much needed by a great many people, whether they are able to work or not.

http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/

Until recently I had always managed to maintain a full time job, but with periods of sometimes quite long sick leave. I always believed that it was more important to have the job and be 'normal' than recognise what the real damage my illness was doing to me and those around me.

Depression is one of those illnesses that takes away all sense of rational and logical thinking, and negative thoughts are always at the foremost. Decisions seem impossible to make and it can start effecting daily life - that is what happened to me.

But I did change the way I thought about it and the effect it was having, and that is when my view of dealing with it came to my rescue. Ultimately it is true that the person suffering is the only one that can truly alter how the illness effects them.

I still have the same symptoms and problems caused by my depression, but because I've made changes, I am better able to cope and live my life in a much more positive and constructive way. It has also made me feel passionately about mental health issues and want to help others if I can.

As I said, I count myself as priveleged to work with people who suffer mental ill health, and get a great deal of fulfillment in being able to do this. I had always been a volunteer anyway, helping out on a very small scale, but when I decided to leave my last employment (due to pressure while I was off sick), I then spent more and more time helping out, and then thinking that maybe this was something I could do as a job.

Sitting in an office all day doesn't give the satisfaction that working with people does, and being able to offer support and guidance, and seeing the difference it makes, is the best way I've ever found to boost my own self esteem and confidence.

I hate my illness, but love the work that I do.

For the first time in a period of being off work sick, I've found that the most distressing thing has been not being allowed to go to work! Not something that ever really figured in my thoughts previously. But again I had to realise that my health was more important, and that unless I was well I can't help others.

Being occupied and having understanding people around to support me and guide me has brought me to where I am today.

I now know that it is possible to live with a mental illness but be able to live a fulfilling and rewarding life as well. It isn't easy and set backs and relapses do happen, but it is possible to get through and carry on where you left off.

Hope this answers your question.

Thanks for your question.

I wish I could answer it but I dont know of any sites which are helpful- especially that are awake at 1 a.m GMT! I tend to use Yahooanswers for this reason- I can get a good feeling from focusing on dealing with a problem which has nothing to do with my depression as momentarily it knocks it out of the way. (unfortunaltly depression does have that boomerang effect though so does return as I log off)

I have depression and anxiety. I have had it since I was 11 and I am now 26. It comes and goes intemitently with my eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia) which I seem to have developed in order to block out the depressive feelings (its all about trying to ignore it for me, I wish I'd found something else which owrks but I haven't.)

I can reccomend seeing a psychotherapist, I only see mine once a week, I'd love to build it upto two but cannot finance it nor allow myself to cut out a gym session to be honest! (dont want to be any fatter than I already feel)

I can also recommend going to the gym, as the feeling of "yes I have done it" is worth it- even if its for only half an hour, it makes a difference, aim for three times a week at an hour each of cardeo work and you cant go far wrong.

Its soo good to hear theres another depressed person there- not that I am glad that you are depressed- actually far from it, but it is good to know I am not totllay alone as I feel right now.

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Everyone on earth has a form of it, don't they? Kind of sad. I know I battle here and there. Mines not constant, just time to time I get down about things. Like right now my man and I are trying to get pregnant but all I can think about is my past health issues and how they're gonna make pregnancy difficult. It's making me doubt my decision and abilities hence causing me to be down and blue all the time. What a chain reaction. I am against meds, they just cover up the problem, they don't help it. The minute you stop taking them, its back to the beginning. I like your approach. I love that you are talking about it and not diving into meds. Our society is so doped up these days they don't have compassion, patience, drive and ambition, they just muster thru life in a daze. Have you noticed that? I hate western medicine and if I was to suggest anything for depression, it would be a soul search. Depression is commonly caused by something lacking in your life or even from something that you may have done to wrong someone in the past and this is its way of festering in you, your guilty conscience so to speak. I don't know. What I do know is that the more people acknowledge their issues and try to deal with them whether it be here or with a therapist, the better off we are all going to be. Anyways, don't know if I answered your question but thanks for reading anyways, good luck to you and if you find anything you should post it here, it could help a lot of people. Thank you.

It's definately more common than people let on....I suffer from depression from time to time but just struggle through...It's just life, u have to take the good with the bad...I have just started taking St Johns Wort as i've heard it's good for depression. I wouldn't go down the drug route as i find mind altering drugs a bit scary. I find talking to someone helps, you alays feel better after you've offloaded...keeping things bottled up inside never did anyone any good

I haven't found any answers yet except alcohol and i am a little drunk but i can still type so that must be a good sign. I've been told by my shring that i'm not clinically depressed even tho he's keeping me on the prozac and i need CBT. Have tried but no good and if that is the only answer then i'm kinda stuck. will try those websites tho

I have a poem that relates to a previous experience and recovery x

Mental illness refers to to mind

and its violent encounters of the internal kind

however you view it, its plain to see

recovery starts with the concept of me

whenever i'm ready, I'll start to begin

to challenge the demons that lie deep within

when im important enough i'll consider myself

without this discovery i'll be left on a shelf

either that or i'll simply like what I see

the Mental health system becomes like family to me

so much so, that one can begin to depend

on a system whos support is unable to end

Institutionalized, is what i've heard them call it

a lack of structure is the rerason for it

certainly not for me, I hear myself say

I'll dictate my path in an empowering way.

I've held faith and belief that others can see

that it is not just behaviour that makes up me

I have the ambition, will and drive

to make this a journey I will survive

one that is solo secure and will find

other encounters of the internal kind

I have bipolar. I take 3 different meds so I need to be careful with what I buy from the pharmacy or health shop. Even some low dose herbal stuff can be dangerous (apparently). I just take each day as it comes and try to get through the best I can

I worked as a volunteer, training nurses etc in mental health (you can get £350 per day doing this freelance) for a few years. it gave me confidence at being the 'expert', met people who were like minded, got me out of the house, made me feel useful again. I had to work my way up to that with medication and therapy, and in the end I got too busy doing other stuff, but I found it very helpful to be doing something that was really appreciated by the people we spoke to, and hopefully made a difference.

That one about the fish oils sounds interesting might try that my self. I'm trying an alternative therapy called Emotional Freedom Technique which has really helped me a lot. It's very good for getting rid of negative emotions and dealing with all kinds of issues quickly. It does sound bizarre but does work. These are some links about it.