i have suffered depression for 20 years but it has slowly got worse I need someone to talk to but who?

[queenvik]

I have been to the doctors and they just give me pills but I think I need something else I recently read up on bipolar and I think this could apply to me !!!!

[Dorcus]

Hi there

As hard as it is you must push to get help. If you get manic periods then intense lows it is bipolar . Medication is vital , I think bipolar medication is different from depression. Tell your doctor if you get highs then plummet down they should recognise it as bipolar .

[loggerslot]

never try to self diagnose yourself. go to your GP and get their advice. i've suffered from depression myself for over a year and thankfully i am almost seeing the back of it due to some underlying deep issues. whilst you need medication try not to be reliant on them too much. be active, volunteer and have some hobbies to pursue that don't cost the earth. its what i've done and volunteering where i meet lots of people has helped the most. all the best

[Sidney1plumber]

I to have suffered with depression & anxiety for 20 years I could really do with a chat at the moment as suffering quite badly at the minute.would be good to support other fellow sufferers

[raj212]

read up on internet with same issues

[Gambit62]

There are a number of medical conditions which have depression as a symptom. Most obvious is Thyroid problems. Less well known - and not particularly understood by GPs is B12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia. B12 deficiency can cause psychosis.

Has your GP tested for these?

This is a link to a check list of symptoms

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Unfortunately there are some problems with the standard test done to detect B12 deficiency which means that you can be symptomatic without it being reflected in your blood test results, even where these go beyond looking at B12 levels to looking for IFA and Parietal cell antibodies.

Bipolar is generally genetic in origins and does require medication though it is different from general depression - I believe the same is true for unipolar depression. Some people find that mindfulness based meditation helps them with controlling the condition.

Please note - I'm not a medical practitioner - just a sufferer (though I know believe my depression stems from B12d - though it is a symptom I have lived with for over 30 years). As above - self diagnosis is dangerous but if you have a good GP then they should listen to you and fully explore the possibilities with you.