depressed

[ad1967]

hi im a 46yr old male and i am suffering with depression and anxiety disorder i am currently on 300 mg a day venlafaxine and 300 mg of seroquel a day for the last month i am becoming more and more depressed and having constant thoughts of suicide,i am at my wits end and do not know who to turn to for help

[loggerslot]

Hi there, don't worry. we are here to help. have you spoken to someone about what you are going through, like counselling? I know what you're going through, I've been there on the edge and you can turn back and slowly turn your life around. Is your GP aware of your suicidal thoughts? It could be medication so go to your GP as soon as you can and have a word. if receptionist is not helpful with getting you a quick appointment then go to A+E promptly. I've written a blog about depression, have a read and see if anything on there helps you. its just a guide of ways how i turned back and got slowly better. i hope it helps you.

let us all know how you get on and we're all here to help you.

blogerslotaboutdepression.b...

[ad1967 in reply to loggerslot]

thanks loggerslot,made an appointment with gp for tomorrow morning,i hope talking to someone helps im in a total state and none of my meds seem to help me

[loggerslot in reply to ad1967]

lets sort out the meds. if you feel they are not helping then telling the GP is the 1st step so you've done well.

Have you thought about talking to someone about your issues? it will help to untangle the issues that resulted in your depression and deal with them one at a time. ask the GP about it or if you can afford it try a private therapist, you'll may be able to get one the following week versus a couple of weeks on NHS.

let us all know how you get on.

[ad1967 in reply to loggerslot]

i already see a psychiatrist every 3 months,but what is happening to me i feel as if im getting better then when the depression returns its becoming more severe if that makes any sense

[Hidden in reply to ad1967]

sometimes when our depression lifts then returns we forget just how bad it is ......do you think maybe thats what your experiencing its like having a physical pain, when we take the pain killer it goes but once the pain killer starts wearing off and it returns it hasnt got worse you just forgot how bad it was

if that makes any sense

[loggerslot]

firstly read up your medication and see what the side effects are. describe what you told us to your GP and ask him/her if this is a side effect of the medication. also tell your psychiatrist. sometimes they have knowledge on medication and what doses are good or what medication is good/bad. My CBT therapist did have knowledge on my medication and advised my GP to increase the dose which he did. Just remember one thing that medication should not be treated as a forever solution to your depression, its to help you through that time and you should never suddenly stop taking it. I know people who have depression and just take it for very long time and they still are.

I have felt like that before. I can only advise to take things slowly, I know it's not going to be easy but just a small step at a time is the way forward. when we suddenly try to change for the better any slight or even minor set back can bring back the effects like a slap in the face. try to encourage yourself to take up a practical hobby or interest that you like or find curious, slowly work on it, try to stick to it. if you don't understand something don't dwell on it or get frustrated by it, just walk away, go for a jog, or a cycle and then come back to it. it helps me at times. see if there are forums online who share your hobby/interest and join in

Some of the biggest minds on the planet work on things, get puzzled/confused and walk away for a break, then come back and work on it so its quite normal for people to do that but never give up.

[ad1967 in reply to loggerslot]

thanks,hopefully seeing the gp will help i think they will probably want to section me

[loggerslot in reply to ad1967]

no one will section you mate. everyone is there to help you.

for someone to help you get better you have to take that 1st step to help yourself and that is what you are doing. it takes courage and its a very important step.

[Hidden]

A lot of these meds can make you feel worse but having said that dont sit back and do nothing you need to be in constant contact with your gp or mental health worker your not helping yourself by keeping how you feel a secret

its not as simple as taking tablets if only it were that easy for us...it takes a lot of work and effort and therapy.....you need to be speaking to someone ie counsellors

[ad1967 in reply to Hidden]

thanks mandy for far too long i have been putting on a false front that everything is ok and i just cant do it anymore

[Hidden]

this is my favourite quote

If you always do what you've always done you will always get what youve always got !!!

if what we do in life gets us the results we need then great but if not we have to try something else hun and putting on a false front with depression is the worse thing you can do because if you look like your coping you will be left to it

Dont know how yo feel about self help stuff but years ago i found a book written by an american behavioural psychologist called phil macgraw and it was called self matters.....after reading that i got out of a bad relationship and got into college.......this guy is amazing he has written lots of stuff and ive read a lot of it he also does stuff on tv you can youtube him its called doctor phil

Another thing that works for me is to put someone else in my shoes....imagine a close friend was telling you whats happening to them and you were advising them.....take your own advice !!!!!

Remember one thing though babe you deserve to be well just like we all do dont beat yourself up because you need some help and support its not a display of weakness its a display of strength

[ad1967 in reply to Hidden]

thanks mandy i visited my doc this morning he prescribed buspirone and advised me to contact my psychiatrist for an earlier appointment as im not due to see him till november gave them a call and im waiting for a call back thanks again allan

[Hidden]

november !!!!! god thats far to long to wait....when you see him tell him you need closer appointments one thing ive learnt is not to be shy and tell them straight what you feel you need they get paid enough for it

my psychiatrist was crap she was texting someone the last appointment i had with her so i didnt go back

keep on at them Allan

[ad1967 in reply to Hidden]

i spoke to someone from the action team mandy and she was very helpful ,talked through things with me and tried to give me encouragement also told me to phone anytime and also gave me an out of hours number

[Hidden]

oh that sounds fab....make sure you use it when its needed