Anyone here who suffers with Ataxia also suffer form depression?, as a result of being ill or actual a symptom of Ataxia?

[Limana68]

[glosman]

Hi Limana68.

I have suffered pretty badly with depression before & do think that perhaps not a direct symptom of ataxia it is something that can result.

I find that when I begin to worry about how my ataxia is getting worse & think about how this will affect me as time goes on probably naturally I do get down & feel depressed. Sometimes I do wonder 'why me, what have I done??' & struggle to motivate myself to do anything much.

Only answer I can suggest is to try to always look at positives - what have I achieved today/yesterday? I set myself small targets silly things such as answering mail, going for a walk etc etc then I am able to congratulate myself when I make my targets. Other thing is to try to be as positive as you can which isnt easy though!!

When I was really bad my GP just prescribed anti depressants which whilst they helped did not resolve the cause of the problems - I did find that counselling helped + it was hypnotherapy (which was expensive) which made a tremendous difference in getting mne over things. My hypnotherapists also recommended I take vitamins D3 & B6 which I am also sure help.

Hope this helps

[Limana68 in reply to glosman]

Thanks for your reply, its not me who has Ataxia its my hubby, and he has been on Antidepressants for a few yrs now, but has really gone downhill just recently, so Have had to contact his GP today and he has upped his tablets.

He is the same as you really, he thinks I would be better off without him, hes useless, etc. I am the main breadwinner now, so am trying to keep it all together at the moment.

[glosman]

I can understand how your husband feels but would say to your husband that despite everything you must try to be as positive as you can, there is unfortunately no choice but simply to make the best of things (which may seem a bit lame tho). He must try to be strong to help you.

What I would recommend is to get in touch with your local ataxia support group (contact Ataxia UK to find out where your nearest one is) as it really will help you both to meet with & talk to people in a similar position (I run a group & believe me it works for most).

If I can help at all happy to help let me know,

[Hidden]

At present I don't suffer from depression although at times I do feel very low. In the past I suffered from severe depression resulting neurotic behaviours and suicidle thoughts. After seeing a Psychologist quite a long time after this I now have a very positive atitude towards life. My experiences with depression in the past and the psychological help I received have helped me to overcome a lot of negative thoughts and obsticles I have came accross in recent years. I still use the techniques I learned in the past at today.

[silkwood]

I had depression before Ataxia and have been taking anti depressnants for about 4 years.

Now I have Ataxia and can;t move or speak easily but am not depressed.I think it is more frustration now.Ataxia is very slowing.

My father had Parkinsons and was put on anti depressants.He wasn; a depressive before.

Like me we were both active but since our diagnosis have had to adapt.It is understanding the loss of previous skills that is frustraing and could lead to depression but at l east he has something to be sad about. Depression has no reason and comes and goes.

It is more clinical and can be just the way his brain is wired now.I had Depression as a result of my job. When thatwent with the ataxia so didmy depression!! I too developed routines that may sound silly but they worked.

Marie

[wildone]

I feel low quite a lot of the time, and feel really low sometimes. I'm not sure of the difference between 'really low' and depression, so I can't really say. When I do feel down it never really occurred to me that it could be due to anything other than the effects of ataxia, until I read an article that said that the incidence of depression in people with the type of ataxia I have is quite high.

[HarryB Administrator in reply to wildone]

Hello Wildone

You have certainly retained your sense of humour and irony with your username! I love it! May I ask what type of ataxia you have?

Harriet