Just been diagnosed today...

[kimsavage1996]

I've just been diagnosed with depression today and he described it as 'moderate', and prescribed me (should I wish to take them) SSRI tablets... I've had a quick look online at them and there are mixed reviews, so I'm unsure. Doc also gave me the option to go for counselling instead. I don't have a lot of free time on my hands, so if they were any good I would prefer the tablet option. But, I've never been here before so I don't know what is best. Any advice? Willing to answer any questions to help you conclude, I'm just in complete shock as this is one of those 'it will never happen to me' situations and now it has...

[Bondy007]

Hiya and welcome to the community I could understand this being a shock being diagnosed with depression. I have health anxiety and anxiety in general but I have not got diagnosed with depression as I have not seen the doctor about it (although I should) but I am going on with therapy with my anxiety at the moment which is helping a ton! In my opinion, counselling would be the first pick always as you are expressing how you feel and giving techniques to help yourself, where as tablets I see as a 'second' choice, which should be used if the counselling is just not simply for you, but then again this is of course your choice! I recommend clearing your schedule for one day and having an appointment with a professional and see how you like it.

Please do not be worried or scared about your depression as you are not alone and as you will learn, this site is extremely caring for everyone in it and is always here if you need someone!

Message me anytime you need someone to talk too I'll always be happy to talk!

[RyRywifey]

You are not alone. We all here have some and many forms and symptoms of anxiety, panic, and or depression disorders. You have to find the silver lining on the cloud which is, it's curable. You are going to be just fine! We are all here when you need us! Feel free to message me anytime 😊

[Kjb1980]

Hi yes we all have that "not me" thought so please don't worry. I was on anti depressants a few years ago and didn't get on with them so i was reluctant to go on them this time but it's the best thing I've done! It's just a case of getting the right ones for you so see how you get on and go back to your GP if your not feeling better. Trial and error sometimes. I'm reading the book "CBT for dummies" it's been great counselling if you haven't got time to go. Good luck keep in touch. X

[kimsavage1996]

Thanks guys, my mum is like my rock even though I'm an adult now she's still my mummy, haha! She has a friend at work that suffers with anxiety attacks and she advised that the self-help books really work. I might give those a go first and then go for counselling if I still don't feel any better. Thank you so much!

[StressBuster]

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I suffer from depression as well. "Acceptance" of your condition is probably the most powerful drug. And I'm not talking about your depression—I'm talking about your overall satisfaction in life. With friends, with family, with sexual intimacy, with employment, with health, with property, with food... Most depression is a result of unreasonably high expectations.

[Olderal]

I can sympathise with the shock. I was stunned for about a week after being told about 40 years ago I was suffering from depression. However it happens, and it happens to a lot of us. Its just an illness and no one is to blame least of all yourself.

For what its worth counselling effort is in short supply in most areas but will certainly help as you'll get a detached view of the best way to tackle the problem. I always found discussion of my problems helped a lot and a counsellor avoids overburdening friends and family with your problems. A counsellor should have a lot more experience of depression and will probably give better advice than friends or family. they do of course vary in quality.

I don't see why you could n't have limited counselling in the limited time you have available and also take anti depressants. Finding the right ad can take a while as they can take a couple of months or more to be effective , and if not effective a good GP would then try another one, by which time you might well have come out of it anyway. One always does.

Which ever you chooee its not the end of the world. I turned out to have recurrent depression of a fairly severe kind and must have had something like 30 or so episodes lasting typically 4 months at a time but never had time off work with it, maintained a reasonable social life and marriage (my wife was my only confidante and a great support) and had a reasonably successful career. In fact I have now reached the stage where most of the time were I given the option of having depression or not I would probably chose it. Mind you its taken a while to get to that stage.

I wish you well. Don't worry overmuch about the "shock" factor . It will soon wear off and probably happens whenever one is diagnosed with an illness.

Apart from this forum there is a lot of very good advice on the internet. I found Jim Phelp's website PsychEducation the most useful (There's a lot to find your way around on there) and there is another good American site which has a sort of "which" users guide to different antidepressants (think its called Drugs.com but if u don't find it send me a pm and I'll dig it out for you.)

Olderal