What treatments have you tried for depression? What works for you?

 am all too familiar with these awful thoughts and feelings, feeling alone and scared that I am going crazy. Sometimes I feel that I can't tell anyone because I fear the labels associated with mental health. I recently found a stack of diaries dating back to the 1990's (I am now 41) and even back then some of the thoughts and feelings were there and as I read I became so sad that I have been living with the ''disease' for so many years........

The irony......... I am a professional Mental Health Worker, trained in CBT, Psychology, Counselling etc etc....... I know all the therapies, tried and tested, evidence based, positive outcomes and yes they work, BUT I have to ask, why have they not worked for me? I try so hard to understand and wonder whether perhaps my knowledge and professional experience is a hindrance, is it making me think too much? BUT I am still alive and thankful for every day, I work with others because I know I CAN help and I have seen so many people change and their depression becomes less and less, they control it rather than it overwhelming them. 

I watched a short DVD recently (google 'black dog called depression' it's on YouTube) and it really sums Depression up well. 

I wanted to share a bit of myself to show that even those of us working in Mental Health can also have the illness that we are helping others to treat. I do it to give back, I have had some amazing Therapists in my lifetime which have probably kept me sane. They certainly helped me battle some inner demons, memories of past events that still haunted me. The BIGGEST thing to remember is that THOUGHTS ARE JUST THOUGHTS - we all have them, every day, dark ones, funny ones, light ones, silly ones, it is NORMAL (whatever normal is!!)....... You CANNOT stop thoughts, the more you try not to, the more you will, let them pass through your mind, recognise them, accept them as JUST THOUGHTS and let them go because you DO have the power to do that part, letting them go is giving you back the power.

I have been on and off anti-depressants for most of my adult life (currently Venlafaxine). I feel that GP's are all too quick (generally) to put people on medication, I hear so often that people see their GP to say they are feeling tearful, low etc and out comes a prescription. I know for a fact that I NEEDED medication and I will probably be on them for the rest of my life as a 'maintenance dose'. I understand their use and how they work and as part of my job I liaise with the GP's to try other alternatives where possible. I was horrified to read that repeats of Z drugs were given for so many years, that is just appalling, I do hope that those who now have addiction and/or clinical insomnia are getting the support they need to sort this! 

Therapy does work and there can be all sorts of help under the 'therapy' umbrella, but with so many differing types it is hard for people to know which one to choose. Sadly GP's often don't know what is out there unless you are one of the lucky ones who have an up-to-date and interested GP. CBT is very popular and does work BUT again it depends on the depression you have. There is a big difference between situational and clinical depression, it may be that Counselling is a better option if there are past issues that haunt you and keep you down in the dark hole. Counselling can help with her and now and the past but CBT in the main deals with just the here and now.

I have worked in this field for many years and sometimes it can be very challenging when I still battle my own 'black place'. BUT I can accept now that the times spent in my black place is less and less and remember that tomorrow is another day with a fresh start keeps me going. This site is amazing, a place we can all come together without fear of judgement. Acceptance and acknowledgment is sometimes all we need to keep going for a bit longer...... 

Sending blessings and sunshine thoughts to all xx

When I was first diagnosed, I had a very sympathetic and i believe a very well educated GP. I was put on 1/4 valium tablet for 2 weeks, then told to come back and see how I was doing. (I was about 27 when I first experienced Panic Attacks...and then Depression)

As a former top amatuer racing cyclist, I didnt believe in taking any medication, for ANYTHING. Its a long time ago now, but I feel i felt slightly better, apart from the very thick-head I had developed. So I just fought it the best I could, without medication. I wanted to try and get through this 'naturally'. I was going to find a way to fight this naturally. I started taking 'calms' tablets. i think I started drinking herbal tea. I tried Morning primrose tea, as this is meant to good against depression.
I found that doing exercise again was good for my mood, burnt off my 'flight or fright' adreneline. I started looking for humourous books, films, comedy etc. As I soon began to realise, there was little joy in my life at home with my parents, or in work. Even my sport, was quite aggresive at times.

callygirl. thats very brave of you to admit to being a professional mental health worker and 'coming-out' as being a sufferer.

I struggled with Panic Attacks and then Depression for 10ish years.
I tried my GP for very short times, Its not that I didnt trust them, I've always been anti-pharmaceuticals as an International cyclist, I wanted to do everything 'naturally'.
I was on Valium for a very short time. I tried 'calms', herbal teas, Morning primrose tea.
there was a short time I went for councelling, I read CBT, I listened to Hypnosis and self-hypnosis tapes. 
While back-packing around Thailand in the 80's I 'discovered' Buddhism, and gave that a go as everyone in Thailand, seemed so happy.

sadly, they were all an 'illusion'.
I was given some medication years later by my GP after desperatrion and going through a very deep patch. I cant remember what I was put on, but the side effects were even more horrendous and alarming. I would get very dark negative nightmares, wake up in sweats.

One day, my mother was driving me somewhere nice in the countryside on  sunny day, to make me feel better, when I was overwhelmed by a feeling of cutting my mothers throat and killing her. i could 'see' all the blood pumping out of her throat. I shouted at her to stop the car. i had to run around where we had pulled over, while the panic calmed down and I could  shake this 'vision' out of my head....... That's why I can empathise with people who say they heard a voice or saw a vision 'to harm someone'. 

I know who the voices are, and why they want to get us to do this.

p.s. All of mans Therapies never worked for me, until I found the way and the Truth.

in my experience it depends on how bad your depression is i have chronic depression and anxiety and I'm on lithium /quietapine and mirtazapine which is just about working i also see the community mental health team although they want to discharge me if hoping to be getting cbt 

For anyone interested.

I will be interviewed at 2 venues in South Wales on 12th & 14th April on how I was set FREE of Depression / Anxiety / Panic Attacks.

If anyone interested p.m. me for Dates, Times.  

Have a Blessed Easter !!

hi guys feel like im going bonkers, Dont realy know where to start. I just turned 37 oh dear still living at my mums achived absolutely nothing. I suffer depression and strong anxioty grinding my teeth away slowly. I used to drink heavy but been dry over2 years now have no desire to drink again. I lost all my friends including a wife to be life just sucks. I have done cbt and will.say has helped me understand things a bit. Im on medication called pregabilin for anxioty and get a few zopiclone and diazipam a month to help me out at times. But just feel lost and very lonely

Hi scoobydoos!

Don't feel like that, I bet you do have achieved things, for starters you stoped drinking, that is a hughe acomplishment! And the rest has to come from your willingness to improve yourself.

Don't feel alone, I too feel alone many times but I come here and see that I am not the only one with demons in my head and that we can all help each other.

Do you have any plan? Like life wise? Any goal you want to achieve??? My shrink always sets me goals, even small ones to keep me motivated... That might help

Just off to a local church to be interviewed publicly on 'How I overcame, Depression, Panic Attacks & Fear'.

Can't wait......     

Hope it went well Freedom.

I am really depressed tday! I don't know why I let this things get to me but a friend of mine, at least that is what I thought so, he said today in a conversation that I am ugly, just like that our of the blue like an example according to him, "yeah like aria that she is not pretty but she is a good person". In the moment I didn't say a thing and I came back home and I can't concentrate caus all I can think abour it how much I hate him. He wishes he had a girl like me, and at the same time it shook my confidence... Hate that I care so much about what others think. :'( Most because is in this moments in which I feel that all the progress I've made with my disease crumbles down

Sorry for my drama queen stuff but I needed to vent...

Hope you guys are having a better day than mine....

Hello, Aria. 

Firstly, I don't think a lot of people realise how much words can wound. They reverberate around and around and when we're feeling vulnerable they can grab a hold of us. 

When we're depressed, the negatives come loud and clear, but it's the depression not who we really are. You are beautiful. That's the truth.