I need help.

[pippin]

I've been diagnosed with depression.

But every couple of months or so (it started before the diagnosis, and therefore treatment) I would have rather severe physical (and emotional) symptoms.

I'd start feeling nauseated, start shaking, have abdominal pain, and just this overwhelming sense of dread and to escape from it I'd start to cry and try and figure out reasons why this is happening.

about 30 minutes later all these feelings would just go away. About 6-8 hours later, I'd get the symptoms back again.

But this only happens every couple months or so and lasts on and off for about two weeks.


Its beginning to drive me nuts.

So I don't know what it is. I just hate it.

[Paulo]

Hi Lisa. If I was next to ya, I'd give ya a hug. I'm sorry this is happening to you but your TPF family is alway here for you. We're willing to listen...
Do you have friends near that you can talk to? Maybe increase the activity of your social life-outdoor groups, art clubs, etc... A pet?
When my parents went through a long-drawn out divorce while I was in high school, it was really tough to be happy. I was angry and irritated all the time and I never wanted to go anywhere or do anything. But my family and close friends really helped me through. When I was ready and willing to open up and talk about things, they listened. That made a huge difference and may work for you as well.

Take care and DON'T GIVE UP! Happiness is just around the corner WAITING for you! :)

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by pippin

I've been diagnosed with depression.

But every couple of months or so (it started before the diagnosis, and therefore treatment) I would have rather severe physical (and emotional) symptoms.

I'd start feeling nauseated, start shaking, have abdominal pain, and just this overwhelming sense of dread and to escape from it I'd start to cry and try and figure out reasons why this is happening.

about 30 minutes later all these feelings would just go away. About 6-8 hours later, I'd get the symptoms back again.

But this only happens every couple months or so and lasts on and off for about two weeks.


Its beginning to drive me nuts.

So I don't know what it is. I just hate it.

I've been fighting this for several years. A good psychatistist who can work with you on medications and doses is a must and also a psychotherapist to help you understand the triggers for the panic attacks and how to deal with them.

I've found it takes both medication and counciling.

You can get better just get help.

[Dsheree]

I'm not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

It sounds like what my doctor told me was anziety (sp?) attacks. I'm sure your doctor knows you best. I've had these attacks for about 8 years now off and on.

I hope the best for you. You've already been giving good advise. Whatever you do don't try to hide it....it will get the best of you. Confront it, learn to deal (cope) with it.....and control it so it doesn't get the best of you. Be strong and head up.

[veritus]

Originally Posted by johnastovall

I've been fighting this for several years. A good psychatistist who can work with you on medications and doses is a must and also a psychotherapist to help you understand the triggers for the panic attacks and how to deal with them.

I've found it takes both medication and counciling.

You can get better just get help.

I agree. I'm in the midst of a 2 year drawn out divorce, and medication has been my saving grace. It helps to keep me level and eliminates the highs and lows. I don't plan on taking it from now on, but I know that I need it right now in my life. Hang in there and it will be ok.

[Breezy]

I hope it gets better for you

[janetg]

i would be sure to eliminate ALL possible physical reasons for the shaking, stomach pain, etc.... those symptoms alone are enough to warrant an emotional response, especially if they are recurring.

imo - depression is not an on again, off again type of illness - you are either depressed or not, bear in mind - i am no physician, but have known several people that were clinically depressed - and it just didn't work as you described.

don't let doctors blow you off either - if someone isn't giving you an answer you feel is reasonable - take it somewhere else. it's way too easy these days for doctors to just prescribe a pill for someone and hope it all goes away.

to add my own twist to this story - for years i have had strange physical complaints - in march - i went to my gp - she ran tests - everything was normal. but....i took it a step further, and went to see an endocronologist - turns out i have 8-9 thyroid nodules, 4 of which were gi-normous!. had so much bloodwork done, it was ridiculous - biopsies of the thyroid - all to conclude - my thyroid is dying. i am now 3 days on synthetic thyroid - and one of the strange symptoms i have had for years is almost completely gone.

never hurts to be persistent.

[bradh]

The worst times in my life were combined with depression and had similar experiences with the vomiting, shaking, and such. Eventually I tried to kill myself with a drug overdose. I'm still here but whatever. Life appears to be cyclical so eventually you get out of the cow **** but every once in a while you step back in.

As mentioned, anxiety can have something to do with it. It depends on your exact feelings though. My anxiety attacks are really different than my depression parts, and are mostly associated with the time periods when I sleep.

Of course my depression gets worse when I keep running that certain subject through my head over and over. And as that thought process progressed, then I would get the side effects as described where it would turn into physical forms.

Anyways, good luck.

[bradh]

One of the important things (besides medication... which I refuse to use) is getting yourself to become active in something or friends or whatever(!!!) to make yourself and your mind not have time to think about whatever it is you are having a mental battle over. It sounds a lot easier than it is, of course, especially if there is something that keeps reminding you of the depression.

[Michelle Allmon]

personal junk

[tjavery]

Lisa,

I hope that you get the proper help that you need. Depression is very serious, and is poorly understood by those who do not have any experience with it. Depression is also a very broad term to describe a number of ailments.

You might run into road-blocks in getting treatment. Supposedly "normal" people usually have a hard time understanding depression (and what it's doing to your life) and will basically ignore your struggles. If you persevere and find the right doctor to listen to you, then hopefully you'll get the right treatment.

----------------

From my experiences (personally and also with family members), the ultimate and most effective treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Greatly simplified, it goes in this sequence: 1) change your beliefs, 2) change your feelings, 3) change your behavior.

Basically, if you recognize that your thoughts are irrational (e.g. "I don't need to be sad/angry/anxious about situation x"), then that will affect your feelings (e.g. you won't feel sad/angry/anxious) and ultimately alter your behaviour (e.g. you'll just feel and act "normal" instead of being sad/angry/anxious).

Implimenting CBT takes time and practice, and it helps greatly to get counseling. The use of some drugs in the early stages of treatment might be a good thing. Although once you've grasped CBT and use it, the need for counseling and/or drugs dimenishes and can even be unnecessary.

Good luck to you!

[Michelle Allmon]

personal junk for TPFers, I just don't want it archived on the internet is all.

[Michelle Allmon]

personal junk intended for thread participants to read

[mcphotography]

as already mentioned above, it sounds like an anxiety attack or panic disorder....totally controllable when you have the right tools, which can be mental tools, medical tools, or both, but a good MD/counselor can definately diagnose and assist...but as everyone else has noted, keep getting out and getting involved with the things that bring you joy in life. If you have been diagnosed with depression and you're having anxiety or panic attacks, then it is probably pointing to a chemical imbalance and that's where the medications come into play. Whatever you do, see a Dr. and/or Counselor, and if medication is the answer then you'll know...and as G.I. Joe says...."Knowing is half the battle"

[pippin]

Originally Posted by janetg

to add my own twist to this story - for years i have had strange physical complaints - in march - i went to my gp - she ran tests - everything was normal. but....i took it a step further, and went to see an endocronologist - turns out i have 8-9 thyroid nodules, 4 of which were gi-normous!. had so much bloodwork done, it was ridiculous - biopsies of the thyroid - all to conclude - my thyroid is dying. i am now 3 days on synthetic thyroid - and one of the strange symptoms i have had for years is almost completely gone.

No twists - I've got hypothyroidism. Well, more my thyroid doesn't release the hormones correctly so I have mild mood swings and such.

Thanks all.

I never suspected that I was depressed since when I went to the doctor I was crying and carrying on. Put me on 10mg of Paxil, which helped a little bit, but I now have this panic attack (which is exactly the same symptoms as the first time I saw the doctor).

He's increased the dose of the Paxil from 10 to 20, so we'll see what happens.