Depression Awareness Week

star gazer

This week is depression awareness week run by AWARE who have a helpline (1890 303 302) and have support groups around the country for people with depression and related illnesses.

Symptoms of Depression

Are you feeling:

• Anxious or sad

• Lacking in energy

• Overtired / unable to sleep

• Thinking - negative or sluggish

• Loss of interest in hobbies, food, sex or daily events

• You don't value yourself

• Aches: headaches / chest or other pains

• There is no point in living?

If you experience 5 or more of these symptoms for 2 weeks or more, you may be suffering from depression.

Speak to your GP who may be able to help.

taken from aware.ie

Stark

Do you have a more comprehensive set of criteria? There are many depressed people who wouldn't meet 5 of the above, but would meet 5 of the more comprehensive set. For example, guys will tend to feel irritable and short-tempered rather than sad. There's also inability to concentrate, unable to cope with seemingly trivial tasks etc.

Winters

What do you do if you count 6?

Do I win a prize?

star gazer

originally posted by stark
Do you have a more comprehensive set of criteria? There are many depressed people who wouldn't meet 5 of the above, but would meet 5 of the more comprehensive set. For example, guys will tend to feel irritable and short-tempered rather than sad. There's also inability to concentrate, unable to cope with seemingly trivial tasks etc.

The list and it's criteria are a rough guide, i think you could definitely put irritability in there as well, but in general if the person does feel that something is wrong and there are a number of seemingly unrelated negative factors like from the list above then it's a good idea to check it out with someone who could help like a GP or if you don't want to do that yet then talking to someone on the AWARE helpline might be an idea.

originally posted by Winters
What do you do if you count 6?

talk to someone about it, like a GP, to see if there is something to that.

banquo

im fine, i swear.

/me collapes off chair.

MistressPandora

At the same time, listen carefully what your GP says.
If he refers you to a psychiartist hospital, they usually get so many people in that after your first visit, you can actually time up to 7 minutes in each visit. (I know this because I timed it.)
Also, I took myself off anti-depressents because the doctors weren't listening to what I was saying, and now, 6 months later, the other side effects are kicking in, like heart palpitations and nausea.
Get your doctor to listen to what you want, otherside they'll just hand over another prescription.
AWARE are great people, but don't forget about the Samartians too

pixie_student

MistressPandora wrote:

At the same time, listen carefully what your GP says.
If he refers you to a psychiartist hospital, they usually get so many people in that after your first visit, you can actually time up to 7 minutes in each visit. (I know this because I timed it.)
Also, I took myself off anti-depressents because the doctors weren't listening to what I was saying, and now, 6 months later, the other side effects are kicking in, like heart palpitations and nausea.
Get your doctor to listen to what you want, otherside they'll just hand over another prescription.
AWARE are great people, but don't forget about the Samartians too

Hey coming off them pills is probably one of the best things you could have done!

My dad has just weaned himself down to 2 lithium a day.. quite an acheivement considering he used to take over 200 a week.. prescibed to him by his doctor.

I really think that seeing a psychologist is a way better approach to overcoming depression!

Well done chick and good luck with getting better! sounds like your well on your way anyways

xx

MistressPandora

pixie_student wrote:

Hey coming off them pills is probably one of the best things you could have done!

My dad has just weaned himself down to 2 lithium a day.. quite an acheivement considering he used to take over 200 a week.. prescibed to him by his doctor.

I really think that seeing a psychologist is a way better approach to overcoming depression!

Well done chick and good luck with getting better! sounds like your well on your way anyways

xx

I agree, getting off those pills was probably the best thing I've ever done, it was worth the week of hell of withdrawals! I've never taken lithium, but fair play to your dad for reducing himself! I couldn't just cut down though, I was given capsules of 150mg a day so I just stopped taking them.

Thanks pixie_student

pixie_student

MistressPandora wrote:

Thanks pixie_student

No probs!