Depession Help

Kian

I'm 20 and I suffer severly from depression. I feel I need to take a break in a facility for a while. Is there a place like this in Ireland? I've been suicidal on and off for years now and I've scoured the internet but found nothing. I've read time and time again that Ireland has growing depression rates so I'm hoping someone can help. I have no friends to ask so any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

mobileblog

Can you talk to your family?

karen3212

Hi,

I did hear of a retreat place in the west of Ireland somewhere. I think it's for people to stay as long as they want to recover. I'm not sure though whether it is affiliated with a church or something.

Could you speak to your GP or maybe give a hospital a ring, they may know of something like that.

I'll have a search on the net and see if I can see anything.

Edit, I just saw the mentalhealthireland.ie site, they mention low support residential care, I wonder if something like that would be suitable?

Goodluck

Edit, can't find anyother places really, yeah I have to say your GP is probably the best first contact.

I'm glad you're seeking help, goodluck again

monkeyfudge

GP should really be your first port of call though.

jackdaw

I knew a guy who checked himself into St John of Gods ?

or something like that ...

bored and tired

your gp should be able to help, have you talked to him allready re medication etc.??, Theres a place called sarsfields court in cork that i think is along the mental health lines, but i would say that you would need to talk to gp re referral, past health history and current medication before going anywhere,

best of luck, oh and dont forget samaritans for any particular bad time that you want to talk-through with someone.

StormWarrior

Studies have shown that a lack of omega 3 fatty acids can cause depression. Go to your GP, but on top of that, start taking a high-dose, good quality fish oil supplement every day. It has been proven to reduce the severity of depression symptoms.

jt_dublin

Hi Kian,
Sorry to hear that you are not feeling too good. It's a tough time for you but it's great that you are willing to seek help.

Here are 2 good links for you.

St. Patricks Hospital is located near to Hueston station in Dublin. They have a 3 week depression treatment program. You can do this as an in-patient where you stay there for the 3 weeks. Click on the depression management link on this page.

http://www.stpatrickshosp.ie/

Also there is an organisation called AWARE. They can help you, offer you support and point you in the right direction for treatment.
http://www.aware.ie/

Best of luck to you.
JT.

Kevster

Hey,

I stayed in St. Patrick's Hospital for two weeks a few years ago (I'm 24 now). It's expensive under normal conditions but if you're parents have health insurance it's effectively free. It was 'fun' there; a nice break from everything. However, it does kind of scare you into making a strong effort to get yourself better.


For the first week I was in the heavily restricted part where you are checked-on every 15 minutes to make sure you don't try to harm yourself. I was in that area because I was quite suicidal at the time. After that first week, I was placed in the less restrcited area where I got my own room. It was then more like a 3/4 star hotel more than anything else.

jackdaw wrote:

I knew a guy who checked himself into St John of Gods ?
or something like that ...

Yes, that is one also. I have three relatives that spent some time there.


Take care always,
Kevin.

LegacyUser

'Hi Kian,

I saw your post and I just had to write to you.

A lot of people are saying go to a GP first. I agree that this is a very good idea. Bags of courage to do it too so fair play to you. I thought id share some of what ive gone trough. I’ve had pretty bad depression for about two years now and from what ive read and people I have talked to one thing is evident: people are different and different ways will help different people. Take care of yourself and do not be disheartened if one way doesn’t work for you. Keep trying different ways of getting better. Just have a little hope. Maybe remember that a hell of a lot of people in Ireland(and the world) at the mo are in the same boat but in our society today perhaps, maybe people don’t want to appear weak and admit, “ok im finding life real hard actually”. There's a campaign in UCD at the mo and the whole idea is letting people know that asking for help is a very brave thing to do. Anyway, here’s a bit of what ive experienced…

I’m a 23yr old male. I’ve suffered from depression since leaving college basically (2yrs ago). This isn't specifically because I left college. Rather, with all this new found free time to myself, I began to reflect on something that happened one or two years previously. Basically, it struck me one day and my mind just gradually began to deteriorate over time. It was an incident I felt very shameful and guilt-ridden about. I fought it relentlessly in my head. “Everyone makes mistakes” was what I tried to tell myself. On good days, I was over joyed to just know that I was the same person I used to be. On bad days, it hit me so so badly. Being proud, stubborn, weak, courageous (I thought at the time) I chose to hide this from my friends and family and always put up a front, "happy as Larry"!
Well my depression continued. All I could think of was guilt, shame, inadequacy. I had no self esteem. I wouldn’t dream of applying for a job. I couldn’t buy a newspaper, let alone work with people. Again, the front to the world..."what a gas man, still bumming around not bothering getting a job". I found it really hard going into shops and making eye contact with people. I was a million miles from the person I used be. I remember going into Hodges & Figgis and buying a particular book on depression that id read about in the Irish Times health supplement one tuesday. I did a few laps of the top floor pretending I was browsing but I was really trying to build up the courage to pick up the book and go over to the till. I did eventually, probably with a face strawberry red. I certainly couldn’t look at the lady serving me. I felt like everyone was looking at me. It was horrible. This was day to day stuff. Panic attacks t. Deep down it tore at me. I KNEW I was a good person but then I had this voice in my head telling me what a creep I was.
I eventually sought help and went to a psychotherapist. After one meeting, whilst obviously not a full remedy, my mind was put at relative ease. I continued going for a while. I also dropped into a counselor in the college I used to attend. The more I talked about it, the better I felt. Just getting stuff off my shoulders. Trust me, I know how you feel. Some days, I really wanted to just go away some place safe, anywhere. I even used to go running just to clear these thoughts in some way. It helped.
The way I feel today is a feeling that only six months ago, I never thought id feel. Trust me. This thing went on for about two years. It was the ONLY thing that occupied my mind. I didn’t think Id be able to even remember how I used to be. However, I do feel better. Don’t get me wrong. I do get really really down sometimes but I feel the more time goes on the less this happens. One thing that frightens me is the debate as to whether depression can be “fully cured” or will the person be susceptible to slipping into it again? This pains me. What a way to just kick someone whilst they are down. As for an answer to it, I don’t know but I have an opinion on it. Who is free from depression? Everybody truly feels awful from time to time. Some people more often than others. Maybe it’s just different make-ups in people. (have a look at the Myers-Briggs and Enneagram Tests on the internet- these are interesting). If you’re a very sensitive person, you can be drawn to more intense emotions than another person. This is great thing sometimes and a misfortune other times.

I know im beginning to ramble here, its late I suppose but just remember that so many people feel and have felt like you are feeling now. So many make it through to lead great and happy lives. Just look up lists of people. Two to name would be Joe Strummer from The Clash and Princess Diana. Two random people I suppose but two people that touched millions of people's lives and helped those people yet the two concerned were crippled with self doubt and depression throughout their lives.
All in all. Have a little hope. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done at all, what you have been through etc, you deserve as good life as anyone. So many people out there are in bits. I’m sorry to ramble on but it’s just something I feel very passionately about. Things WILL get better but you must try to help yourself. It’ll take a good bit of time. Keep looking for new ways. Read up on as many things as you can. Look for inspiration from people who have been there- real, fictional, famous, anyone. Be careful of any bogus stuff you read on the net too. E.g. something like “Depression is Incurable” is sure to knock the wind out of anybody’s sails. I’m not doubting that you are trying. In fact, it’s really brave to want to ask for help (from a doctor and on this site).

Take lots of care and all the very best,

StrummerFan'