Depressed OH

LegacyUser

Hey, I am really worried about my gf atm.

When I first met her she was the most positive person I'd ever met, but something seems to have changed in her. She used to get excited about little things, lke just going out for a walk or something, but now most of the time she just stays at home. Some days she wont even get out of bed and she cries a lot. It's been getting progressively worse since about xmas and I feel totally helpless. I just want to help her and for things to go back to how they were. She's cries all time over nothing. She seems to be really depressed, but I can't figure out why. She's not a depressive type of person and nothing has happened to her. I don't know how to help her get out of this, it breaks my heart to see her like this. She wants to help herself too, but has tried and nothing makes her feel better.

I'm at a lose as to what to do, we both are. She keeps telling me I should leave and that she's just a burden etc...but I don't want to abandon her, I just want things to go back to normal. Has anyone gone through this before? She thinks she's stuck like this and I'd really like to think she's not.

Can anyone offer some advice on what the both of us can do? I'd lke to know ways in which I could heklp her, but I know she needs to help herself more.

Sleepy

Sounds like she really needs some professional help. Have you discussed this option with her?

Miss Fluff

She really needs to see a GP as soon as possible. Regardless of how much love and attention you give her, if it is a medical problem she really needs to be seen by a professional. Did something happen to bring this on OP? Was she ever like this before she met you or is this the first time she has suffered from this?

trio

When I was depressed nothing had happened to me. Yet it had been building for about a year an a half. Finally it got so bad I couldn't get out of bed, and it was like a black void surrounding me. Towards the end it was so awful that I couldn't even decide what to eat - if someone asked me I'd be so pressurised that I'd burst into tears. I was eventually persuaded to go to a GP, who promptly diagnosed me and gave me SSRIs. They made a massive difference. I can't tell you how much.

So firstly, reassure yourself that this is what classic clinical depression looks like.

How has she tried to help herself? One of the first things people recommend is exercise and stuff like that, but when it gets severe, a GP is your best bet. And it's now gotten severe with her by the sounds of it.

Has she visited a GP? If not, then I would recommend that. Depression is an illness, like any other. Sometimes it runs in families, sometimes not. As far as I know it's an imbalance of the hormone seratonin in the brain. So she's not doing this to herself, if you know what I mean. It's happening despite her.

So what do you do? You gently tell her that you will support her through it, and encourage her to see a GP. Do not frighten her with talk of depression (people do still get very frightened by the word) - let the GP diagnose it for her.

Be kind, be sweet, be gentle, be available. If she starts getting treatment, be it SSRIs or counselling or some other course of action, then hopefully you should start to see some improvement.

Acknowledge that for the next few months it's going to be all about her. But in a relationship it's swings and roundabouts, and hopefully when she's well she'll be able to be there for you when you need her too.

LegacyUser

She says she's never felt like this in her life. I dunno about her family, but from what I can gather no one in her imidiate family ihas anything like this.

She's been to the GP, but said they weren't much help. All they did was try to push Anti-depressents on to her without offering any other advice. She really doesn't know what her options are. Things have started to look pretty bleak and she says stuff like 'i just dont see the point anymore' all the time. I'm just worried I'll loose her or she'll never get better. I don't understand what happened.

One thing I think could be to blame is drugs. We did them nearly every weekend for about 7 monts in 2007 and still use them occassionally, although now we have both decided to stop forever. I thought it took years before these sort of things happened? It hasn't happened to anyone else I know. Do you think if she stops altogther she could be okay again?

thebaldsoprano

Hi OP

Yeah, if the obvious things have been eliminated (drinking, excercise etc) it might be best to go to a doc. If the doc doesn't seem to be listening and saying 'here, just take these' go to a different one.

If you're stuck PM me and I'll happily point you in the direction of a good GP who won't just fob you off..

Best of luck anyway, it usually clears up one way or the other.

Miss Fluff

What kind of drugs were you both taking? If you were pilling it up every weekend then yes, it can deplete seretonin levels and can be a factor in causing depression in some people. It would certainly help if she knocked them on the head completely. Do you notice there is a pattern of her being really bad after a long weekend, more than just a comedown?

thebaldsoprano

Unreg1232 wrote: »

I thought it took years before these sort of things happened?

Nope, coke can cause a psychosis from taking it once, even if it is a relatively short one, so something like depression could probably happen a lot easier.

Dunno what drugs you were taking, but if you had no problem trying the illegal variety, dunno why you'd have a problem with legal ones taken under a doc's guidance.

Find yerself a good doc and listen to them.

trio

Look, never mind what caused it. Doesn't matter.

From the sounds of it, she visited the GP and when the suggested anti-depressants she wasn't keen.

Why not? As someone who would probably be dead without them, I don't think anyone should reject them out of hand.

But maybe she wants to pursue other treatments first. Why not get in touch with counselling services? There are plenty in the phone book.

AWARE are the organisation here in Ireland for depression. You don't have to be suffering from depression yourself to contact them - i.e. you can ring them yourself and see what her options might be and try to understand it a bit better.

Of course maybe she doesn't want to pursue any treatments whatsoever and you're banging your head against a brick wall. In which case it may be even more important for you to contact AWARE, as they'll help you deal with it. I heard they get almost as many calls from friends and family.

Do you think if she stops altogther she could be okay again?

Perhaps, maybe, kinda long shot to be honest..... It can't hurt - certainly when you're depressed anything that can cause a come-down (including alcohol) isn't the Mae West. But do I think that she'll come out of the covers just because she's clean? Doubt it. You're still not getting that clinical depression is a medical illness. It needs consistent treatment by a professional, like any other illness.

ntlbell

trio wrote: »

Why not? As someone who would probably be dead without them, I don't think anyone should reject them out of hand.

No but they should reject on the basis they might like to try any of the other few hundred thousand options before taken on a heap of drugs for something she probably doesn't have.

trio wrote: »

You're still not getting that clinical depression is a medical illness. It needs consistent treatment by a professional, like any other illness.

We have no idea what she has!

Get her to go back to GP and get the GP to refer to a counselor or a psych or someone actually qualified to diagnose a mental illness and prescribe the correct treatment

Wurly

Unreg1232 wrote: »

Hey, I am really worried about my gf atm.

When I first met her she was the most positive person I'd ever met, but something seems to have changed in her. She used to get excited about little things, lke just going out for a walk or something, but now most of the time she just stays at home. Some days she wont even get out of bed and she cries a lot. It's been getting progressively worse since about xmas and I feel totally helpless. I just want to help her and for things to go back to how they were. She's cries all time over nothing. She seems to be really depressed, but I can't figure out why. She's not a depressive type of person and nothing has happened to her. I don't know how to help her get out of this, it breaks my heart to see her like this. She wants to help herself too, but has tried and nothing makes her feel better.

I'm at a lose as to what to do, we both are. She keeps telling me I should leave and that she's just a burden etc...but I don't want to abandon her, I just want things to go back to normal. Has anyone gone through this before? She thinks she's stuck like this and I'd really like to think she's not.

Can anyone offer some advice on what the both of us can do? I'd lke to know ways in which I could heklp her, but I know she needs to help herself more.

I wasn't a 'depressed type of person' either when it happened to me. That's a common misconception. Basically her brain is deficient in a happy chemical - seratonin. She needs a top up. Without it, she cries for no reason and doesn't see the point in anything. I've been there and its horrible. She has nothing to be ashamed of - tell her so and suggest she goes to a counsellor to talk this through. Offer to go with her for support. Being diagnosed with depression is terrifying so be there for her - i'm sure you will.

Bottom line, there is nothing you can do to fix this OP. She needs to go to a counsellor. If the doc didnt work for her first time, she will be unlikely to want to go to another doc again. I hope she listens to you. I would use the above deficiency analogy to try and sway her to go. If its made into a scary big deal, she will be less likely to face up to it.

My counsellor eventually persuaded me to go on medication. My doc tried before this and I flatly refused. My counsellor could penetrate deeper into my mind than the doc could. And after explaining the reasons why properly, I decided to give it a shot. I did meds and counselling for 1.5-2 years (I had other issues too, it will prob not take this long with your gf) and I am absolutely fine now. More than I ever thought possible tbh.

Good luck OP.

ntlbell

Tri wrote: »

Basically her brain is deficient in a happy chemical - seratonin. She needs a top up. Without it, she cries for no reason and doesn't see the point in anything. I've been there and its horrible. S



I did meds and counselling for 1.5-2 years (I had other issues too, it will prob not take this long with your gf) and I am absolutely fine now. More than I ever thought possible tbh.

Good luck OP.

I don't really understand how people can say these things then not question what they just wrote.

If someone is deficient in seratonin you can't just "top it up" and then it stays topped up and dishing it out like there's no tomorrow.

If you lack vitamin B or iron you can go and take tablets for a few week have a chat with a counselor then give up the tablets? no because you will always need to be topped up with vitamin B or iron or whatever it is your deficient in.

What you stating makes little sense.

Wurly

ntlbell wrote: »

I don't really understand how people can say these things then not question what they just wrote.

If someone is deficient in seratonin you can't just "top it up" and then it stays topped up and dishing it out like there's no tomorrow.

If you lack vitamin B or iron can you go and take tablets for a few week have a chat with a counselor then give up the tablets? no because you will always need to be topped up with vitamin B or iron or whatever it is your deficient in.

What you stating makes little sense.

Excuse me, having had depression, I do know what i'm talking about. You have nit picked at my posts before. You do not have all the answers. Neither do I.

I will explain what I meant and hopefully then it will make more sense to you.

Depression occurs when seratonin levels in the brain are low. Anti-depressants (and indeed proper counselling) help to combat that.

If someone is deficient in seratonin you can't just "top it up" and then it stays topped up and dishing it out like there's no tomorrow.

Where did I say that? I don't even agree with that statement! I said 'top up', meaning that the seratonin levels were at lower than normal levels and they needed to get back to that stage again.

If you lack vitamin B or iron can you go and take tablets for a few week have a chat with a counselor then give up the tablets? no because you will always need to be topped up with vitamin B or iron or whatever it is your deficient in.

Did I say that either? So if you have a vit b deficiency, you will always have a vit b deficiency? Okay then!

Also, I did not say that I went to a counsellor for a 'few weeks'. I said 1.5-2 years. Counselling, along with meds cured my depression. Are you therefore calling me a liar?

My purpose of posting here was to help the OP. I do not wish to derail the thread responding to your usual nit picking. I suggest you get off your high horse and actually read people's posts properly before responding.

ntlbell

Tri wrote: »

Excuse me, having had depression, I do know what i'm talking about. You have nit picked at my posts before. You do not have all the answers. Neither do I.

Depression occurs when seratonin levels in the brain are low. Anti-depressants help to combat that.






Also, I did not say that I went to a counsellor for a 'few weeks'. I said 1.5-2 years. Counselling, along with meds cured my depression. Are you therefore calling me a liar?

My purpose of posting here was to help the OP. I do not wish to derail the thread responding to your usual not picking. I suggest you get off your high horse and actually read people's posts properly before responding.

Excuse you, I had a gal bladder removed it doesn't make me a fecking surgeon.

The brain is a very very complex thing most GP's counsellor's scientist's psych's are all still confused by the whole depression thing so for you to say you know what you're talking about on the basis of "suffering" a "type" of depression you're excused.

A chemical imbalance in the brain can not be solved by talking to someone and can be rarely (if ever) permanently solved by a short to medium term dosage of drugs if it's an imbalance it's more than likely for ever.

Depression is caused hundreds and thousands of different reasons and most we don't know and prob will never know the low levels of seratonin or chemical imbalance is only one small reason why which is usually never tested.

Did you do any tests to check for the levels? were you told what you normal level needed to be? i doubt it.

You were more than likely "cured" by counseling and didn't end it all yourself due the numbness of the drugs but is HIGHLY unlikely you had a chemical imbalance in the brain as this can't really be "repaired"

suffering an "illness" doesn't make you an authority on the subject

Wurly

This is getting to be particularly tedious.

You appear to be missing the point that I am not pretending to know all the answers. I even re-iterated that point in my last post.

I gave advice to the OP on my personal experience of depression. I told him to get her to go to a counsellor for a proper diagnosis and advice. If I thought I knew everything, why didn't I just tell him to listen to me and no-one else?

I do now know what your problem is tbh. I am not going to debate the ins and outs of depression with you. You know more than me - well done. I didn't want to be part of the contest tbh.:rolleyes:

Bottom line - I gave my personal, factual experience. I relayed information re depression that was given to me by my counsellor. It helped me and I thought it may help the OP. The deficiency analogy, I found helpful as it made me feel more normal.

Now can we get back to helping the OP please? I would actually rather help the OP, then try to make myself look good. I have given my advice to the OP so I have nothing else to say on the matter. I certainly have nothing else to say to you.

I do not appreciate you nit picking at my experience. You have done this before. It is unpleasant and I would like you to stop please.

Thank you.

Flamed Diving

Unreg1232 wrote: »

Hey, I am really worried about my gf atm.

When I first met her she was the most positive person I'd ever met, but something seems to have changed in her. She used to get excited about little things, lke just going out for a walk or something, but now most of the time she just stays at home. Some days she wont even get out of bed and she cries a lot. It's been getting progressively worse since about xmas and I feel totally helpless. I just want to help her and for things to go back to how they were. She's cries all time over nothing. She seems to be really depressed, but I can't figure out why. She's not a depressive type of person and nothing has happened to her. I don't know how to help her get out of this, it breaks my heart to see her like this. She wants to help herself too, but has tried and nothing makes her feel better.

I'm at a lose as to what to do, we both are. She keeps telling me I should leave and that she's just a burden etc...but I don't want to abandon her, I just want things to go back to normal. Has anyone gone through this before? She thinks she's stuck like this and I'd really like to think she's not.

Can anyone offer some advice on what the both of us can do? I'd lke to know ways in which I could heklp her, but I know she needs to help herself more.

Tell her to see a professional. A counsellor could be a good start.

ntlbell

Tri wrote: »

.:rolleyes:

Bottom line - I gave my personal, factual experience. I relayed information re depression that was given to me by my counsellor. It helped me and I thought it may help the OP. The deficiency analogy, I found helpful as it made me feel more normal.

Now can we get back to helping the OP please? I would actually rather help the OP, then try to make myself look good. I have given my advice to the OP so I have nothing else to say on the matter. I certainly have nothing else to say to you.

I do not appreciate you nit picking at my experience. You have done this before. It is unpleasant and I would like you to stop please.

Thank you.

I'll nit pick when you're practically diagnosing someone with a chemical imbalnce in their brain when you know nothing about them!

"Basically her brain is deficient in a happy chemical - seratonin"

being told this by a psych can be very scary being told it by a GP should be considered abuse of practice. having random person do it over the internet? based on what a counsellor told them with no evidence or tests to back it up! crazy!

I'm not making myself look good I told the OP everything she needs to know and that's an appointment with someone qualified to make a call on a mental illness that's not a counsellor or a GP or someone who's had "depression" it's a psych

With something as serious as a chemical imbalnce people don't need some "analogy" so they can feel better about themselves they need usually life long help understand the difference? it's FOR EVER not a year or two for life so you stating things like this is scare mongering and it's making a diagnosis which i belive as this is not a medical board you shouldn't be doing!

LegacyUser

We have both discussed drugs as an option, but I'm not really that pushed on the idea and nor is she. I know I'm not a doc, but I'd really only like to see her on them as a last resort. I've heard some horror stories about people becoming 'zombies' and it's quite scary.

Also, she's still quite young (just turned 20) and is concerned about tolerance and dependancy. If you go on meds, do you generally have to stay on them? I'd like to see something more sustainable than drugs. Like, if there was even a way for her to understand how she was feeling I think it would make it easier on the two of us.

Who would be the best person for her to talk to about her options? I don't think she really wants to go to the GP again, she was pretty upset about the whole thing last time. She doesn't really have much money either, which is quite a problem, and isn't eligble for a medical card.

Can these things be 'cured'? I'd hate to think of her like this for the rest of her life and I honestly don't know if I'm strong enough to be there.

Oh and she was going on about her diet being poor. Could that be linked? If so, how long do you think a change in diet would effect how she feels?

Flamed Diving

Unreg1232 wrote: »

We have both discussed drugs as an option, but I'm not really that pushed on the idea and nor is she. I know I'm not a doc, but I'd really only like to see her on them as a last resort. I've heard some horror stories about people becoming 'zombies' and it's quite scary.

Also, she's still quite young (just turned 20) and is concerned about tolerance and dependancy. If you go on meds, do you generally have to stay on them? I'd like to see something more sustainable than drugs. Like, if there was even a way for her to understand how she was feeling I think it would make it easier on the two of us.

Who would be the best person for her to talk to about her options? I don't think she really wants to go to the GP again, she was pretty upset about the whole thing last time. She doesn't really have much money either, which is quite a problem, and isn't eligble for a medical card.

Can these things be 'cured'? I'd hate to think of her like this for the rest of her life and I honestly don't know if I'm strong enough to be there.

Oh and she was going on about her diet being poor. Could that be linked? If so, how long do you think a change in diet would effect how she feels?

How about a counsellor? There will be no talk of drugs or mental illness. It should cost no more than a GP visit, unless you are going to one of the bigshots.

ntlbell

Unreg1232 wrote: »

Oh and she was going on about her diet being poor. Could that be linked? If so, how long do you think a change in diet would effect how she feels?

It could very well be.

The first thing I would do if I was her would change my diet and exercise. (exercising naturally relases seratonin)

Slowly if needs be start adding snacks as fruit maybe drop the fizzy drinks.

Walk 10-20 mins if she can maybe go to a nice park?

increase everything each month.

The diet add much more veg maybe avoid red meats and more fruit

then make the walks a bit longer

this can provide her with a lot of energy that she might be currently lacking.

i'd give it 3-6 months and maybe a long side a chat with a counsellor who specialises in CBT or even a life couch.

healthy body tends to lead to healthy mind

Wurly

ntlbell wrote: »

I'll nit pick when you're practically diagnosing someone with a chemical imbalnce in their brain when you know nothing about them!

"Basically her brain is deficient in a happy chemical - seratonin"

being told this by a psych can be very scary being told it by a GP should be considered abuse of practice. having random person do it over the internet? based on what a counsellor told them with no evidence or tests to back it up! crazy!

I'm not making myself look good I told the OP everything she needs to know and that's an appointment with someone qualified to make a call on a mental illness that's not a counsellor or a GP or someone who's had "depression" it's a psych

With something as serious as a chemical imbalnce people don't need some "analogy" so they can feel better about themselves they need usually life long help understand the difference? it's FOR EVER not a year or two for life so you stating things like this is scare mongering and it's making a diagnosis which i belive as this is not a medical board you shouldn't be doing!

You are deliberately misquoting me and saying that I am diagnosing someone. I am doing nothing of the sort.

I told him to get her to go to a counsellor for a proper diagnosis!! How did you miss that part?? Over and over again I might add.

I'm sorry that you seem to have a personal issue with my past experience. You have made that clear on a number of occasions.

I think it is wrong of you to say that I am diagnosing someone. How DARE you, quite frankly!

I will not be censored by you on this forum and I am sick of being subjected to your nit picking over and over again.

I am entitled to my opinion and I am entitled to share my experience. I will continue to do so whether you like this or not.

ntlbell

Tri wrote: »

You are deliberately misquoting me and saying that I am diagnosing someone. I am doing nothing of the sort.

I told him to get her to go to a counsellor for a proper diagnosis!! How did you miss that part?? Over and over again I might add.

I'm sorry that you seem to have a personal issue with my past experience. You have made that clear on a number of occasions.

I think it is wrong of you to say that I am diagnosing someone. How DARE you, quite frankly!

I will not be censored by you on this forum and I am sick of being subjected to your nit picking over and over again.

I am entitled to my opinion and I am entitled to share my experience. I will continue to do so whether you like this or not.

I didn't misquote you a misquote is quoting something you didn#t say

that is your quote above you said it.

Flamed Diving

Tri wrote: »

I told him to get her to go to a counsellor for a proper diagnosis!!

I dont want to get involved here, but I need to point this out for the sake of the OP. A counsellor does (or should) not provide diagnosis for mental illness. Thats the job of a psychiatrist. Think of a counsellor as a 'life guide' (shudder) who helps you to find sense in all of the chaos in your life. No drugs and no diagnosis, its beyond their remit. Although they can refer you to a psych, if you want that.

Wurly

ntlbell wrote: »

I didn't misquote you a misquote is quoting something you didn#t say

You are picking holes in everything that I am saying. Jesus christ. This is unbelievable.

that is your quote above you said it.

I stand by that quote. That is a proven fact. I may not know the other ten thousand facts that you know. But that one is a fact. Seratonin levels are a symptom of depression. There are many other symptoms - yes! But I did not diagnose, I offered my opinion based on my personal experience. I used it as a loose example. I was saying that this example worked for me and made me feel better about my condition. I thought I might share it. If it helps the OP's girlfriend to feel more at ease with her diagnosis like it did for me, then it was worth sharing. If not, well there you go. We're all different. I'm not saying i'm perfect and that everything out of my mouth is perfect either!

You have no right to make sh1t of my views the way you have.

Now if you have anything else to say to me - PM. I don't think its fair to derail this thread any more than we have.

Flamed diving - I take your point about the psychiatrist. My psychologist though correctly diagnosed me. Right or wrong thing to do? Well that's debatable. As I have said over and over again, all I was trying to do was share my experience and hopefully help the OP. My experience is my experience. Whether it is right or wrong, all I know is I attempted suicide on many occasions - I am now happy and well. And I shared how I got there. I am not saying I know everything. Far from it.

Flamed Diving

Are a psychologist and a counsellor the same thing? I don't think so. Perhaps your definitions are confused? I do know that counsellors have no formal medical training. Any counsellor I went to avoided the topic of diagnosis and drugs completely.

Wurly

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Are a psychologist and a counsellor the same thing? I don't think so. Perhaps your definitions are confused? I do know that counsellors have no formal medical training. Any counsellor I went to avoided the topic of diagnosis and drugs completely.

Well basically she diagnosed me. But she also liaised with my doctor about my condition. I gave her permission to do so. I found my doc impossible to deal with so I dealt with her. She told me the words 'you have depression' so in my mind she diagnosed me. Do you see what I mean?

Also, just to clarify. I mentioned the word counsellor. I didn't say if she was a psychologist or a psychiatrist until your post later re diagnosis.

Counsellor may have been too loose and unclear a word to use. Psychiatrists usually do diagnose? Fair enough. I don't know enough to dispute so....

My counsellor through liaising with my doc diagnosed me which I suppose is a bit rare. On that point, I should have been clearer.

With all due respect, this is getting a bit close to the bone for me. A bit personal so if we could get back on to the OP's post, I would appreciate that.

ntlbell

Tri wrote: »

Well basically she diagnosed me. But she also liaised with my doctor about my condition. I gave her permission to do so. I found my doc impossible to deal with so I dealt with her. She told me the words 'you have depression' so in my mind she diagnosed me. Do you see what I mean?

Also, just to clarify. I mentioned the word counsellor. I didn't say if she was a psychologist or a psychiatrist until your post later re diagnosis.

Counsellor may have been too loose and unclear a word to use. Psychiatrists usually do diagnose? Fair enough. I don't know enough to dispute so....

My counsellor through liaising with my doc diagnosed me which I suppose is a bit rare. On that point, I should have been clearer.

With all due respect, this is getting a bit close to the bone for me. A bit personal so if we could get back on to the OP's post, I would appreciate that.

Your Doctor is not in a position to correctly diagnose you and sholdn't

A counsellor is not in a postion to correctly diagnose you.

What tests were done? how did they work out the gap in seratonin levels?

How did they know what your levels were suppose to be in the first place?

A dog in the street probably could of diagnosed you that wouldn't make it correct and you MAY have taken drugs for two years for no good reason.

we don't know the answers i cant prove it you can't prove it but what we do know is we dont know whats wrong with the OP and she should go to someone who is in a position to do it correctly.

not a car mechanic who knows a bit about people, not someone in the local post office not a GP or a counsellor but a referral to a psych these are the ONLY people qualfied to make the call and perscribe the correct drug

do you understand this?

Flamed Diving

Tri wrote: »

With all due respect, this is getting a bit close to the bone for me. A bit personal so if we could get back on to the OP's post, I would appreciate that.

ntlbell wrote: »

Your Doctor is not in a position to correctly diagnose you and sholdn't

A counsellor is not in a postion to correctly diagnose you.

What tests were done? how did they work out the gap in seratonin levels?

How did they know what your levels were suppose to be in the first place?

A dog in the street probably could of diagnosed you that wouldn't make it correct and you MAY have taken drugs for two years for no good reason.

we don't know the answers i cant prove it you can't prove it but what we do know is we dont know whats wrong with the OP and she should go to someone who is in a position to do it correctly.

not a car mechanic who knows a bit about people, not someone in the local post office not a GP or a counsellor but a referral to a psych these are the ONLY people qualfied to make the call and perscribe the correct drug

do you understand this?

:rolleyes:

Wurly

ntlbell wrote: »

do you understand this?

No to be honest, I don't. That is how I was diagnosed. And I was treated successfully on that diagnosis. Do you not understand that?

What else can I be expected to say to you? That is how I was diagnosed.

Now if my treatment worked for me based on this diagnosis, then obviously I am going to share this experience with someone in a similar predicament to myself.

I have asked for the OP's original post to be discussed now rather than my personal experience. I did not expect this backlash simply from sharing my experience. I feel a little bit upset tbh because I was only trying to help.

Ntlbell - I respect your opinion. But I cannot change what I experienced.

Victor

If anyone other than the original poster has posted twice on this thread they are not to post again.

ntlbell and Tri - tone it down.

Wibbs

Right, this has happened before on threads about depression, where it gets dragged off topic into the realms of drugs versus therapy, one health professional versus another. All very fine in humanities or elsewhere. Here no, as it isn't helping the OP.

No one here is in a position to diagnose one way or the other. Beyond that obvious point, there is also the point that everyone differs. Everyone's case differs and their experiences are as valid as the next. Tri posited her personal experience of this condition and fair enough. Disagreeing with that is fine, but dragging the tread off topic is not.

ntlbell If you have a problem with a post or a poster report it. Don't start nickpicking and scoring points. IMO that's what you were doing after your first post on the matter. If you have a problem with that, report, go to PM or go to feedback.

So everyone calm the hell down and as has been suggested get back to the OP's issue. That's my only warning.

Victor

OP, its quite likely that your other half is suffering from depression. She needs medical help and human support.

If whatever treatments the doctor gives her don't seem to be working after an extended period, seek a referral to a psychiatrist from the GP. Counselling, diet and exercise may help.

We don't know how exactly recreational drugs affect the brain in the long term. We do know that some of them can have severe effects on some individuals, whether short or long term. Whether drug use is related to her condition is for a doctor to decide, not us. In any case, a cure is the objective and the cause is secondary.

Stargal

The most important thing right now is that something has to change for your girlfriend. She probably knows this herself by now (and it sounds like you definitely do, OP) but she needs to understand that in all likelihood, this isn't just going to go away by itself.

So have her go back to the GP. Since money is an issue and she wasn't happy with the doctor last time, perhaps try someone else in the same practice. When making the appointment ask if there's someone who deals with mental health issues. Don't dismiss anti-depressants without learning a bit more about them. Tri explained it very well but basically think of them as a medicine to fix a problem and if properly prescribed and used then there's no reason for her to turn into a zombie.

Try other things as well - as a couple of people have suggested, going for walks or doing something to get out of the house would be a great start. Eating healthily makes a big difference. Just do something to deal with it.

I may have missed this in the thread but is she working or in college? Does she have some kind of structure in her life?

I was in the same situation as your girlfriend a few years ago and one of hardest times was when I finally realised that it wasn't normal, that not everyone felt like I did - and then realising that I had absolutely no idea how to fix it. It's hard to describe just how terrifying it is. Sounds like she's lucky to have you around. Hope everything works out well for you both.