Feeling Down

candy19

Hi...
I'm just looking for advice....
I have been feeling down, barely sleep at night and going into college seems like the hardest task ever...
I've been like this for almost two years (give or take) and I just don't know what to do... I was considering going to the student health centre this week...but I'm not sure...
I am basically wondering what to expect, I've only ever gone to the health centre with a Physical problem... I feel as if this has gone one long enough and I need to do something about it...What are Doc's generally like in these sort of situations..
Any help or advice would be much appreciated..

AARRRGH

I'm sure you have a college counseller? Go talk to him/her.

Lots of people feel down. It could be some sort of chemical imbalance (unlikely), it could be your diet, it could be the way you live your life, or it could be your damaged way of thinking.

Whatever it is, a counseller will help you work through this problem. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

LegacyUser

Hi Candy,

Sorry you haven't been feeling well....if you have been feeling down for that length of time, then absolutely go to the doc asap. You don't need to worry about the reaction from your doc. Unfortunately, it's a fairly common problem, and one you don't have to live with.

I had a similar experience about 5 years ago or so. I found like you that I couldn't sleep, was exhausted, didn't enjoy anything anymore and everything was harder than it should have been, though I was still able to function. You never know, it could have an underlying physical cause (sleep deprivation kind of has a knock on effect to your mood etc)

If you have had any thoughts about killing yourself (practical thoughts on how you would do it, rather than any emotional oh god I wish I was dead feelings) Then you defo need to get to the doc asap...either way I would strongly advise you to see a doc as soon as possible.

Best of luck

star-pants

Hi there OP,

Don't be worried about talking to your doctor about how you're feeling - you won't be the first person in feeling down and they'll know how to assertain the best way to help you. A counsellor will probably be a good idea too - to talk through anything that might be making you feel low and helping you to make things better.
Good luck

Wisheress

You poor thing OP, having to cope with this for two years. You are made of strong stuff no doubt, time to give yourself a break though! Great decision to go the student health centre. They are well used to dealing with stuff like this - they will probably see several other people the same day with similar issues.

Normally you will be asked a bit about how you've been, appetite, sleep etc. So quite a bit of it will be just like the times you've gone in there for physical stuff. In fact they may well want to outrule thyroid problems etc since these can cause low mood and insomnia etc. So treat it like any other visit if you can. And you don't have to talk about absolutely everything that's on your mind if you don't want to. Just going there for the first time is the first step. And one step at a time.

Really glad you're going to get checked out.

Best wishes,

W

candy19

Hi All,
Thanks for your replies.... the only thing is that I feel so backward about going in...I know it's not my thyroid because I had it checked before for other reasons...I just be worried about someone finding out...
Would it be completely confidential? I just want to get to the bottom of this, without hassle...my mum knows lately that something is up because I've being doing nothing but snap and be very irritable... I lost my job three weeks ago, I have taken time of college but it hasn't seemed to have helped...

star-pants

Doctors have to keep things confidental, it's a code of practise so I wouldn't worry about anyone else finding out. The best thing to do for yourself is to make an appointment and go in hun, don't feel weird or awkward. I went to my GP last year for a few things and had to mention how down I was feeling and I did feel weird but I've known him since I was 7, but it was actually ok once I said it.

london99

had a similar problem to the op in college also and the cause was mild depression, 6 months on prozac and it sorted me out.

Would be inclined to go to the gp about it.
Modern medicine can cure your issue,
God bless and hope you feel better soon.

Wisheress

It is totally confidential OP. It might help to visualise going to this doctor as if you were going for a thyroid issue (I know you said this was normal but I mean just use it as an example in your head). As in, if you went to see the GP about your thyroid, (s)he wouldn't be ringing up everyone telling them about it. It will be kept confidential, regardless what the issue is.

I think that once you go OP, a huge load will be lifted off your shoulders. It is hard to deal with this on your own for so long - you may well just wonder why you didn't go before! Don't worry that it took til now, I understand why you have hesitated but as I said before, good on you for looking into taking this step.

Don't feel "backward" (the word you used) - low mood is incredibly common (way more common than thyroid problems); honestly if you asked around every second has dealt or will deal with it. If you keep analysing about going to the GP, it'll only make it a bigger issue than it is. It's just an appointment. Hopefully you'll get seen next week and will be on the road to getting sorted.

LegacyUser

Definately go see your doctor, but I would also recommend speaking to a lecturer that you trust or some type of year head in your college. Particularily if you are having trouble meeting deadlines or if this is affecting your college work. Most colleges will have an arrangement where they can give you subsidised/free counselling outside or within the college. Going to the doctor may help if he gives you antidepressants but I think the most important thing is to get some counselling and identify what has caused this low period and how you can deal with it best.

candy19

I have decided that I am going to go in and make the appointment tomorrow...It's time to take this thing by the horns I think??
I've never had any sucidal thoughts to answer a prevous posters question...It's just in my opinion a low point that is effecting everything I seem to do...I will post back to let you know how I get on...
I appreciate all your help and advice... It's good to know that I'm not the only one out there! Thanks again....Candy

star-pants

Good woman yourself - to be able to take a stand to tackle it takes a lot of effort - I know. And I wish you the best of luck, keep your chin up and I'm sure you can get back on track. x

Just Playing

Change your lifestyle and enjoy life. Be yourself and enjoy what being alive brings you

candy19

Hi...
I made the appointment...braving it tomorrow...!!
No point being backward....

star-pants

candy19 wrote: »

Hi...
I made the appointment...braving it tomorrow...!!
No point being backward....

Go you! You're exactly right, forward is the only way to go. You'll be fine x

AngelMae

Well done making the appointment, so many people suffer from depression that your doctor will almost definately have experience of helping people.

As you can see, you're not alone. I have suffered from depression since I was in secondary school, I'm not trying to finish college and it's not always easy! But what helps me is medication, talking to people such as friends and family, and getting therapy. I'd also recommend getting some books about depression and coping with it, it can really help to be able to analyse your moods. I know when things happen or sometimes when we wake up we just feel crap and thats all we can feel. But learning to seperate our thoughts and behaviours from our mood can really help and will give you a better understanding of what could help and make things easier for you.

Best of luck anyway x

lynsalot

Hi Candy
I hope you do go to see the doctor tomorrow! I was the same growing up for years and into my adult life - very mild feelings or being depressed. Feeling down from time to time. No interest is anything. Nothing would improve my mood. Crying constantly.

Luckily I have been to a doctor who diagnosed it as mild depression. I was very reluctant to take tablets but I'm taking a drug named Cymbalta and I have NO side effects. My life has improved ten fold. I have that lust for life back and my relationship is ten times better. The best part is with new medicines you are treated with these drugs and after a year or so, you no longer need to take them.

I found going to to the doctor one of the most encouraging things I ever did. At last everything started to make sense and my confidence has soared. I would strongly recommend you see a doc and honestly it's very common. You are taking a step in the right direction. You'll wonder why u didn't do it sooner.
Let me know who you get on.
All the best xx

kaa

hey

ya i think you should go to the doctor about this as soon as you can.

i think the doctor will prob ask what happened around the time that this started to you. they mite give you sleeping pills are somthing like that. but i would also go to the college counsellor to so you can talk about it and they might be able to get you more relaxed.

candy19

Thank you all for your replies.. Sorry it took me so long to reply, I needed to get my head around things! I chickened out the first time, but I eventually got things sorted there.. Went to the nurse on Wed, she gave me some good sound advice and arranged an appointment with a counciller and an appointment with the Doctor there yesterday...
I felt good to talk, have to go back next week to the doctor next week after my first session and discuss things futher...
So thank you all again,
Candy

Wisheress

Really glad for you candy, I was hoping that things had gone okay for you. First step done and dusted!! Hopefully it'll get easier for you now.

candy19

Yea I'm really glad I done it...
Hopefully things will look up from here..
The only thing is that the doctor wants to discuss the idea of anti-depressant for a while and I'm not best keen on that idea because of side-effect and other stuff...but we will see how the councelling goes first...Thanks
Candy19

LegacyUser

hi, im in the exact same situation as yourself, I can relate to all you say, I also chickened out of an appoinment i made last week! im just wondering if anybody knows in relation to the whole confidentiality thing if it still stays confidential if suicidal thoughts come into the equation? i think a lot about death but i wouldnt do it, but it freaks me out a little and if i said this would it just stay in between me and the doctor?

AngelMae

Suicidal thoughts will remain confidential, however if a counsellor/doctor thinks that you are in immediate harm or that someone else is in immediate harm they legally have to take action. Do try and make another appointment, those kinds of thought are obviously disturbing and you should try to get help with them. Doctors take their responsibilities regarding confidentiality very seriously, if they thought you were in danger they would only be breaking it for your own sake but it would have to invovle a very immediate risk to you or another person. Hope this helps

AngelMae

Candy in relation to medication, the side-effects are genuinely quite minimal with the new generations of drugs, I have been on various anti-depressants and have never had any side-effects. Do discuss your worries about any effects they may have and the benefits that medication have for you, but I think you are right to concentrate on the counselling, it will help in ways that no medication can!

candy19

At this moment I'm finding things really difficult..I havn't been in college in ages, I'm so far behind and if I don't pass college I'm out! I'm starting my first councelling session today and I just don't know what to expect...

'unreg' The doctor cannot say anything outside the consultation unless he/she is really concerned about your welfare... (or so I was told)
To me the doctor has been really supportive and a big help..just to talk to him for a few minutes made a difference to me, but it is obvious that i've big issues to deal with..

With regards to the medication side of things...it's not a route I'm wanting to talk unless it's absolutely necessary...

Just wondering has anyone out there started meds and how did they feel after taking them a week or two? (did they make you feel as high as a kite?)

LegacyUser

Hi Candy. I hope the first session went well. It can be difficult and exhausting. Also you can sometimes feel a little worse afterwards and wonder if its worth it, but it is stick with it. I was in the same situation as you 7 years ago. I can't believe its that long. At that time I didn't think i'd ever come out the other side. I missed lots of college, but somehow managed to pass. If your finding things really difficult at college speak to someone in the depatment your studying in, you'll be surprised how helpful, accommodating and understanding they can be. They will do what they can to help you pass.

I took various medications for years. I honestly can't say if there were any side effects but i do know i gained a lot of weight. That is more than likely from comfort eating and a complete cessation of all exercise than meds. There was no feelings of being high or doped up. I just began to feel normal again, myself!! Which was nice. I'd forgot what normal was. One distinct memory i have is hearing college friends laugh and wondering what there could possibly be to laugh at, how could anything be funny? medication, councelling and determination on my part ensured i remembered why people laugh. I haven't looked back, sometime i feel a little down, but doesn't everyone. I have a happy carefree life, where those dark days are a distant memory.

They will be for you too. It will take a while, it will be tough at times, but its worth it in the end. Dont let the ides of medication put you off, if you have a physical problem that could be cured/improved with a pill you wouldn't think twice. So why should you in this case if its what you need and your doctor recommends it. good luck. if i can help with anything else just ask.

candy19

Yea I had two sessions this week. The first was ok but when I came home after the second lots of thing kept going through my mind...I kind of have an idea of where this is comming out of...
I don't particularly think it's going to be an easy road.. I put of the idea of tabs again but have to go back again in a week to see how things are...? And to discuss the magic pills again...

LegacyUser

Well done Candy19, it's brave to take those first steps, which I can't seem to do.
I'm thinking about this recently as I am felling pretty bad. I'm very a wooried about the pills, and counselling. Also, because of personal circumstances I'm anxious about costs - does anyone know rough cost of anti-depressants and counselling session

candy19

All I know is that if you have a GMS card that the medication is free and consultations with a councellor are free too..
Being honest if I can do it anybody can because the last couple weeks I've been in a pure mess, not to sure how I am now but I know things can only get better from here at least I hope!