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Getting help for depression

  • 24-04-2011 4:18am
    #1
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭


    The past couple of years or so have been really hard on me. I’ll not get into details but I got very depressed and became suicidal. Towards the end of last year I finally went to the doctor in college and told her about my increasingly disturbing thoughts and complete inability to focus on simple tasks, amongst other things. She prescribed me an anti-depressant and gave me the number of the college counsellor to call up and make an appointment.

    I was never very open to discussing my issues with a counsellor and that reluctance, coupled with other factors resulted in me not making that call and getting an appointment. When I went to the doctor I was in an awful state and so very desperate. I had naively pinned a lot of hope on anti-depressants working for me and making me ‘normal’ but unfortunately, it just isn’t that easy. The anti-depressants have worked for me a bit as I have been feeling a tad more positive since starting on them and have been experiencing less suicidal thoughts. But I still have a long way to go. I don’t want to be on anti-depressants all my life. I’ve been thinking an awful lot more about counselling and getting professional help and I think I should try it. After all I have nothing to lose and a hell of a lot to gain (such as my life back...)

    Anyway, I can’t attend the counsellor in college anymore as, due to the severity of my depression I have decided to drop out. It was a very hard decision to make and I agonised over it quite a lot but I simply was not coping and it was the best thing for me. I need to go to my family GP soon and get another prescription as I am running out of anti-depressants. I intend on discussing with her about going to a counsellor during that appointment. However I’m really scared about the appointment. I don’t know what to expect from it. What is the process for obtaining counselling? How long is the waiting period until I am seen? I realise that it varies from county to county but there is very little information about it out there. People are always told to go to their doctor for help with any mental issues they are having. That is all that is ever said but what happens after that initial visit.

    I know this probably seems like a stupid thing to start a thread on and you’re probably thinking I should just go to the doctor and stop thinking about it too much but it’s a huge step for me to take and a source of great anxiety for me. Admitting you have a problem and asking for help is hard and I just want to prepare myself somewhat and have some idea of what to expect going into that appointment.

    I hope what I said above makes some sense. Thanks for reading.


Comments

  • #2
    LegacyUser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    Hi there,

    (note: I'm not a GP nor am I a counselor but I've had some mental health issues, so any of my advice is coming from a personal perspective)

    first of all, I think that your situation is definitely being helped by the fact that you are at least open to discussing this issue with a doctor. Go to your GP and get the next prescription for the anti-depressants and then discuss your options about getting a referral for a counselor. This will primarily be the case, I believe, if you are on a medical card. If you can afford counseling, or if you are younger and have parents who can, I definitely would contact a counselor now and self-refer yourself to one. Counselors of all types are willing to accept new clients and you don't need a letter from a doctor, particularly if it's private.

    The thing you have to remember, and it's something that people with depression find very difficult to believe, is that depression is always a short-term problem if treated properly (it sounds like meds have done you a bit of good, but it appears you need some more intervention which might be counseling and other types of medications). There are many types of counseling that can help depression, but Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has been seen to be the most effective in dealing with depression. C.B.T. is a very practical form of counseling and most of its clients see results very quickly. Maybe ask your doctor about that.

    I understand that you're in a bit of a rut, and dropping out of college was probably a wise decision as now you have the possibility of taking control of this problem and devoting your free time to sorting it out. There is a wealth of information about depression online, but I would suggest not bothering reaching out to people who aren't medically or psychologically trained for the time being. Try to discuss your situation with a support person - a boyfriend/ girlfriend or a good friend or relative. If you are willing, you will be able to overcome this. Take care of yourself for now. Go make a list of things that make you feel good (eating a nice dinner, watching a funny movie, having a nice bath) and do a few of them. You might still feel depressed but it's all about 'faking it until you make it!' for the time being.

    Take care of yourself,
    R


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