Depression

chepchep

Depression.

Robin Williams proves to be yet another high profile example of what it can do to a person's mind, regardless of money, fame, adoration, and the mask which is put on in front of cameras and the general public.

However there is a silver lining here. This latest high profile victim has raised more awareness of the affliction and I'm sure it will be a wake up call, after seeing the effect on his family, to anyone living with it to go out and seek help. It certainly gives me an urge to share my own struggle with depression.

I had been living with it for 6 years from the age of 16 before I finally got fed up with waking up feeling **** about myself, and going to bed feeling **** about myself, every single day.

I decided one day in October 2013 to arrange an appointment with a psychiatrist who was the first person I opened up to about how I felt.

I was anxious about the meeting for obvious reasons but she was fantastic. She pointed me in the direction of SSRI's, rather than the short-term, paper-over-the-cracks option of Valium, Xanax etc.

Nearly a year later I feel like a different person. I cannot explain to myself why I waited so long to get my head sorted.

I am still in the process, I still take a pill every day, it's a marathon and I know that once I have the right attitude, I will be healthy in the end.

The best advice that I can give to somebody suffering, probably the simplest. Talk to someone. It is what everyone says but it is genuinely the best thing you can do. It is the first step on the road to recovery. Once you open up you will feel better, and it will feel good knowing you're doing something about it.
It is a horrible affliction, it takes over people's lives and yet there is not enough said about it, especially in Irish society. Fight back against it. You will get better.

Neyite

Closing thread as not seeking advice.

OP there is a wonderful thread on overcoming depression and sharing experiences in After Hours.

You can continue to post there if you wish.