Best Help for Your Depression? My Depression Connection Question of the Week

By Merely Me, Health Guide Tuesday, June 07, 2011

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Hi everybody! Today I was thinking about the different people we may turn to in order to get help for depression. Some people look to their friends and family for support, others may talk to someone from their church, some people seek out a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker ...

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Depression can be Deadly

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jpw2008

6/ 7/11 7:11pm

hi MM

Well i dont talk to many people on any particular day

I usually am on the computer

Its just my mom and me

And she reads books

Jon

Rick44

6/ 7/11 7:35pm

My best support comes from my therapist, and Rosen Bodywork Psychotherapist. For my particular situation having the added transgendersim/crossdressing issue I feel particularly isolated as how can I talk about issues relating to my situation to my buds. As most around me talk about sports, going to a stripclub, how do I say, "I really need to get a new skirt for group."

As for this particular venue for me, its all about having somewhere to write what I may be experiencing without the fear of someone finding out my identity. Its also for me a relief to know that while I've never comes across any transgendered people, its good to know how others are coping with their particular issues, mine then don't seem so stressful.

Donna-1

6/ 7/11 7:38pm

This site helps a lot because I am able to write w/o fear of someone putting me down or openly disagreeing (I don't know how to handle that). Or at least if they do, I can choose to disregard.

But I really wish I had a good friend I could talk to w/o feeling like I am unloading or expecting anything in return. I have a friend whose mother recently died with whom I can discuss the rigors of mother-care, and a bipolar friend who relies on me but I don't feel like she will keep confidential what I say concerning myself. She used to be good buddies w/my mom and always wants to "step in" and "make things right." Which is about the worst thing she could possibly do.

I try to go to a therapist (have an appt Thursday at noon) but in all honestly feel very defensive and afraid of talking "open-faced" with a professional. My emotions are very guarded. I feel them on the inside but do not show them on the outside.

So, in the best of worlds I could have an understanding friend.

But as things stand, I just try to read what I can without overloading on instructions and how-to's and mindfulness peddling and just go with what feels right at the time. I know I have problems and really want to solve them. Don't we all? But the options are pretty limited as far as I'm concerned.

Judy

6/ 7/11 11:13pm

Since you asked......

The things that keep me going are having a psychiatrist, a therapist, as well as a couples therapist that my husband and I see. I'm also on medication. Belonging to a show choir has even helped because I find music gets me involved in the NOW, no matter how crappy I feel. I also read a lot, a wide variety of things. Besides books about mental health (not necessarily self-help), I like fiction and non-fiction that tell very human stories, even if they don't all end happily ever after. There's something healing about those.

This site helps, too. I know I don't write shareposts very often, but I am interested in hearing other people's stories and helping when I feel I can. I've been given a lot in my own journey and try to share some of that and give back when I feel I understand or know enough about a situation. I think it's great that there's a place like this to write anonymously, yet feel like people really care.

I think when we have enough supports in place, whatever they are, it can help us feel a little less desperate and alone if we find ourselves battling a bad episode of depression.

Donna-1

6/ 8/11 5:43am

What kind of non-fiction do you read? I like non-fiction in many forms -- art history, true crime, medical texts, spiritual inspiration (is that non-fiction?) I'm not sure if it would be "advertisement" here to post the names of any books. But if you ahve read any non-fiction lately that is really good, please message me with the title. I've been spending a lot of time reading lately and really enjoy it.

me2

6/ 8/11 10:05am

I found that a few great psychiatrists over the years have helped me to analyze my emotions, and my patterns of reactivity to stressors. I am a single parent of teenagers, every week I feel I make progress and achieve insight into how to manage the complex emotional pain from past trauma.

Avoiding negative coping tools like over eating, drinking etc...is key. When I am completely sober, exercising , getting to bed early, I feel much more resilient and happy.

Getting out into the sunshine helps as well, appreciating nature and wildlife and all that is right in my life, instead of focusing on the bad stuff.

A friend told me the otherday to stop saying how exhausted I am and instead remember to see how powerfull I am. Monitoring my internal dialogue with myself, and changing the negative tapes to positive ones is essential.

LyraStorm

6/ 8/11 10:29am

Where do you personally find your best support for dealing with depression? If it is a combination of resources please list them.

Not sure about best... sometimes I get help from friends, but in ways that they might not realise - I generally don't talk about what I am going through at the times that I am going through it, some of it I never discuss, but I might be able to get out of my own headspace by spending time with them, or feel better about myself by helping them. My boyfriend is becoming a really good support with dealing with things. I see a psychiatrist, but I don't think he is very good, and have seen other such professionals in the past with mixed results. I really liked it when I did group therapy, but that was a limited time thing as we did a course of sorts on DBT. And I also rely a lot on writing diary entries (and on here), escaping into fiction (books and movies), getting out and about, etc.

Is there anything you get here from MyDepressionConnection that you don't or can't get elsewhere? What is special about this experience which keeps you coming back? The anomity makes it easier to be honest. And the way in which everyone seems to understand and there are so many people with kind words to say - that makes it easier to be open and honest. And once I'm being open and honest it is good to really get things off my chest - and some of the feedback sometimes is useful too, whether it is others relating or giving advice it all helps.

pamela

6/ 8/11 2:20pm

Where do you personally find your best support for dealing with depression? My family doesn't understand and I can't talk with them like I use. I have a counselor but I'm not happy with her. I see her every 2 weeks. The first counselor I went to I loved but she moved to another state. I would see her every week and I went to group therapy also. I learned that there are others just like me. This helped me alot..

When I was reading someone elses comment she said she "wished she had a best friend", which I've said the same sooooo many times before. To have a best friend who's there for you NO MATTER WHAT, is to have everything..

Is there anything you get here from MyDepressionConnection that you don't or can't get elsewhere? What is special about this experience which keeps you coming back? I like that this group is always here because I only see my counselor every 2 weeks. I've gone through some awful things lately and wasn't able to talk with anyone else except this group..