paulry

Definately worth a try, it's worked for plenty of people.

lesleys

Meds usually take a couple of weeks to have an effect. I know exactly what you mean about the tense feeling in the stomach - like it's being tied into a knot. I really hope you feel better soon.

earlybird

Thank you. Just have to see if I can get back to work.

paulry

Pollyana

Just trying to get back a job I had to leave when depression got me 12 months ago. I know the root of that depression was work-orientated, can even pin-point the days that caused it, and I am still hacked off with my employers for not giving any support to the several people who needed it at the time. Horrible thing to say but if we had been volunteers then money was no object. Because we were paid employees we were expected to sort ourselves out.

So now I've fought my way back having found my own sources for help, but have to try and win my job back from square one, applications, interviews, all that krap all over again, plus I'm gonna have to confront the person who told me to leave the job and pull myself together, and tell him I've done just that and am now worthy of the job again. Just a small ask then

avi

Not sure if I should jumpp into this (hides behind a wall)

Mental illness can and will probably affect us all at some time in our lives. Some is chemical and some is situational. It all boils down to our stress vulnerability and also how much stress (life) we are currently under.

Everyone reacts differently and everyone dosent want to admit for fear of labelling and detremental backlash from press insurance workmantes family etc......

There is no shame in this area and with the right support generally most people will rise out of the hole.

Medication can help some and if you feel like you are in a fog then the medication is incorrect or too high a level.

Medication is not the be all and end all it is a specific tool to aid in starting the climb out of the hole but it is the character and strength of the sufferer that overcomes the illness by utilising thier coping safe strategies whether they be exercise crafting socialising reading etc.

Sorry for the small rant but I feel strongly in this area.

northernbird

Excellent post. Having been recently exposed to depression with regard to my teenage daughter, art is one of the things her psychologist has suggested. In response to the suicide of a very close friend, the kids have been making canvases with pictures and artwork. It seems to have helped. Our GP and the Psych are reluctant to go down the medication route unless absolutely necessary.

avi

Hi northern bird
hope your daughter feels better soon. My advice would be to watch her eyes. They will tell you the truth as to how she is feeling. Thats what I do I also trust my gut to tell me if the person dosent feel right to me. Im a bit left field but it works for me.

Art therapy can work wonders and also allow her time to grieve there is no time scale of what is right or wrong it is individual. Also journaling could be of benefit to her also a memorial for the close friend and an understanding that there will be guilt there as well totally misplaced but its a bit like survivors guilt kinda and the kids need to be able to esxpress this but also to be reassured that they werent at fault.

oops starting to preach will stop

paulry

ozzieeagle

Whats the difference between being down in the dumps for a couple of days and mild depression ?

Say I'm in a bad (Shiity in Aus speak) for a culmination of things getting me down, how do I tell whether thats depression or not ? Is it a case of how regularly it occurs. For me it would be every 3 months or so...Maybe more often during our renovation period over the last 18 months or so. Living with teenage kids and their stresses can also get you down.

So genuine question, how do I tell if thats depression, albeit mild or not ?

I definitely had bad depression when I was a young teenager... Circa 13/14, so I know how debiltating depression can be.

earlybird

This link may help. There are lots of resources here for depression.

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=89

This one is a checklist:
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=89.676

And another:
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=89.677

Paul

Dorothy

Just like Jenny McCarthy's son is "cured" of his autism?

Sorry, Paul, but your assertions that mental illness can be cured by diet and other 'natural' remedies is a load of shite. Manic depression is a chemical imbalance, just as many other illnesses are. It cannot be cured by eating different foods any more than cancer or MS or any other true illness can.

sammax

My youngest son has it. He is 24 now but the signs started appearing when he was about 12 - OCD and paranoia. He is on mood stabilisers and anti depressants and without them he is just a mess - sobbing and hitting walls and saying that he doesn't want to live etc. One very negative aspect of this is that he became addicted to gambling, but that's the OCD part of the illness I suppose. He is a lovely natured kid and it's heart-breaking when you see your child sobbing like a baby. I can see him being on meds for ever.

Cheetah7

My sister believes that the liver detox diet and liver cleanse can cure cancer, lupus and depression. I am astounded that she believes it and find it offensive to be honest.

If natural/herbal/alternative/diet remedies cured cancer, depression, auto immune diseases then we wouldnt have them.

I asked my sister for concrete scientific facts that the liver cleanse has cured terminal cancer or helped with depression - I am still waiting on that evidence.

ozzieeagle

I'd say the jury is still out rather than assert either way personally.

Food turns into bloodstream chemicals.... we wouldn't get drunk or high on THC after eating special cookies otherwise.

Chinese Doctors run just about their whole medical system on ingesting strange concoctions and advising on diet.

One thing I have learned, is that when your feeling down to stay away from Alcohol, rather than most peoples assertions in partaking after a stressful situation.


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