You need something to look forward to, what about a visit back home, might be just the tonic you need.

I have been here almost 6 years and I still have days were I am ready to pack up and move back... but tomorrow is usually better.

Hmmm... I don't see RayMD there...

I don't think you're being dramatic.

Prescriptions are not so terrifying, you can always stop them if they don't agree with you (most don't have permanent side effects). But if the SJW worked for you before, and you just felt bad after you stopped it, then I'd suggest, by all means, see if the SJW works for you again.

Depression (and also anxiety) can disrupt sleep.

The thing is... I can't tell just what you're feeling. Sad? Scared? Uneasy? or what exactly...

I would disagree with the doctor - if you're feeling that bad, it is not normal. If possible, you could seek out an appointment with a clinical psychologist who could try to sort out just what your symptoms indicate. And, figure out if therapy, life changes, and/or medication might help you to feel better.

Noone should have to remain that unhappy.

Most of the time now I am fine...it's just every now and then. I can get up in the morning...go about my day not really thinking of the UK. Then within a few minutes I can feel a big black cloud forming over my head and it is pushing me down. I feel as if I'm sinking...further and further down and the worst thing is there's nothing I can do about it. I guarantee if I take 3 SJW and another 3 later in the day I'm OK by the next day. Maybe it's mind over matter but they work for me.

I had never experienced any type of depression before I moved here. Don't think you're alone with these feelings there are quite a few of us who go through the same sort of thing every now and then.

Then you don't have a license to practice psychology?

yeah same here..never felt anything like this before in my life..
i've been off SJW for 2 months before it started again..crap

i checked flights today, and maybe will go home in the fall, but kinda feel
that i'm letting everyone down this way-i should get used to being here
without escaping every 6 months..

anyways thank you all very much,
i really appreciated every post..

Nope, as I have said on the forum before. Stupid stupid stupid mistake on my part - completed all the courses for the masters, but instead was going on to the doctorate when life interfered.

I was trained (and did) rape crisis counseling, domestic violance work, and some other volunteering.

If that inquiry was meant to imply I shouldn't have made the statements I did - I expressed my personal opinion and recommendation, as many others have as well.

I didn't mention medicine

At least if you make plans to go back it's something to look forward to and when you're feeling down every little helps.

Don't forget there's always someone hanging around the forum to chat to. Even in the middle of the night...you can hang out in the Oz and NZ forums (if you're really desperate).

I think everyone misses home at sometime or another, I've been here for 10 years this summer and somedays the US mentallity and culture drives me insane and I wish I were back in the UK. Then other days I remind myself that for the most part life (outside of politics) is good here and I can live a much higher standard of life than I could afford in England! Its a balancing act, I'm heading home for a week in Sept and I just know as much as I love the homeland I will be ready after a week to get back on a plane and head back to better weather, cheaper ecomony and bigger houses for less money. If only I could a pork pie here life would be complete

That was me, OH lived in Scotland though he loved visiting Glasgow hated all the jokes about the English found them tiresome and he missed 'home'. So I moved to England and didn't like where we were. I know my OH will never live in Scotland again so US was neutral ground so it was the same experience for both of us..none of us felt the other had the advantage and luckily both of us really like it here rather than both of us being misreable.

My OH wants to move back to England one day (at the mo) and I tell myself it was were we lived and if we moved to London or the South it would be better (though we couldn't afford it).
I went through my homesickness moving to England (hard to make friends etc) and all the stuff people find here so hard.
when your doc means normal he is just reassuring you that a lot of people experience anxiety or depression..you are not alone
By all means take SJW if it helps great but don't say a blanket no to perscription drugs if SJW doesn't work!!

Prescription drugs have been a life safer and a great help to many people. It can be hard sometimes to find the right doseage or the right pill that works for you.

Of course you have to go to the doctor and take his advice or even better a psychiatrist or someone who can help you all round - Cognitive behaviour therapy (if applicable) as well as other stress reliever activities (I take it they do that here as well as the UK) as it is combined techniques that sometimes help the best but only an expert in the field can diagnose and put together stuff that will help YOU.

I wrote about my experience once on MBTUK forum as I experienced the worst reverse culture shock and went into a deep spiraling anxious depression for 2 years which was just a big black gaping hole. I wanted to put a blanket over my head and never come out.

St Johns wort never worked for me as I had anxiety related stuff as well? but as you seem to be 'functioning' most of the time with just the odd relapse hope it does for you.

And of course all the above is only applicable if you have been diagnosed with depression.

But don't be to hard on yourself and encourage yourself that you have got better and I hope you continue to get better and wish you all the best.

I'd agree with a lot of that.

The only exception is - I know that the UK is big on cognitive behavioural therapy (it's the majority of the therapy there I believe). Personally that is not the methodology I most impressed with. I myself would look for a psychologist who practiced an insight oriented therapy rather than behavioural.

ok, St. John's Wort (but check if you are on other meds that you can take this, as it can have a reaction), crystal healing, chakra healing, meditation.

It isn't dramatic, just a suggestion: keep a diary of your depression.
If you are having bouts of depression now and then, it might be worth finding out how often it is, and then go and see a doctor well educated in mental health issues.
Most GP's / family doctors do not know that much about mental health, and what they do know is vague anyway.
It may / may not be a good idea to take prescribed drugs, but you have to weigh it up. Is it better to take some meds and feel good again? Or not take them and feel like this?

Yes, you are right. Cognitive behavioural therapy (IMO) can be great for situational depression, but it cannot be used for all types. That's just like saying to someone "You are depressed because of your behaviour". I did not go to the meetings that my PDoc wanted me to go to, I thought no way, I would rather have counselling. In the end, I pulled myself through it.