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Posted 4/28/2007 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
i was just wondering i've been diagnosed with depression. but most people on HW have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. what is anxiety? can some one explain. also i want to hear lots of peoples opinon on this - do you think depression stays with you for eternity? please let me know as ive wrote on here a couple of times and no one has replyed to me. thank you.
Posted 4/28/2007 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Anxiety is when a particular object or situation evokes feeling of panic or fear. (Thats a simple definition anyway).


As for depression staying with you for life, I think it does unless you do something about it. It can be 'removed' but it can always come back.

Posted 4/28/2007 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi confused/angry, I am so sorry that no one has responded to your posts on here.  We dont want anyone to feel like they are not getting the kind of information or support they are looking for.  Please do forgive us for that.

Depression is differant in everyone and it is caused by differant sources in everyone.  Some it can be from a traumatic event, stress, or just a sense of low self worth.  But basically it is a medical condition in which the brain is not producing the correct amount of seratonin.  That is where the antidepressants come in to help correct that inbalance hopefully.  I am going to leave you some links here to help you understand this a little better. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm ; http://www.ifred.org/ifacts.html

There are a lot of people who also have anxiety with their depression, this doesnt mean that you will also get anxiety and panic disorder too.  I have an a/p disorder with depression but I believe that a lot of my anxiety was caused by my health issues and also by my post traumatic stress disorder which I have due to childhood abuse.  For me I think if I hadnt ignored my mental health for so long and had got counseling for some of these issues I may have been able to head off the a/p disorder some...I dont know.  But everyone is differant and you cant judge or worry about what may happen tomorrow or what everyone else has.  I am going to leave you a link or two on anxiety also just for information sake. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/anxietymenu.cfm ; http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx24.htm

I hope this was helpful for you :-)

Posted 4/28/2007 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I have experienced 3 separate bouts of depression in my life. The first was at age 16 and lasted 2 years. I never was medicated, it just gradually went away. The second started 11 years ago. at age 38. I was on antidepressants for 6.5 years before weaning off. I am currently experiencing my third. I was recently diagnosed with crohn's disease and had a small bowel resection in Jan. I've had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that I have an incurable disease that causes me pain every day. I am taking antidepressants this time as well. I would say that depression can lurk in the background for years only to rear its ugly head when circumstances enable it to.
Posted 4/29/2007 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
sad  Hi,

In my experience with my depression is there is a definate difference in a "panic attack" and an "anxiety attack".  Make sure you are diagnosed with the right one.

I deal with "anxiety attacks".  This is the best way I can describe them.  Remember a time when you felt so ocerwhelmed by something.  Mine would be when I am speeding and look up to see the police car pass me and turn around knowing that is is me that he wants!  Take that feeling and experience it for about 2-5 minutes at a time.  That is an anxiety attack. I felt a tightness in my chest, throat and overall (oh my gosh, I cant do this!) the feeling makes your heart race and you feel as if you are going to throw up. An anxiety attack feels like that.

Now I have never had a panic attack but in my research and education in the medical field, it is more of a heart attack symptom.  It is most recognized by the symptoms of an actual heart attack.  I also found that it is less "psychological and is not brought on by negative thinking as well as anxiety attacks are.  It is more a biochemical reaction rather than psychological.

My anxiety attacks are awful and usually brought on by "the stinkin' thinkin'" way of thought.

Good luck to you.

Posted 4/29/2007 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
thank you all for yours comments. it is much appreciated getting these posts everyday really does give me a boost to carry on with life instead of sat on the sofa with a bottle of archers and a pot of ben and jerrys ice cream crying my eyes out. im only 18 and wondered what people thought about depression its interesting how people explain it in many different ways., keep posting it keeps me happy. xXXXX
Posted 4/30/2007 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, we all have differant ways of explaining these things and for some of us we have differant symptoms and effects.

We carry on with life because it actually is worth living...we may not know what our purpose is, feel lost and confused a big part of the time but we are meant to be here.  You have value.  This is treatable, you dont have to suffer in this way.  I do hope that you are going to a physician, or have an appointment, or will consider getting one.

by the way...i am very fond of ben and jerrys also tongue   i totally love the chocolate fudge brownie ice cream, i can make myself sick eating it.

Posted 5/2/2007 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
You are so welcome but dont give up on BEN AND JERRY they are great guys!!!!! LOL

Stay strong and know that we all care about you and we will always be your shoulder or should I say shoulderssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss....... :-)

I agree this forum is like my fix!

Posted 5/2/2007 9:47 AM (GMT 0)
thanks elisha and teresa, i have a question what is a physician? ive had councilling but it didnt work now my doctor has upped my dose to 40mg of fluoxitine a day. its starting to work and i am feeling much better for it, im sleeping in better patterns and just feel better in my self. the only thing letting me down now is my choice in career. i dont know what i want to do. i get board so easily ive had thousands of different jobs but cant find one i really enjoy. its getting me down. please help. Love Natalie xxxx
Posted 5/2/2007 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Natalie, I am glad that your taking medication and it is helping for you...that is a wonderful sign.  Counseling is always a good choice to help figure out what some of these feelings/problems maybe be coming from.  As to your question of what is a physician?...well, I wonder if your having your Primary Care Doctor prescribing your antidepressant?  If so then you may want to look into getting a referral to a Psychiatrist who would be better versed in these type of meds and also who would be able to give you a proper diagnosis (if you havent reached one as yet).

There are all differant types of physicians (as you know), being a counselor would be someone who has a Master's or Psychologist degree so they are not allowed by law to prescribe any type of medications.  To become a physician or Psychiartist from that point they would have to have a doctorate degree in which is an additional 5-7 years of postgraduate studies/work.

However, some private offices where you may see a counselor and not a psychiatrist there the counselor may feel that you need medication and recommend this to one of the psychiartists who is above them in the office and sometimes they will write a script for that patient without ever seeing them.  This is bad for the doctor to do as it puts his/her licence on the line should anything ever go wrong with the patient and they are writing prescriptions for a person they havent ever seen.  It is also very bad for the patient as the doctor doesnt know the patient and cant prescribe the right meds for that person.  But it does happen...

Sorry, I am just full of knowledge on this stuff.  I worked in mental health for years and am still working on getting my MS degree in psychology.  I too totally understand how it is when your working somewhere you dont enjoy.  So many people end up in jobs like that...most likely more than 90% I'm sure.  I guess it all comes down to providing for yourself/family and just having to get by while you can.  I too get board easily...with more then just jobs (cars, men devil ,LOL!).  Dont let the job situation get you down because you cant find the right one for you at this point in time.  Maybe sit back and re-evaluate your job skills and what your really want to do with your future.  Perhaps, take some night classes if you can afford to or take out a student loan...I dont know.  But you have many, many options open to you dear, you are still so young....I am sure you have heard that over and over.  But look at me, I am 33 almost 34 yrs old and going to school (well, I am taking a break right now) but I am doing it...and know that I dont have to be chained to the same boring life forever.  You dont either sweetie. 

Have a wonderful day tongue

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