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Posted 8/26/2013 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my name is Brigid and I'm looking for some advice.  First just a little about me, I'm 41 & I've suffered from depression for as long as I remember.  I have a wonderful psychiatrist that I've been working with for over 15 years.  Name an anti-depressant & chances are I've taken it.  I've gone to therapy about 5 times and it doesn't seem to work for me.  Basically I've gone to appease my doc, I'll go for a few months and then quit.  Two years ago I had a MAJOR meltdown and promised that I'd give therapy a true shot and I have gone once a week since.  My problem is I just don't think it works for me, I feel like I've participated the best I can and I just don't have anything else to say.  So has anyone else been in the same boat?  Any suggestions on how to handle this?

I really appreciate the time you've spent reading this and any input would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

Posted 8/26/2013 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I've had quit and restarted therapy a few times. I think a lot has to do with your therapist. I'm very comfortable with my new one.

It also depends on their treatment plan. Are you being given goals that are compile table? My therapist sets new goals each week. They are designed to train my brain to react better in situations that would normally pull me deep into a depression.

All that said, some of us are going to need medication. Therapy, while a great treatment option, can't always work all by itself. I'd recommend speaking to your therapist about your feelings. They may discuss what you hope to get out of therapy. Just be realistic, depression never just disappears magically. Good luck.
Posted 8/26/2013 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Angelic. I'm really do like my therapist and he does give me goals and I do them. I understand why the goals are important and why I should change my ways of thinking. It's almost as though the ideas & coping skills I've learned just don't click in my brain. If that makes any sense. My doc prescribes an MAOI, anti depressant, anti anxiety and mood stabilizers currently. I will think about talking to my therapist about my thoughts, thank you so much for your advice.
Posted 8/27/2013 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi brigny,

Just wanted to say hello and welcome...

I'm sorry therapy isn't helping you lately. I understand how you feel. It took more than a year before I saw any progress when I started therapy. It started helping but then sometimes things were unbearable and it felt like therapy doesn't help.
Maybe your therapist can try a different approach from what he's currently doing with you or a different type of therapy depending on what he can do.
If not, you can probably try a different therapist. Sometimes some therapist can give you a referral if needed.

Hang in there. Things will get better for you. It's just a matter of time.
We're here for you as well.

UA
Posted 8/27/2013 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Brigny,

And welcome to the depression forum. I am sorry you are feeling down. I hope that changes for you soon.

I have been going to therapy for many years now, and I see a psychiatrist too. I hope that you feel better soon.

Take care and keep posting...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 8/27/2013 8:21 AM (GMT 0)
I'm going to speak with my therapist and see where we stand.  Thanks for welcoming me into the forum and for the advice too.
Posted 8/27/2013 8:56 AM (GMT 0)
brigny,

I am glad you will talk to your therapist. I was blessed with a very good therapist the first time out. I have been seeing him for 2 years now. I have a history of 15 years of abuse from childhood.

I can tell you what helps me:

Being brutally honest with the therapist.
writing a journal, so you can hand that over and not speak when it is too hard to talk.
Ask the therapist about CBT and or DBT therapy and which would be best for you. Both are listed in our resource page on this forum.
Work hard for yourself, read everything you can on your diagnosis and how to deal with it.
Meditation, mindfulness, exercise, diet, they all help in the end. Ask about them.

Peace and courage
Trina
Posted 8/27/2013 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hello brigny:

   Therapists do vary. And by therapists, I'm referring to a trained psychologist. I've seen three different ones over the course of time. The first one was excellent, and I think I got lucky. It was shortly after a divorce, and I did see her weekly for many months, then gradually tapered off - but over a period of well over a year. I know people who have gone thru three psycologists after a divorce before finding one that would help.

   The other two were much shorter lived - mostly due to the reasons for me going. And one of them was fair (at best) and the other one is good and still am going.

   Please do give non-medicinal therapy a strong chance, and as BnotAfraid said ... be brutally honest ... and then investigate the journaling.

Actually, it seems like you have a good start on journaling .................!

 

Posted 8/27/2013 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brigid,
welcome to this little forum here!

I am sorry that you're having a meltdown and the therapist following behind with the psychiatrist aren't working well for you.

Here's what I think you could do to slowly get rid of depression:

Post as much as you like in this forum. This way, it'll help you to feel better because you could share the things that you don't feel good about anytime of the day or night!

This forum changed me a lot and because of the people in this forum, they made me overcome depression and understand on what I was going through. This forum is packed with tons of people who are really nice and understands you a lot. If I can do it, you sure can do it too (:

Don't forget, to me, the key way out of depression is self confidence. Confidence is a really powerful feeling that could take you to the door that says 'depression exit'. Not only me but everyone around you in this forum would like to encourage you at your toughest moment and please do, do not hesitate to post anything at all.

May I ask on why are you so depressed about ? I'm just really curious but it's okay if you don't feel like telling it to me, as I am a total stranger to you.

I hope you have a great day Brigid.

Much love,
Joanne
Posted 8/27/2013 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the kind words everybody.  Yes Gizzy my therapist is a psychologist with a Phd and I like him very much, I'm going to take the advice and ask him what else I need to work on.  It's been every week for 2 years, I guess I just thought I'd feel better by now.

Hi Joanne, I firmly believe that my depression is mostly a chemical imbalance.  I know I was depressed and very anxious as a kid, but I never told my parents.  My mother died when I was 13, but I don't think that really has anything to do with it anymore (I'm 41).  I would describe my depression as plateaus and valleys, sometimes I'm just ok and other times I fall way down.

I don't mind any questions, I'm here to talk and support others!  Everyone is so nice here

Posted 8/27/2013 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hey brigid,
Chemical imbalance aye ? Could be one of the possibilities.
I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. ):
But there is also the possibility that you're depressed on your mother's death (I'm sorry for my poor choice on words). Even though it had been a long time ago, there's still the possibility to it. Some people may not notice it and that 'some people' could probably be you too.

I'm glad that you like your therapist. It is very important to feel comfortable to your therapist/psychologist.
I know what you mean, I used to have days when I'm just so depressed and days when I'm just plain depressed. All of that is now gone because of this forum and my friends in this forum too. They sure did left a hole in my heart for them to fit in.

Post anything you like whether it's sharing good news or having one of those meltdowns. We are all here eager to help you (:

Have a great day Brigid!

Much love,
Joanne
Posted 8/27/2013 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brigid,

Are you on any medications?? I know I should reread your post, but thought I would ask. I did reread your post and I have seen you have tried a lot. I take pristiq, have you tried that before? I also take abilify, it is a mood stabilizer. It has worked wonders for me.

I hope that you feel better soon. As was posted above, we are here to help you the best that we can.

Hugs, Karen....
Posted 8/27/2013 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Karen,
I've tried both Pristiq & Abilify. I generally get side effects, most I can easily handle. Might sound crazy but the Abilify made me compulsively spend money and buy things I didn't need. So here are the meds I'm currently taking, it's an embarrassing long list. Parnate, Lamictal, Nortriptyline, Lithium, Trazodone and Clonazepam.
My doc & I both hate that I'm taking soooo many meds and we've discussed tapering off everything slowly and starting over. I see him tomorrow.
Thanks for the hugs, and hugs right back to you!
Brigid
Posted 8/27/2013 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
If the abilify didn't work, I wonder if risperdol would work. That is strange t made you compulsively spend. I don't know if risperdol would do that or not. I took it before I took abilify.

Wow, You are on a lot of meds. I see lamictal, is that a mood stabilizer? If so, no sense in trying risperdol.

A clean start may not be a bad idea. You truly are on a lot of medication, but maybe that is what you need. My husband took trazadone for sleep. It put him in a really good mood. But he has since went to ambien.

I hope you find what is right for you. It takes time. It can get really frustrating. Keep trudging along, you will get there. There is a book that you might like to read called "the new mood therapy" or "feeling good". It is written by Dr. David Burns. It is an older book but very insightful. You might benefit from reading it. It is also very cheap on amazon. I got a used one. I have been refering to it since the 80's.

Also learning meditation is a way we can feel good too. It quiets the mind and relaxes you.

I hope you have a good night. Take care...

Hugs, Karen...
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