Situational Depression,Clinical Depression?

I fired my pdoc b/c she didn't take my depression seriously. My life is a train wreck and most people in my "situation" would have a breakdown. I have experienced 4 of the top 5 psychological stressors all at the same time. She says my depression is "situational" and I believe that when my situation improves I will feel a lot better. However, my depression was deep, dark and desperate so I don't think it matters. Just make sure that you are treating yourself (talk, meds, support, etc) the same as any other depressed person b/c depression left untreated only gets worse.

Hi C'Gal, I have been diagnosised with major depression/unipolar disorder. I am not a medical professional but in my case, what seemed to be depression from my 1st divorce evolved over 10 yrs into full blown major depression....the label seemed to be dependent upon the degree or the extent that depression is disrupting life. When I was admitted to psych facility in October, I learned that unresolved issues keep your "coping skills cup" about 3/4 full. When major stresses occured, I was "starting" with coping skills that were almost "used up". In 2 years, I divorced(#2) my abusive ex, sold my house, moved to a distant city, bought a new house, started new job, and then lost my job in August. (In addition I had repressed childhood mental, physical and sexual abuse.) It was too much for me. I gained 80 lbs in less than a year and had totally isolated myself from the outside world at the time of my hospitalization. All that to say, I have had been in therapy after my first eposode of depression, I would have learned to better coping skills. I believe that depression can be taken too lightly and the results can be devastating. I hope this makes sense. Sending you a hug! Levonne

Anytime...Just hope I can be of help. Hang tough Girlfriend! Please let me know if I can do anything to help. If you need to talk, I am always here.........

hi Levonne,

i would love to know more about this ``coping skills cup'' idea... a number of really horrid things happened all before the age of 18 and I never got counseling until I was about 28... I have been described by one counselor as probably depressed most of my life. I am 44 now.

My current counselor insists I still haven't dealt with a couple of the major bad things. In 2006, I got pretty stressed out about some things at work and in my family and I went back into an anxiety and depression mode. I got back on meds and into counseling and I'm doing a lot better.

 

sometimes I feel just fine and since nothing really bad is actually going on (like unemployment), things are cool, though dreadfully dull since I can't manage to go out into the world very much. But then like if I miss a dose or I get shortchanged on sleep, I just feel really depressed again, and I hate how this stupid voice in my head sounds. I sound like such an a--hole when I start feeling down and get to complaining.

 

It's weird how I can drop off the deep end so quickly...

good night... I am going to catch up on my sleep and hope I feel more regulated in the morning.

my tip of the day: I know it sounds really trite, but you have to believe that tomorrow will be better. Even when I had my worst depressions and felt like doing myself in (I never tried to), things really were better the next day.

MK, Daisy's mom