Jan 31 2009
How To Tell When Depression Is Setting In?
I am honest with myself and others about the fact that I suffer from depression and PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder). (For more information on this topic check out this site http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/pms-and-pmdd/?gclid=COzm0JXNuZgCFQHHGgodEUfpag) At times I feel the depression weighing me down like a ton of bricks on my shoulders much worse than other times. I am not on medication for either of these issues currently - Mostly because I am sick of being a guinea pig and trying all kinds of new medications only to have them make me feel worse instead of better. I had gone that route for about a year straight at one point and the result was that I found a lot of medications that almost killed me. So, for now at least, I just deal with it and try to be cognitive of when the weight is beginning to press down and try to keep myself from falling down into the black abyss.
Some signs for me that I am falling down into the black abyss are
- I either start sleeping more or start sleeping less - a change in sleep habits.
- I stop caring about showering or taking care of myself in the most basic ways.
- I cry a lot and about almost anything or I get angry a lot and about almost anything.
- I become unpredictable in almost every aspect of my life.
- I pretty much refuse to leave the house for any reason what so ever.
Needless to say after writing this I realize that I am not just on the edge of the black abyss looking down into it - I have fallen in and am looking back up from the bottom. So, off to exercise and shower then hopefully get some of the things done around the house that I have let slide. Hopefully this will help me to begin the process of climbing back up out of the black abyss.
Been there several times myself. Walking, working out, getting out of the house and getting into the sunlight has always helped me. Once I feel it coming on, I try to head it off at the pass.
I might have gone through something similar.
I find that making sure I get balanced meals helps. Otherwise, I get into nasty cycles; being in a mood crash ruins my appetite, not getting anything to eat makes the mood even worse, which ruins the appetite, which…. you get the idea.
We’ve been living with my daughter’s PMDD ever since her very first period when she turned 11 - that’s 8 years now. It took me years of arguing with health care providers who wanted to diagnose her as bipolar - and one who kept telling me that her affect was very close to sociopathic - before I finally found a doctor who listened to me and prescribed a variable dose progesterone pill. She periodically decides that she can’t stand having to take a pill every day and stops taking it, and we go through months of watching her work hard most of the month at a job or a project or a relationship - only to throw it away completely during the four or so days a month that she’s completely unbalanced. It’s heartbreaking - but I keep hoping that she’ll eventually realize this won’t go away by itself. I wish you luck pulling yourself up again - and hope you have people in your life who love you enough to work through it all with you.
That is great that you are able to recognize the depression, AND take steps to come out of it. I’ve been there, too, but I’ve never tried medication. I know that there are situations where the right medication is needed to help people recover, but it has too be better to make lifestyle changes. Hope you feel better soon!
I’m right there with you. I’ve been on anti depressants for the better part of 30 years. Some people just have an imbalance and must continue to take them all their lives. I have tried to go without taking meds, but after a few months, my husband and kids beg me to go back on them. I become so down and angry that I am unbearable to those around me an to myself. Hang on hon, you are not alone.
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