Am I suffering from a long time Depression?

[TexasLady]

Ive come a long way all by myself. Im not nearly as 'depressed' as I was in my twenties. BUT...

sometimes my mood is crap. I mean total crap! I always thought my father might have been manic depressive (if thats what its still called) because one minute he was great! and the next bordering on abusive both verbally and physically. weird weird relationship with him.

for me, sometimes i feel really crappy and hopeless. and it lasts and lasts and lasts..and other times i can go for months, exercising, feeling great, being happy. i have NOTHING to be sad about! I am married to a hard working man, have great kids, all healthy and happy, and when Im happy Im reeeally happy..when Im sad, Im the pits to be with. I try to fake it, but it aint workin too good.
I get really anxious about stuff, too. If I start a project, I almost NEVER finish it. DaD is like that too.

This is reeally pissing me off, because I know the potential for being balanced is probably out there. I dont have insurance, but wonder if there's something out there for me. Advice, self help..freakin anything that can help me get the balance I so need!
ps...my hormones arent helping much either. tends to make it worse.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

1. Any chance you can get an appt. with a primary care physician or

a psychiatrist to get evaluated? Your symptoms sound a lot like what I was going through a few years ago, and you can get relief (meds and cognitive therapy are what have helped immensely). It used to get really bad right around my period.

Perhaps you can check into a United Way agency or your city/county/town's social services dept. (ie., health dept.) to see what help you can get. Perhaps you can get treatment on a sliding scale basis (where your ability to pay is based on your income). Good luck! :)

Is this helpful?

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhservices/default.shtm

Mental Health Services

If you are in need of mental health services, please choose one of the following methods, or choose a menu option on the left to learn more about our Mental Health services and supports.


Immediate Assistance
If you or someone you know is a danger to themselves or others, please call 911. Many law enforcement agencies have officers who have been trained to respond to persons who may be experiencing a mental health related crisis.

Search for Your Local Mental Health Authority

To learn more about DSHS community mental health services that are available in your area for adults or children, you can contact your local mental health authority. You will also be able to access the local information and referral line, which is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These are often known as "Crisis Hotlines." To find the proper mental health authority and their telephone number, please choose a search method below:


Search by County


Search by City


(Please enter your City)


Search by Zip Code


(Please enter your 5-digit Zip Code)

[TexasLady]

4. I had never thought of Mental Health Svcs

Iwill check the link!
thanks soo much!

[NMMNG]

2. Hi TexasLady

I'm sorry to hear you're not doing well.

You mentioned; when I'm happy I'm reeeally happy..when I'm sad, I'm the pits to be with. Since you noted that your father might have been manic depressive (now known as Bipolar Disorder) and you mention similar symptoms I'm hypothesizing you may be suffering from the same disorder. Bipolar (like other mental illnesses) tends to run in families.

Symptoms of bipolar include manic episodes or hypomanic episodes interspersed with depressive episodes. A person can also have a mixed state in which symptoms of both depression and mania are experienced. Periods of normal mood state are present as well, though without treatment they are less frequent.

There is a http://psychcentral.com/maniaquiz.htm">Mania Quiz and a Depression Quiz that you can take to get a rough idea if you have signs of either disorder. They don't, however, take the place of a thorough clinical assessment.

Treatment options are numerous and can include individual/group therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, medication(s) and support groups.


Best wishes. :hi:

[TexasLady]

5. thanks for those links

so much. I will check them out.

[shrike]

10. That's interesting

I read the post as fluctuations between "normal" and feeling depressed (see my below post) but her symptoms might also include the mania. Hadn't thought of that . . .

At any rate, TexasLady certainly needs to get evaluated by a physician. I don't know about anyone else on this board, but I find dealing with my psychiatrist (whom I see twice a year for med-checks: I take medication for depression and ADHD) much easier than dealing with my primary care physician. The latter seemed uncomfortable with mental issues (I asked her initially for help) while the former has seen it all and appears comfortably talking about almost anything.

[mrgorth]

3. You might need something

but I don't think you're "depressed". Real depression is pretty incapacitating.

[TexasLady]

6. no i dont feel incapacitated.

i was diagnosed with depersonalization twenty years ago, but never did anything for it.

im gonna go check out these links.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

7. Let us know how you're doing. :)

[mopinko]

8. it can be good to talk,

and get help with making your life what you want it to be. you don't need to be bi-polar or sick to do that.
and i think that we are all suffering from a certain amount of reality based depression, if we are in touch with it.
good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[shrike]

9. You sound like me

Or who I used to be.

The worst part of chronic depression is that it's impossible to snap out of it -- and that's what everyone tells you to do!

I certainly can't diagnose you, but it sounds to me like you have dysthymia, which is chronic depression. Nothing to be ashamed of; it's a quirk in your body chemistry. Or your brain.

The earlier suggestions to see a primary care physician or mental health services are good ones. I myself take an antidepressant (20 mg), and have for years. Which doesn't mean that you have to do the same. Many people are helped by talk therapy while others swear by natural supplements -- the key is to find what is the best fit for you. Good luck. Things can change and they will.