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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    I am feeling horrible, really depressed and don't know what to do next?

    Related Topics
    Depression Mental Health
    I have been to see my doctor who has prescribed anti-depressents and I have been on them for 2 weeks now! I don't feel any different except that I get a full nights sleep with them making me sleep!
    I don't know what I should do now! Everything in life seems wrong…. I just can't shake this feeling! I have 2 kids and I'm just not coping with day to day life. My husband is great also! SO WHY AM I FEELING LIKE THIS????
    answer this question

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  • 6

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    Muzzabun

    HealthShare Member

    You are not alone with your feeling. Most of the time things don't make sense to me either. I saw my local gp and she prescribed me with many different antidepressants which none of them seem to work. Eventually it got so bad I tried to take my own life. The only thing that stopped me was the thought of hurting my dad. (lost my mum 1&1/2years ago). I see a psyciatrist now and what he prescribes me is totally different and stronger to what my gp prescribed. No waiting period from one drug to another and it was such a relief to here someone say I understand and mean it. I am doing ok now but it will be a long road. It is good you have support of your family but find someone that knows for a fact on how you feel. I believe you should go back to your gp and see if they can recommend you see a psyciatrist. Your not crazy just confused why you feel this way. Never feel ashamed that you have a problem. Your brain, in short, is just firing the wrong signals and they need to be corrected. I hope this might help.
    yours sincerely
    john murray

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    Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

    Health Professional

    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    Often anti-depressants can take a while to kick in fully (weeks to months).

    Also, matching the “right” anti-depressant to the “right” person is not always easy. That was certainly my experience - the one that I was on first was, for me, worse than useless (bad suicidal ideation) while what I am on now is, for me, great.

    I think that the idea of asking your GP to give you a referral to a psychiatrist is a good one.

    Also, I suggest that you ask him/her to refer to a clinical psychologist. Often a combination of anti-depressants and talk therapy (which a clinical psychologist can provide) is more beneficial than either is in isolation.

    I hope that things improve for you soon.

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    Vivienne Colegrove

    Counsellor

    I have been working in Eltham, Melbourne as a relationship and family counsellor for over twelve years. I draw on current theory and research about … View Profile

    It sounds like you are really beating yourself up for not being able to cope! While you go through the process of finding the medication that is right for you (with the guidance of a psychiatrist or your GP) and finding the right psychologist or counsellor to talk to, (as Simon has mentioned above, the combination of medication and ‘talk therapy’ is what has been proven to be most helpful) I encourage you to be gentle with yourself and have compassion toward your inability to feel happy and cope better with your situation at the moment. You might try some  encouraging self-talk such as “I'm doing everything I can to get help” and “things will get better as I continue to seek out the right treatment and support to help me”

    All the best!

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    Amrina Panda

    HealthShare Member

    Probably you may not have been aware about the complete health effects of stress including:

    Spotted skin

    Stress has a tendency to change your complexion. Research shows that stress can damages skin conditions such as psoriasis and chances of getting acne”- states Rosemary Nixon, a famous spokesmen from Australasian College of Dermatologists. Other skin conditions such as eczema get even worse with stress.

    Memory issues

    Stress deteriorates the life of brain cells which control memory and logical functioning including judgment, emotional regulation and better reasoning- states Hassed.

    Also stress changes the wiring of your brain so that the areas which stores fear and stress actually develop, which implies you will be then more likely to respond with greater stress levels to very small triggers.

    An increasing waistline

    Women of ideal weight reported that high stress levels are increasing cortisol and deposition of more fat in abdominal area- as revealed in a research conducted by Yale University. The cortisol effects glucose levels in blood and leads to insulin resistance thus accelerating fat cells, specifically around belly area triggering   a ‘muffin top’ or central adiposity speaks Mitchell. This high fat deposition tends to increase the chances for type 2 diabetes.

    Positively, research shows that when stress is eased by practices such as mindfulness- in few weeks or months, your brain comes back to its healthy condition.

    So if you are already undergoing stress, try to overcome it using natural ways. Working out daily or meditation helps you to some extent.

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  • Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

    Health Professional

    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    Generally I agree with the points that Amrina has made - certainly eating in a healthy way is a good idea.

    However, with respect, I disagree with content of the links that s/he provided - they seem to be mainly ads for evidence-free alt/comp med products.

    If you would like advice from an evidence-based health professional about healthy eating then talking with an Accredited Practising Dietitian would be a good idea.

    You can find an APD here:     http://daa.asn.au/for-the-public/find-an-apd/

    All the best.

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  • Dr Zhuang Miao

    Psychiatrist

    Dr Zhuang Miao is a general adult psychiatrist and a Fellow of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Dr Miao works as … View Profile

    I am sorry to hear that you are feeling so "horrible".

    Antidepressants normally take 2-3 weeks to start working. Hopefully you are feeling better by now. Otherwise, the dosage of the medication may need to be reviewed.

    Hope you are get over this depressive episode soon!

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