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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    I need help with understanding... how to see an end to my depression?

    Related Topics
    Anxiety Depression Mental Health
    I have been treated for depression for the past 7yrs, but go through stages where a new medication needs to be added due to an increase in anxiety, or sweating or shakes etc. But it just seems that the more help I'm getting the worse I am feeling. I no longer feel that my medication is working, yet when I spoke to my Dr he said that it has helped me up until recently so doesn't believe my core anti-depressant medication should be changed. But I have 1 or 2 days where I feel ok, but then have days of feeling very down, and I am unable to even get out of bed and go to work. I feel that no body cares, I'm just a pain to them, plus so many other feelings associated with depression are getting worse and worse. I am scared that I am going to lose everyone who cares about me, because they are tired of trying to make me feel ok, on the days I'm so bad that I do go to them. I don't want to feel the way I do now, the rest of my life, but I honestly don't see an natural end.
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    Anonymous

    I can understand exactly where you are coming from. I have depressed for about 15 years….. Its been on and off and at times I am severly bad and dont see how things could improve. Iv basically lost everyones respect, lost all my friends and all of my confidence. My doctor now might be sending me away for a treatment (month away or so….) so then its all about me with professionals. I just hope it will help.

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  • Therese Sheedy

    Psychologist

    Therese Sheedy is a registered psychologist and Director of Exploring Mindful Moements previously known as Future Directions: Counselling, Consultancy and Training in Melbourne. Therese brings … View Profile

    This is a situation that many of my clients tell me about.  It seems that the depression has taken on a life of its own and it then becomes the ‘enemy’ so to speak.  It sounds like all your energy is going towards getting away from depression and in turn you find yourself stuck in it.
    My experience is that medication rarely works on its own.  I would advise you get a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP with a referral to a psychologist.  They will then, together, monitor your medication and hopefully eventually enable you to cease medication all together.
    With your psychologist you can start to identify what triggers your mind into depression and then some strategies to help manage them.  I find that when I work with people who struggle with depression they discover that their thoughts tend to focus on past events - who did what to them, or who didn't do something, something they did they wish they hadn't etc etc.  This focus keeps those past events in the forefront of the mind as if they are happening still.  Becoming present with some Mindfulness exercises and strategies help people get out of their heads and into the now.  Noticing the simple things that are present that bring us joy, satisfaction and connection to others is vital in maintaining good mental health.  Start up a gratitude diary where every day you notice at least one or two things to be grateful for in your life.  They don't have to be big, but noticing them helps your mind to start to look for things is the present.
    Retraining the mind to notice thoughts and feelings and not to get hooked into them is a skill that needs developing.  Your psychologist can help you with this. 
    Motivation is always an issue, the best thing is to activate the behaviour even when you can't be bothered.  So what that means is even when you don't feel like it, push yourself out of bed, have a shower and get dressed for the day.  Even if you don't intend on going anywhere, the shower and dressing sends a message to the brain that you are worth caring about. It refreshes you and starts your mind thinking that it has to be active in this day, the one you have in front of you, regardless of what yesterday was like.  If you can, get out for a short walk and notice the neighbourhood.  Rather than just wandering around thinking about things, notice what's going on around you, sounds, smells etc.  You don't need to judge them as like or dislike, they are just there.
    Unfortunately sadness, frustration, disappointment, anger etc are all part of being human just like joy, calmness, satisfaction, confidence. While we don't like the negative feelings, if we concentrate too much on trying to get rid of them or avoiding them they just suck us straight back down and we forget to notice the others.  Acceptance is another key to good mental health.  I hope this helps.

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