What caused you to get diagnosed with depression, and did it help?
By DCLehnsherr
@DCLehnsherr (1037)
August 24, 2009 10:11am CST
This was another question I wasn't entirely sure how to ask.
What I mean is: what was the point which pushed you over the edge and made you want to get a formal diagnosis of depression? And since you had that diagnosis have the help/drugs you got helped you when battling with the condition in any way?
I don't have a formal diagnosis of depression but it runs in the family and has been mentioned in the context of me - I had a professional fill in a form for me once and she wrote on it that I had depression, but that was the first time I heard about that and I don't know whether to believe her or not! - To the best of my knowledge though there isn't anything on my medical records which say that I am actually depressed.
But since then there have been times when I have wondered about trying to get a formal diagnosis, perhaps to get access to help in order to deal with things when they get really hard, but I tend to hold myself back unsure how to do it and whether it would be worth it in the long run. That and since it may have been missed a first time I wonder if it is worth going after it a second time!
So I was wondering, how did you get diagnosed with depression, and what caused you to seek out that diagnosis, if you sought it out, and has it changed your life having that diagnosis?
Many thanks for your help and responses,
Dranz
3 people like this
4 responses
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
13 Oct 09
I had my first depression in 1998, but at that time I didn't know what it was. I didn't get any help or treatment, I simply tried to hide my problems and handle the situation on my own. It was hard, but I got through it. In 2005 I had another depression, but this time it was more severe, and I asked my doctor for help. He was sure that I had a depression, so he put me on antidepressants and encouraged me to spend some time at a psychiatric hospital. I decided to take his advice and a few month later I was admitted to the psychiatric hospital in my town. I am very happy that I made that decision, because it really helped me.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
15 Oct 09
I was very lucky, because the psychiatric hospital in my town is a really good place. The staff is very caring and friendly, and my therapist was very good. He was very calm, and when I was anxious or feeling bad, he made me feel calm, too. Sitting next to him was enough to calm me down, and I never thought that another person could have that kind of effect on me. The conversations that we had helped me a lot. My treatment consisted of time with my therapist (alone) and group sessions. I also spent some time in a wood workshop and some time in a health group where we learned about healthy food, exercise etc.
1 person likes this
@DCLehnsherr (1037)
•
14 Oct 09
Hi Porcospino,
Wow, what was it like inside the psychiatric hospital? The closest I have ever come to one was the outpatients ward for consultations, never on to the main wings though. Do they give you lots of intensive therapy there? You don't have to answer if you don't want, I am curious about experiences I haven't had so tend to ask about them 
I am so glad to hear that it helped you cope, and I was impressed to hear you came through your first depression by yourself as well. That must have taken a lot of grit and determination. I wish you all the best making a full recovery and I hope that the treatment and the medication will help stave off any relapses 
Man, many thanks for sharing,
Dranz 
I am so glad to hear that it helped you cope, and I was impressed to hear you came through your first depression by yourself as well. That must have taken a lot of grit and determination. I wish you all the best making a full recovery and I hope that the treatment and the medication will help stave off any relapses
Man, many thanks for sharing,
Dranz 2 people like this
@emilie2300 (1882)
• United States
24 Aug 09
Well for me it started when I was about 12 years old. I was diagnosed and found out I had deppression along with Borderline personality disorder.
I was in a Psyciatric hospital at the age 12 and again at the age of 15.
I was going through counciling and family therapy. I was eventually put on meds but when I got pregnant I had to come off of them.
But later on while still going to counsling I got back on meds and a new one came out they wanted to put me on so I did and ever since then I have been on the Effexor XR 300 mg I started out with the 75mg dose but it gradually needed to be increased.
I still continue to go to therapy and see my pshyciatrist.
I belive if you find the right pshyciatrist things will be good if they recomend meds take them I been on these for as long as Effexor has been on the market in the US.
I am 32yrs old now. I still suffer but it is not at bad. I do depend on my meds because I know if I am without them I will not be able to cope. That's just me and how I feel because of the depression along with the borderline personality disorder. and I know my body and the things I have been through and been off of the meds before when I couldnt afford them.
Good Luck to you hope this information helps... Take care..
2 people like this
@DCLehnsherr (1037)
•
25 Aug 09
Wow I think you are amazing to have gone through all that and come out of the other end, even if you rely on meds. Being admitted to a psychiatric hospital sounds really worrying, especially at such a young age. I am glad to hear that the medication works so well for you. one of the fears I do have of it is becoming dependant. I have been on medication before (though it was an anti-psychotic for anxiety rather than depression I think) and I started to use it at increased dosages when I got stressed because they would put me to sleep. In the end I asked to be taken off them after the last prescription ran out because I don't think I was quite mature enough to handle them. At times though I still find myself wishing I had something to take the edge of things, but I don't know if that is the right way to view medication or not and so have always resisted going to the doctor to ask for something else. Oh well...
Well done though for getting through everything, good luck for the future, and thank you so much for sharing your experiences :)
Dranz
1 person likes this
@emilie2300 (1882)
• United States
26 Aug 09
Thank you very much. Maybe you can try a low dose of something just to take the edge off every now and then that will not become addicting.
Atavan is addicting. Good luck to you.
1 person likes this
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
25 Aug 09
I was diagnosed kind of by accident. I never really went to the doctor for that. I was actually pregnant with my daughter, it was a stressful and very hard time on my life. I had a lot going on, and I found myself in tears for no apparent reason a lot. I went to the doctor for my ob check-up. The doctor walked in the door and asked me, quite simply, "How are you today?" I burst into tears! I was diagnosed then and asked if I felt that medication would help. I refused to take anything while I was pregnant, but agreed to try after she was born. Now, I still have my times, and I am supposed to take medication, but I forget sometimes when I am feeling good. I then find myself falling back into my personal black hole and have to force myself to take my medicine for a while. For me, ikt feels like an endless cycle. My doctor says that it is that way because I do forget to take my medicine when I feel better, and I am sure that he is right. I can't say that the diagnosis has changed my life in any way, aside from being written down on paper that I am clinically depressed. It is still a fight for me at times, the only difference is that I can personally understand it better myself.
2 people like this
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
6 Jan 10
I had a bad panick disorder and always rushed to the emergency room.Then they always told me nothing was wrong with me.I went to a phychiatrist,I was diagnosed with clinical depression and panick disorder.I had problems going out in public because of it.When I'm on meds I feel better.I'm off meds now and have the same problems.I have a long wait for an appointment to see a doctor.I have an appointment for April.I don't know why they make me wait so long.
@DCLehnsherr (1037)
•
6 Jan 10
Hi Java ~ Hugs ~
That is insane the amount of time you have to wait, especially without your meds. I am on medication at the moment as well and I can't imagine being without them because they have had such a huge effect on me. Is there anyway you can get them to see you earlier than that? I mean yikes ~ Hugs ~ I have been lucky to never get panic attacks, but I know someone who has and it sounds horrible. She is on a lot of meds to manage it and I think they help, but yea, it is scary really so I really hope you can get the meds back.
All the best and many thanks for the response and the friend request too
Dranz
Dranz1 person likes this
