Depression and what you can do to help yourself

This is a really intense issue for me as I had dealt with mental illness and suicidal thoughts for 12 years and I don't take it lightly anymore after experiencing the long term effects of anti depressants over this time. The best thing I ever did was get off the 'depressants' in my life like alcohol that caused my brain chemistry to hit an all time low. I wish people would understand anti depressants properly. Anti depressants are STILL an unknown drug. Unknown of how it will effect different people, how it will create more issues than you ever had before, how it leaves a long lasting effect after use. These kind of pharmaceuticals are not FIXING anything, if anything they are CAUSING more issues by covering up the problem. Once upon a time I thought these were going to help more than anything, but I was blind to the facts that it is too much of an UNKNOWN ideal to just be giving them out to anyone who states to a GP they are 'depressed'. The first anti depressant I was given was Zoloft.. I felt worse than I ever have, those were dark days, I cried for a week straight, not even knowing why. I had to 'try a few' to see what effects they'd take, in the meantime I was afraid of what I'd do to myself. Does this sound okay to you? To trial these medications, in case one works, however you MAY kill yourself in the meantime? Going off and on these medications can only equal the worst possible scenario.

There are so many OTHER alternatives, and I know some would scoff at it, but cutting down/going off ALCOHOL, cutting down/going off other prescription drugs, eating healthier, drinking less caffeine/sugar/energy drinks, dealing with past/present/future issues/thoughts that may cause worry and stress. Remember, you are depressed because you have an inability to deal with problems and internalise them, it is not your fault, it is usually a product of our childhood with a lack of communication, but you CAN do something about it. The most IMPORTANT thing to remember is, YOU are not MEANT to be happy ALL the time! We all have our ups and downs, it's how we deal with the downs that makes the difference. Yes depression isn't just 'being down' but there are things you can do so you don't get down there again. Trust me, I've been there and I changed my life, trusting in myself, loving myself and stopping the denial and justifications that make living in that world okay. Anti depressants are NOT the answer, even if they create an OK time at the start....you will STILL NOT deal with the issues, you will STILL have long lasting effects and they will not make everything better and your depression go away, short term effect is not what is effective.

I still to this day have no idea how these doctors even diagnose anything. To psychologists, I have manic depression, ADD, Anxiety disorder and have experienced temporary agoraphobia. Right now? I'd say the only thing I'd moderately agree with is I might still be a little hypo that I can't control at times with the ADD. I do have anxiety sometimes, but I breathe myself back and help myself, instead of dooming myself further.

If Kane went with his diagnosis's he has had from psychologists, he'd have Schizophrenia, OCD, Bipolar disorder, Stress related psychosis and Autism. It seems as soon as you mention you may have some of the symptoms of these disorders, straight away that's it, that's who you are. YOU BECOME THE DISORDER.

NO doubt some people do experience chemical imbalances and do have certain disorders and do need medications to survive, however even from spending time with those kinds of people, I do believe that from better care taken of self - including what they eat, how they treat themselves, routine and sleeping patterns, they can live without medication, I've seen it happen. What are these pharmaceuticals doing? They are creating YOU as the problem with NO solution. Take this pill it will make you better. IT DOESN'T. When I was dissociating, the only thing that made me better was being true to myself, dealing with the issues that plagued, once deconstructed seemed so trivial, but had effected me for 12-15 years. That's a long time to hate yourself. I finally had relief, because I began to love myself and take care of myself. I saw myself as important and necessary to be here.

I wouldn't even bother writing this if I hadn't been through it so many times in my life. But I am proof you CAN get through to the other side and depression DOESN'T have to take your life over forever. I also know what it's like to live in severe denial where you can't see any other way but living in that deep dark hole. It doesn't have to be forever. It just doesn't!

No-one can help you with your mental illness/mental health more than yourself. Your communication with others and your communication with yourself. Love yourself, treat yourself better than you'd treat anyone, because in the end everyone is here for a reason.

Discuss.