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depression: first step towards help?
- Thread starter xcental34x
- Start date
u should be able to get Unemployment even if u worked part-time, they may try to fight it, but u can fight back, and it is usually easier for u to win then an employer
bassksun said:
Thank you for the advice. I will definetely be making some phone calls in the morning.
Just want to say how impressed I am by everyone's reaching out to help. There's a lot of caring people on TB.
Proud to share this space with you guys.
Proud to share this space with you guys.
xcental34x said:
You are admitting your issues on a public forum. Go ahead and make the phone call.
morf said:
I don't know... I guess that depends on how bad your situation is. And that can be hard to judge if you feel you're depressive.
I'm sure I couldn't have managed my situation on my own.
I did try, though, because I've always felt I need to get by on my own and was more ready to help others than to accept help from others. This surely stems from me being a haemophiliac (sp?; i.e. no blood clotting), so I've always been dependent on medication and didn't want to feel/be dependent on anything/anyone else.
Today I have to say that, while I'm not sure I'm 100% OK (so I'm probably not), I don't want to imagine where I would be if I hadn't had professional help. And everytime I compare my situation then and today I'm glad to have taken that step.
That said, I firmly believe that seeking help has been the best thing I've ever done for myself.
xcental34x: I think you should take that big step and make the phone call. They can at least point you to the right professional. But if you feel you absolutely can't do that don't get frustrated: seek someone you can talk to in person.
I hope you find someone who can help you. Seeking professional help is the best thing you could do. Best of luck to you.
And +1 to what bmc said.
xcental34x said:
Dude! You're taking the first step, right now. Recognizing that it sucks, & you're not satisfied. You just gotta be willing to seriously look at things, & be willing to change.
Xcentral, like it was said earlier up this thread, lots of people on this board have struggled with depression. Reading your comments, I would tell you that you really need to find someone you can open up to who can listen. It will lighten your own mental load to "unload" on someone else, whether it's a counselor or a trusted friend. Hopefully you can find both.
I also can't recommend enough the importance of regular hard exercise.
Good luck to you.
I also can't recommend enough the importance of regular hard exercise.
Good luck to you.
First know that you will not feel like this forever, although it may feel that way. And you are not the only one who has felt this way. Hey Displaced, you have haemophilia? ME TOO! I didn't think someone else on TB would have it. I had never met anyone else that did, though mines not too severe. My ex had Crowes disease, something I had never heard of when I met her, but then I met another person a week later that had it as well. Remember you are not alone, its important.
Now next, I'm not psychologist, socialogist or therapist, but I have helped many people before, just by listening. I tend to believe that protecting yourself can (and usually is) a bad thing. You don't want to keep all that junk balled up inside of you. And being that you are a bassist you probably want to express yourself. Talking is free, adventerous, fun, dynamic way of doing that. Posting here is a good first step, but theres people trained in this matter specifically. As people have already said, this is what you need to do.
Remember also, its ok to be excentric. Not only is it ok, its fun. If you find it fun to dress up as a clown and cook pancakes on the beach, knock yourself out... its a free country. (remember you don't have to pay to onto beaches as well). You'll probably just find others who want pancakes as well, and have an affinity for the circus. Who knows, you just have to go out there and do it. The first step is always the hardest, and do not harbor these things inside. Thats the important part.
Now next, I'm not psychologist, socialogist or therapist, but I have helped many people before, just by listening. I tend to believe that protecting yourself can (and usually is) a bad thing. You don't want to keep all that junk balled up inside of you. And being that you are a bassist you probably want to express yourself. Talking is free, adventerous, fun, dynamic way of doing that. Posting here is a good first step, but theres people trained in this matter specifically. As people have already said, this is what you need to do.
Remember also, its ok to be excentric. Not only is it ok, its fun. If you find it fun to dress up as a clown and cook pancakes on the beach, knock yourself out... its a free country. (remember you don't have to pay to onto beaches as well). You'll probably just find others who want pancakes as well, and have an affinity for the circus. Who knows, you just have to go out there and do it. The first step is always the hardest, and do not harbor these things inside. Thats the important part.
Max said:
Agreed on all parts. The first step is finding someone who can listen.
This is a generalization, but in my experience, psychiatrists are very quick to try to fix depression with medication. Don't get me wrong, I realize meds have helped many, many people get through it. But I was disappointed to hear 3 different psychiatrists do a 20 minute Q&A session and then start talking prescriptions.
The best person I ever talked to was a psychologist. No drugs. Just a person who cares and who listens.
Also agree that consistant, strenuous excercise goes a long way - having a routine helps keep your mind off of the negative. This is coming from an avowed couch potato.
Good luck.
the only way to get better is to open up and let someone know how you feel. By bottling up all your feelings you are building up negative thoughts that keep perpetuating the feelings you have. Seek some help. The community metal health centers, hospital, thing that munji listed, etc. are there to assist you. They will all provide the utmost confidentiality. Start the road to recovery and talk to someone about your problem.
I'm kinda with Munji on this. Tough love.Munjibunga said:
You've asked for advice and been given it (including two good posts by Munji himself before this one). Then you start finding reasons why that won't work for you. "I'd be nervous about phoning a number." Hey, no-one said it would be an easy thing to do!! But nobody on here can make your problems go away (no matter how long you wait for your life to improve) except yourself. You've been given some ideas, now you need to show yourself that you're willing to take some action on your own part, and no amount of sympathy from others is going to help by removing the need for you to do that.
Sincerely, I wish you the best of luck in shaping up to this.
Hi,
Consider checking the United Way. Many have counselors on
staff that work with sliding fees. I know having went this
route myself four years ago.
Depression is a beast that can be overcome. Trust me on this.
Hang in there friend as we're here for ya.
Cheers,
Douglas
Consider checking the United Way. Many have counselors on
staff that work with sliding fees. I know having went this
route myself four years ago.
Depression is a beast that can be overcome. Trust me on this.
Hang in there friend as we're here for ya.
Cheers,
Douglas
If you are having thoughts of ending your life, go to a hospital right now.
Don't have much to add to this thread; there's already some good advice. I've had better luck with a therapist/social worker than I have with a physician and psychiatrist...partly because the doctors prescribed stuff that had bad side effects (for me) and made some things worse. But I have friends and relatives who've benefitted from medication.
It's worth echoing - stay away from alcohol and other non-prescribed drugs. My wife is an inpatient psychiatric social worker at a hospital and she's seen some pretty horrible stuff when mental illness and drugs come together.
I could point you to books, but I think speaking to someone is your best course of action...It's helpful just to get everything out and think about strategies for when you're feeling down so you're not just holding it in.
Hang in,
Marshall
Don't have much to add to this thread; there's already some good advice. I've had better luck with a therapist/social worker than I have with a physician and psychiatrist...partly because the doctors prescribed stuff that had bad side effects (for me) and made some things worse. But I have friends and relatives who've benefitted from medication.
It's worth echoing - stay away from alcohol and other non-prescribed drugs. My wife is an inpatient psychiatric social worker at a hospital and she's seen some pretty horrible stuff when mental illness and drugs come together.
I could point you to books, but I think speaking to someone is your best course of action...It's helpful just to get everything out and think about strategies for when you're feeling down so you're not just holding it in.
Hang in,
Marshall
I called the number as advised this morning, and I was referred to calling my insurance provider to obtain a list of local counselors. I guess that is the next step for now.
Great that you have insurance. You'll get good help. If you don't "mesh" with the first person you meet, feel free to see someone else. Insurance should allow you to shop around a bit.
M
M
