
Will Going Into The Hospital Help Me After 40 Year...
I was around 20 when I had my first major depression. It has been with me all...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
I was around 20 when I had my first major depression. It has been with me all these years and until almost 50 I did okay or even very well being on the right medications and therapy. Elavil worked until early 40's and Paxil since then. Now I have no doubt that genetics and being extremely sick (105 degree fevers) the first 10 years of life keeps me from never ever recovering from Depression. In 2005 I lost a 28 year job I loved and defined me to this horrible disease. I never worked after that, sold my house I turned into one of the nicest in the neighborhood, and now in a very little house nearby. In late 2009 I was also diagnosed with FMS and that was the end of my creativity. In 2010 my depression was labeled treatment resistant. I have been on every medicine there is and have had ECT which didn't work.
I don't think there is a psychiatrist better then the one I got. About 6 months ago I decided to try a 2nd psychiatrist and several other meds but none helped. So I stayed with my 1st psychiatrist and he and my CBT have been working for 2 years now to help me learn to live with my ever deteriorating condition. Thank God for him securing me disability because I don't know how I would survive.
There are no good days or even a few hours. The pain, extreme anxiety that makes me feel like I will explode, inability to do even monor tasks (I could for many years go from 5am to midnight multitasking while still dealing with depression when the meds worked), no interest in anything but I force myself to the healthclub, sweating from just trying to move, so I don't break down completely. I crash about 30 minutes later. I don't think of hurting myself but I do understand why anyone would want to end this. I have very little support but now there seems to be some people who are trying to understand.
People tell me I look good and i have fooled many for years. I feel like I am in jail in my own body and no where to turn.
I really don't want to try another psychiatrist and after all these years of treatment what could going into the hospital do. I am not catatonic, suicidal or wishing to hurt anyone else so I may not even qualify to be admitted.
Some people now, as in my meetings and CBT's office have seen me totally break down which I never do. It feels better then getting angry.
Does anyone here think that going into inpatient treatment, where I start fresh with new doctors and meds, will help?
I will be 60 in a few months.
Any advice will be appreciated.View Thread
Posted byHaveToLearnToAccept
I don't think there is a psychiatrist better then the one I got. About 6 months ago I decided to try a 2nd psychiatrist and several other meds but none helped. So I stayed with my 1st psychiatrist and he and my CBT have been working for 2 years now to help me learn to live with my ever deteriorating condition. Thank God for him securing me disability because I don't know how I would survive.
There are no good days or even a few hours. The pain, extreme anxiety that makes me feel like I will explode, inability to do even monor tasks (I could for many years go from 5am to midnight multitasking while still dealing with depression when the meds worked), no interest in anything but I force myself to the healthclub, sweating from just trying to move, so I don't break down completely. I crash about 30 minutes later. I don't think of hurting myself but I do understand why anyone would want to end this. I have very little support but now there seems to be some people who are trying to understand.
People tell me I look good and i have fooled many for years. I feel like I am in jail in my own body and no where to turn.
I really don't want to try another psychiatrist and after all these years of treatment what could going into the hospital do. I am not catatonic, suicidal or wishing to hurt anyone else so I may not even qualify to be admitted.
Some people now, as in my meetings and CBT's office have seen me totally break down which I never do. It feels better then getting angry.
Does anyone here think that going into inpatient treatment, where I start fresh with new doctors and meds, will help?
I will be 60 in a few months.
Any advice will be appreciated.View Thread
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Reply: What do you wish the world knew about depression?
I hope I am not out of place saying what I am going to say. Let me first say...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
I hope I am not out of place saying what I am going to say. Let me first say that people with great faith in God have a leg-up on those that don't.
You didn't mention anything about any early triggers or trauma that precipitated your depression. So I would guess, like most of us, it was mostly genetic.
You seemed to suffer so much and I would guess that you had a good therapist and doctor to prescribe medications that gave you some relief but, also like most of us, you always struggled.
So my question is did it ever cross your mind that either the cancer or the treatments reversed the chemical imbalances that were at the root of your depression.
I pray I have not insulted you or your faith in any way.View Thread
Posted byHaveToLearnToAccept
You didn't mention anything about any early triggers or trauma that precipitated your depression. So I would guess, like most of us, it was mostly genetic.
You seemed to suffer so much and I would guess that you had a good therapist and doctor to prescribe medications that gave you some relief but, also like most of us, you always struggled.
So my question is did it ever cross your mind that either the cancer or the treatments reversed the chemical imbalances that were at the root of your depression.
I pray I have not insulted you or your faith in any way.View Thread
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Reply: SOOO TIRED!!!!!
Obviously you are severely depressed but I want to point out that people like...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
Obviously you are severely depressed but I want to point out that people like us may dwell on past troubles, problems and heart ache but try too understand that they did not cause your depression. Depression is a disease, a medical condition, and has its root in biology. I have been on every med there is and for many years, prior to 50 back to 20, they really helped. Now I am "treatment resistant" and it is absolute torture at times. My old "me" is gone but I know it is not me or anything I have done wrong. I still pray for something to help my "biological" disease. I have done my homework over the years and have the best doctors. We have been working on "acceptance" and how to have some type of existance even though I am really sruggling now. Just remember - you didn't do this to yourself. Please don't punish yourself.View Thread
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Has anyone improved their depression by quitting s...
This is just a simple straight-forward question directed at people who found...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
This is just a simple straight-forward question directed at people who found quitting smoking helped relieve their depression to some degree. I will leave out my long struggle with depression. Besides - I am not thinking very well right now and hard to write.
I was a bit of a health and exercise nut in my mid-late teens. I was also very sick as a child for the first 10 years. Maybe all the exercise was my way of trying to never return to those early years. In my early 20's I went to a nutritionist because of what I thought was fatigue. That and other earlier signs would have me believe I was probably depressed during that time. There were certainly some clear and unusual stressors back then. But at 22 my anxiety had me believe that going into the navy was what I needed. I did well in boot camp but by week 6 or 7 I was having trouble functioning and eventually sent home (with an Honorable Discharge). I was absolutely devastated and severely depressed. I got help but kept to myself. Everyone was getting married or having children and I was seriously broken not knowing what happened. With help I was able to start college for my A.A.S degree. I took a full load of credits in the day and in the evening worked. I would stay up late, in my fathers work room that I fixed up, to do my school work. After all th years of watching my friends drink, smoke, and hangout I thought how discusting smoking was. But I started drinking coffee and smoking. I later found out the cigarettes were acting as an MAO (anti-depressant). I am now going to be 60 and have had MDD, and now Fibro, for some time. I am also on disability because of these illnesses. After being on every med there is for almost 40 years I am now classified as "treatment resistant" by my psychiatrist who is about the best there is. It took close to a year but I finally tried another psychiatrist and several other meds made no difference. I do force myself to go to a healthclub and exercise but it drains the little energy I have. My doctors have long known about the cigarettes (1 pack a day) but stopped pushing me to quit a while ago because physically I was tested okay and they knew my struggles with depression.
LIJ hospital by me has one of the best stop-smoking programs around and I had been to their meetings several times. As the literature states it is very hard for people with my conditions to quit.
So does anyone have any REAL EXPERIENCE with improving their depression by quitting cigarettes? I am aware of all the other reasons to quit.View Thread
Posted byHaveToLearnToAccept
I was a bit of a health and exercise nut in my mid-late teens. I was also very sick as a child for the first 10 years. Maybe all the exercise was my way of trying to never return to those early years. In my early 20's I went to a nutritionist because of what I thought was fatigue. That and other earlier signs would have me believe I was probably depressed during that time. There were certainly some clear and unusual stressors back then. But at 22 my anxiety had me believe that going into the navy was what I needed. I did well in boot camp but by week 6 or 7 I was having trouble functioning and eventually sent home (with an Honorable Discharge). I was absolutely devastated and severely depressed. I got help but kept to myself. Everyone was getting married or having children and I was seriously broken not knowing what happened. With help I was able to start college for my A.A.S degree. I took a full load of credits in the day and in the evening worked. I would stay up late, in my fathers work room that I fixed up, to do my school work. After all th years of watching my friends drink, smoke, and hangout I thought how discusting smoking was. But I started drinking coffee and smoking. I later found out the cigarettes were acting as an MAO (anti-depressant). I am now going to be 60 and have had MDD, and now Fibro, for some time. I am also on disability because of these illnesses. After being on every med there is for almost 40 years I am now classified as "treatment resistant" by my psychiatrist who is about the best there is. It took close to a year but I finally tried another psychiatrist and several other meds made no difference. I do force myself to go to a healthclub and exercise but it drains the little energy I have. My doctors have long known about the cigarettes (1 pack a day) but stopped pushing me to quit a while ago because physically I was tested okay and they knew my struggles with depression.
LIJ hospital by me has one of the best stop-smoking programs around and I had been to their meetings several times. As the literature states it is very hard for people with my conditions to quit.
So does anyone have any REAL EXPERIENCE with improving their depression by quitting cigarettes? I am aware of all the other reasons to quit.View Thread
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Thank you Anon. That was very helpful. Any one of us who have been through the...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
Thank you Anon. That was very helpful. Any one of us who have been through the mil going on/off meds to help make us feel better knows the affects of these drugs going in and out of our system. So I can understand how even briefly starting up again even for one night could throw someone into a spin.
I wish I coud wake up one day and this issue was in the past. I feel like I need to someone watching me or just put on an island until I was free. Wish I was stronger. It is the only thing I do that I really feel is making it harder to fight my depression. Will have to keep trying.
Thanks also to Haylen for your support and advice.View Thread
Posted byHaveToLearnToAccept
I wish I coud wake up one day and this issue was in the past. I feel like I need to someone watching me or just put on an island until I was free. Wish I was stronger. It is the only thing I do that I really feel is making it harder to fight my depression. Will have to keep trying.
Thanks also to Haylen for your support and advice.View Thread
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Reply: What do you wish the world knew about depression?
I am a Christian (Catholic) and I feel when the church says "love thy neighbor"...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
I am a Christian (Catholic) and I feel when the church says "love thy neighbor" that they should stress to include EVERYONE. But it seems some people leave church and never get that message. They feel comfortable with people who live and act as they do and have trouble with anything different. If someone tells me thet hurt then I would never think thay caused it. I would try and put myself in their shoes and show that I care and don't judge them. Healthy people have no idea how fortunate they are not to live with this crippling disease.View Thread
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I know so well about that struggle. I have had depression for about 40 years...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
I know so well about that struggle. I have had depression for about 40 years now and up to about 50 the meds worked pretty well and I could (almost) move mountains. I am 59 now and lost my career I bled for over 28 years for, my house which was a great place for gatherings. The hardest part is not being able to do the things I love. I pretty much have been told to learn to be at peace somehow because there are no more meds that work. But my mind still gets in a spin thinking about going back to be productive and there has to be an answer somewhere. Thinking this was is torturous and sometimes I cannot stop it. I pray you find peace. Remember who you are and try not to think about how you feel. Not easyView Thread
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Reply: Thinking.....
I am thinking about hope uncomfortable I am. Force myself to health club and...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
I am thinking about hope uncomfortable I am. Force myself to health club and drip sweat waiting to get through. Once home my system is so unsettled that I have to sit and not even think about doing anything for a while. I take my pain meds for my FM and I sometimes get some brief relief. I actually have a small electric heater on the table next to me that feels good. Labeled "Treatment Resistant" for some time buy trying Savella and lowering Paxil while gradually getting off Neurontin. Bottom line, as per my doctors, is stop thinking about what can I do to get going or what am I doing wrong. This is a real disease (MDD) and have to adjust thinking and liestyle to find some comfort. And forget about what anyone else thinks.View Thread
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Reply: What do you wish the world knew about depression?
For a minute here it seems like it was me that wrote this. I will be 60 next...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
For a minute here it seems like it was me that wrote this. I will be 60 next April and have lived with depression, which is now Major along with FM, since my late teens. I am also surprised I am still here after all the pain and I have major family issues with my condition.
My problem is that my depression, treatment, and suffering was always my secret. With the proper meds and therapy I was able to function very well professionally and in learning. I would always appear positive and friendly even though privately I may have been suffering. Once I crossed 50 there just weren't any meds that would help and I lost the job I loved because someone got the idea "well I look okay and seem to be functioning when my doctors wanted me to take a leave.
For the last few years the pain has been unbearable and decided to try and let certain people know how bad things are. My mother is the worst and she now knows much of what I have been through.
If people would have known all these years I have been struggling since I was very sick as a child then maybe they could understand. The idea that people don't care, understand, believe, is very hard to live with.
I know exactly what you mean about everyone being happy. I just see that no matter what their age, shape, or culture, people just don't appear to be in pain and suffering. I was one of them at one time.View Thread
Posted byHaveToLearnToAccept
My problem is that my depression, treatment, and suffering was always my secret. With the proper meds and therapy I was able to function very well professionally and in learning. I would always appear positive and friendly even though privately I may have been suffering. Once I crossed 50 there just weren't any meds that would help and I lost the job I loved because someone got the idea "well I look okay and seem to be functioning when my doctors wanted me to take a leave.
For the last few years the pain has been unbearable and decided to try and let certain people know how bad things are. My mother is the worst and she now knows much of what I have been through.
If people would have known all these years I have been struggling since I was very sick as a child then maybe they could understand. The idea that people don't care, understand, believe, is very hard to live with.
I know exactly what you mean about everyone being happy. I just see that no matter what their age, shape, or culture, people just don't appear to be in pain and suffering. I was one of them at one time.View Thread
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Reply: What do you wish the world knew about depression?
Yes - it would be great if people would just cared because we are in pain. They...
Posted by HaveToLearnToAccept
Yes - it would be great if people would just cared because we are in pain. They don't have to understand or agree with what it is. Depression is a real medical condition that attacks our bodies continuously and the stress results in all the emotional termoil we all know too well.
Stay strong and stick to your convictions.View Thread
Posted byHaveToLearnToAccept
Stay strong and stick to your convictions.View Thread
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