A
female
age
30-35,
*oral.
writes:Back in February, I went to the doctors for the first time about depression. It was a huge step for me to face up to it, and I got given anti-depressants. They got increased, and I didn’t feel they were doing much good, so I made the decision to ease off them slowly, and help myself without them. The pills hadn’t seemed to help me anyway, and I was on them for a few months. I figured I needed to do the cliché, of setting myself goals, surround myself with friends and family, keep myself busy etc. One problem for me was, I never used to have many friends until this year, so when I gained more than one group of friends, I didn’t know how to balance things. i.e I’d stop hanging around with one group in favour of the other. I build these friendships up then bring them down again, so that doesn’t help.I did an art and design college course, and now I am just working in a shop. I don’t do anything artistic or creative anymore! I never believed I was very good at any of it, but the longer I go with doing anything artistic, the more this opinion grows.I fought the depression for so long, and then somewhere along the way, I gave up, stopped trying to fight it. Half the time when I’m at home, I just sit on the computer on facebook etc, rather than trying to actually DO something. I can’t seem to motivate myself to do the smallest thing, like clean my room. I can’t even motivate myself to really try and lose weight like exercising, or even to seriously think of a hobby. It sounds cliché, but I can’t remember the last time I felt any kind of strong emotion, be it happiness, sadness, or even anger or fear. I just feel…numb, I guess.If anyone can make sense of it any ideas would be helpful…I have spoken to people about this, so if anyone can think of anything, even if it’s a hobby that gets me active or terrifies me, just anything! Thanks in advance and sorry for this jumbled mess of a question!
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male
reader, eddie85  +, writes (16 November 2012):
 I've been where you are and I know what you are going through. I fought depression for a long time.
Here are some of things that I find help:
1) Exercise. Even if it is just walking around the block. It releases healthy endorphins and it is natural mood elevator. Start running, grab a dumbbell, do something.... and try to join a gym as you'll be around other happy people too.
2) Seek out someone to talk to. See a therapist. I am not a big fan of anti-depressants. They tend to mask the problem and these days it is cheaper for doctors to give you meds versus actually spending time talking to you. If there is something troubling you in your life, meds won't help it. A professional therapist can and WILL make a world of difference. I know they have made me a better person.
3) You may be sunlight deprived. Get out in the sun, especially if you live in a cloudy area that doesn't get much sun. If you have to, get a sunlamp. People in cloudy / rainy areas of the US use them to combat depression in the winter.
4) Take vitamins. Sometimes depression is caused by a lack of vitamins. If your diet isn't good, you may be sabotaging yourself.
5) Force yourself to turn off the computer and TV. Get out and do something else. If you hibernate in your room day in and day out, it is easy to feel sorry for yourself. Pretend like you are on vacation and do things that a tourist would do in your town. You'll be surprised what cool things there are to do within 30 minutes of your house.
Hopefully I helped. Feel free to reach out to me or another member of this board if you feel like you want to chat or talk. We are all here to help one another.
Eddie
A
reader, anonymous, writes (16 November 2012): I know personally that its hard to cope with depression. I myself have been suffering all my life. I haven't been on meds for 8 1/2 years. I know my moods are more stable and I have a more functioning life when on meds but I just can't handle not feeling like myself. I tried 10 years of medication and they did little for me except make me feel like a ghost of myself. I know lots of people who have been helped tremendously by antidepressants. I suffer from bipolar disorder so its very different to treat. Most people I've heard that are bipolar self medicate. Which is unfortunately the road I've taken.
I suggest you go back to the doctor and talk about this with them. They have other medicines and different therapy. You realize that there is a problem so your already a step ahead. Keep trying and things will get better.
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A
female
reader, Daisy_Daisy +, writes (15 November 2012):
 Forgot to mention exercise. Regular exercise is really key in keeping your mood stable when you're prone to depression. You might not have the motivation right now but try to incorporate a little exercise into your daily routine, like walk to work instead of catching the bus, or get off a stop early. Buy a bike and cycle to work. Or go or a 20 minute fast walk or jog after work. And don't give up on the art. Just think how many famous and successful artists out there who are not very good ;)
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A
female
reader, Daisy_Daisy +, writes (15 November 2012):
Hello.
It's not a jumbled mess of a question. You are describing depression.
You've worked really, really hard at trying to deal with this on your own and you must be pretty exhausted and disappointed that it hasn't worked.
Go back to your doctor and have an honest talk about this. There are other antidepressants (lots of them) and there may be one which helps you more than the first one did (wait at least 2 weeks for any antidepressant to have an effect). As Caring Guy suggests, maybe seeing some sort of therapist could also help? Your GP can arrange this.
Please, go back and discuss it all with your GP. Take care of yourself.
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A
male
reader, CaringGuy +, writes (15 November 2012):
Hi. Sorry to tell you this, but it's clear you're still depressed. Everything you've described is still depression, so it's hardly surprising that you're struggling to motivate yourself.
I wonder if the doctor was a bit too hasty in prescribing your anti-depressants.
Perhaps the first thing you need to do is just talk about your depression? Maybe to a counsellor, or maybe to us on here?
Do you know why you feel this way?
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