Depression

Thyroid tests can be linked to depression as a thyroid malfunction can cause tiredness, thus some of the signs of depression.

I hope it either starts to work or you can change to something better soon! I know what you mean about spending your life at the doctors- sometimes last year I was there 3 times a week- I wanted a season ticket!

I was really upset when I went yesterday. Things haven't been good this week and I've been having some really dark thoughts. I spoke to a friend on Wednesday night and he was really concerned so I said I'd see the doctor on Thursday.

The way my doctors at uni works is one doctor does one surgery (morning or afternoon) per week so you never see the same doctor twice unless you go in a specific surgery. I haven't seen the doctor who diagnosed me since as he is on holiday so Friday I saw a really nice doctor and yesterday I saw a woman.

I don't think she understood just how unhappy I was/am. I said I wanted to change medication as it isn't doing anything and I thought the suicidal thoughts were a side effect (it does say several times in the leaflet about suicidal thoughts in under 25s). She said as long as I don't act on them, go see a counsellor and stay on the medication until my next review in two weeks. Not at all helpful or reassuring. I was given the option of changing meds on Friday so I don't see why I couldn't change yesterday.

I had two days where I couldn't see the wood for the trees, so to speak. I sent some pretty nasty emails to a friend and I honestly don't know why.

Abigail I really hope you feel better soon, you deserve to be happy :) bad things shouldn't happen to good people it's just wrong.

I'm confused, I've actually been on a massive high the past week or 2, and suddenly everything seems to have hit rock bottom again this week. All my feelings of "whats the point" and feeling bad for even waking up, and the thoughts of bad things have returned, I can't sleep properly, and I just feel like I've lost control over everything. I just don't know what to do anymore. It's weird that I know deep down my family adore me and would do anything for me, and my friends are always there too... but I feel so isolated and lonely. I don't want to be around anyone, just rather be in my room on my own.

Kirsty, have you been back to see the doctor?

Has anything happened in the past few days that has made you crash?

No, I didn't think I should because I've been fine for a week or so.

Well I guess so, there's more confusion over where I used to work and my hopes of them re-opening have kind of been crushed, I've also taken my car off the road because I can't afford to run it at the moment.. everythings slipping away

If you continue to feel like this, you should go back and see someone. I put it off for years and really regret not getting help earlier. Most doctors are sympathetic and will listen to how you're feeling and what you want to happen. There's many different types of therapy and medication and you don't have to have either or both if you don't want. The course of treatment is entirely up to you.

I'll see how I feel next week, I just don't want to tell my family. I feel like a complete let down as it is, by explaining how I really feel will make me feel worse, I've always been known by anyone thats ever come across me as "happy, bubbly smiley Kirsty". I think my Nan has cottoned on to the fact that I'm not very happy, everyday she asks if I'm okay, and that I don't seem very happy, if she asks again, I will just let her know that I'm not feeling the best, I hope she understands that. I remember a few years ago though, I wans't myself, but my Nan knew and got really worried as my Grandads niece had manic depression and took her own life... my Nan was prepared to keep me house bound so she could keep her eye on me and that's the last thing I want is to be kept an eye on.

I completely understand that you don't want to be wrapped up in cotton wool. At the end of the day, your family love and care about you and they won't want to see you struggle. If your nan is asking if you're ok, she's obviously picked up that something's not right. Talk to her about how you're feeling, she'll want to help in whatever way she can. From what you've said before about her, your nan sounds like an amazing person.

Depression and low mood are caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, it's nobody's fault that you feel like this. Depression and manic depression are two very different illnesses.

I've just sent my mum an email to tell her that I'm on anti depressants. I didn't want my family to know but as I've gradually told close friends, I now feel able to tell my mum. I honestly don't know how she's going to react but I know that she loves me and is going to drive me up the wall when I go home by constantly asking how I am. The support of my family is what I need at the moment, especially as I will be away from my friends for about a month. And it might just save me from killing my mother over Christmas :p

I have suffered with depression for the last 5 years.
I have had been on anti depressants on and off and it all started for me when I went to enter uni some years back. I just couldn't handle the stress and missing my family that I just crumpled :(
Since then I have managed to cope with distance learning and holding down a job but I find it hard to be in the company of others at times or find people that I can just be me with. Everyone can at times expect so much out of me and want me to be the life and soul of the party at all times and I can put on a front when needed :(

Depression is nothing to be laughed at and there is no magic cure but for me exercise works keeps my mind busy and stops me having low dark periods.

I sm one of the lucky ones. I haven't suffered from depression but I have withnessed it in my family. My sister had six nervous breakdowns in five years down to having her kids taken into care because they had been sexually abused. This happened 2o years ago and the scars are still raw. But those kids have turned into wonderful and beautiful adults.

I don't pretend to know what many of you are going through but I plead with you to talk to someone and get support. I understand that it is difficult to speak to family members on how you are feeling. But please don't bottle it up. There are many friends on here who will give a shoulder to cry on if you don't want to talk to strangers but please don't suffer in silence.