Posted by agencypanic on January 25, 2003, at 10:25:44
In reply to In the depths of depression--please help, posted by cubbybear on January 25, 2003, at 9:06:03
> I would just like to hear from anyone who can help me feel that I'm not alone--that having to suffer from major depression is hell on earth. Every waking minute of every day for weeks or months on end, your mind is in excruciating psychological pain and worst of all, you are continuously terrified that it will never end--that it will go on forever. Maybe you have a few fluctuations or little uplifts from time to time, but they are just false starts. You fear that the meds you've been taking will not work; meanwhile you have to wait the usual 4-6 weeks tilll they kick in (if they help at all). Then of course, there are all the usual symptoms, like waking up early and not being able to get back to sleep, having no appetite, not wanting to do anything that ordinarily gives you pleasure. Can you identify with this? The part I really want to know about from other fellow-sufferers is that, when you're badly depressed, you think that it will go on forever and ever. and never stop--you think you have an incurable mental illness. I just need some support from anyone who has gone through it, too.
Been there, done that. Sad thing is that there's really little that a person can tell you other than the trite "hang in there, things will get better".
But by no means are you alone on this. I remember that my greatest comfort at such times came in going to bed as early in the evening as I could
because I craved the darkness and being cut off from unwanted external stimuli. I empathize. It's debilitating and there
are moments when it's difficult even to convince yourself to roll from one side of your body to the other when in bed.
So you're not alone and I believe that if you post this same message on the psycho-social babble list, that you'll see that in no time.
Another thing that I might suggest is picking up a few books written by people who have had similar
experiences. There's always Styron's _Darkness Visible_, but I like Elizabeth Wurtzel's _Prozac Nation_ and _The Beast_ by ???, can't remember her name and can't find my copy. Someone else will know.
So, believe me, things will get better and if you need more details or support then just say so and I'll do my best.
poster:agencypanic
thread:137446
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030125/msgs/137461.html