Depression sux

[Hellion]

:devil Yeah I will say one thing ,having god's disease really sux about right now,wish it would go away. Is it true that people that have this problem are hated,because I think that would really be a wrong thing to do to anyone.Depression sux ass,It'sike a woeld war going on inside your head,I think it's worse than phyiscal pain,mental pain is the worse kind of pain there ever is,and man does it f&#king suck.don't mind me I go through these phases once in a while.LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[honeymustard02]

Go to a doctor if you don't like it.

[Hellion]

Go to a doctor if you don't like it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry for being a smart ass,but do you have benefits to pay a doctor 5000 dollars an hour?Because I sure don't have George Bush benefits.

[honeymustard02]

Yes I do actually. But if something is having a negative effect on my life I'm willing to do what it takes to fix it.

Even if that includes paying a doctor the money that could go towards booze or clubs. As long as I get better that's all that matters.

[Shade Everdark]

Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do.

[Brenda Starrr]

Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sadly, this is true. I know people who go from doctor to doctor, trying to get the appropriate help. It's in no way easy. And, when you can't afford to go, it's even harder. It's like you put food and shelter on one side of the scale, and medical help on the other. It seems as though the food and shelter always win. It's just not as easy as going to a doctor. Not all docs are so hot at what they do. I had this issue with a former therapist that my son went to see. She needed more help than she did.

There's a post about this story somewhere. Maybe one day, I'll dig it up.

[Fierce Critter]

Crank, if you are suffering genuine, clinical depression, and you have financial issues, there are services out there available to you.

You have to jump through hoops on the phone, however. If you're truly depressed, it can be more than you can manage to wade through the bureaucracy.

I have a page of phone numbers given to me by the Institute for Health Studies. I can type out a few numbers to you in PM if you'd like.

And if you want, you can go to the Institute for Health Studies and they'll do an official screening for actual clinical depression, including psychological consult & blood testing. You get $30 just for showing up for the screening.

First, you have to answer questions on the phone. If you sound truly depressed to them, they'll have you come in, and the next step is a longer, more in-depth questionnaire. That determines degree of true clinical depression. If you are found qualified for the study at that point, the next step is blood testing, and then finally a consult with an actual psychologist.

It's meant to be a means of having you be a subject of their medication study, but if you just want a free screening & consult, just go through it all and then say, "I've given this some thought and I've decided I'd be better off seeking actual help through my doctor or a psychiatrist." They're very nice about you deciding it's not for you, and you get paid for the trip out (they're in Farmington Hills). That's how I got the list of phone numbers, which they provide gladly if you decide you'd rather seek actual treatment on your own.

[honeymustard02]

Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True but you have to TRY things first before you say they don't work.

[Nienna]

People don't hate you because you are depressed, they sometimes will avoid you because they don't know what to do or say. They may want to help, but can't. As someone who suffers from depression constantly even when I'm extremely happy with my life (like now) I had to learn that about people. Don't be afraid to open up to people and be frank and non dramatic about how you're feeling. You may be pleasantly suprised at how much support you get. *HUGS*

[pomba gira]

:devil Yeah I will say one thing ,having god's disease really sux about right now,wish it would go away. Is it true that people that have this problem are hated,because I think that would really be a wrong thing to do to anyone.Depression sux ass,It'sike a woeld war going on inside your head,I think it's worse than phyiscal pain,mental pain is the worse kind of pain there ever is,and man does it f&#king suck.don't mind me I go through these phases once in a while.LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't know about "hated"... misunderstood, certainly. A lot of folks don't understand this is a "real" illness so there tends to be a lot of blaming the victim i.e. "you just need to cheer up & stop being negative". Also as Nienna said, with the best of intentions people often just don't know what to do or how to help.

Hang in there sweetie... it will get easier. Fierce Critter's suggestions are good- I've heard very positive things about that Institute for Health Studies. I don't have personal experience w/them, but I did get help once by joining a study and that turned out very well for me.

If you're having trouble getting yourself moving to get help (a very real problem with depression), make a list of steps you need to make to get treatment. Focus on accomplishing one item each day. If you do more per day that's killer, but consider yourself successful if you do one. These can be very small steps like , "read FC's email with contact info", "call 1 place for information", or even "make list of steps". Cross off each item as you accomplish it- this is important as it gives u a visible record that you've actually done something.

Finally, treatment costs a little more than "booze or clubs". For example I take Zoloft which runs around $90 per month. When I don't have insurance, I don't take it. Dr. office visits (just a visit, not therapy) start at around $75 and go up from there, and many docs won't even see you if they don't think you can pay. Cutbacks in state & federal funding have drastically reduced community mental health services in recent years, so even if you're willing & able to do the required hoop jumping, the services available can be very limited. So yes, change requires action... but the barriers to services are very real and not always easy to get past.