Question about chronic depression?

Question:

I have suffered from anxiety and/or depression on and off since college (about 7 yrs). I I have had one major depressive episode about 6 yrs ago, when I was going to school in another town and isolated myself from the world for about 6 months. In the past three years I have gone to counseling on and off and have not experienced any major episodes or anxiety attacks. I have been eating healthy, exercising, journaling, thinking positive etc. However, I just never seem to shake that all around sad feeling all the time. It seems to go up and down, where I feel OK for a couple of weeks and then without warning I feel worse for a couple of weeks. It is not like bipolar as I don't have any severe ups at all, and the down periods are not that bad. I started to read up on depression and read about a type of depression called chronic depression that seems to fit my problem. Anyone else suffer from this? I have never been diagnosed with depression, should I see a doc or a psychiatrist?

Answers:
I would ask the question of what you want or hope to achieve. You sound as if have you are dysphoric that is, you have a general feeling of sadness, unhappiness that is pretty much always there. If you see a doctor or a psychiatrist what is it you hope to achieve? I would recommend a psychiatrist. A doctor will either refer you to one or will put you (more than likely ) on an
antidepressant. Of course, the thought of taking medication is not pleasing to most people. Antidepressants have their own set of potential problems. Despite this, they can and do help a lot of people. For other people, trying the natural way has helped. You are eating well and exercising however, the dysphoria is still there. Please know there is a strong genetic component to depression. You can try anything and everything but still have this. There are definite brain physiological reasons why this happens.
Knowing you have this problem and what more you can do about it well...it depends on you and what you are willing to try. Some people will try to persuade you one way or the other. For some people, counseling helps however, there are various types of therapists practicing one type of therapy or another. For other people, doing nothing is the way to go. They just live with how they feel, doing the best they can. For others, there is antidepressants combined with therapy or not. For others, there is St Johns wort, SAM-e and whatever else may be around. Other people try religion, yoga and
meditation.
These days it can be difficult to sort through everything that
is out there, especially since some of what it out there is just bogus.
Take care and be open to help but also be careful. The world is rife with fraud. Be wary of who you choose to listen to.

You can go to your regular family doctor first, and tell him or her all of your symptoms. That can refer you to a therapist, or maybe even look for other possible reasons for your mood changes other than depression.

Depression can be lived with, and you can be happy.

Yes, many people fit into this category. You are not alone. See your Dr. for a referral to a psychiatrist.

Good luck!

Yes absolutely, see your Doc 1st, & describe the symptoms.

I think docs make you worse,they are quick enough to give out pills and psychiatrist make you repeat your past over and over. I have depression also and i just live with it now,try to fight each day best i can and be happy.

A psychiatrist is also a doctor and would be more familar with mental-emotional issues than a doctor with a different specialty

Find a physician who will prescribe antidepressant medication. You would not believe the difference it makes! You may have to try different kinds and dossages until you hit on the right one (under Dr. supervision, of course), but the whole world looks different once its in your system. Don't let people tell you that its a "crutch" to use them, or that you are just needing to "snap out of it." They don't tell insulin dependent diabetics such nonsense! Good luck.

I like St. John's Wort pretty well. Ever tried it?

You do not need a docter necessarily.Feelings come and go.
You are either going to get busy living,or keep feeling everything.Go somewhere,voluteer at a meal program,help someone,and get your mind off yourself.Read the Bible,and you will learn the human condition,and how to love God,others,and yourself! God Bless!

Hi, i have the same problem, all my life i was with depression until the moment that i felt suicidal, than started to take antidepresives. I have to say that i began to feel as other person. Totally different and i was regreting why i didn't start before.
Anyway i don't like to take pills always ,then i had taken 6 months and when i feel depressed (years after) i take other 6 moments.
The results are very fast. You feel better in 2 weeks.
But it's very important the dosage, if you don't feel better in two weeks you have to change for a higher dose.
I had that problem the last time,until i had 25 mg. more.
Good luck.

Question about chronic depression?

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