i suffered from depression and was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder (although i think everyone has some form of bi-polar) for most of my teens and early 20's, recently i had a baby 7 months ago and began to suffer from post-pardum depression...how can i "treat" myself...i can't afford doctors/ thereapist or medication
127528
I agree with exercise . . . get out and walk, you'll be surprised how much your mind processes and clears!
598019
You will need to have a combination of medicines along with therapy to trully help you.  How long has it been since you saw a psychiatrist?  Do you and your psychiatrist get along okay? If the answer is no, then you need to get a second opinion by another psychiatrist.  The right combination of medicines are tough to figure out sometimes.  It is basically a trial and error ordeal.  Everybodies body chemistry is different.  What might work for me may not work for you and vica versa.  \n\nWhen a person suffers with bi-polar they should be treated with a variety of medicines such as mood stabilizers and anti-depression medication.  You said "we" tried lithium.  How long did you take it?  Lithium is the best medicine so far for bi-polar patients.  Ask your psychiatrist if he or she would consider putting you on Ambilify and Wellbrutrin as well as the Lithium.  The maxium benefit of these medications as most other medicines takes 3-6 weeks.  \n\nLiving a active full life is possible with bi-polar.  Stay positive and concentrate on your positives and accomplishments in your life.  Don't dwell on your negatives.\n\nGood luck to you and I hope I was some what helpful!
238145
I had problems much like you describe. I was also depressed a lot of the time. After years of anger and depression I found out that I was bipolar. I am taking medication now for the last 3 months. Things are going very well for me now. I'm not saying you are bipolar, but it is something to consider. If you are bipolar the anger management or behavioral therapy will do little good because bipolar disorder is not a behavioral problem. It is a medical problem caused by an imbalance of chemicals used by the brain. There are many good medications that can be used to treat it but it is a life long disorder that will take treatment your entire life. The good news is that it is well managed with the meds and you can expect to live a fulfilling and productive life. Check the website I link to below for more info on bipolar disorder. Good luck and contact me if you want or need more info.\n\nSincerely,\nTerry
332919
The symptoms you describe sound very much like my own before treatment. I am bipolar. I went for years between feeling normal one minute then mad at the world the next. Only occasionally did I become depressed. However, in recent years I was depressed more and more often. The depressive episodes also began to last for longer periods of time. In June 2005 I became very depressed and considered suicide. Gradually, the depression eased somewhat but stayed at a low level trough March 2006. The anger raged throughout this depression. I finally had to make a decision. Get some help or find another job. I sought help from my doctor.  I am now taking Paxil and Seroquel and doing very well. I'm almost never angry or depressed. Life is pretty good for me now. People seem nicer and more courteous, I know that is perception. They haven't changed. I have. Whether you are bipolar or there is some other mood disorder, it is best to see your doctor or a psychiatrist for diagnoses and treatment. It may not even be anything that serious. But I can tell you that no matter the cause, when you are treated you will feel much, much better about life and yourself.\n\nI have included a link below to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Website. Specifically, the bipolar pages.\n\nI hope this helps you.\n\nSincerely,\nTerry
553931
There are loads of options. Depression's not my bag, I'm bipolar, but I suggest you wander over to http://www.crazyboards.org for some more advice.
595173
Gosh I feel bad for you...sounds like a hardcore case of depression.  It's so easy for other people to just tell you to seek therapy, isn't it?  I have lifelong bipolar disorder, so I know how it feels to have been down in the depths of depression...thankfully for me, I eventually snap out of it and go into "happy" mode.  In my experience, talking to a therapist has not helped.  They ask me a million questions, write them all down and make me feel like a science project, give me a prescription, and send me on my way -- all for $175 for a 30 minute appointment.  I have found that when there is a constant vague feeling of depression for seemingly no reason, it is because I have suppressed that reason.  Identify the sources of your unhappiness.  For me, I finally realized that it was about three different instances in my past that had changed my mindset or my innocence in some way -- made me jaded to the world.  I'm still working on it, but I'm hoping to confront and forgive or be forgiven by the people involved.  And yeah, I've had my heart broken and I still have feelings years later, so it's perfectly normal.  If you have self-esteem issues, work on something that you enjoy and that you are good at -- don't worry if you fail at first, practice makes perfect.  Help others or be a friend.  It's almost impossible to feel low about yourself if you know you are good at something or worth something to someone.  If your self-esteem is in the dumps because you are worried about what people think of you, then don't be.  Look at people who are stupid and unattractive and have confidence -- if they have it, then why shouldn't you?  Basically, you need to recognize meaning in your life.  It's already there, you just need to find it.  All right, enough Dr. Phil crap from me.  Good luck and bless you.
241202
Try group therapy.  There are free ones.  Look in the newspaper under the community calendar.  There are ones through churches, different clubs and hospitals.  Being able to anonymously talk about things may very well help.  Also, you should try to exercise and eat healthy.  This certainly can affect your hormones, etc...  Search out things you've always wanted to do and do them.  Make an effort to enjoy yourself.  Even when you would rather just sleep, do something.  If the sun is shining, go outside.  It is not easy recovering from depression.  Half the battle is making yourself aware that the only true cure is making the choice to be positive and happy.  It is terribly hard to do.  I did have the help of welbutrin (anti-depressant) for about 3 months to help me through some serious depression.  It simply gave me more energy.  Other than that, I just had to realize that depression comes from within me.  There is no outside source.  I didn't become depressed because I was going through bad things.  Lots of people go through bad stuff all the time and they are not depressed.  It was my mind and heart.  I finally decided I wanted to be happy and consciously made an effort to be so.
428141
I have also suffered severe depression on and off for quite a while, and am currently battling post-natal psychosis.\nAnti-depressants aren't any good for me either. If medication isn't working for you, then more medication probably isn't going to achieve much.\nSelf-confidence comes with self-esteem, which cannot be provided by any drug. I'm not sure feeling elated all day is exactly normal, either.\nI am currently being treated by a natural therapist and an excellent psychologist, and have come further in the past eight weeks than in the past four years.\nYou need to check things like your hormone levels (these will most likely be out of whack with the depression), there are nutritional factors to consider (depression, anxiety and stress deplete the body of many many nutrients), cognitive behavioural therapy is brilliant, as is learning relaxation techniques. There are probably past issues you need to deal with (psychologist), and good regular exercise is suprisingly helpful (I hate it but I do it!).\nI honestly think you'd be better off exploring other treatment methods than putting your poor mind and body through another horrible experience with medication.\nWhatever you do, I hope it works for you :)
379459
she's been cleared by Dr's that she's not Manic Depressive or Bi-polar??\n\nI would suggest that she see's a Dr again for a check up things can change.  Everyone gets depressed,but comatose like depression on a regular basis is NOT everyday depression.
403552
It may be if you are having psychotic episodes. You may want to go to a doctor and report this right away. People with bi-polar disorder can hallucinate. It is usually delusions that many people with manic depression suffer from but hallucinations may indeed be part of your illness or it could be that you suffer from Schizo Affective disorder . Maybe something else. You need assessment right away.
350862
Jesse, is there no where you can get some free counselling? Like a support group for depression and mental illness? I'm an Aussie so don't know how your medical & gov support works over there but nearly half my family (including two sons) have suffered or suffer depression & my mum is bi-polar! So I do have some idea of the challenges you are facing. Believe it or not there are people who can see past your illness and will value you & realise that your problems are largely due to the illness. Is there no family member or friend to lend you support as this is very important. Talking to fellow sufferers will show you that you are not alone so make a few enquiries about a support group esp if you have no one close to lean on.\nWith regards to your working: it may be difficult to find an employer who is understanding about the limitations that depression & bi-polar can put on you but if you do apply for a job be honest. If you just fail to turn up when you just can't get out of bed they might think you are  lazy. Try to explain that you are trying to get your life together but some days life is just too much to cope with. Try to be positive; set small achievable goals and don't ever give up and take the easy way out. Hope this has helped. Good luck, be brave and keep going.
458849
hun listen im right hear with you. like right now im doing the same thing and feeling the same way. but i think im a little a head of you. see im 15, i got cought doing it. and well snow ball from there. alot of people will tell you just to stop and stop feeling like you need to. but hun guess what its a mental problem. we got it and its there. go talk to your counsolor. have a friend go with you, i did. then they will have you make an app. with your family doctor and you will get checked out. weighted and talked to by him or her. from what the doctor thinks some different things can happen, you will go to rehad (most likely not if you get help now) you will get a theropys that what i got. or they will put you on meds. also what i got. you need to be willing to be honest trust me thats hard i know. but i have already lost trust of many for lieing about. but believe me it will get worse if not fixed soon.
62901
Please visit this website and then if you feel might have mood disorder, see a psychologist or your family doctor as soon as possbile. Bipolarism and depression are highly treatable. http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/MDQ.htm
603582
have you heard of c.b.t cognitive behaviour therapy? i suffered realy badly from depression for years it started when i was 14 and got worse as i had my 3 children but then a doctor refered me for c.b.t and it was brilliant honestly i still get lows but then thats just life c.b.t really shows you a different way of looking at things and it lasts too and no pills which is fab! hope you feel better soon x
514547
Nope. I was at my most depressed state when I was 16. It's a chemical imbalance in your brain. Go to your doctor and ask for a drug called "sertraline" because you may have a condition called "dysthemia." It's a very mild anti-depressant and some of the ingredients are found in zyloft, a drug that helps people quit smoking so it's very safe.
560751
Best to visit a good psychiatrist. I was diagnosed Bi-Polar about 6 years ago- I'm not sure that the diagnosis is/was correct, but I do very often resemble a person that is bi-polar. I dont have many down (depression) episodes at all, I'm up and more up mostly. There are many drugs available for every condition out there. My personal opinion is that mental and emotional disorders or maladies are very hard to pinpoint. I feel that I'm Mildly Autistic or have aspergeurs Syndrome, NOT Bi-Polar Disorder. The truth may be that I have several overlapping conditions, who knows? There are many web sites to check out also NAMI is an organization that caters to this subject. Good Luck!
100131
I work with Adults with mental illness. I am also raising 2 of my siblings with it. My father on the other hand is a schizo. I am not and neither are any of my siblings. Though they do have Bi-polar, Mild mental retardation, add, adhd. I told my doctor this before my husband and I first started to try and she told me to take a high dose of Folic Acid. I am 9 weeks pregnant. I feel fine about the decision. \nSchizophrenia can be heridiry. You will not see signs of it until the teenage years. Those of them with it that show signs in the teenage years have a better chance of responding to treatment than those that show symptoms in the 20's.