I am only 30 yrs old. have attempted suicide twice in my life. Also have almost constant pain in stomach due to long-term anxiety, depression and stress. Also have chronic pain in rt shoulder and rt knee. Also have SEVERE headaches due to facial neuralgia. I have been to multiple psychiatrists, psychotherapists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, homeopaths, herbalists, acupuncturists, Reiki healers, Bio-energy healers etc etc but with little benefit.  Currently using a new allopathic medicine for the depression and headaches. It seems to work atleast partially.  also getting counselling/psychotherapy with some benefit.  I have lost my lovely fiance due to my illness. Tried to marry again but the girl's parents refused to give their daughter to a mentally sick man. It has also destroyed my once-great career. My psychiatrist is not very optimistic about me.  It is very difficult to live with this constant physical and mental pain.Is there any HOPE for me? Or is Suicide the only answer???
130205
Hi Bob.\nI'm sorry for all the problems you've had.  I can make a suggestion but you might not be ready to hear it.\nYour question is "Can anyone cure me?"--so you want the work taken away from you.  No matter what the illness is, or who you turn to for help, you have to take responsibility for your own healing. The question is, "Can you help me heal myself?"  Any healing takes work and dedication.  If you have a headache, no one's going to walk up to you and hand you an aspirin.  You have to say, "Hey, anyone got an aspirin I can have?" That's vocalizing your need.\nIf inside your belief is that healing is from an outside source that has nothing to do with you, it's not going to happen.  It requires your participation.  And not going to someone and saying "Can you fix me?"  It's not about someone else fixing you. You aren't a car with a bad carburetor.  It's about saying, "I'm in mental and physical pain and I need help.  What can I do, what can WE do, to help me overcome this pain?"  Do you see the difference? It's HUGE change in thinking.\nIt also sounds like you are fighting very hard against your illnesses, and fighting causes stress, and stress will make you feel worse.\nIf you go around saying "Look at me, I'm mentally ill" people will treat you accordingly.  I see this with my own father. He has Alzheimer's.   Sometimes he tries to get into a discussion with strangers because he's still a friendly guy, and they'll look at him a little funny because he can't talk correctly anymore. Once I explain his condition people's demeanor toward my dad totally change.  A woman who had been looking at my dad as if he was some kind of stupid idiot when he didn't move out of the way of a moving vehicle, took his arm very nicely and called him "dear" after I explained.  My point isn't that you have Alzheimer's (you're way too young) but that people's perceptions of you, and therefore how they treat you, comes from what they are TOLD about you.\nI have been through lots of therapy myself and I also do healing work and I'm giving you my perspective.  \nI hope that you find the help you need and that you are able to become whole once again.  I also hope that you do not choose suicide. Not because I think it's wrong, but because I think your problems can be overcome.
300814
I don't know.  I have been to the point of suicide.  I used to say how dumb could a person be to even consider such a thing. People that haven't been there don't truly understand.  I don't know about a truly painless method;but I do know the true pain; hurt; despair; and feeling of emptiness when a person deems suicide is the only option.  I took a lot of pills thinking I would just drift off to sleep-seemed easy enough-didn't work I woke up sometime later.  I am diabetic I have stopped my insulin and ate sugar-undying stomach pain and vomiting.  I don't believe there is anything easy or painless about suicide.  Even if one was to succed with a painless method-what is waiting for us after our self affliction.  There are many different opinions on the religious viewpoint as to life after death of a person who takes their own life.  I'm sure many people disagree and most that do probably have never been suicidal;for what it's worth my personl opinion is a truly suicidal person is not responsible for their actions.  Their mentality is not of their norm;if it were than why are their actions and personality straying from happy times in life.  If you are considering suicide-talk to someone please.  For some reason I am still on this earth; I simply believe its not my time or I would be gone.  It's a struggle sometime but life is worth living.
481409
In your own words: "I would gladly be addicted to opiates for the rest of my life if it means I can be out of this pain."  The doctors are right to protect you from yourself.  Have you tried therapeudic massage, thermal water treatments, etc?  I wish you luck.  Living in pain is certainly very depressing.  You have my sympathy.
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.
456336
There are many reasons why people suffer from depression and suicidal ideations.   Family Genetic History of Mental Illness, Chemical Imbalances in the brain. and medical problems that have not been R/O, (Ruled Out).   \n\nBy law if you were in my office and you told me that you had thoughts of suicide, I would be required by law to place you in a mental hospital for 72 hours observation an evaluation.  You will either go the easy way or via force from a police officer.  Either way you not leave my office.  (Even if you said it was just a joke).\n\nMy professional advise to you is to first see a psychologist.  I am a clinical psychiatrist.  An I know my peers, the moment the hear you say you are depressed, they will become deaf.  Then they will pull out the Rx pad and write you a prescription for antidepression medication.  Knowing that controlled substances are addictive, you will have to return for another Rx. They make alot of money this way.. And you will feel good, but the under line cause or root cause of your depression will only be masked by the meds.  An I wish to see you and my own patients be able to find the root cause of their problem and I give them alternative solutions to resolve the cause of depression.\n\nOfcourse sometimes this is not possible and you really will have to be on meds, for the rest of your life to live a quality life.\n\nThis is why I feel you should see a psychologist right away.  They don't have the authority to write and Rx.  If they feel that you have, Major Depression with psychotic features or other types of depression that can not be resolved with therapy, then they will refer you to see a clinical psychiatrist.    \n\nIf you meet five of any of the following you due suffer from Major depressive Episode   \n \n(Still see a psychologist first. The psychologist, does not have the authority to write and Rx. so you will be safe and they can help you to get at the root cause of your problem and give you alternative situations to resolve the problem without the use of medications). \n\n1. depressed mood, (or can be irritable mood in children and adolesaceents). most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated either by subjective account or observations by others.\n\n2. markedly dimished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activitites, most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated either by subjective account or observations by others or apathy most of the time).\n\n3. significant weight loss or weight gain when not dieting (more then 5% of body wieght in a mounth), or decreased or increase in appetite nearly every day. ((In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains).\n\n4. insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day\n\n5. psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings or restlesness or being slowed down).\n\n6. fagiue or loss of energy nearly every day.\n\n7. feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate qulit (which may be delusional), nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).\n\n8. diminished ability to think or concenrate, or indecivin&#92;veness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others).\n\n9. recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurring suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan \nfor committing suicide.\n\nClinical Psychiatrist, France\n\nExcuse my english please
35219
With the utmost respect, I want to let you know that it sounds important for you to see a professional. It need not be a medical "doctor." It could be a professional counselor or psychologist. These individuals are trained to make diagnoses, and it would be inappropriate for anyone to make such a diagnosis of bipolar or any other without enough information. Overall, it sounds as if you are going through a very difficult time. It concerns me greatly that you mention suicide attempts...please ask for help if you feel the need to hurt yourself or someone else. I urge you to seek a professional to answer your question in person...I think you will be glad you did. Find someone you can be comfortable talking to and enjoy the healing process.
631249
hmmm...sounds like a suicide attempt. I  wanted to ignore your post, but I want to tell you, there's counselors in almost every community.  \nSeek help and don't slice that wrist.
394702
I've always thought of psychological pain as being similar to physical pain--you put your hand in a fire, you feel pain, and that's nature's way of saying get your hand the hell out of there. Depression can be similar--a sign that there's something wrong with your life, but, unfortunately, unlike physical pain, it's usually not so clear about where the problem lies. I'd suggest getting some professional counselling or talking with a friend who you really can trust. The advantage of the professional is that he or she has no agenda--you don't have to worry about disappointing them or looking "weak" or saying something that might hurt them. Because a professional has no prior relationship with you, he or she probably will see your situation more clearly. There are common-sense things you can look at also. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating right? Are you actually taking time in life to do fun things? Are you spending time with friends? A common reaction to depression is to withdraw from life, which makes it worse, because you're withdrawing from anything positive that could make you feel better. If you don't feel like being with friends and doing things that you once enjoyed, that's a signal that maybe you should be forcing yourself to try and do those things anyway. There's an old cliche that describes this: "fake it 'til you make it." Another thing you could try is seeing a medical doctor and trying antidepressants. But don't ignore talking with a professional or trusted friend as part of your treatment program. Research suggests that counsellnig and medication works better than either one alone. A good book to read about depression is "Feeling Good," by Dr. David Burns. There is also a "Feeling Good Workbook," also by Dr. Burns. They're both excellent. In the meantime, avoid making any drastic changes in your life, like quitting your job. I hope you get on the path to getting better soon, but remember, it'll take a little bit of work on your part.
10157
All you can do is be there and be supportive to him. I've dealt with this with my husband, and until he admits there is a problem, he won't seek help from a professional. It's a long, hard road to walk, but if you love him as much as I do my husband, you'll be there and listen. Make a suggestion to him that it isn't at all degrading to get help, be on meds to help him feel better. In todays society, a very large percentage of people are being treated for depression, anxiety, and panic disorders. It's normal due to the high stress we encounter every day! I'm not ashamed to admit that I take antidepressants on a daily basis. I feel better today than I have in years! Good luck in whatever you do! Here are a couple of good sites to look at.
59779
Honestly, I see this as a need for marriage counseling.  Your wife is suffering from a mental illness that should be treated, either by medication or therapy or both.  In the meantime, she is not a psychologist nor is she a medical doctor and has no right diagnose you, not to mention she has no medical schooling for such a thing.  Furthermore, I think she is projecting her issue onto you.  You may be depressed but if you are it sounds to me like you are situationally depressed, not clinically.  But, I'm not a doctor and don't have you as a patient in any case so I couldn't swear such a thing.  The time for the counseling is RIGHT NOW though so make that appointment.  If you cannot afford it then you would contact your county mental health agency and they likely have a sliding fee payment plan so don't feel like the option of counseling is not available to you.
617064
Sigh, I hear this one a lot.\n\nMost people get a little bit depressed many times during their lives--often many times a year.  This is a normal thing, and although annoying, it doesn't impair function all that much.  Counseling is helpful, here, but not always needed.\n\nNot all depression is as simple as that, however--and your question implies that you've not met the really major depressions, where individuals are plagued by thoughts of suicide, and where their ability to take care of their most basic needs are impaired by the severity of the depression.  No counselor would claim that counselling alone is appropriate there: the research clearly indicates that the return to normal function is fastest with BOTH medication and behavioral therapy.\n\nTo put it in a simplistic way...  Wounds heal on their own.  Is it, then, unethical for a doctor to stitch a six inch gash?  And a broken arm will heal on its own, too; is a cast therefore unethical? Good heavens, no to both!  The wound closure speeds the healing, and improves the quality of the resultant healing.  Setting that broken bone and immobilizing it in place makes it heal correctly, not incorrectly.  It's the same with antidepressants--and other psychoactive drugs for other conditions.\n\nThis is, again, a rather simplistic analysis--I've neglected the issue of the hereditary syndromes that can generate depression, for instance--but I hope I've given you the flavor of the reasoning for the medical decisions in this area...
555326
i  suffer from almost same thing, even if not all the time but u can say that i have those terrible days when i wish i could end mylife. u can do nothing without seeing a GP and then have a transfer to a psychologist... it might work i don't know... but u can see the psychologist five times for free after the GP arranges some paper for u... hope she gets better
54358
I was depressed when I left college and downed a bottle of aspirin to make all the sh*t go away. It didn't work, (well, i'm still here afterall lol). I then tried to think things through and decided I had only a couple of options open to me. 1) I could go see a shrink, listen to all their BS and end up on psych drugs. 2) Kill myself. (Both 1 and 2 equated to the same horror as far as I was concerned). Or 3) Find something that would give me purpose in life, find strength and the will to create my life as I see fit. Thinking this meant "finding God", I grabbed the nearest encyclopedia and read as much as I could on religion and spirituality. Most of it was a bit of a turn off, truth be told. I was an atheist then and believed that I was responsible for my life and future and simply refused to accept that I was some pawn or puppet of forces out of my control. But I eventually did find some data that matched my beliefs: Buddhism and Scientology. I did as much research as possible, looked at all the pros and cons and, being the eclectic that I am, used bits of both philosophies to sort myself out. I also did some self-improvement courses that addressed my low self-esteem and self-confidence, and in the space of 1-2 months I had erased a lifetime of introversion, depression and misery.\n\nThat was how I did. And it worked for me. There are so many different options available out there, you should do as much research as possible so you can find something that works for you. If you are genuinely to the point of ending it all then that is your choice, but there is help out there if you reach for it. These guys, especially, are on call 24-7 to talk and help if you need to. http://www.volunteerministers.org/eng/help/index.htm
69789
That is tough. Tough to deal with and tough to get rid of. I've had something similar that is due to problems with tight muscles in the neck and muscle spasms that produced very sharp pains, like a knife going into my head.  I went on physical therapy ordered by the doctor, for two or three months. Things seem to be better now, but not cured. The doctor gave me a muscle relaxant to help and said that I should call when the pain gets too bad so that she can order pain medicine. \n\nThat is one possibility. Another was mentioned and that is sinus problems. I thought maybe that was my problem, but it is not. From what I read in WebMD.com the sinus gets clogged and then infectant.  You need to go to an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) to take care of this. I would think it would be a wonderful and welcome relieve, worth going to the Dr.\n\nAll the usual causes have been mentioned. It does hurt to try some cures or pain reduction.  I like the stress reduction tapes or discs, but you probably can find a book in the public library that will help you find a way to reduce stress. \n\nI found that Ibuprofen (ADVIL) works better than the other pain relievers on the shelf. Don't take asperin as it can make a mess of your stomach.  DO NOT overdose on Tylenol. That is easy to do as many people think its OK to NOT follow directions since is ONLY Tylenol. Actually it is a drug that can kill if the person takes too much.  Additonally, there is the ingredient of Tylenol in other drugs. It is possible to overdose with that combination.\n\nGood luck and remember to go to the doctor if nothing works. Ask if there is anything that won't put you to sleep, if they want you to take a pain killer.
159883
Never okay about suicide.  The fact that my heart went out to you despite not even knowing who you are I hope in some way will show you that your presence here on earth is valuable.  Life is hard.  Everyone has problems, you are not alone in that. Sometimes you can't help but thinking that you want to just throw in the towel and say the hell with everything but that is the easy way out.  Life is precious.  Millions of people everywhere in hospital beds, on battle fields, you name it, are fighting to preserve their lives right now.  You must find a reason to carry on.  Lonliness is easily cured.  Meet people, get out there. Happiness is never constant but we can't be ready to end it all when our lives aren't going as we'd like.  I am sorry that you have no wife and family and your parents are dead and that you and your siblings are not speaking and your finances aren't so good right now. But God still has a purpose for you.  You may be just what someone else needs in the form of a friend or companion.  I hope I have helped you in some way. It breaks my heart when I hear that someone has taken their own life. May God bless you and help you see the gift that you are regardless of your current circumstances. You are in my prayers.
410611
Sounds like depression.\n\nDepression is a very common condition that is believed by many experts to be the number one cause of disability in the world. In the U.S.,17% of people will experience depression at some point in their lives. An estimated 19 million people in the U.S. are currently suffering from depression. Depression is more common in women then in men, with 25% of women suffering from depression severe enough to warrant treatment at least once during their lifetime. \n\nIt’s important to remember that depression is an illness that affects both the body and mind. It is not something that we can just wish away or “snap out of”, nor is it a sign of a weak character. The good news about depression is that almost everyone suffering from this condition can be helped with treatment, so it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression. \n\nAccording to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the main symptoms and signs of depression are the following:\n\n-Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood \n-Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism \n-Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness \n-Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex \n-Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down" \n-Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions \n-Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping \n-Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain \n-Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts \n-Restlessness, irritability \n-Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain \n\nIf you have been experiencing several of these symptoms to a degree that they have impaired or affected your life, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you find out whether or not you are suffering from depression and direct you to appropriate resources for treatment and recovery.\n\nTreatment of depression may include antidepressant medication, professional counseling such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two. \n\nProfessional counseling may be all that you need for mild to moderate depression.\n \nIf your early symptoms are severe, your initial treatment most likely will include both antidepressants and professional counseling. \n\nHospitalization may be necessary if you show warning signs of suicide, such as thoughts or plans about harming yourself or another person, detachment from reality (psychosis), or excessive use of alcohol or drugs.
156827
Now, I'm not clinical psychologist although I am a psychology major in university so take everything I say with a grain of salt.\n\nFirst I'm going to give you the party line and say that suicide is never the answer.  It is a long term solution to a short term problem.  I can honestly tell you that I had one of the most difficult and troubled childhoods of anyone you will meet but I'm extremely happy and very glad I'm alive now.  If you seriously are contemplating suicide then you need to speak to your parents, friends, and doctors.\n\nSecondly, none of us, and no online test is capable of giving you an accurate diagnosis of what might be "wrong with you."  Only a clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist can do that and only after long periods of examination.  Don't trust anyone who wants to diagnose you over a two paragraph yahoo question or your responses a series of 20 mispelled and grammatically incorrect questions on the internet.  Please use your doctors as much as possible, that is what they are there for.  Don't ask us what's wrong with you, ask them.\n\nThirdly, Depression is not a weakness of personality or a physical lack of strength, it is a psychological disease.  Let's say that you broke your leg or you had a terrible burn or some other sort of physical injury and you went to a different hospital, you wouldn't lie about not being burnt or having a broken leg and run away from treatment.  But thats the difficulty with psychological diseases is that people are afraid to seek treatment.  Don't be afraid.  It can be difficult and it can take a lot of effort but it will make your life better.  Growing up can be extremely difficult for many people, the ages of 12-15 for boys and 11-14 for girls especially. For some people this adolescent angst, or anger, is more pronounced and others much less an issue but it does fade in time.  So trust, me and stick to it.\n\nAs far as the medications, one of the most major critiscm of  anti-depressants is that they can have a tendency to make sucidal thoughts more powerful at first.  However, stick with it and it will go away.  Remember, that ultimately the decision to do damage to yourself is in your hands not the drugs so remember that suicide is murder.  Murder doesn't hurt the person who dies but everyone who knows them.  Don't  do it to your parents and your friends and your grandmother and everyone else who cares about you.\n\nOn another note:\nI think that you can rule of Schizophrenia because that develops in people normally from the ages of 20-35.  Also the anti-psychotics that your Grandmother is on are extremely different and more powerful then the anti-depressents you have been prescribed.  Psychotic disorders are terribly sad and very poorly understood.