Manic depression

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

Ok first things first no flaming please my anti-flame suit shrunk in the wash.

over the last couple of years i have had severe manic depression, i have been to the doctors and they prescribed me medication which didn't work, so my question to you escapists is this, can you think of anyway to help people like me cope with manic depression?

i should point out that i live in England so if you suggest any products they may not be available over here

 

[walls of cetepedes]

England? God help you. I recommend Cider.

 

[dodo1331]

By doctors, do you mean medical, or psychological?

If medical, go to psychological. That's what got me through when I was depressed.

 

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

England? God help you. I recommend Cider.

thank you for your comforting words of reassurance , sing all together now "hi ho, hi ho, it's off to the pub i go"

 

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

By doctors, do you mean medical, or psychological?

If medical, go to psychological. That's what got me through when I was depressed.

it was medical so i think i will give counselling a shot for the 6th time

 

[jebbo]

What did they give you? Lithium? Coz that shit will fuck you up, never take it

 

[walls of cetepedes]

England? God help you. I recommend Cider.

thank you for your comforting words of reassurance , sing all together now "hi ho, hi ho, it's off to the pub i go"

England is not a happy place. A glass of cider a day helped me through my issues.

 

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

What did they give you? Lithium? Coz that shit will fuck you up, never take it

i refused to take lithium, i can't remember the name of it, i only took it for 3 months

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

Yes, I'm sure the users of the Escapist will be able to solve your complicated emotional problems that not even specialist doctors and professionals were able to.

*cough*

 

[Nincompoop]

Take up some art. Music? Painting? Photography?

If you suddenly discover that you are great at something, it might ignite you.

This is just a guess, from the experience of the depths that I have been in, and suddenly risen to unimaginable heights.

But I wouldn't say I have ever been 'depressed', like, really.

 

[Nitpicker of the Wastes]

Yes, I'm sure the users of the Esacpist will be able to solve complicated emotional problems that not even specialist doctors were able to.

*cough*

2 words. Internet. Girlfriend.

 

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

Yes, I'm sure the users of the Escapist will be able to solve complicated emotional problems that not even specialist doctors and professionals were able to.

*cough*

i'm not expecting an answer per se, just suggestions that i can bear in mind

 

[jebbo]

Yes, I'm sure the users of the Esacpist will be able to solve complicated emotional problems that not even specialist doctors were able to.

*cough*

Nice sarcasm.

Hey if the guys got some psychological problems it can help just to talk to anyone. I've suffered from clinical depression for years and just being able to type on a website and get a response from someone that doesn't think you're a psycho can help a lot. There's no need to be an arse.

 

[SnakeF]

England? God help you. I recommend Cider.

Doesn't always work sadly, I know alot of people who try to drink away depression and just get worse from it, I've had to try cheer up alot of drunk, depressed friends before, not nice.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

2 words. Internet. Girlfriend.

Please, explain.

i'm not expecting an answer per se, just suggestions that i can bear in mind

Putting the Jager bottle down might be a good start.

 

[You_have_a_name]

my dad has manic depression and he takes tablets which make him fine

 

[walls of cetepedes]

England? God help you. I recommend Cider.

Doesn't always work sadly, I know alot of people who try to drink away depression and just get worse from it, I've had to try cheer up alot of drunk, depressed friends before, not nice.

Nononono... not to excess. Just a little bit a day. I have only been drunk three times, and they were only at family occasians. I'm off of the stuff now,

Hey if the guys got some psychological problems it can help just to talk to anyone. I've suffered from clinical depression for years and just being able to type on a website and get a response from someone that doesn't think you're a psycho can help a lot. There's no need to be an arse.

And I found the internet helped too. Just having people to talk to is fantastic.

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

I'm bipolar as well, and damn it will fuck up your life to a spectacular degree. My understanding to the British NHS is that they aren't particularly...responsive when it comes to psychatric care. Do they know the medicine isn't working?

As far as coping on your own - as hard as it is, try to keep regular habits of sleeping, eating, and exercize. I know that when I get manic in particular, I stop eating and sleeping, which makes the depressive crash worse when it hits.

My doctor recently told me that, in his opinion, my bipolar was rapid-cycling, pretty severe, and a bit treatment resistant. I suppose a fist-pump and an exclamation of "Yeah! Hardcore!" was not exactly an appropriate response, but I try to have a sense of humor about it.

Right now I'm on a combo of medications, Wellbutrin for the depressive end, Lamictal to reduce the intensity of my bipolar swings, and we just added lithium to nail the lid down on my manias. It may be that you are like me, that it will take a combo of meds to get the manic-depression under control. I was a bit wary of lithium at first, but I can't argue with the fact that it's doing the job. Crazy dry-mouth though. Makes my teeth stick to my lips

 

[Nitpicker of the Wastes]

2 words. Internet. Girlfriend.

Please, explain.

Because if you can find a girl on the Internet, there is no more reason for sorrow.

 

[Mad Maniac with axe-firing chainsaw]

I've never had clinical depression so I'm not sure what I can do to help you.

Manic depression... that basically means that one moment you're happy, the next moment you're really depressed and don't feel up to doing anything? Well, when depressed you could try the following.

Is there anything you really enjoy doing? Even just picking a game you like and getting good at it would help, do something which gives you some feeling of satisfaction and progress, whatever it is. Getting something done and feeling like you're improving in some aspect can help.

Also, try meeting new people, and keep in contact with friends. I find that sometimes the right people can really cheer you up.

However, I know how difficult that can be when you're depressed. If it gets too bad and doing the above feels too hard or forced, just chill back, do something you enjoy, for yourself, and see the bad times through until you cheer up again.

This is hardly pro advice, but its all I can think of. Also, I've heard manic depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Seek psychological expertise, medication may help, as reluctant as we all are to take it these drugs were made to battle things like this. (I doubt I'm saying anything you haven't heard a thousand times before.) If counselling isn't working may I suggest hypnotherapy sessions? My mother has a very high success rate with her clients. (Unfortunately I live in Scotland so you're a bit distant, but there are lots of good hypnotherapists out there.)