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Old Oct 23, 2015, 01:11 PM
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Grand Poohbah
 
Member Since: Oct 2014
Location: Boston
Posts: 1,589
Quote:
Originally Posted by TerriLynn View Post
About 13 years ago, I had a complete melt down. I was a divorced single mom with no real family support. I had a pretty good life though, great job, great daughter, nice condo, a convertible. I was cute and young. I had lots of reasons to be happy! When out of the blue, I crashed.

As a very young child, my parents were divorced, my mother an alcoholic, drug user, lots of men. I witnessed a lot of this, plus the abandonment from my mother. My father raised me and my sister, remarried when I was 9 to a woman who physically and emotionally abused me.

I witnessed domestic violence in my extended family, being put in harms way. Plus during visits with my mother, saw her abused as well.

Being from a family who absolutely refused to talk about anything. I was a child and was to speak only when spoken too. Nothing was ever resolved. I told my dad once, in a very very long letter, about everything, and he never spoke about it, I don't think he believed me. So I grew up stuffing everything, just surviving. My sister became an alcoholic as well. I married a man who became depressed, violent and abusive, emotionally and physically but have ZERO tolerance for that, so within 3 years we divorced.

Suddenly, I crashed, I was about 32 yrs old. In hind sight I can say it probably came on over about a week or two, this crazy spiral down, but ended one night with all the pain I had stuffed for my whole life coming at me. I couldn't stop it and attempted suicide. Fortunately I failed. I was able to get help but it was a really rough road for a while. The depression was horrible. I was a single mom and HAD to go to work. I would drive to work and sit in the car and gather the strength to get out and walk in. It felt like I was swimming against the current, walking against a strong wind, it was exhausting.

I was put on Prozac and that was a miracle. Within a few weeks it was like someone threw cold water on me and woke me up from a nightmare! I was in therapy, which was somewhat helpful, but sure didn't really solve anything.
I continued the meds, discontinued therapy when my insurance became a nightmare. Then eventually, probably a couple years or so later, went off the meds on my own.

I have done well since. A few bumps, but my new husband was a great support so I got through. Until a few weeks ago. I cant say how long it has been, but a few weeks ago I felt myself really sunk. I felt like that swimming upstream struggle just to get through the day, wanting to climb into bed the moment I walked in the door at home. Not wanting to do anything or go any where. When I talked to my husband about it I just cried. He is wonderful and loves me dearly and is very supportive, but has no real idea what depression is. He didn't know me when I went through the first battle. I am no where near where I was the first time, but don't want to get there!

I went to the GP doctor last week and discussed my migraines and my depression symptoms with him and was put on 20 mg of Prozac. I was a little worried about it, I was questioning my motives, wondering if I am depressed or do I just want attention. But as I brought it up with him, I began to cry uncontrollably and just wanted to curl up in a ball and kind of give up. I began to see how much I was struggling just to get through a single day at a time.

I opted for the Prozac because last time it made me lose weight, and I know some of the others can make you GAIN and I cannot afford to gain any more weight at all. I am having a bunch of funky side affects, jitteriness, jaw clenching at night, funky dreams, a little trouble falling asleep.

It has been a week, and I am beginning to see some small reliefs. I am beginning to be able to concentrate at work, actually finishing things and functioning instead or pouring myself into non-work related net surfing just to occupy my brain. I feel like life is still a big struggle, and cant focus on finances, it stresses me out even though we are financially fine. I am asking my husband to take this over. I start to think about it and then think I cant I cant I cant I cant!

So, that is where I am now. I didn't really ever think I would be back here again. Its a bit frustrating. I don't really want to go back into therapy, I don't think there is anything that can be fixed with counseling. I understand and acknowledge the abuse from my childhood. What else could it help.
Hi TerriLynn,

There are lots of things that you can do that are good for depression outside of the standard "meds+therapy" that you will hear from most MDs. Especially exercise, dietary improvements, supplements and meditation can be helpful and it's great for your health anyway, so why not add them to whatever you are doing now? I think that the process of actively looking for new things to try is helpful in itself.

I'm reading an insightful book about PTSD and adverse childhood experiences that might interest you called "The Body Keeps The Score" by Bessel van der Kolk, that might interest you. There is also a free book and some materials about Trauma recovery here

SE Home - Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals and Bodyworkers | PTSD | Trauma Resolution

- vital