Again....

I'm new here and was looking for ways to get out of this hole after I was caught by the black dogs again. I'm actually looking for self-help or local groups.

I'm nearly 22 and tried a treatment a couple of months ago in Germany, which I then decided to abandon. I thought I can cope with it on my own and had furthermore no motivation to sit around and talk every once in a while.

I'm afflicted by depressive mood since I was child. I started with the suicide of my dad when I was 7 years old. My mother had about 5 stationary treatments in a special hospital for mental disorders. I never had a good relationship with my mother and was forced to live on my own with the age of 18.

I thought I can start living a life after I missed the damn last 15 years

I have problems reading a book or studying, because I feel all the time tired. I can't concentrate very long on things and I'm usually diffused. My mood can switch very erratically from okay to bad. When I'm around people I still can force myself to smile and communicate, but somehow it has now long-term impact on my feelings.

Any advice?

Hello & Welcome, Stagnation123! Given your family history and symptoms, I am glad you are seeking help.

What did your treatment in Germany involve? Did that treatment help at all, even for a short time?

Sorry for the late response, I wasn't aware that my post is already reviewed and online

I did a Psychotherapy and after every session it felt slightly better, but it did not last very long at all.

I was volunteering today at a family emergency shelter and when I came home I had to sleep for 2 hours to do something. I also experienced the pressure on my chest again I had occasionally when I was in Germany.

The pressure or piercing pain occurs mostly on the left side of my chest and feels pretty strange. Like someone stabbed me with a knife but also like 200 pounds lasting on my chest. They did some tests in a hospital in Germany with no result.

Maybe I will go to a doctor and let it test here in the U.S.

Went to a doctor. I just had a pleurisy. I also started to write a blog about my journey on how to get rid of the depressions. Had a great start and it felt like a relief to write about it and it also helps me to keep track of my progress.

h++p://getridofdepressions.blogspot.com/

Very can I find helpful articles?

no one out there?

((((stagnation123)))) ... no advice here but just wanted to say sorry things are so rough just now and hope you find a usa doctor who can help!

I was doing some research and found out that it could be possible that a thyroid dysfunction is the cause of my depression and not my tough experiences.

I checked the following symptoms I have with the list of potential symptoms for a hyperthyreosis:

- Loss of weight (No chance to gain any weight through eating a lot or/and training)
- nervousness
- diarrhea (similar symptoms like irritable colon)
- difficulty in concentration
- tiredness (also after long hours of sleep)
- insomnia (sometimes problems to fall asleep)
- shaking (sometimes I can't execute a accurate movement with my hands)
- mood changes
- helplessness (feeling like I am lost)
- muscle weakness (I feel very weak, but fortunately I have no muscle pains)
- eyestrain (feels tired, burning and itching)

I am male 22 years old and I have family members with thyroid disfunctions (mother, aunt, grandmother), but I am not sure if I this is the cause for my depression. When I started the treatment in Germany there was no checkup of my organs to ensure it is not caused by something physical.

Should I check this with a Endocrinologist?

Yes, if you suspect a thyroid dysfunction, you should see an endocrinologist. But with your family history, I bet there is more than thyroid dysfunction. Your inability to concentrate enough to read a book is a symptom of your depression - treat the depression and you WILL be able to focus.

Thank you, but a thyroid dysfunction can cause a depression too. I was told it is a standard to check any physical causes of depressions first in order to except them.

And I figured out that I first need to go to a family doctor, or at least that's what the Endocrinologist said to me. I am not familiar with the health system in the US, but today I got my appointment.

Hope the thyroid dysfunction is positive...

Got my results on Monday this week. I watched my values of the blood test online and saw that the ATL value is out of the normal range.

When I researched on that I found that it hast to do with the liver. Looking for liver diseases I found similar symptoms to what I experience at the moment.

But when I called I was told that I might have problems with my kidneys and that it is necessary to take a second blood test in 3 months.

They also did just a test on TSH (Thyroid hormone) but not on T3 or T4 ???

I am a little bit confused, does anybody have a clue with blood values? (Attached 1 out of 7 test results)

No one you has clue of blood values?

No idea Stagnation, but good luck finding out. This forum has a thread with resources online for depression that might be useful for your blog.

Keep us posted,

RJ