Can It really be beat?

A lot of people say they are still dealing with depression and all these bad feelings inside. This is not something I want to have to deal with for my whole life. I know I have to though. that is what sucks the most. It is not a good feeling to know I am going to have to deal with sevre depression for the rest of my life. I know people will say it will get better. It never does. I just wish it would. Is that to much to ask/

xrainstorm,

I never experienced depression to the point where it controlled my life until I was 41 & it was a situational experience that started it. From that point, I was on medical leave of absense & then on to disability. I went through some really horrible times where suicidal feelings were on the top of my list. That passed after about 5 years & then came so many other horrible reactions to medications & migraines that just wouldn't go away. (I think that the OD's might have caused some chemical imbalance in the brain causing the migraines).

I was actually doing much better for several years & felt so much better that I thought I could go back to college & choose a different career after being an aerospace engineer for 15 years. On top of that, I have gotten involved with my horses & training for my dressage riding along with breeding. Then hit a trauma just 1 1/2 years ago which living through really set me off & the symptoms of PTSD became horrible to live with. I am having a horrible time with the nightmares & flashbacks that hit with the smallest trigger.

Just lately, I needed a letter from my pdoc in order to qualify for a lower electric bill rate because of being on disability. He had to tell them what was going on & that was when I found out that the basic DX is chronic clinical depression & that my disability is expected to continue indefinitely.

To be honest, it seems like the anxiety attacks are the worse part of what I am dealing with now & the PTSD symptoms have taken over, but. The depression has taken a back seat to my other problem. I am not sure that we can "beat it", but it seems with alot of self control, that we can lessen how bad we feel. It seems to me it is like a roller coaster ride with it's ups & downs (not bipolar), just times when we can actually feel better & accomplish things for awhile until something hits us again. To me, it seems like once I experieced anxiety & depression, I can make it go away completely......but even feeling better for awhile & becoming more capable of doing things again is a great feeling.

Of course, my Dx was from a situational experience & not necessarily a chemical imbalance from birth....I don't know how the difference works but I was greatful for the period of time that I actually felt better & hope that I can have a similar experience in the future.

My hopes are for you to feel some relief in your future also,
Debbie

Thank you. What you said really hit home. I am 18 years old though. I get horrible panic attakcs also. I have been through hell and back. Once seem seem like you are getting better something else hits. If you ever wanted to PM me you can. We can talk more personally. We have a lot of things in common and I think it would help to talk about it. Thank you again.

If you were a diabetic and were insulin-dependent would you be take your insulin and do what you needed to do to stay alive?

I think it's much the same thing, but in a different way.

Yes, it can be eliminated, diminished, controlled, and/or manageable.

I'm sorry if my situation has discouraged you, but it isn't the "norm" for all who are depressed. Mine comes from being disabled with chronic pain.

I am not sure exactly what that means.

Sorry My chronic depression is connected to my chronic pain, and probably won't go away completely ever. (But there's hope )

Even if your depression might not go away completely with work.... you can get it to where it won't intrude into your daily life. TC!