What to do when Dr. says he can do zero?

I have two dias. but my biggest problem is depression. I say the Dr. Thursday and he said there is nothing he can do. He said that he had me on as much meds. as he can. That I will have to learn to live with it. I don't know if I am fooling myself or what. I just can't except that. There has to be something. With as far as medical has advanced they can't fix depression. Is he correct? Have you'll found that there really is nothing? Let me know what you think! Thanks and take care

(((Greg))) I"m sorry that this doctor gave you no hope. Is he a psychiatrist that only works with psychotropic medications, and not psychotherapy?

It's been shown that after 6 months of meds only or 6 months of psychotherapy only, the patient has progressed the same. Now that the drug manufacturers have disclosed that their meds only work for the severely depressed, my full bet is on psychotherapy!

CBT is really good for depression and countering the negative thinking, which feeds the negative feelings. Yes, there can be "real" reasons (as opposed to ?) for being depressed, but cognitive behavior therapy can help you begin to come up out of the darkness, and gain control of your life again.

There is a sticky post at the top of the Psychotherapy Forum regarding the 10 most common cognitive distortions, and how to begin to counter them. Depression is an illness that you can use plenty of support for though, so find another doctor, perhaps a psychologist this time.

thanks sky for that

and greg im sorry your doctor has told you that, your doctor is there to help you, are you seeing a therapist? just because he 'says' hes had you on all the meds he can offer you doesnt mean there isn't more help out there in other forms

I wish you well, take care ((((((greg))))))
Molly

When you are seriously depressed the last thing you want to hear is "there is nothing more we can do for you."

I went from severely depressed (which included ECT treatments), to treatment resistent , to all we can do is make you comfortable. The "make you comfortable" was the last straw.

I'm still here, which proves absolutely nothing.

I wish you the best of luck. Hope you can find a combination that works for you.

You know, change Drs.

I had a Dr. that I told for a couple of years that I was not feeling well, that my body wasn't cooperating with me, and all he said was eat right and walk around and quit straining myself.

I've been sick with a different underlying problem, but it didn't lend to my symptoms I was trying to discuss.

Once, he even walked out of the room on me when I was speaking, after seeing me only 5 minutes!!!

Turns out, it was the worse case scenario. My diagnosis that is.And later than necessary to find it!

What I learned, and am sharing with you, is that I was too loyal - yup, I took too much responsibility for my present health situation that I would have believed I caused it myself ... maybe.

So, my plan is to change my primary physician as soon as possible ... right now I can not because this Dr. has no say in my care anyway, I'm with the Specialists, but I don't want the insurance company to mess me up as this is a very serious time for me and I am trying to cure it.

So, find someone else!

That's what I learned a little late in the game, but I am hoping for another shot.

Peace and Determination,
nightbird

Thanks you'll for your words. It seems all say get another Dr. I will talk to him and about all he says is, Greg you are going to have good days and bad days, no *hit. I don't mean this lit. but if there is nothing thatcan be done I might as well blow my brains out. I am severly depressed, but I don't want to give up. I have always been a scapper. Thanks again and I will look for someone new.

I am sorry for what you are feeling.. I had a bad experience with docs too, as I went to see a therapist for months and all he could say to me was "why are you here?" like I was wasting his time.. the fact that i was depressed as hell and crying myself to sleep like every night didn't seem to bother him that much, apparently I was totally sane to him. Also, he always listened but never said anything to me to help me see things differently, I mean if all he's going to do is sit there and listen, what difference there is between him and one of my friends?
I say, don't trust one single doc. Always ask for a second opinion, AT LEAST. because doctors are humans after all and nobody has all the answers.
This is just my opinion, of course...

I hope everything sorts out for you, sometimes light comes at us when we have already forgotten how it looks like

Greg, I am so glad you are strong enough to not let this doctor or your depression win. You truly deserve to be happy and I hope you get the help you need.

Well, your Doctor is wrong. The best treatment for depression is therapy, I'm surprised your Doctor doesn't know this. Meds are useful but psychotherapy is needed also. Please ask your Doctor about this.

hi greg,

my experience is that i've suffered long-term depression. i tried many different kinds and brands of depression meds and they did not work. i also saw many different doctors and some were pretty good and a few were worthless and one psychologist was abusive.

BUT, my primary care physician who had stuck by me through thick and thin and is a general doctor ONLY, is the one who let me try a depression med that i heard about and asked to try. yep, you guessed it - it was the only one that has helped me so far. it helped my depression to get better (though not perfect) and it eased the physical pain issues that have plagued me for years.

My suffering has eased enough for me to be able to do more in therapy, which seems like a win/win to me The moral of my little tale is sufficiently obvious I'm sure.

Do not give up Greg. Fight for your life, literally. Your comment toward the end shows a lean toward suicidal thinking - I always take such remarks seriously so You really need to get help - no matter what you need to do to be taken seriously.

Your life matters to me. I have struggled a lot and I know what it is like to wish for death and to actually be suicidal. That is the wrong idea to pursue. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It is selfish and cruel to those who care and know you. Don't do suicide to other people.

Feel free to pm me if i can be any help in listening to you. I'm no expert as I've said, but I've been around the block a few hundred times. You are the only one of your kind, a unique creation, do not throw away your life or we all lose.

"Every man's death diminishes me" I do not know who said that quote, but there is truth in it. I do know that John Donne said, "No man is an island." Pull on us here for support while you look around for a new doc/T. That's what we are all here for. With Concern,

Leslie