[Leora]

Hi my name is Leora. I have been looking for help for years to deal with my problem. I am not sure what to do or say or feel or everything. If anyone has any advise on how to get me started please let me now. Thank you

Welcome, Leora.

Perhaps you could tell us a little more? Do you have a diagnosis? How are you feeling - I know you say you are not sure but in that uncertainty is there anything you can identify? What is going on for you?
Feel free to read around the forums; if you can't put into words how you feel it may be that you will read someone else's words and that will help you to identify what you can write. There is lots of support here; I hope you soon feel at home.

Caroline

[LMo]

Hey Leora - welcome! Caroline had great advice for how to get started, so I won't repeat it.

Let us know how we can help!
LMo

[Lou_Pilder]

Leora,
You wrote,[...looking for help...not sure...get me started...].
There is a vast collection of expanding knowlege available here from a diverse , pluristic population that has experiance collectivly that could have the potential to give you the needed answers to what you are seeking. My suggestion is to identify the catagory that you are seeking help for. Then, those that have knowlege and experiance could come forward to reply to your querry.
Lou

[Leora]

Thank you Caroline. I was finally diagnosised 7 years ago with depression and PostTramatic stress disorder. I am feel like a prisoner I am afraid to leave my home. My doctor finally said that I am not allowed to work. I have broken all contact with my family except my husband and kids. I have been taking clanazapam for 7 years but am not taking any antidepressents because they are to expensive for our family.

[Beautiful_Pain]

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Hi leora, welcome to PC. Just coming here was a step, feel free to post any specific questions or problems in the category it relates to =) Look around and get familiar and hopefully comfortable, maybe talk to a few people. Hope you find the support you need.
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[h0kie]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Leora said:
I have been taking clanazapam for 7 years but am not taking any antidepressents because they are to expensive for our family.

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Hi Leora and Welcome to Psych Central!
Do you have health insurance? (I'm unfamiliar with the health care system in Canada). If you don't you may be able to get medication from the drug companies. We qualify so we have been able to get my husband's antidepressant free of charge in 90 day supplies. We use this site , it has been a life saver.

I am not familiar with Canada's laws/health care system, but if you know what antidepressant you were on, you can figure out who makes it and contact them directly.

I have depression too, Leora, along with General Anxiety Disorder (according to the hospital) and dissociative identity disorder (my counsellor thinks). Anxiety in particular situations is something I am familiar with. I wonder if there is anyone who might be able to help you. Sometimes the smallest things can make a difference. For example, I struggle with large numbers of people and was very anxious about going to Church. Various friends from church have arranged to meet me outside just before a service so that I can go in with them. Their support enables me to cope. Is there anyone you could call on who might be able to help you get out of the house, even if it is just in the garden or to the end of the street to start with. I know how hard it is to ask, but my experience has been that people are pleased to know how they can help. I have another friend at work who, when she sees I am stressed, comes to sit with me and that helps me to be more grounded. If you have not friends locally to ask, it might be worth approaching a voluntary group - we have the Samaritans here who offer various forms of support.

I can't advise re drugs I'm afraid as I am in England and things are very different here. But I see someone has already made a suggestion that may help.

Keep posting - I am sure you will get helpful responses from many here.

Glad you found us!
Caroline

[ozzie]

Hi Leora and welcome to the forums. I think by reading posts you'll soon have an idea where you want to post and what you want to talk about.

[Lou_Pilder]

Leora,
You wrote,[...I've been taking Clonazepam for7 years...]
I could offer you support in the area of that drug that you are taking. It is a chemical in the class of benzodiazepine, known as Clonazepam, AKA Klonopin and Rivotril.
Lou

[Leora]

I want to thank everyone who has posted replies to me today. I can honestly say that I actually had a moment that I went I am not alone. I just want to thank everyone for the help and that I will be back again. Once again Thank you
Leora

[dexter]

Hi Leora, and welcome to PsychCentral.

This is a comfortable place once you get to know it, so feel free to start here in whatever way is most comfortable. You can "spill all" if you want to do so, people here don't judge and we understand. Some people are more comfortable posting just a little at a time, to get their feet wet. Some just like to read other posts for a while until they feel comfortable talking. And others like to start by responding to other posts before they start to talk about themselves.

There is no right or wrong way to get started, the only thing that is 100% right is the fact that you came looking for help.

With regard to your depression, you mentioned that you cut yourself off from your family. Depression makes us isolate ourselves and that could be a bad thing. But it depends on the situation. Is your family toxic to your mental health? If so, that might have been the right thing to do. (I have done the same with my father). If you are cut off because of the isolation of depression it might help to try to reestablish contact with them... depending on how responsive they are, if they understand the illness, etc.

In any case, good luck, glad to see you here!