Difference between depression and just dealing w/abuse?

I started dealing with the incest in May of this year. I immediately starting seeing a great therapist. Didn't remember anything before then except that I knew something must have happened to cause all my "quirks" and strange reactions.

I've been mildly to moderately depressed almost all my life (since first grade). And for about 6 months was severly depressed/suicidal at age 12. So I know what depression feels like. I haven't taken any medication for it. The one time I got up the courage to tell a doctor (general MD) about it, he sat back, took out his prescription pad, wrote "exercise 5 times weekly", handed it to me and said "is there anything else?". Total jerk. I cried all the way home. That was 10 years ago.

So does anyone know if dealing with abuse will cause a person to feel moderately to severely depressed without really being depressed? Just because life really does suck when you are dealing with lots of repressed crap everyday. Or is this something that I should go to a psychatrist about? I'm not suicidal, but the thought did flicker across the radar recently. I have a two year old so would never let it get to that point.

If I were to get on anti-depressants, would I still be able to feel and process what happened in the past? I want to continue dealing with this so that I can move on with my life. I don't want to get stuck.

Any help or insight is appreciated.

Elizabeth

I think meds can help in that situation; however, some t herapists dont like meds. My T doesnt want me to be on meds because she feels that I dont process my feelings then. Since im functional without it (get most my work done), she doesnt want me to be one it. Honestly, im not sure if I was with another T,whether I would be taking meds. I'd look into it. Meds can be more hassle then help though -- trying to find the right one, the right does, the right price. Unfortunatley every negative has its positive.

I hope you find the right thing to help you ((((hugs and support))))

Thank you (((((((((EV))))))))))). Hugs and support are so needed right now.

I guess you could say that I'm not getting my job done right now. Hard to say since I'm a stay-at-home mom with a part-time job programming from home. I did miss a deadline with work. And on the few nights that I do cook, I'm an hour late getting dinner ready. And the house is a mess, both cluttered and needing to be vacuumed. And my husband is starting to show the stress of having to do all the things that I usually do.

When I write it all down like that, I'm definitely not functioning or getting my job done. Perhaps I'm at the breaking point where meds become helpful.

((( )))

I'm on meds Elizabeth, and they haven't made me "stuck" at all. They have to find the right med though, as they work differently for all.

I tried Zoloft which made me a zombie and I couldn't work through anything because I couldn't feel anything.

Wellbutrin helped me a lot. It took the "heaviness" of the depression off just enough so that I COULD feel and continue to process my stuff.

I think it's worth looking into. Maybe you will only need them for a little while.

((((((((((((((Petunia))))))))))))) Thank you.

It is good to hear that there are options as to which med so that I don't have to get stuck. I've lived the past 36 years stuck--don't want that anymore!

BTW, love the fashionable new fall look you are sporting--it is so vogue to get a leaf graft these days

BTW, love the fashionable new fall look you are sporting--it is so vogue to get a leaf graft these days

when things get stirred up and it's hard to tell which what is who, a good t and appropriate meds can slow the spin down enough so's one can start cognitively processing.

my stuff was spun and spinning so tightly i couldn't get near it without, though believe me, i resisted meds until 6 years ago....... there are so many choices now, to find one that fits your situation and needs is much more likely.

))))))) ) ))one and many (((((((( ((( it's not all or nothing. nibble breath nibble breath nibble breath you'll get there.

((((((((((( OneandMany )))))))))))))

When I started therapy I felt worse than I ever did... all those old memories and stuff coming back, saying things to my T that I would not even say to myself when I'm alone...

My theory on depression is that something always causes it, and abuse and remembering about abuse is one of the possible factors. So I really wouldn't draw a distinction between the two. I would consider depression a symptom of dealing with abuse. I think that depression is pretty much always related to something, whether or not we can identify what that something is very easily. Medications can be helpful in dealing with the symptom. They don't fix the cause of the problem though. Working through what happened to you and how it is still affecting you and what you can do about it now so that you can make your future what you want it to be is how to deal with the real problem.

)))))))))))hillbunny((((((((((( (((((((((((Tanya))))))))))) (((((((((((Rapunzel)))))))))))

Thank you all. I made an appt with a P-doc for next Monday to get some meds to help (at least in the short term). I talked to T last night and, since everything seems to be falling apart, she now agrees that I probably need some meds to take the edge off.

In the meantime, I am practicing self-care, breathing, healthy distractions, and just putting one foot in front of the other. This too shall pass.

Elizabeth

)))))) ) ) ) )One And Many ((((((( ( (( yep, this too shall pass. good luck with the meds.