tracyistrying

Welcome to the forums. I don't have much advice to give you but I do think it's helpful to at least talk to someone such as a therapist or any doctor that you trust that will listen. Trust is important so I went to my primary doctor for help as he knows my whole history. But I don't have chronic depression(or at least I don't think so), as this is my first depressive episode but I do have a lot of anxiety and probably have had that for at least a few years or maybe longer. I've always been quite anxious. Hugs to you!!

Sleeping is good. Have insomnia so I spend a LOT of time thinking about sleep and when I will be able to do it or not...........lol

Feeling overall better than I have in months, thanks to medication. Wish I could find something to work for the insomnia. Calling my doc today!!

Thanks so much for sharing this post. It's helpful on so many levels!

I personally feel like a lot of how we feel about ourselves has to do with our personality type and how we react to our parenting and environment. I just recently found out that I am an a certain type on a certain personality type questionnaire and I feel like the description fits me to a "T" and explains a LOT. It won't necessarily solve your issues to know this information but it could help you gain perspective. I now know why I am so sensitive and realize why I internalize things so much and feel so perfectionistic towards myself and so critical. So my parents being critical when I was younger affected me quite a bit in a negative way. But my sister sort of just lets it roll off(to an extent). She is able to handle that stuff better than me. Just some thoughts on that. Also, you may have to start out at a job which seems sort of beneath your education just to get some work experience, but I am sure others have probably mentioned that to you. Please hang in there and don't give up on trying to feel better.

Thanks so much. Right now I am trying to figure out something for this insomnia!!

I'm still trying to figure this out as I have heaps of stuff that needs done. But I think accomplishing ANYTHING right now is a big step for me. So today I: *stretched for 10 minutes *did a load of laundry *took a shower I am celebrating the little things. I get overwhelmed really easily.

Welcome hippyhippy. I am new here too. Depression is fairly new to me. You do seem lucky to have such a caring support system. Depression can be quite awful from what I have heard. My own experience hasn't been as awful as some as I was able to seek help from my family doctor and he seemed to be clued in to the fact that I was headed in this direction, so it was caught early. I hope you can find some relief from your depression. These forums are a good place to start, I think.

Hi, just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Tracy and I seem to have depression now although it does appear to be getting better with medication. Have probably had anxiety also for several years. I'm a teacher and my job has been quite stressful for several years with a layoff, switching of schools, a negative environment and caring for my special needs son without a whole lot of support for quite a few years. Though my son is higher function than some individuals with special needs. Just diagnosed in September with Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Flutter. I also suffer now with insomnia and "silent" acid reflux as well as now depression and anxiety. Ha ha, what fun!! lol So, I went from being a self-sufficient, fairly happy individual to one with all sorts of health problems in a matter of months. I mean I NEVER would even take a pill for a headache. I now take ALL SORTS of meds and see ALL SORTS of doctors. Boy have the tables turned. I have a heart surgery/ablation scheduled for March and I am working on getting healthy with eating and everything else. Long story short: I think this has mostly all been brought on by stress, lots of stress. Although my exhusband says I always used to complain of my heart racing, so who really knows. I've been reading LOTS of stuff on these forums and it's helped me immensely so far. (Just found out I'm most likely an INFJ on the Myers Briggs so that explains why I internalize things and why my feelings are so easily hurt sometimes.) Thanks to everyone that has shared here. I appreciate it so much!!

I had 3 anxiety attacks that sort of feel like a some sort of heart problem during the first week of taking excitalopram. I also was taking it at night but I couldn't sleep(had insomnia before taking it). So now I take it in the morning. Been taking for three solid weeks and I am starting to feel better. At first, the nausea was awful but it did go away. I am really starting to feel better now. Please hang in there for about 6 weeks as it cans sometimes take that long to work. But if you are having debilitating side effects then contact your doctor. I'm new to depression and have probably had anxiety for quite awhile and didn't know it so I'm fumbling along here too!!

I am depressed but not suicidal. Had to force myself to leave the house or go to work. Everything seemed like a chore, even taking a shower. I really just wanted to stay under my white fuzzy blanket on the sofa and watch TV. Had to talk myself into going to Christmas eve and I didn't even have to make anything ~ just show up. Was crying over every little thing. So glad I talked to my doctor. Been on Lexapro for 3 weeks and starting to feel much better. Would never do myself in but definitely have/had depression.