how to deal with depression

[shanmar]

Hi sis Sanaa di mo mo na inistop yong sertraline...kase nag take din ako Nyanja pero  1month Lang naman...malaki din naitulong Nya sakin sis kase nag ginagawa ng Mede Mayan is regulate yong normal mong pag iisip...kase yung paulit Ulit nating pag iisip na Baka mag panic tyo anytime is not normal lagi tyong may fear na di natin alam Kung bakit ..ang ginawa sakin ng sertraline sis is tumapang ako di ako takut lumabas na ng bahay di ko na mashadong naiisip yong Baka atakihin ako anytime..nawala yun pinag

Just want to post that today ay nakalabas  na rin ako sa bahay ng mag-isa without having panic attacks. Pinag take din ako ng altrox at malaki din naitulong sakin nun simula ng nag take ako nun never akong sinumpong then nung napansin na ng doctor ko na ma aliwalas na ako at ok ok na ko unti unti Nya binabawasan young mcg ng meds ko na altrox...nag start ako ng 250mcg 2x aday then nagging once a day then half ng 250mcg once a day hangang inistop ko na:) till now may padaan saan akong attacks pero di na sha malala kase na kakayanan ko na at di ko na sha iniisip....pag balata dam ako ng hot flashes tutuk Lang ako ng aircon at fan then mag net ako hehe di ko mamalayan ok nako...pero meron akong emergency meds just incase na sumpungin ako may ma tatake ako pero ilang  months na sakin yong last meds ko di ko parin sha nagagamit :)kaya pinag pa pray ko Lang lagi is Sana di natalaga bumalik yong dati kase sob rang hirap talaga....[textspeak!] nyo ko sis Baka makatulong ako kahit papa no...09159008181 ym ko is Cyruz_Shane_bs@yahoo.com

ang naging problema ko kasi ay bago pa lang lumabas ng bahay halos may panic attack na coz my heart is already at 105 Beats Per Minute.

ang ginawa ko lang today is just accept the fact that anytime ay puwede ako magkaroon  ng panic attack so instead of obsessing or being afraid kung kailan magkakaroon uli ng panic attack, i just concentrated on what should i do if i have panic attack. just in case magkaroon nga ng panic attack i will just do some deep breaths.

ang ginamit kong method is yung kay Joe Barry. yung you just welcome the panic attack and say "sige, panic attack kung panic attack" bahala na si batman.

i was also taking Sertraline for 3 days but i already discontinued it since "anticipatory panic attack" is more of a psychological thing. anti-depressants can only cover the symptoms but not the root cause.

yung "anticipatory panic attack" and agoraphobia (fear na lumabas ng walang kasama) is a learned behaviour that can be unlearned. You just need to expose yourself to the situation, may kahirapan nga lang gawin but kung magawa mo, the results are great.

i will be going out for the next 7 days to normalize my brain and unlearn the agoraphobia.

[littlekinselle]

i pray for you all sissies.. muah...
ma overcome niyo din yan... remember di ibibigay ni Lord God kung di natin kaya..
get well soon mga sis...

kahit ako im loosing hope pero, i need to be strong..

[kheanne]

it is also good to know the root causes of anxiety and depression. it really helps a lot kasi if you know na hindi naman dangerous ang panic attack, you won't feel anxious of getting another panic attack.

anxiety can trigger another panic attack. too much emotional stress can trigger panic attacks. in my case sobrang stress sa trabaho, sa bahay, ang ugali ko na talaga na maging worrier, i always worry sa lahat ng bagay then kulang sa tulog, kulang sa kain.

[momotakeshi]

i want to start having counseling sessions. can you recommend me a good psychologist/psychiatrist (which one ba dapat?) and how much ba ang consultation/session pag ganito? thanks.

[enyuti]

finally, i'm a lot better than before. grabe experience ko sa anxiety at depression na yan. parang gawang EVIL. Everything is normal and yet mahirap ang pakiramdam. I always pray na walang makaexperience ng naexperience ko especially among my family and  friends.
Until now, under meds ako. Dra. Bernadette Arcena is my psychiatrist. She is indeed an angel. My clinic sya sa Mt. Carmel, Pampanga and sa St. Luke's QC. I am taking up Lexapro 1 tab, rivotril 1/4 tab and seroquel 1/2 tab on my first wk. 2nd wk, continue lang ang lexa, 1/8 tab na rivo, 1/4 na sero.... and now as needed nalang ang rivo.... no more attacks. Pero may lungkutin times pa rin minsan paggising ko... but seldom and manageable  .
Mga sissies..... PRAYER and FAITH ang number one na gamot. I am a worrier.... a worst worrier at all times. Factor lang ang pagkakasakit ko kaya natrigger ang anxiety attack ko. But due to the LESS faith i had before.... ang dami kong iniisip kaya nagkaganito...gumrabe! Naapektuhan na pagiisip at pangangatawan ko... gustong gusto ni TANING. Wag kayo padaig..... stay fit. Exercise din kayo lagi... stay healthy.... and keep on praying.... I attest to the FAITH! God bless everyone.... let's pray for others too 

[babaengmahiwaga]

need help on how to overcome depression. im into medication already but i hope i can get some for those who experienced it.
please

Talk to someone, sis and share, share, share.  You can PM me if you want?

[jashy]

hi mga sis. not sure kung anxiety or depress na itong akin. im not having consultation kasi i know its only in mind yun pag inentertain mo sya. im doing more on self encouraging. last year hindi talaga ako makawork pag gising ko ang sad sad ko then kumakain ako kahit walang gana, tulo talaga luha ko while eating then i felt i cant wait to die, may time na kahit ano ginagawa ko bigla na lang ako masasad at tutulo luha ko. wala na ako naaapreciate na maganda. kain, tulog, trying to entertain myself like nood tv, soundtrip dance. pero wala gana. parang ginagawa mo lang dahil buhay ka pa and need mo magperform dito sa mundo.

[airish_2]

^sis may problem ka ba na nagtritrigger? maganda talaga na maishare mo ang problems mo sa trusted people. mahirap solohin basta sabihin mo lang sa sarili mo lahat may katapusan. wag yakapin ang depression.

[jashy]

yes. we know that problem is part of life. minsan khit sbhin mo sa sarili mo "its goin to be ok" parang lam mo na sabi mo lang yan.

its hard to live alone or [textspeak!] kang maaashan sino man. hndi ka pede magrelax. whos gonna pay your dorm, pano ka kakain, may sakit ka ndi ka man [textspeak!] mabilhan khit biogesic. kaya kahit ayaw mo gnagawa mo or burnout ka na, go with the flow na [textspeak!]. may gusto ka gawin but you know u lack of everything. dba kastress? haizz buhay parang life.. hehe

[donselle]

hello. pasali din po.. share ko naman yung akin (and need a little advice na rin)...

it all started february 2010, when I got involved in a controversy sa school namin right before I graduate from college, dagdag pa yung stress sa pag-asikaso ng requirements for graduation.. sa kaka-isip ko sa problem kong iyon, nag-breakdown ako sa kalagitnaan ng OJT ko.. buti walang nakakakita sa akin that time hanggang sa dumating yung kasama ko sa OJT at pinatahan ako.. after that, feeling ko nawalan ako ng gana sa buhay, pati ang kumain, tapos wala na akong paki sa mundo, but then I was functioning well pa naman sa bahay, sa school, pati sa OJT ko.. medyo nahimasmasan lang ako noong nag-heart-to-heart talk kami ng college barkada ko, and from then on things went to normal - nagawa kong i-enjoy ang last moments ko sa college, nagkaroon ako ng work at nakapasok pa ako sa law school...

or so I thought.. kasi mula noon, every so often naiisip ko yung part na iyon sa buhay ko.. naiisip ko, I'll never deserve to be trusted, I'll never deserve to be loved, I'll suffer for as long as I live.. mula noon, I treated my work and school as a punishment sa mga nagawa ko in the past - nagpaka-slave ako sa trabaho at pag-aaral ko..

things became a little okay mula noong sinagot ko yung BF ko today, and I was starting to bond with my new friends in law school.. I was starting to make friends at acquaintances na rin, both sa school and sa workplace ko..

or so I thought again.. naging issue kasi sa parents ko ang mga pasang-awa to bagsak grades ko sa law school, and I have to repeat some subjects.. papaano kasi, sanay sila na mataas lagi ang grades ko mula elementary hanggang college.. I try to explain to them na hindi naman madali ang law school, tapos nagwo-work pa ako, pero hindi talaga sila convinced (they have this mindset na since ginusto ko itong course na ito, pagsikapan ko dapat and that the more na nape-pressure ang isang tao, the more na lumalabas ang galing niya).. so talagang nagsikap ako sa studies ko ngayong sem.. ang problema, mahirap na ang mga subjects ko.. there was one in particular na ang bali-balita sa campus eh isa lang ang pinapasa sa bawat klase.. and true enough, kahit anong sikap ko, mukhang failing grade pa rin ang makukuha ko sa kanya.. then, meron pa akong officemate na hindi ko naman kaaway pero hindi ko rin naman ka-close.. okey lang sana sa akin na ganoon, pero never niya akong pinapansin, and lalapit pa lang ako sa kanya, iiwas na siya.. feeling ko tuloy may nagawa ako sa kanya, kaso ano naman kaya yun? on top of that, nagbabalik na naman yung thoughts ng mga nangyari sa akin noong bago ako mag-graduate sa college..

and just last month, september, nagiging malungkutin ako, I cry kapag may sad thoughts ako (and often petty as my BF puts it), mas naging makulit ako to the point na super insistent ako, at nasasagot ko na nang pabalang yung parents ko.. it got worse noong yesterday, nasigawan ko yung BF ko, tapos biglang hindi na lang ako pinansin hanggang sa makaalis siya ng school.. good thing sinabayan niya ako ng pag-uwi and then sinabing na-offend siya sa nagawa ko.. umiyak na naman ako sa shoulder niya..

later that night, na-realize ko na parang hindi na ako ito.. parang hindi na tama itong nangyayari sa akin.. masyado na akong nabu-burnout, sobrang stressed na ako sa work at especially sa school.. hindi na ako makapag-focus, na kailangang-kailangan ko pa naman ngayon kasi finals week na namin.. apektado na ang mga relationships ko.. ang problema pa, I don't know where to turn to, kasi kung family ko nga hindi naiintindihan ang sitwasyon ko at ang pinagdaraanan ko, sino pa ang malalapitan ko? eh iilan lang naman ang mga friends ko na nakaka-intindi sa situation ko ngayon.. i'm actually considering seeing a psychiatrist, pero ang concern ko is kapag may iprescribe sa akin na gamot, baka maging dependent ako doon..

do i need to see one at this point..? if ever i have to, meron kayang treatment na magagawa kahit hindi na mag-prescribe ng gamot..? TIA... :]

[kheanne]

mga sis. if ever you need something na OTC anti-anxiety and an OTC antidepressant i found something better na Over The Counter. I researched all over the internet to find some alternative to prescription anti-depressants.

A good OTC medicine with anti-depressant and anti anxiety properties is Chlorphenamine (Chlorpheniramine) or "Antamin Tablets" (5 Pesos per tablet). This is the one i am using right now instead of Zoloft (Sertraline). kasi safer yung Antamin because it is over the counter and fewer yung side effects. Antamin tablet is used for nasal allergies or kung meron kang allergies pero isa sa side-effect niya is ang pagiging anti-depressant and pampakalma (anti-anxiety). 1950's pa siya na-discover and hanggang ngayon ay ginagamit pa rin. it has an excellent track record, walang long term negative side effects. Chlorpenamine is also an ingredient in Decolgen and Sinutab.  So if you have taken those medicines, that means naka-take ka na rin ng Chlorphenamine. However do not use Decolgen or Sinutab for depression kasi may kasamang paracetamol yun. We just need pure Chlorphenamine so buy "Antamin Tablets".  Yun kasing mga nirereseta ng pyschiatrist like Zoloft and Prozac grabe ang side effects kaya i quit using it. It is too early to tell if Antamin is working for my anxiety and depression since less than 1 week pa lang ako gumagamit nito. It takes 1 month (shortest ) to 4 months para makakita ka ng effect. Even zoloft and prozac takes also 1 month to 4 months para magkaroon ng effect.

For your reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorphenamine

In addition to being an histamine H1 receptor antagonist, chlorphenamine has been shown to work as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor or SNRI.[3] A similar antihistamine, brompheniramine, led to the discovery of the SSRI zimelidine. Limited clinical evidence shows that it is comparable to several antidepressant medications in its ability to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and also norepinephrine (noradrenaline).[4][unreliable source?] However, extensive clinical trials of its psychiatric properties in humans have not been conducted. It inhibits serotonin reuptake less than norepinephrine reuptake,[5] however the literature is not consistent in this respect.[6]

Another one is Diphenhydramine or Benadryl AH - it has anti-anxiety properties like Xanax and also have some anti-depressant properties kasi diyan mismo kinuha yung Prozac which is the anti-depressant na nerereseta ng pyschiatrist. if you don't want to take prescription anti-depressants, you can try Diphenhydramine or Benadryl AH. you can buy it over the counter. the fact that they are over-the-counter means they have a very good safety record and of course non-addictive. It can make your mind very calm however it can make you drowsy so much better to take Antamin Tablets. Or you can take Benadryl before going to bed only.

For your reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphenhydramine

In the 1960s, diphenhydramine was found to inhibit reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This discovery led to a search for viable antidepressants with similar structures and fewer side-effects, culminating in the invention of fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).[24][25] A similar search had previously led to the synthesis of the first SSRI, zimelidine, from brompheniramine, also an antihistamine.

Another good read is this one

Self-management of psychiatric symptoms using over-the-counter (OTC) psychopharmacology

http://www.hedweb.com/bgcharlton/sdtm.html

Anxiety symptoms might be self-managed either using an ‘unofficial SSRI’ (selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor) such as the antihistamines diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine; or with St John’s Wort/ hypericum.

 * * *

 There are many reasons why people might prefer self-management of psychiatric symptoms to consulting a professional. These include more rapid treatment, retaining control, maintaining confidentiality, shunning the stigma of diagnosis, mistrust of psychiatrists, avoidance of the cost and inconvenience of attending consultations, fear of side-effects from prescribed medications, and also the possibility that self-management might actually give better results (especially given the time and funding constraints, and conflicts of interest which affect the health care establishment).

Take note mga sis that you need to use those medications for at least 1 month to see some effects. Good luck and i hope that it works for you all. I will update this thread from time to time coz i really know how hard it is to cope with depression and i really really want to help everyone suffering from depression whenever i can. I'm hoping and praying for all of us anxiety/depression sufferers to get well.

If you have any questions about these medications, just post here. I'm very familiar with food supplements, medications and chemistry.

[xthine]

Caveat regarding anxiolytic medications..yes they do work rapidly as a rescue treatment (eg. band-aid), in essence it would be imperative to alleviate the underlying cause ie. prophylactic treatment thru psychopharmacology (medications) and therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy).

With anxiolytics (benzo's or antihistamines), they seem to perpetuate the idea of avoidance of anxiety is a way of managing it, rather than confrontation/exposure (CBT), with medication as an adjunct (SSRIs) and that avoidance leads to worsening anticipatory anxiety and that affect/limit daily life activities.

[kheanne]

Caveat regarding anxiolytic medications..yes they do work rapidly as a rescue treatment (eg. band-aid), in essence it would be imperative to alleviate the underlying cause ie. prophylactic treatment thru psychopharmacology (medications) and therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy).

With anxiolytics (benzo's or antihistamines), they seem to perpetuate the idea of avoidance of anxiety is a way of managing it, rather than confrontation/exposure (CBT), with medication as an adjunct (SSRIs) and that avoidance leads to worsening anticipatory anxiety and that affect/limit daily life activities.

Yes of course. The best pa rin ang CBT because ang chances ng relapse is lesser. I am also looking for a good CBT Therapist kasi yung psychiatrist ko just gave me Zoloft and didn't even explain to me what is panic attack, what causes it and how to manage it.

Mas effective pa yung binasa ko sa internet how to manage panic attack and it worked for me kaya medyo nakakalabas na ako. i still have some slight anxiety kapag lumalabas for the fear of having another panic attack but over time mawawala na rin ito.

i only took Zoloft for 3 days and the side effects were awful. Kaya i searched the net for alternative anti-depressants and anti-anxiety. it turns out that you can use Benadryl and Antamin as "OFF LABEL" over-the-counter anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication since they are actually used for sipon. Just take them before going to bed para hindi kayo drowsy sa umaga. Both Benadryl and Antamin can increase the "Feel Good" "Feel Happy" chemicals in our brain kaya gagaan ng konti yung problems and ma-le-lessen yung anxiety natin.

Meds can also help but of course you still need CBT and conselling to prevent the relapse of depression and anxiety.

[enyuti]

Sis kung kaya pa ng powers mo.... Kayanin mo. Have faith and do a lot of praying. Ako kase umabot na sa point na may feeling na anytime mamamatay nako.... Puro higa...walang kain, knowing na i have a good and loving husband and son... I suffered for weeks. Bago ako nagconsult sa psychiatrist. Kinakaya ko pa kase pero talagang humina na ko pati pagkatao ko. I have too little faith.... Na pati yun ay winowork up ko with God ngayon. Matagal ang meds kung uumpisahan mo. Though they made me feel better, kaso matagal ang gamutan, even if i feel im ok now,,,, continue pa rn ng pagtake, kamahal pa naman ang daily expenses sa gamot. Better have a support group....it really helps.
 

hello. pasali din po.. share ko naman yung akin (and need a little advice na rin)...

it all started february 2010, when I got involved in a controversy sa school namin right before I graduate from college, dagdag pa yung stress sa pag-asikaso ng requirements for graduation.. sa kaka-isip ko sa problem kong iyon, nag-breakdown ako sa kalagitnaan ng OJT ko.. buti walang nakakakita sa akin that time hanggang sa dumating yung kasama ko sa OJT at pinatahan ako.. after that, feeling ko nawalan ako ng gana sa buhay, pati ang kumain, tapos wala na akong paki sa mundo, but then I was functioning well pa naman sa bahay, sa school, pati sa OJT ko.. medyo nahimasmasan lang ako noong nag-heart-to-heart talk kami ng college barkada ko, and from then on things went to normal - nagawa kong i-enjoy ang last moments ko sa college, nagkaroon ako ng work at nakapasok pa ako sa law school...

or so I thought.. kasi mula noon, every so often naiisip ko yung part na iyon sa buhay ko.. naiisip ko, I'll never deserve to be trusted, I'll never deserve to be loved, I'll suffer for as long as I live.. mula noon, I treated my work and school as a punishment sa mga nagawa ko in the past - nagpaka-slave ako sa trabaho at pag-aaral ko..

things became a little okay mula noong sinagot ko yung BF ko today, and I was starting to bond with my new friends in law school.. I was starting to make friends at acquaintances na rin, both sa school and sa workplace ko..

or so I thought again.. naging issue kasi sa parents ko ang mga pasang-awa to bagsak grades ko sa law school, and I have to repeat some subjects.. papaano kasi, sanay sila na mataas lagi ang grades ko mula elementary hanggang college.. I try to explain to them na hindi naman madali ang law school, tapos nagwo-work pa ako, pero hindi talaga sila convinced (they have this mindset na since ginusto ko itong course na ito, pagsikapan ko dapat and that the more na nape-pressure ang isang tao, the more na lumalabas ang galing niya).. so talagang nagsikap ako sa studies ko ngayong sem.. ang problema, mahirap na ang mga subjects ko.. there was one in particular na ang bali-balita sa campus eh isa lang ang pinapasa sa bawat klase.. and true enough, kahit anong sikap ko, mukhang failing grade pa rin ang makukuha ko sa kanya.. then, meron pa akong officemate na hindi ko naman kaaway pero hindi ko rin naman ka-close.. okey lang sana sa akin na ganoon, pero never niya akong pinapansin, and lalapit pa lang ako sa kanya, iiwas na siya.. feeling ko tuloy may nagawa ako sa kanya, kaso ano naman kaya yun? on top of that, nagbabalik na naman yung thoughts ng mga nangyari sa akin noong bago ako mag-graduate sa college..

and just last month, september, nagiging malungkutin ako, I cry kapag may sad thoughts ako (and often petty as my BF puts it), mas naging makulit ako to the point na super insistent ako, at nasasagot ko na nang pabalang yung parents ko.. it got worse noong yesterday, nasigawan ko yung BF ko, tapos biglang hindi na lang ako pinansin hanggang sa makaalis siya ng school.. good thing sinabayan niya ako ng pag-uwi and then sinabing na-offend siya sa nagawa ko.. umiyak na naman ako sa shoulder niya..

later that night, na-realize ko na parang hindi na ako ito.. parang hindi na tama itong nangyayari sa akin.. masyado na akong nabu-burnout, sobrang stressed na ako sa work at especially sa school.. hindi na ako makapag-focus, na kailangang-kailangan ko pa naman ngayon kasi finals week na namin.. apektado na ang mga relationships ko.. ang problema pa, I don't know where to turn to, kasi kung family ko nga hindi naiintindihan ang sitwasyon ko at ang pinagdaraanan ko, sino pa ang malalapitan ko? eh iilan lang naman ang mga friends ko na nakaka-intindi sa situation ko ngayon.. i'm actually considering seeing a psychiatrist, pero ang concern ko is kapag may iprescribe sa akin na gamot, baka maging dependent ako doon..

do i need to see one at this point..? if ever i have to, meron kayang treatment na magagawa kahit hindi na mag-prescribe ng gamot..? TIA... :]

[luckyghel]

is anyone here taking cymbalta..duloxetine???

[kaice]

i had long standing job burnout but last january, i really have to consult a doctor na. i was diagnosed to have severe depression, put on lexapro. this is in the middle of our our wedpreps while juggling with my job and masteral school. i got pregnant after the wedding so i have to stop the meds immediately. it was super hard because im not yet totally ok plus the pregnancy depression is slowly sinking in. supportive therapy is really advised pero you really cant make all people understand you all the time. you really need to help yourself din. uplift your faith and do something that will make you happy everyday

[Senorita fifi]

Gerovital

[rebelheart]

Hi mga sis.. i feel depress lately. it happened when i found out that my bestfriend/partner for 11 years has a relationship with one of my closest friend. we are living in one roof and found out all the lies. i felt heartbroken and parang bumagsak talaga yung mundo ko. i tried to fight for what we have pero i failed. my bestfriend/partner insisted na 'im just a bestfriend' nothing more nothing less. what we have daw before is part na lang ng past. i admit, i cant let it go dahil sa tagal ng pinagsamahan namin. at the same time, i feel betrayed by another friend. ang masakit pa dito, lahat kami magkakasama sa isang office at isang department

simula noon, nawalan ako ng gana sa life. halos di na ako pumapasok sa work, di na ako makakain, di din ako makatulog ng derecho even after taking sleepasil. all i want to do is humiga lang at magmukmok. i tried going out with friends pero wala akong gana and i dont feel happy. i also got suicidal thoughts pero nauna pa din yung takot ko. di ko alam pano mag uumpisa ulit. parang binaligtad yung mundo ko and parang hindi ko na kaya yung nangyayari. please help.

[airish_2]

^oh my sis is he your husband? correct me if i'm wrong, have you tried telling your problem with your other friends? iba pa rin kasi pag na ilabas mo ako ginagawa ko inhale exhale before i go to sleep then pray para makaram ng sandaling serenity.

[rebelheart]

2 friend ko ang nakakaalam ng nangyayari sa akin. pero di ko ma feel yung support nila. then sinabi ko na din sa kapatid ko kasi i know sya yung taong makakaintindi sa akin. till now i dont know kung paano ako makaka-cope sa mga nangyayari. everytime na nakikita ko yung friend ko na nag betrayed sa akin pati [textspeak!] bestfriend/partner ko na magkasama, ang sakit sakit sobra. i pray everyday and everytime i feel so down. humihingi ako ng lakas sa kanya na sana makayanan ko lahat. nakaka depress sobra