What can I do please. I can't go on like this

Dear vangellis,

You must go to your GP and tell them just how dreadful you feel, you must make

Them understand that you cannot go on like this, how you are living and feeling is

Just an existence....insist that life is not worth living..I can totally sympathize with

You, I had that exact conversation with my own GP this morning, she raised my

Antidepressants straight away and she really listens to me...I was very

Fortunate too that I had a lovely psychiatrist who was very kind and got to know

Myself and my family very well... have you got any family or close friends you can

Open up to?...

It makes sense that if you begin to feel a little better you will want to and be

Capable of doing more.. Please get help as quickly as you can, the Samaritans are

An excellent help and support, also your mental health team must also have a

Crisis team, please get in touch with them also... my thoughts and very best

Wishes are with you, take care and be kind to yourself, please keep in touch,

Deirdre X-Men

Taking valium is not a good idea; this is one of the old fashioned drugs that does nothing for the patient except to become dependent on them. There are drugs that can help you to sleep so your GP needs to understand just how desperate you are for some decent sleep. Without the ability to get a decent night's sleep everything else becomes a nightmare and any other medication is unlikely to provide any help.

You have not given any indication what has lead to your present predicament. We do not just become depressed; there are always reasons and these need to be tackled. The medication is there to enable you to approach your daily life in a normal way (drugs do not cure depression - we cure ourselves given the help those druge provide) so getting sleep is the first step before any consideration of change to the medication.

A first step should be to have a really deep talk with your GP. Either your GP is going to help you or you need to change GP. Once your GP understands your sleep problem s/he should realise you cannot improve without getting good sleep and that must be the priority.

You may need a second opinion from another psychiatrist afterwards if that level and type of medication is not helping you, but get your sleep sorted out first.

I agree with Jaguar.  Doctors don't like to prescribe meds like valium now as there are much newer and better ones on the market.  I take sertroline for my depression and mirtazapine to help me sleep at night,  

You deserve better treatment than you are getting.  Let us know how you get on. x

Hi, Vangellis.

You need to find a new psychiatrist.  I take Mirtazapine 30mg this helps me to sleep at night.  My doctor also has me on Abilify10 mg and Latuda 40 mg.  Both of these help with my depression.

 Valium is definetely old school.  Your doctor should be listening too you better.  It sounds like you are severely depressed.  It sounds like you are alone.  I hope you have family and friends that are picking up on your depression.

Please call NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) at 1-800-950-NAMI.  They should be able to help you find a new psychiarist, getting counseling, and new medication.

Hang in there, Vangellis. 

I take mirtazapine 30mg which helps me sleep. I'm also on two other tablets so they might help as well. It is so hard to do anything when your depressed. It's awful when you have no motivation. I feel like this also so I know how you feel. 

HHi everyone, thank you so much for your replies, I really appreciate them.

It all started about 20 years ago wnen we moved to newport from tenby (a seaside town) I was employed as a caravan site maintenance manager and was kept busy 16 hours aday 7 days a week and I loved it. Then when we moved here I had nothing at all to do so I started feeling a bit depressed, I went to myGP who put me on prozac, it worked great for 12 years. I started fixing peoples cars from home as I am a fully qualified mechanic.

Then in 2007 ~I had a heart attack which nocked me for six, then the depression gradully got worse to the stage I am in now.

my gp refered me to a shrink 7 yers ago and he put me on 45mg mirt and 60mg prozac daily. I was like a zombie, totally spaced out all the time. I went back to my gp and he stopped the prozac.

Then he noticed my ankles were badly swollen so he cut the mirt to 30 mg daily. that didnt help so he cut it to 15mg daily. the ankle swelling is fine now.

I have been to see the shrink that many times I have lost count. I have told him over and over the mirt is not working but he simpy wont have it.

He says it is all in the mind and I need to force myself to do things, but I cant, I feel that ill I cant do anything at all.

I also have OCD, GAD and COPD which doesnt help.

my children have grown up and left home now and I miss them terribly, my wife works nights so when I get up if I been to bed she is asleep obviously.

I worry over the slightest thing, for instance my cars MOT was due and although I went over it with a fine toothcom I knew for a fact it would pass no problem at all. but waiting from the monday to the thursday I was worried sick, literally, I was actually being sick with worry. The car flew through the mot by the way..

I am a total wreck now with no hope and no future. I cant fix cars anymore because I have to make sure I dont overdo it due to my heart attack plus the COPD make me very breathless.

thanks for listening

Roger

Hi Roger,

Firstly I'd like to suggest that you find something to do during the days, besides staring out of your window. It doesn't have to be anything you particularly enjoy, just something that might help take your mind off of things which can trigger further depression, and will help you pass the time. Of course, pick an activity which won't put pressure on your body from the heart attack.

Secondly, find yourself another doctor. There are many drop in clinics as well where you don't have to register to be seen. I find this to be a useful backup when my doctor is being unhelpful! A few years ago, he told me my pains were in my head, so I went to a drop in and I have been diagnosed with a condition. Second opinions are always helpful when you have doctors who don't understand.

Thirdly, and I can't stress this enough, stop blaming yourself. I know you haven't specifically said this, but in most cases of depression the person suffering tends to blame themselves for things. But you shouldn't! The situation has been out of your hands, and you need to regain your control.

I'd suggest starting small. For me, I read and reply to forum posts about various illnesses and ailments, because it takes my mind off of my anxieties and depression. If that's not helping, I'll put on some music and just close my eyes and listen, try to memorise every single word and evaluate the meaning. Taking your mind away from everything is often the first stage to recovery, and often the hardest.

As for not being able to see your wife much, is there any way you would be able to alter your sleeping habits to reflect hers? Such as sleeping whilst she sleeps and spending time together before/after her work? That way you wouldn't be alone as much, and you may find it helps you to deal with some of the issues you're up against.

All the best!