I've had depression on and off my entire life, but in the last year or so it has gotten worse. I didn't realize until the last week or so, how bad it has gotten. I should have but I guess now that I am back on an anti-depressant, it became obvious to me. Has anyone else dealt with severe depression? I can understand why people with chronic issues, ie pain or other life altering conditions, have committed suicide. I'm not saying I feel that way now, but I do understand the feeling of hopelessness in having FMS. Especially when you have close family that is less than understanding about my health. I just want to know if this is something all of us feel.
Mary,
I'm not one that suffers from depression in the clinical sense. However I have had the feeling of being a waste of space and a burden on my family. This has happened more lately since I fell and am now unable to do much. Most of us place our value on what we do, we forget that relationships don't depend on doing but on being. I have worked on staying in contact with friends by phone as much as possible. It is surprising how many times my call has come just when a friend needed someone to just listen to them. Yes I'm in pain but those times when I can focus on a friend needs or hurts helps me let go of mine for at least a little bit.
This is how I deal with my useless feelings, maybe some others can share how they fight the depression and worthless feelings.
Hello Mary,
I am so sorry to hear you are feeling this way, but perfectly understandable. doggie has written a really lovely response already. For me I am looking at ways to get a better relationship with my pain, ie relaxation techniques, mindfulness ( there is a group for this), gentle exercise (learnt a few Tai Chi moves recently). These things really do help. It takes a strong person to admit they need help with their depression, so please work with your Doc to make sure you are on the right meds for that. Also as far as family goes some will get it (sort of) some won't. So try for help and support from those who are willing to find out about this tricky condition. Good luck, and let us know how you are gettinng on
Take care, Anne
Hi Mary,
I completely understand how you feel. I have been fighting with a few chronic ailments for 15 years now and last month I was finally diagnosed with depression. I think for me, it was almost a relief to get the diagnosis. I have really struggled this year and had to go on FMLA in May. I started medication last month and feel a whole lot better already. I get what you are saying about that hopeless feeling especially when your family doesn't really understand how you are feeling. Just know that the people on this site are amazing and have always been a strong support system for me. To answer your question, I do believe we all have periods of depression but I'm not sure we all need medication for it. Please take care of yourself and I hope to chat with you again soon.
Lisa (elfin)
Hi Mary,
I'm sorry about the intense emotional pain you are in. It's so hard to wrap your head around fibro, and then the emotional pain kicks in too. Things get worse when family members or friends refuse to understand your position.
Fibro and depression are intricately linked. I am not sure that you can have fibro without also having depression. It would be the rare person who could walk out and experience no mental dysfunction after suffering through some truly awful pain. And I would wager that they would eventually get depression as well.
As far as I am concerned, when my fibro gets worse, then the depression worsens as well. Knowing how to mentally cope with low levels of pain does not help to equip one to fight against a lot of pain without intervention of therapy, medications or both. Getting help is essential, in my opinion. I don't know if it's possible to effectively fight fibro depression without help. I tend to think of depression as the mental scarring that fibro leaves behind and that scarring needs medical attention.
I hope you find some help so you can losen the jaws of the depression that is plaguing you. If you get too depressed then please call the National Suicide Line at: 1-800-273-TALK. They are better eqipped with handling situations where a person feels suicidal.
Hugs,
Petunia
I have had depression my whole life, I have gone to therapy on & off since I was 5yrs old! I wasn't given Meds until I was 15 but then that is when I was suicidal so I guess the "Powers That Be" decided it was time to medicate.
There have been discussions here on toxic family & friends, those who refuse to accept what we have HAD to accept for OUR sanity. When there are toxic people in our lives they play havoc on our physical self. For my self preservation I have stopped having any interaction with toxic family members.
My sis has a book called "You can heal your life" by Louise L Hay, Louise used affirmations to heal herself from cancer. As I read thru the book I thot for sure this woman interviewed me in my sleep! She didn't use religion & at that time in my life, that was a good thing.
Hopelessness, yes..... but she works the brain around that & Empowers the Soul & it SAVED me! It kept me going & it still keeps me going.
LOL, in fact I used one of her affirmations to empower a felow fibromite.
M
Thank you all for your wonderful advice and wisdom. I am so thankful to have found this website. I absolutely love being here. I have never had so many people who understand what I go through every day. It is like y'all have been peeking in my windows, seriously!! I have had to pull away from people in my life that cause drama. Some people, it seems live for drama. I don't understand people that are like that at all but there is always a reason people are the way they are. Some have been abused or mistreated and can't get out of that rut I guess but I think that we need to be as positive as we can, and treat others as we would like to be treated. Again, thank you all for taking the time to open up to me. I know that I am new here, but I am not new to depression, or FMS, so if any of you need something, or want someone to talk to or vent, I am always here, just message me. Thanks guys!!! I wish all of you well!!
Mary