I Am in Need of a Depression Support Group .....

While it is all fine and wonderful to say I lean on my husband and my "god" for help, it is not always a realistic situation. If you are truly depressed, and it is something that doesn't just come and go briefly, you might not feel comfortable talking with your husband (which is OKAY!!) about what is depressing you. And speaking to "god" waiting for him to waive his magic wand and make rainbows shoot out your eyes and lollypops fall from the sky isn't the most reliable source either.

I'm not all doom and gloom here, I promise. There actually is a GREAT support/therapy group that helps you learn skills to basically "retrain your brain" to deal with stressful, and depressing situations. It's called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (dbt) and it worked wonders for me and anyone I know who has been through it. Sometimes it does take a mixture of medicine and the group, but the basis is to be in a group setting, with others who are having the same issues, and to learn coping and preventative skills. I'm not sure where you live, but I will leave a link to a place I found online. I attended the class at the Mental health center of Denver, but the class/group is available all across the state/country.

One thing I learned to do, is to reassure myself that that the thoughts I am having are temporary, and will pass. I hope you find this helpful.

www.rockymountainhealth.org/counseling.asp

1 mom found this helpful

I too have been there. I was "diagnosed" with severe depression many years ago. I was put on just about every type of medication there is and not a one of them helped. All that I got from them were some bad side effects. At the same time, I started therapy for my childhood issues; both individual and group. I also read extensively and looked to many different modalities to support my healing process.

Today I am free of the depression. I know that what helped me was changing my irrational thought patterns and negative core beliefs. I happen to have two degrees in psychology and understand the general consensus about depression being a chemical imbalance and biological disease. However, I believe (and have studied much new evidence to support this) that our thoughts and behaviors are what create the chemical imbalance not the other way around. I am proof of this.

Now, I also know many people for whom medication has helped. I would just encourage anyone that it works for, to use it along with some form of cognitive therapy. This doesn't even have to be traditional therapy. There are many other methods such as Byron Katie's "The Work", and the Sedona Method. Both great tools to support us in exploring our core beliefs that create our experiences. I know there is a cure not just a lifetime of "treatment".

I encourage you to put yourself first on your list and reach out for any and all resources that will support you. Of course, knowing so intimately what depression is like, this is sometimes extremely difficult. I want to validate the courage you have to reach out and I want to support you in seeking good care for yourself. T.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi L.,
Have you tried going to a mental health facility? I found this website that maybe useful:

http://mentalhealth.about.com/library/us/blcolorado.htm

I hope this helps.

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU DON'T TOTALLY LEAN ON ANYONE. BECAUSE THEN YOU WOULD FEEL LIKE A FAILURE AND THEN NO ONE WOULD LEAN ON YOU.

YOU ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS YOU LET YOURSELF BE... AND THEN SOMETHINGS ARE BETTER LEFT TO "THE PILL" TRY TO REMEMBER THAT IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO TAK E MEDS YOU WILL ONLY TRY THEM AND YOU COULD JUST As easily stop taking them if you don't like how it makes you feel.

what do thing the problem is.. I TAKE A B COMPLEX AND THAT REALLY HELPS MY MOODINESS,

MAKE A LIST OF WHAT IS BOTHERING YOU AND THEN TEAR IT UP AND FLUSH IT DOWN THE TOILET. THEN MAKE A NEW LIST OF THINGS THAT WILL RESTORE YOUR ABILITY TO BE STRONG.

LIKE=VOLUNTEERING , OFFERING YOUR P/T SERVICES TO SOMEONE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT AND REALLY NEEDS IT (ME).
I AM CURRENTLY CONSIDERING GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY .

WELL I THINK THAT YOU ARE A VERY STRONG PERSON TO HAVE ASKED FOR HELP IN THE FIRST PLACE.. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK . I WOULD LIKE TO HELP. E-MAIL ME THROUGHT MAMSOURCE AND PUT THAT IN THE SUBJECT BOX SO I WILL OPEN MY EMAIL. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS.

Hi L. I have been there. My greatest support was my husband and a higher power. I think the reason is a higher power can be there when you don't have anyone or anything else. I took lots of hot baths, made sure I was getting enough sleep, changed my diet so I was eating healthier. Which I imagine you already are, being a P.T. I took St. Johns Wart called them my happy pills. ha-ha But I have also heard that Holy Basil is helpful. I got some counceling at a church nearby. Not by a pastor but by a professional. If you can get out of the house go and help others, I visited a nursing home and made friends that needed me as much as I needed them. Now if you are thinking about hurting yourself, I would say don't play around with it. Your husband and friends are not going to be able to help. So what I am saying is..If the train has left the station. Go and get help. It won't be forever just to get you over the hump. Sometimes it is okay. Okay? Please feel free to write back if you need to talk this through with someone that has been there. Good luck, K. K.

I am so sorry to hear you are suffering. I have been a long time suffer and was finally hospitalize once for it. I would suggest that if you have health insurance to see what is covered and start going to therapy. It is good that you have your hubby, but a lot of the depression comes from inside you. Be kind to yourself and put yourself first. Also is there a good reason why you dont want to take meds. Yes there can be side affects, but a lot of them pale next to not functioning in a depressed world. There is so much distrust in medication and it seems like people feel that you are a failure if you take the meds. You are not a failure. I agree with Celest. We do not look down on people with diabetics ect. Depression can be the same thing. Many times if its not from an outside source ( death, financial) depression is a chemical imbalance. You could look into vitamin B and getting a healthy balanced diet with exercise, but that may only help so much. I again though would suggest counseling to deal with the internal issues and come up with a goal and plan in how to help yourself. The counselor may also be able to suggest a good group for you. Know you are not alone. I wish you the best. Hold on and know you are beautiful.