Ramoon asked this question on 3/26/2000:
I've been trying for jears now not to give up the fight against negative thoughts about myself and my life. But it keeps getting harder and harder, i feel so lonely, don't know what i want with my life, the very few friends i have left are in a relationship and don't seem to notice i'm alive. My parents think support is pathetic, all i feel is rejection and useless. I try to take pleasure out of little things, like the sun is shining and give love and support to others, finding reasons to make some sense of this selfish world and my place in it. If somebody would still like to talk after this self-pity story, maybe i'm not the one with the problems :) kidding! Love, Ramona Ramonavschendel@hotmail.com
desertphile gave this response on 4/22/2000:
Note: I am NOT a doctor!
Greetings. Your situation sounds like just what Prozac and Paxil treat to very great effect. Please note that depression is often degenerative: it accumulates if left untreated! There are anatomical reasons for that accumulation which I will not go in to unless you ask, but suffice it to say that if left untreated, it will take that much longer on the road to recovery once you do acquire treatment.
Psychotherapy is the first step. Cognative therapy will help you understand the major stress points in your life (called "stressors"), and gain new insights on your situation. This alone is been shown to reverse or at least hault further density of depression.
If your psychologist finds that psychiatry is the better answer, she will refer you to a doctor who will ask you many of the same questions that your psychologist did. She will also talk with your psychologist.
You are very fortunate in that if deemed necessary by your psychiatrist and psychologist, there are several anti-depressant drugs that will greatly help you on your road to recover.
As to your anxiety about asking for help, yes, that is common in a great many people--- mostly men, who feel it is somehow "unmanly." That just IS NOT SO! If you broke a leg, would it be "worng" or "shameful" to see a doctor and get it healed? Of course not.
The same is truw with mental illness. Depression is TREATABLE just like a broken leg.
Please consider talking to a psychologist.
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