Depression Support

Hello,

I've been struggling with depression since I was a child.  I recently got out of a very co-dependent relationship and I am not doing very well.  In addition to grieving the loss of someone that I love very, very much, I am also very isolated.  Due to a cross country move, and an extremely intense relationship, I haven't been able to make any friends.  I find it difficult to ascribe any meaning to anything as I am so damn alone. 

I am doing the things that I am "supposed" to be doing: medication, therapy, the gym, etc.  But it's just not enough.  Being this alone makes it even more difficult to not contact my ex...it is a fight every minute, of every day.

Of course I am embarassed to talk about this with friends, family, or co-workers and this is why I have chosen the discussion board.  If anyone has any advice or inspiration, it would be greatly, greatly appreciated.  I'm also interested in online meetings as well.

Thanks,

Lost.

Hi there,

Welcome to the board. I'm actually not a very frequent poster but your post caught my attention. I think it's great you're going to the gym, taking meds and staying in therapy. Those are all necessary but I understand how it's not quite enough when loneliness kicks in. You said you were in a very co-dependent relationship so have you considered Al-Anon? Going to Al-Anon meetings might give you a great venue for meeting new people, especially people who understand your relationship. Heck, they're free, too! ;-) 

Thanks for your post...I have been in and out of alanon for years and God help me, it seems every time I go to see when the next meeting is I have missed it.

Thanks for the reminder though...I need it.

What about support groups in your area? Or spreading out to other message boards on iVillage as well as here. Internet friendships can be great relationships and ways to heal and have fun.

~

Hi - (In addition to all the good thingsyou are doing)  One thing that helped me...I have been where you are at.....I found these boards....How I use them...is - find a couple of boards that you are interested in...read some of the posts and provide feedback....

And Post some of your own posts....I did this for about 6 months when I was really down in the dumps....after a divorce and while I was recovering from alcoholism....I didn't know what to do with myself and I had no friends.

I started to look forward to people responding to my comments on their posts....I started to talk about things in my life and get some pretty good ah-ha....feedback.  Its not a long term fix to your boredom....but it got me thru some tough times.  So I've visited a variaty of boards in the last couple of years....Addictions (alcohol), Smoking, relationships, sex, marriage, Teenage problems...these boards can keep you busy.

Go find the Divorce boards...read those.

Come back to this board and share anything you are learning.  I don't usually come to this board....I was diagnosed as majorly depressed tonight I've been on the drug Chantix to stop smoking and I have taken a nose dive emotionally and mentally.  Everything in my life could be said to be better than most and I am SEVERLY depressed....I haven't contemplated suicide...but I think about dying WAY too much.

So, I have been instructed to STOP the Chantix right away and starting a SSRI antidepressent tomorrow.

Chantix - gives the brain dopamine...not good for people who are easily excitable or edgy.

The SSRIs - Seratonin...more calming, good for social anxiety, major depression and Obsessive Thinking.

Take care...cheer up.