Advise on getting treatment for depression

[paulchen83]

hi

[Warrior_Angel]

I was a serious depression case, and on medications for 8 years.. What can I share with you?

[lovebear]

If you are a local, its more advisable to go to the polyclinic and get a referral to a psychiatrist. Most probably, they will refer you to IMH.

[astrogirl]

my 2 cents worth....

You will have to identify what is causing your depression, is it physical or emotional. Not many people have insight or clarity of thought to identify the cause, therefore they seek the help of a specialist.

Like what lovebear said, that's the usual way for a local to get help from a specialist.

[skylark984]

My wife is a long term victim of depression, she has been on medications for more than 9 years, yes when she was having suside thoughts she was given high dosage and is drowsy and i felt her mood got worse, however when she got better, the dosage and drugs were changed and she is living like the rest of us, infact she is very cheerful and no one even know she has tried many times to take her own life.

Depression is caused by many reasons, it is best you seek professional help, the drugs prescribed will depend on how serious your condition is. After seeing a doctor and you want to try alternate treatment, pls pm me

[forwardtherapy]

Many people find medication is helpful but some do experience side effects. The side effects of anti-depressant medication vary from drug to drug and from person to person, so they are not always the same even if someone swears something was bad for them.

But best practice when prescribing medication is also to refer a patient to talking therapy. Psychotherapy covers a wide range of frameworks including, for example, solution focussed therapy, narrative therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). As with medication, everyone has a personal and unique experience with their talking therapy and if one doesn't work there are others that might, so again it is worth keeping an open mind and having a willingness to try something else if the first method does not work for you.

You may not need to see a psychiatrist if you are not experiencing severe thoughts of wanting to end your life. It may be possible to start with a counsellor or psychotherapist (generally less expensive than a psychiatrist and less waiting time) and see how that goes. Your GP should be able to refer you or you can search for one yourself. You have obviously got a lot of insight into the factors linked to the depression for you (harassment and politics at work for example) and this awareness is a good first step you can discuss with a therapist.

Good luck with getting assistance!

[sundaymorningstaple]

tic....toc....tic....toc....

[poodlek]

But best practice when prescribing medication is also to refer a patient to talking therapy. Psychotherapy covers a wide range of frameworks including, for example, solution focussed therapy, narrative therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). As with medication, everyone has a personal and unique experience with their talking therapy and if one doesn't work there are others that might, so again it is worth keeping an open mind and having a willingness to try something else if the first method does not work for you.

Even though this is an obvious plug, I completely agree with this much of what fowardtherapy has to say. In my personal experience, medication helped change and/or stabilize my mood (I was on various different meds for over 10 years) but it was CBT that helped change my habits and lifestyle to better avoid the downward spiral into depression. Because of the therapy I have been off medication and living a full life for four years. That doesn't mean my condition has gone away, it just means I'm much more aware of the beginning signs and have tailored my lifestyle (diet, exercise, yoga, meditation and talking with friends) so that I don't ever get as bad as I once was--which was completely non-functional. In my opinion, medication should just be a starting point, like training wheels. If you're worried about the cost, consider the cost of living this same way for the rest of your life. Consider it an investment in yourself--you're worth it. My two cents, for what it's worth. That said, I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on who to see here in SG as I've only been here a couple of months, but please feel free to PM me if you want to hash possibilities out or hear about specifics on my path to recovery. I'd be happy to offer any help I can.
Good luck!!

[JR8]

tic....toc....tic....toc....

Way too tolerant IMO. I've have toasted the culprit on the spot...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yeah, but have you read any of ksl's old posts?

If they can walk the line line without overstepping then more power to them. But as soon as they step outside the line and "solicit" in any way, they are history. And, as pointed out above, some of the info is good info. I don't mind when somebody "plays the game" but they also have to be aware the the goalposts are just like the local gahmen's. Moveable!

[Pumpkin2010]

I completely agree with poodlek.

Medication has its place as treating the symtoms but ultimately the source of the problem needs to be dealt with,be it change in lifestyle, CBT etc., in order to halt of repeat epidsodes.

[phil30k]

Yeah, but have you read any of ksl's old posts?

If they can walk the line line without overstepping then more power to them. But as soon as they step outside the line and "solicit" in any way, they are history. And, as pointed out above, some of the info is good info. I don't mind when somebody "plays the game" but they also have to be aware the the goalposts are just like the local gahmen's. Moveable!

What, did ksl's post get deleted or something?

Anyway, good luck with your depression to the OP.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Let's just say, all who play the game must learn were the goalposts are at any given time. Most, invariably, try to test the limits. Some too often and of course you don't see them here any longer. Other learn and learn how to walk the tightrope. ksl is a good learner and a valuable asset to our community today. And he's also one of very few forumers here that has actually met the old coot!

[Little M]

I believe u have to find the root cause of your problem. Medication is only temporary.

I think depression is stress related. Meditation is a good stress reliever. You can easily get those meditation CD or something and just listen to it for an hr before bed. So if all else fails, give that a go

[nakatago]

Not necessarily yoga. There are studies (they're out there) that say exercise releases endorphins, which are the body's anti-depressants. You like yoga (which suspiciously looks like you're...), some may like running. Or horizontal dancing.