Need help with depression?!


Question: Need help with depression?
I have had social anxiety and seasonal affective disorder most of my life and I've had depression and fatigue/apathy for about 2 years. And now I have been feeling more depressed than before and I don't have enough money to see my therapist, what should I do?

extra info: I'm 15 years old, a girl, and I take birth control (desogen) but I only take it to stop my period. And i eat healthy/exercise (sometimes)

Answers:

Hi there.

I also have depression. It's in my genes, and currently I am going to therapy and taking medication for it. It does make me a bit happier although I don't see much of a difference. I am probably under medicated and probably don't see my therapist enough. Here's what I found that does help me day to day that is not affected by me going to therapy or taking medication...

I try to appreciate the little things. Go outside and meditate, go for a walk.

I try to surround myself by people who make me laugh. And I also enjoy watching funny tv shows. My favorite is Always Sunny In Philadelphia. I love how the characters in the show are so selfishly in love with themselves that no matter how bad things get in their lives they always have a good time.

And finally, I spend my free time doing what makes me happy like drawing, playing tennis, and playing video games. Perhaps what will help with your social anxiety is joining school clubs or organizations that have your interests in mind. You'll find people with the same interests and conversations with them will be easier than with random people you may meet in your classes.

Hope this helps!



Seasonal Affective Disorder:
There is a relationship between melatonin, which is produced by the brain during sleep, and the neurotransmitter, serotonin, which has been shown to be low in people suffering from depression. Get bright light on awakening, preferably for 2 hrs, but at least 30 mns, to reset your circadian rhythm. It's also a good idea to get bright light again in the evening, so you cover a daily span of 14 hrs; say 7 - 7.30 AM and 7.30 - 9 PM, then reduce light levels to simulate approaching darkness, in preparation for sleep. Depression impairs cognitive functioning, and can cause insomnia, which is addressed at http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/o.html Optimise your vitamin D3 levels. From: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/depression.shtml "In 1999, in an even more interesting study, vitamin D scientist, Bruce Hollis, teamed up with Michael Gloth and Wasif Alam to find that 100,000 IU of vitamin D given as a one time oral dose improved depression scales better than light therapy in a small group of patients with seasonal affective disorder". View: http://drbenkim.com/vitamin-d-facts.htm & http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/16/my-one-hour-vitamin-d-lecture-to-clear-up-all-your-confusion-on-this-vital-nutrient.aspx

Go to a doctor and ask for a 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D, blood test. When you get the results, don’t follow the typical “normal” reference range, as these are too low. The OPTIMAL value that you’re looking for is 45-52 ng/ml (115-128 nmol/l)". The company which tests your levels has to be one of those using the correct form of test, and this topic is addressed via the searchbar at Mercola.com - "vitamin D3; testing". Many people in Western countries are lacking in minerals, such as zinc*, magnesium*, and calcium*, & vitamin D3, (U.S.A. only: INSIST ON the following, or be misled! "The correct test is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D" - "I strongly recommend using LabCorp for these reasons until Quest can guarantee accurate, usable results." From Mercola.com - Enter: TEST VALUES FOR VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY in their searchbar ). Dr. J. Cannell, at http://vitaminDcouncil.org advises that the co-factors required for optimal absorption and utilisation, and which are lacking in the American diet are good levels of magnesium, zinc, boron, and vitamin K2 ( view: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/26/the-delicate-dance-between-vitamins-d-and-k.aspx ). Use sufficient "daylight" fluorescents (not "cool white") to produce bright light; at least 80 watts, for 14 hrs daily, and enter "light bulbs" in the searchbar at Mercola.com. If you can't have them at work, get bright light on arising, and when at home, until bedtime, and go outside, preferably in sunlight, during breaks. View the rest of this necessarily long post at http://your-mental-health.weebly.com/3.html and see pages 1, & E about social anxiety.

Desogen side effects:
Breast tenderness or enlargement; changes in appetite; changes in weight; dizziness; headache; loss of scalp hair; nausea; nervousness; stomach cramps or bloating; vaginal spotting or breakthrough bleeding; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Desogen:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); breast lumps; calf/leg pain or swelling; changes in vision; chest pain or heaviness in the chest; coughing up blood; difficulty wearing contact lenses; dark urine or light-colored bowel movements; dizziness or fainting; fever; loss of appetite; missed menstrual period; **** mood/mental changes ****; numbness of an arm or leg; persistent or recurrent abnormal vaginal bleeding; severe pain or tenderness in the stomach area; shortness of breath; sleeplessness; slurred speech; sudden severe headache (migraine); sudden shortness of breath; swelling of fingers or ankles; vaginal infection; vomiting; weakness or fatigue; weakness or numbness in the arm or leg; yellowing of the skin or eyes. - drugs.com




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