Welcome to our online support group! It sounds like you have wonderful support from your girlfriend and friends and that you are already making significant progress. This is another support line you can count on. Feel free to share your experiences, ask questions, offer support to other members as well. I'm glad to hear you are seeing your doctor after several years. It's important to have information about your health to make informed decisions! Let us know how it goes.
Welcome to the forums! I'm 38 and I have been dealing with depression for many years but only recently I recognized the problem and made the decision to get better. You made the right decision in having an appointment with a doctor. There are great medical treatments which could help you cope better with depression. Follow the instructions of your doctor and never stop medication until your doctor decide to.
Therapy is also very important for the recovery and to prevent relapses. If you have some self-discipline to do all the homework following the CBT program presented in DC it could be of many help. You need to do the homework even if you lack motivation (as is the case with most depressive people) and you could start feeling a little better in a few weeks. If you need more motivation then I recommend you to contact a therapist to help you along the way. There are many types of therapy and each person is different but the 2 most common types of therapy are CBT and psychodynamic. I am doing both (CBT in this program and psychodynamic with a therapist), but in my case the most effective therapy has been CBT. Of course talking with a trained therapist also helps, and especially when one is feeling really down. It is good to share our feelings and thoughts with someone who understands it.
Have a good journey in the recovery of depression and keep posting here to tell us how you are you doing.
I'm not sure what to say, but saying nothing hasn't been working for me. I'm 39, about to turn 40, and I'm just starting on the path of dealing with my depression. I finally admitted it to myself and some close friends about 5 years ago, and now am actually seeking help. I figure, 34 years to step one, 5 years to step two...I'm picking up speed!
I have my first doctor's appointment at the beginning of March. As in, first doctor's appointment in almost 20 years. I've been dating a wonderful woman for just over 6 months and she's supporting me and it has been great. At my request, she made the appointment, and will be coming with me. And she encouraged me to utilize the services offered by work, so here I am at the Ceridian Depression Centre doing the first session.
I am very lucky that I have a wonderful life, I've worked hard and accomplished a lot, I just want to enjoy it. I am fortunate to have a job doing what I love, and many supportive friends. I just need to see in myself what my friends and co-workers see in me. I have a few goals for this year, and learning about my mental health is first and foremost.
Thanks,
DTDave
(old nickname, means Downtown Dave....because I live Downtown.... they are good friends, just not original friends. )