Hi everyone! Well, this is sort of a depressing topic in regards to the latest events. I am schizoaffective-depressed. What this means is that I have a mix of schizophrenia and bi polar disorder, but there is no determining which one I actually am. Sort of in the middle but also void. Yet, I am on the depressed end of things, not the manic. I also suffer obsessive compulsive disorder in my thinking and thought patterns. Does anyone here suffer from this or any mental illness? It's hard, and I would like to talk to others about it.

I do. I am a chronic clinical depressive and "cutter". I don't cut anymore, though, and I've been on Zoloft for about 6 months now which is working just *great*! :) (I tried half a dozen drugs before I found one that worked, however.)

I've been a depressive since about my 2nd term of "high school" (in quotes because we didn't call it that). I was in a catholic boarding school at the time, and that was difficult as the nuns were strict disiplinarians and felt I'd learn english faster with "proper incentive". (Which usually turn the form of a switch to my hands or a paddle to my bottom.)

I still have bad days, but for the most part, the meds help. Even if they do make me a little too ... "perky" and hyper sometimes. ;) If you ever feel like talking, just PM me. I'm always willing to listen, and help if I can.

I am having to deal with depression now. My son is 14 years old and he is getting more and more drepressed. I have made an appointment for him to see a doctor. I am sure he is bipolar. If so I want him to take medication for it. I don't like to see him hurting like that. As a mother it is my duty to make sure he gets help.

Milani... that is so sad :( I hope he gets the help he needs.. you are being a good mother by making sure he sees a doctor...
My sister's son (my wonderful nephew who I adore like my own),
has had problems with depression and anger for years.. he is 17 now.. my sister has been in three marriages that have been destructive and is a whore in my opinion... she cheats on her husbands and hides it very little and the kids know it! They are plenty old enough to understand and he hates her for it! Alot of it is her fault but I think that he is so far into his depression that he not only needs HER to change, but he needs to see a doctor to help him sort this out. She won't take him.. she tells me to mind my own business and her and I haven't talked, (plus I haven't seen the kids) in about a year.. It breaks my heart but she is his mother and he is almost 18.. I keep telling him that when he is 18 to pack his bags and make a road trip to my house, that he is welcomed here and I can teach him the skills that he needs to be a responsible adult and not end up like his scumbag mother.

Taking your son to the doctor is the nicest and kindest thing you can do for your son..

Katie.. It sounds like the girls here that have posted have some good advice for you already! Talking to others is always a great help, and asking your doctor to try different meds that could help is another great suggestion..

The80sAngel.. I'm glad that they have found a med that works for you! Nothing wrong with being a little "perky" at times :vibrator:
:lol:

Thanks,
I am taking him today to see the doctor. I hope he will find out what is wrong with him. I hate to see him suffer like that. I can't snap him out of his depression... and now he doesnt' want anyone around him. He will scream when his brothers come into his room. This will stop.. I will seek help for him. He is my oldest my heart.
I just hope I didn't cause any of this:cry: I know I put them through alot in the past four years. But that man will never raise his voice or hand in front of them again.

{{{{Katie}}}} I am also a survivor of depression. I've had it since I was sixteen or seventeen, maybe even younger. I just got help about a year ago. I talked about my own illness more in the depression and understanding thread... the writing took a lot out of me last week. I'll just link (http://www.80sxchange.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=115890#post115890) to it, rather than repeating myself.

I understand it's frustrating when they can't diagnose you clearly. I definitely have clinical depression; sometimes it expresses itself through panic attacks and other times through "crashes," which everyone in this thread is probably all too familiar with, whether through their own experience or a loved one's. {{hugs}} I'm feeling okay right now, but I'm prepared for a recurrence should one appear. I'm learning to take my episodes as they come, and not be so afraid of the next one coming, but it's an uphill battle. I've been feeling basically okay since the middle of January. Spring is always a better time for me, too, so maybe I can hold on a little better. Right now I'm only taking Klonopin (similar to Valium) for panic attacks, when needed. I'm still in therapy and seeing my psych. once a month. They're both great people and complete professionals, and I'm glad I found them when I did.

My husband's mom is bipolar, and I do have some understanding of the disease and how different it is from "regular" clinical depression... but we still have a lot in common. I was hesitant to tell my mother-in-law how I felt at first, but now I don't know what I'd do without her love and support. Sure, I still want to scream at her once in a while, who doesn't, ;) but I love her very much. My own family are less receptive to people with mental illness... I love them, too, but right now I haven't told them a thing. My mother has figured it out, though. I'm going to have to tell her soon. I'm kind of torn about it because my grandmother and aunt both have had problems in the past, and my mom always seemed kind of cold and unsympathetic toward them, so I didn't know what her reaction to me would be. Rationally, I know she'd be wonderful. Anyway, something else to go over with my dr. today, lol.

I am always available to talk through email or PM. My Yahoo! messenger ID is in my profile, I have it set to "friends only" so add me as a friend and tell me your ID here if it's hard to figure out. I leave it on (but invisible) most of the day. It's usually OK for me to use IM at work, as long as nobody's looking over my shoulder. ;)

Milani, I think you're a great mom. {{hugs}} A lot of parents are so confused and saddened by their kids' mental illness, they don't know what to do, or they don't do anything at all, just hoping it'll go away. You are definitely doing the right thing.

{{one more group hug especially today}}

Mary

I sincerely wish you ALL nothing but the best in overcoming your problems. I wish I knew how to post a link thread! Can anyone help me? I say this because I got into this discussion deeply on a post about a suicide dream a member had.
MILANI: Don't be to quick to be worried about your son being Bi-polar. While it's a good idea to take him to a doctor. This is a VERY common problem among teens. He is right at that age . I myself and millions of others have experienced the same thing. Don't get me wrong medication and professional therapy is a necessity and a tremendous help for those who need it but more than likely what he's feeling is the typical insecurities,problems..etc of a normal teenager.It is best that you try to get him to talk either to you or someone else about what he's feeling to make sure it isn't something deeper.It may very well be something simple that he may be afraid or embarrased to talk about. It's even hard to talk to your own father about body changes,feelings,etc. so don't be to hard on him and don't push too hard it may make him retreat further. This often can result in problems later on.Just try to get him to open up to someone.Is there a male figure besides his father who's mature but just a little older than he is? Sometimes its an age thing and it's alot easier to talk to someone you can relate to more.Anyway,I hope this helps and I hope everything works out for both of you.

COOL BREEZE

Think most of us here have been affected by depression in one way or another. Some people just see their friends and family going through it whiles others have been through it themselves.

I've been on paxil for about 6 months now for depression. Was just starting to have panic attacks right before they put me on this. I'm doing so much better now. Still occassionally have bad days, but I get through them. Hard at times. I've had problems with this since I was at least 15.

We're always here if you want to talk about it Katie. :)

Depression - been there done that! I'm on anti-depressants now. Was on Valium not long ago too. Boy was that fun, thoughts and ideas were steaming out.....wow!!! What a bummer I'm not allowed anymore :(

No mental illness is fun. Some people just don't understand anything about them either. I hate it when they say "Oh, you'll snap out of it". I don't think so, it's all chemical or hormonal.

I suffer from regular depression, and it's a bitch.

I live every day depressed about the state of my employment, looks and love life, and I'm angry when people tell me certain things.

Every time I ride up with my mom to the doctor to check my medications, we end up in a large argument about various things about me. Sometimes she'll smile when she's angry, and I'll tell her not to. The last time I did that, my mom almost punched me in my face. Her fist was centimeters away from making contact. That depressed me further.

My fights with Mom are my biggest problem. I came up with a solution to the problem we have, whereby I would hold my meetings by phone with my doctor. Mom laughed this suggestion off, and said I could just listen to my CD player and not talk, and then she told me to go away because she was busy and didn't have time to discuss my idea.

The problem for me there is that, to me, silence equals death, and I'm a naturally talkative person, but on these rides to meet the psychologist, my tongue ends up digging a grave for me.

Now do you see that I'm depressed?

Sincerely,

John "outofplacechild" Kilduff...

I was being serious with my suggestion and she just laughed it off. That hurts!