Depression sucks, I suffer fro it and so does my wife. The best advice I have for you (this works for my wife) Sun helps release serotonin into the brain. I think its serotonin, but the point is, sun makes you happy. Dr Dave prescribes fishing at least once a week. If yiu suffer from depression you wont feel like doing it, but do it anyways
David
BBW -
With all due respect, I would like to disagree with that observation.
It IS GOOD that you have started down the path that will bring you to the end of the turmoil you are in and to the kind of balance you seek in your life.
It may not be easy, but it is not hopeless and it will end. Any time you want to unload or want some support, please feel free to send me a PM. Been there, done that can count for something. And if it addiction rather than depression, and I doubt that it is from what you have said, I have some experience in that area, also.
John
My standard therapy is to go flyfishing somewhere quiet. And I have not done it enough this year, yelled at a friend of mine yesterday. Decided to take tomorrow off and go fishing, regardless of how much is on my to-do list.
I like your way of thinkings, but not sure how much my wife appreciates it lol
BBW, first, you’ve made the first step, you recognize it.
Second you have sought professional help of your Doctor.
I am disappointed your Doctor put you off till next week, that is not being pro-active at all on their part.
In the mean time, keep digging, keep talking, and keep thinking.
Get a tablet and take notes on what you think might be causing the different feelings and swings. Then, when you feel confident in a professional, you have it to share. Date the things you write down on your tablet (a small pocketable tablet), and if there are any surrounding things that might have been a trigger.
You can get back to where you want to be, but it takes work on your part.
There is medicines that can help, but the best medicine is you working to cure yourself. You’ll understand that later on.
Maybe a good consular can help, and avoid the drugs. But finding one you want to open up to can be hard. Like anything, (Doctors, Lawyers) there are a lot of less than desirable consulars around.
But you are already on your way, you don’t like where you are going and want to change it. Bravo!
Get yourself a buddy book and try writing things down. 
Been there, done that. And I understand.
First thing is to get a fasting blood glucose test… You are surely insulin resistant or diabetic. You can get it at any doc-in-the-box cheaply and yours will show a level significantly over 100…
Get it checked ASAP, diabetes is not something to play around with… Diet early on can and will control it… Later and it may damage all sorts of stuff.
Other signs:
Arms seem shorter real fast lately?
Eyes itch and burn often?
Urinating often?
Always thirsty?
Caffeine bothering you more lately?
art
Don’t think it’s diabetes. Absolutely no history of it in my family… anywhere.
-I can hold my pee all day long
-No weight changes
-no excessive thirst. Actually I’m a ‘camel’. I can go without water longer than most anyone I know.
-no tingling in extremities
-absolutely no typical diabetic symptoms
Pretty sure it’s depression. I’ve had to deal with more stuff in the past 2 years than I care to list. That and the talk of this government-run Health Care (I’m a Doctor ) is enough to drive me nuts. I’m sure there will be a syndrome attached to this with respects to Drs somewhere along the way here. This may be the first documented case ;). I’m quite serious about this. I know many Drs that are very upset about this stuff.
Perhaps someone can recommend a good professional to listen and to emphasize. I think a lot of depression
is caused by deep feelings of isolation, as well as loss.
I’m sorry to hear that you’re in pain. As you see, many of us have been there. Keep us informed
how you’re feeling. We care.
Randy
BBW,
Not much to add except that if you’re well enough to act (reaching out/calling your doc) you’re on your way to getting better. So many people, including myself recently, suffer from more than casual depression. I think it’s so hard to deal with because the solution is to do something while in the grips of feeling unable to do anything. It’s good you’re getting help!
Coughlin
Well Doc, I guess you must know much diabetes is asymptomatic… I thought you listed weight swings in your symptoms, but irritability is there… And you should be able to draw your own blood and get your own results… The camel comments actually are an indicator of potentials in other directions… But no need to take the thread off-track. Family history is a non-starter for an excuse not to get a $25 blood test…
art
Hi Folks,
I have to agree with DG on this one! Trying to stay balanced was one of the reasons that I came back to fly fishing eight years ago. Life is tough sometimes, particularly as we get older. For the past eight years my motto has been “when the going gets tough, the tough go fly fishing (a lot).” Fly fishing, fly tying and the companionship of FAOL have seen me through some pretty difficult times. 8T 
Holy Cow! You’re a Doctor, and the Doctors Doctor is putting the Doctor off until next week?
I’m shocked! No really, I am. :shock:
Believe me, you are not alone, not by a long shot, about this government health care malarkey. While it may not effect our livelihoods like it may yours, it has many others out here rather PO’d. :mad:
But you have FAOL and Sound Off! as a place to vent. Feel free, I and many others are willing to listen.
(But it is still going to cost you for coffee…)
Do you realize you are writing down the things that are bothering you? Well, you are. And you are sharing them to get them out in the open and off your chest. All good things.
Gets the cap off that pressure cooker inside.
Post on, BBW! :idea: Get it off your chest.
This thread is very uplifting…
Steve
BBW…
I’m going through a ‘textbook’ crisis myself. Some authors call it a ‘transition’.
To be honest, I think I’ve been dealing with depression for YEARS, but have stoicly been trying to deal with it on my own without medication. ’
People are different and lots NEED medication, and for those people it really helps.
Talk to your doctor and let him/her know what’s going on.
My social worker gave me a book to read which gives a number of examples and describes possible causes and effects of situations of men going through ‘crises’ in various stages and ages in life; it’s not only at 40!
Book is called ‘Seasons in a Man’s life’ by D.Levinson. Very good book and eye opener. doesn’t give solutions but sheds light to what causes life crises.
If you need a sounding board, drop me a line via e-mail or phone; happy to talk.
I find, needing lots of space to work things out helps (that’s what we men do…we’re from ‘Mars’!)
Above all, keep the faith and DO talk to your doctor.
You’re definitely NOT alone.
Cheers,
Larry
I’m a doctor, so maybe I can help.
First off, Clinical Depression is an actual physical malady, just like catching a cold, or any other condition. So there should be no stigma, or embarassment attached to it. It can effect anybody, at anytime. Noone is immune. And, the good news is that it is very treatable, with an extremely high success rate, compared to other similar conditons. Most people make a full recovery.
Of course, the first thing you should do is see your Primary Care Provider about it. They have the proper tools and training to correctly diagnose the condition, isolate the causes and formulate an effective and safe treatment program. Don’t let it go too long before you do this. Part of the success of treatment is dependent on how early you can arrest the progress. Left untreated, it can have very grave consequences. And most insurance policies cover treatment for Depression, so there not many excuses not to have it taken care of. I am sure your loved ones would agree. And Self-treatment is not only a bad idea, but it can even make the problems worse. Please see your physician as soon as practicable.
If you are wondering if Depression is becomming a problem, then it already has. Take care of it. If you had a runny nose, or a high fever, you’d go to the doctor in a heartbeat. This is no different.
And, also, be aware that there is a difference between Depression, and just being depressed. Depression is a chronic disease, and effects your life profoudly. Being depressed is a normal, short-lived emotion that usually passes (relatively) quickly and has no long-term effects. But only a doctor can tell them apart. If you’ve been depressed for more than a week or so, that is a major Red Flag. See your doctor.
Even I get depressed, occasionally. That’s why I go fishing…
Great advice from a MD…thanks for posting…for BBW and all who wanted info…and you’re definitely right about difference between feeling depressed and depression…like lots of us, I occasionally feel depressed…and that’s when (and why) I go fishing too
I’m not an MD (Medical Doctor). I am an ND (Dr. of Naturapathy and Holistic Health), but we all had to go through the same basic Medical School. I just gravitated to Holistic Health Care over the years, and got specialized. I am also an LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist).
But Medicine is Medicine, regardless of what you specialize in.
And, by the way, Massage Therapy is very effective as one of the treatments for Depression. I would absolutely recommend finding a good Therapist in your area, and giving it a try.
We all face crisis’s in our life. How we deal with it tells us a lot about ourselves. Sometimes the passage of time helps us overcome our problems & other times we need help, either thru counseling or medication. I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer & to me it was the end of the world. I went into hibernation & would not do anything but sit on the couch & feel sorry for myself. My son started to bring my granddaughter around nightly ( 1 1/2 yrs. old) & that was the start. My oncologist recommended therapy & my G.P. recommended Zoloft. I went with them both & have no regrets. I had a PSA of 29 & a Gleason score of 9.5. so they ruled out surgery & I went for the radiation & hormone therapy & things are coming along. I’m on Lupron so my testosterone levels are reduced & that’s another reason for me being tired all the time. All this leads to my depression. I identified what was causing my problems & worked on each one. Sorry for the rant ,but it helped me to write it.
My point is get help ASAP. therapy or medication, or both are valid treatments & you took the first step by calling your doctor. While your there have your PSA cked.
Neil
Looks like an awful lot of us have this problem. I was very very suicidal for three years before my wife’s death. I only stayed alive because she needed me. Such a great coincidence. I complained to my PA that I could lay in bed for 10 hours and still not want to get up. Not refreshed. He discovered I had severe sleep apnea. I now wear a breathing machine at night with oxygen. Also have had surgery to make boaf sides of my nose breathe. One side was blocked due to a deviated septum. That was an additional problem. Forgot to add…also had throat surgery to help relieve obstructive apnea. Then I had a hyperventilation attack. Type B personality and never had that before. Doc not in on Fri afternoon so went to ER. They said all vital signs ok…follow up with doc. Doc said oh heck. We can handle that easy. He said they had a lot of that during the big fire. He did NOT explain it to me…he just ordered up medication. It worked wonders. With the pill…I just do not have any more suicidal thoughts. I assume he gave me pills for depression and anxiety…although I never told him all this. Simply relayed the hyperventilation attack and he gave me meds. But they worked magic. Now he is no longer here and I had to find a new doc. He asked if I had depression. I said I don’t know…but I was suicidal for awhile…and he said that sure sounds like depression to him! So he has continued prescribing my meds and I am fine. Before the discovery of severe sleep apnea (AHI 52) and treatment for the depression…and a nightime sleep aid…I had no ambition either. NO hobbies. Just went about my daily chores because I had to. Starting to recover now and beginniing to actually take an interest in doing things. Took a long time to sort all this out. Just for info only…to everybody…I take Effexor 75mg once a day. They did not explain why but said I must never stop taking it. I also take 3 Alprazolam a day…which is generic for Zanax. They said they might cut that back someday…but so far I am still on same schedule. I missed the noon one a lot…and I noticed on a day where I missed the noon one AND the dinner one…I started to get some suicidal ideas again! As long as I keep using my breathing machine with oxygen…and take my meds I am ok. Engery starting to slowly come back…but the depression meds absolutely work magic for me.
Just FYI to help others. I too had all the symptoms listed above…but didn’t realize it due to being a type B person.
I am getting better by the month.
Good luck to all of you.
Jim
I’m starting to think many of us take up fly fishing for the ‘isolation factor’. Basically to be alone.
I know people bug the crap out of at times. And I know I need to be away from them. But, with this said I enjoy fishing with a couple of buddies the best though. But I also just like the time alone too.