I don't know what to do

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imaiqahhoney
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Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 3:52 pm
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by imaiqahhoney on Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:14 pm

I don't know what to do

I'm 32 years old, diagnosed with depression since i was 18 years. Been on different medication since until last 5 months. i quit my medication recently, been without it for 2 months now. What i notice is, i lose motivation in my life, feeling tired and get easily irritable.

I used to live in UK were under Cognitive therapy and venlafaxine 150mg and zolpidem 10mg since 2009-2012. They stop my Zolpidem since end of last year (i attempted suicide for 6 times since June 2012).
Now i'm back in Malaysia, i refused to seek treatment here as even among Dr and staff in psychiatric dept think as people with faith i shouldn't be suffering from depression. The best thing they keep telling me is don't attempt suicide again and get closer to God.

I feel cornered and i don't know what to do. Depression is still taboo in where i live. Even my family think i'm just being emotional. I can't afford to see private psychiatrist. i been surviving without my med but i just don't feel myself and sometimes i feel totally hopeless. I don't know what to do.

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karenacoyle
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue May 07, 2013 3:37 pm
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by karenacoyle on Fri Oct 11, 2013 4:53 pm

Re: I don't know what to do

Hello Imaquihoney

Thank you for having the courage to post here at the online mental health clinic.

I am sorry to read that you have been suffering from depression for some years.
You have availed of medication and counselling in the UK in the past but since moving to Malaysia you have found it more difficult to get the care you need because of different cultural beliefs with regards to mental health. :(

I am not familiar with the health system in your country but I would urge you to try to find a sympathetic medical professional to talk thing over with if possible.

Mental health problems are common in all cultures and nothing to be ashamed off -- so please don't feel that you have to suffer in silence.

Try if possible to find someone in your circle of family and friends to confide in - being able to talk about your problems to someone who is non-judgemental, whom you trust, can really help.

Other self help measures include; exercise, eating a well balanced diet and taking some time out to do things that you enjoy.

Although you no longer have access to CBT, you can still draw upon the skills from these sessions to help you now - so do think about what helped then,such as writing down some of your negative thoughts and challenging their accuracy - looking at alternative explanations for those beliefs.

Try to think about your situation as happening to a good friend of yours - what would you tell her to do - what help do you think she could get for herself?

Imaquihoney, don't give up hope, if you are unable to get treatment where you currently live, try self help measures such as the ones mentioned above, look at self-help literature - there are numerous books on CBT, Mindfullness and other forms of self-help for depression available.
You may also wish to check out support online such as this website:https://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome and you can read more about the management of depression on this NHS Choices website:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/depression ... ction.aspx.

I hope some of this may be of help but do continue to check for further response from other experts later.

Best wishes
Briege Coyle
Netmums’ Health Visitor

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... _coyle.php

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Gary Turner
Posts: 107
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:04 am
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by Gary Turner on Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:39 pm

Re: I don't know what to do

Hi!

I have to say, I love Karena’s response, and support her in the points she makes.

Something to add, you may be able to continue your work with a therapist in the UK via Skype? It may be something that you could investigate. Maybe contact your old Cognitive Therapist and seek some advice from there?
Gary Turner
Advisor to British Army School of Physical Training, World Champion Elite Sportsman

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... turner.php

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Adam Eason
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Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:16 am
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by Adam Eason on Mon Oct 14, 2013 12:31 pm

Re: I don't know what to do

Hello Imaiqahhoney,

Additionally, if you are familiar with some of the cognitive behavioural methodologies from your previous work with a CBT professional, you might find some of the resources at this website of some use. It includes a wide array of thought forms and disputation techniques as well as mindfulness protocols to engage in:
http://getselfhelp.co.uk/

Additionally, you might like to track down a copy of the book "Feeling Good" by David Burns which is a self-help book that takes a CBT approach to enhancing mood, overcoming depression and has compared favourably against medication and placebo effect in trials.

Best wishes to you, Adam.
Adam Eason
Clinical & Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... _eason.php

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