help? depression / mental illness

I was wondering if anyone who has suffered from depression or another mental illness could share what the first signs were that you thought something was wrong. Feel free to FM me if you don't want to post here.

I just don't feel right and I have suspected I may be suffering from depression, anxiety, or OCD. I just don't honestly know where to start. I know people say to go to your regular doctor, but I don't have one. I recently moved to a new area and before than hadn't been to the doctor in about 3 years. I know, I know, not good, but it is what it is. I would feel really weird finding a new primary care doctor and then asking him at our first appointment about depression or other mental issues.

My health insurance allows me to see specialists without a referral. Would it be better to just go straight to a psychiatrist or to just talk to a psychologist before going to an MD? I'm not looking for a miracle drug cure or anything, but I'm not opposed to meds if necessary. Should I just find someone to talk to first?

I just don't know what to do anymore. I AM functioning and going to work, etc. I'm just not happy and not myself and haven't been for some time. I'm tired all the time. I'm moody and constantly looking for excuses to just do nothing. I feel like I lack any motivation these days. I don't want to get out of bed in the morning (but I always do). I'm overeating. I'm just afraid if I don't do something now it'll get worse. I am also absolutely overwhelmed by job stress right now and am having trouble coping.

Does anyone have any insight or advice or anything? Admitting this is very difficult for me even though I think I've known there is a problem for some time. It will not be easy for me to pick up the phone and call a doctor or something... but I will do it if I have to. Therapy scares me. Not sure why. I'll go, though. Honestly, I just don't know where to even start.

I know my health insurance covers a certain number of appointments with a therapist, but I don't remember how many exactly. Is it really expensive to keep going after health insurance stops paying? I just don't even have an inkling what an hour session even costs.

TIA.

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Message edited 3/6/2013 10:20:23 PM.

Re: help? depression / mental illness

I agree with Dita.

You mentioned moving to a new area and being really stressed at work- these can both be playing a part in the way you are feeling.

I would definitely talk to someone- you don't want to get to the point where you AREN'T getting out of bed.

I would ask around for reccommendations for a psychologist- he or she will be able to tell you whether or not medication could help or if therapy will be enough.

If you ever need to talk- FM me- I've been through it before

Hope you're feeling more like YOU soon.

Re: help? depression / mental illness

Thanks. I'll start looking into psychologists. I checked out my health plan online, but there's not much to go on except doctor's names and addresses... Maybe I'll get a recommendation here.

Re: help? depression / mental illness

Posted by kahlua716

If you ever need to talk- FM me- I've been through it before

Hope you're feeling more like YOU soon.

Re: help? depression / mental illness

Well, I suffer from anxiety and depression, and have since I was a child. My anxiety manifested itself my whole life as sleep issues and also presented itself as frequent asthma attacks. I would always be rushed to the hospital because I could't breathe, or so I thought, but my peak flow readings and oxygen levels were fine. I didn't discover until I was in my 20s that it was my anxiety and not my asthma.
My depression would come and go my whole entire life. I would either be extremely fatigued all the time or I would be completely driven to do something, even if I was up all night getting it done. I thought I might be manic-depressive, but thankfully I am not. It took me until I was 28 years old to go see a psychiatrist. I had spent my whole life in therapy for my issues and I never thought to see a psychiatrist. It was the best decision I ever made. She was able to pinpoint exactly what my main issues were and prescribe me a medication to take care of my symptoms. I am currently on Cymbalta, which treats both my depression adn my anxiety. I have been on it for a year and have never in my life been as happy and anxiety free as I am now. I'm not saying that medication is the answer for everyone, but I tried therapy for years and years and years and it did nothing. I would meet with therapists and they would tell me I didn't need meds because I went to work and kept my life together, so it really wasn't severe. Well, that's not true. I was so embarrassed by my anxiety and depression adn knew that if I kept my work life together, no one would ever know what was going on. So I internalized for my whole life adn was a raging mess on the inside.
Please feel free to FM me if you have any questions at all. I can help point you in the right direction or just listen if you need someone to talk to. I've been there and know how hard it is to figure out what to do.

Re: help? depression / mental illness

I have suffrered from anxiety attacks since childhood. The anxiety manifests itself in diofferent ways. I have gone through depression bouts which were actually stress/anxiety related. Also, ocd with compulsive non-stop, broken record thoughts going through my head with no control. Feelinhg so horrible made me just withdraw socially and before you knew it I could not drive on highways and avoided crowds and places where i could not seek the comfort of my home . I went to therapy which was wonderful. Just talking and getting alot of stuff out. Also took Zoloft for about a year. I have not had a panic attack in many years and I also investyed inthe Attacking Anxiety program by Lucinda Bassett. FM me if you want to chat more.

Re: help? depression / mental illness

Start with your health care provider(find one) explain your symptoms. You should get bloodwork done b/c many physical conditions lead to psychological problems i.e. Diabetes, Thyroid problems, etc. Start there then ask for recommendations after you get a full medical evalutaion.

Message edited 7/22/2008 11:09:52 AM.

Re: help? depression / mental illness

I have really bad anxiety that effects my life. That's how I knew it was a problem. It always manifests in different ways. Sometimes OCD, Depression, Insomnia, etc. Lucinda Bassett has a program and support chat room for anxiety and depression. I would definitely talk to someone if you can. It's not easy to conquer alone, but the good thing is that you see how your life is being effected and you want to change it. Thats the first and most important step to recovery.