Feeling very depressed

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Hello, it's been a long time since I've posted here. After a number of years on Zoloft, I went off the medication thinking it was a good idea. It didn't take long for me to become extremely depressed and anxious about life.

I'm constantly feeling like I'm going to break into tears, and I can't pinpoint why exactly. One of the reasons though is the fear of losing loved once, particularly my parents. My father recently turned 60, and my mother isn't much younger. My father will occasionlly comment that he "won't make it to 70", or that his mother will outlive him, or that he won't have a long retirement, or things along that line. He's not depressed by any means, and he seems to be in good shape and is physically active. Longevity runs in his family, and he hasn't smoked in many years. Still, these things he says scares me. I had these same fears back when I was 13 (eight years ago), and once another eight years passes, he'll be 68.

That is one thing that gets me really down, but it's obviously not the only thing. I'm just feeling very, very down in general and don't know how to get over it. I'm sleeping terribly, with my mind running the same thoughts over and over and over. I need help!

I think a big thing to improve your outlook is to be able to sleep so I would look at ways to do that either by natural meditation, herbal methods or by seeing a doctor about a short course of tablets.

Hey ELLCIM. Please, go to a GP and ask whether you can go back on the Zoloft.

As alexbeetle said, sleep is very important, even if you have to take something (once again, please ask your GP or pharmacist first).

You have to try and quiet your mind. I know what you mean - I get it too. My thoughts just go over and over and over the same thing and every time it goes around, it is worse. And eventually I am seriously depressed. Please try and get your mind off whatever it seems to be locked into (especially late at night or when you can't sleep - rather get up and do something completely different, just try and force yourself). This is hard, but you must try and persevere.

I think you should share your concerns with your parents, also. They may be there for you, which is something you need now more than ever. Just spend time with them, talking about things that are now and wonderful, and appreciate them just for today, and all the good memories you are still making.

I hope you can do this. Perhaps just today. Just try it for one day and see how it goes. Lots of strength from here.

I forgot to mention that I went back on the Zoloft last Friday, so I've taken it for four days now including today. I talked to my pharmacist who said that I should try taking the Zoloft during the day instead, since awakeness is a side-effect of it. That I'll do starting tomorrow.

Once school gets going I'll be able to occupy my mind. For now, classes have started but we haven't done anything. Exercise helps too - I went and worked out for 20 minutes today after I wrote the first post, and that makes quite a difference.

Ellicim, I used to be like that, when I was like 10 or 11 or 12, thinking that I was gonna die, that my mother waas gonna die, my father was gonna die. I thought that this world and this life were such a sad, depressing story, since we would all end up dead in the end.


Could your father be depressed as well, or have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Or are you sure he wasn't joking?


If you want to mention more but don't want to do it on here, you can PM me.

I don't see any reason he'd have PTSD. Although I've never known him to be depressed, he did lose a brother suddenly in an accident some years ago. It is also difficult to tell when he is joking as he is good at covering it up, and of course I have difficulty knowing when anyone is joking or being serious (although that is improving day by day for me).

There is such a thing as suppressed depression or trauma or grief... he may not have the words to express it, and may be trying to hide it due to shame.

ah ! Indeed, exercises are good solutions to solve problems (yoga and meditation too)

NB: think positive, and may the force be with you!!

Your father is getting older and he is probably a little afraid of his own mortality. Someday, we are all going to die.

As for your feelings of depression, I am glad you are back on the Zoloft. Keep in mind, though, that once you go off of it that it
takes two weeks to get it back into your system. Keep yourself busy. Take a walk. Go to the library. Do some volunteer work that
will make you feel good about yourself while helping others. Start a new hobby. Don't ever give up on yourself. You are just as
important as anyone else in the world.

Indeed, but comes a time when we get even older, and we become "ready" to "go"... (Nothing to do with wishing onself dead or anything, but often people of a cerain age, having accomplished so much in their life may not be so fearful of death)...

NB: I was on ritalin. But, I feel now, 11-12 years later that I don't really need it... So maybe the medications may not always be an answer (mind you: side effects can be sometimes worse than the actual symptoms we try to heal).

It's hard to be happy. You just have to keep your head up.

I am now in a depressive mood, deleting all those "deppressive" stimulii* should help of you are feeling like that now.
As depression can lead to anger, and ultimately hatred...

*This can mean physical, or mental (ways to remove 'em)

Well said. Although this thread is very old, I thought of commenting.
I have often noticed that depression starts with numbness, lack of pleasure and all that but then it takes a violent turn with anger and hatred that goes out of control. We have to be careful when we cross that line because with numbness/lack of pleasure, we hurt ourselves but with anger/hatred we hurt others too.
Even if as a depressed person we are unaware of all this, yet, still while a little bit of awareness is left, I hope we can see all that and seek therapy/guidance/self-care so as not to cross that line.

My dad died when he was in his sixties. I was still and adolescent. He smoked for many years and always said that he didn't expect to live long. Apparently what you believe about yourself is often what happens.

I am pleased to learn that you resumed medication. For me it is not an option.