What treatments are available for depression?

[LoopyMe]

http://+=- Hi there everyone,

I'm new to this forum, so as a very brief introduction I'm a 23 year old girl and have been suffering from depression and CFS/ME from the age of 12. However, for the past 3 years the depression has been severe...the type where nothing matters, you don't care if your clothes are clean or dirty, eating is a chore thats pointless unless its something that can be eaten straight out of a packet, hoovering and dusting seems like an impossible mountain and picking up the telephone is equal to doing a bungee jump..

I've been on prozac, venlafaxine (effexor), Citalopram and currently on Zoloft. I've been living in my new area of england for 6 months and my GP here is rubbish. He knows nothing of my background, and appointments last about 2 minutes in which time he just prints off a new prescription with no guidance on changing medication. My GP back in suffolk wasn't amazing, but at least she listened and discussed treatment options.

I've had counselling 3 or 4 times in the past.

I don't work and just sit on the sofa all day refreshing news websites. I've had enough of  this depression and REALLY want to get better, I know we all do!  £%&

My parents have very kindly offered to pay for my depression to be treated privately. Has anyone done this?

Are there any less common treatments available, either on the NHS or privately?

Thankyou for reading and hello to my fellow depressionites  :D

LoopyMe x

[Mark]

Hi Loopyme,

Currently there are 2 main types of treatment - medication and talking therapy.

I believe that in depression cases, where it has been going on for some time, the best results come from a combination of both. As you have been on 2 SSRI anti depressants (prozac and citalopram) you could talk to your GP about either Mirtazepine or Duloxetine as these work in a different way.
If you're getting nowhere with your GP, either try a different GP in the same practice or ask to be referred onto more specialised services.

There are some things you can do to help and these revolve around trying to get a routine going everyday (not easy I know when you your motivation and energy levels are low) but sometimes reviewing the basics like your eating and sleeping patterns can help too. In addition to these points I personally found exercise a huge help for my symptoms and am very grateful I have my dog as he has been a big part of helping.

Hope this helps
Take care
Mark

[heatherm2211]

I agree with Mark, hes completely right :)

+ CCBT aka Computurised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can help wonders too! I'm surprised that many people haven't heard of it before, check out:
www.beatingtheblues.co.uk

For more information, it really works I promise.

Take care xxx