• Topic
• Mental health >> Depression >> Childhood & life before depression >> Childhood & life before depression

Childhood and life before depression

• Mental health >> Depression >> Hospital based treatment >> Hospital based treatment

Hospital based treatment

• Mental health >> Depression >> Complementary and holistic approaches >> Complementary and holistic approaches

Complementary and holistic approaches

• Mental health >> Depression >> Distraction, activities and creativity >> Distraction, activities and creativity

Distraction, activities and creativity

• Clip
• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 36 >> People can go to support groups even if they are not feeling great since others understand, but it can be hard to combine people who are in a manic ph

Useful approaches include medication, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, therapy, hospitalisation, self-help groups. Currently takes Lithium (600mg/day) and citalopram (Cipramil) 20mg/day.

• Condition
• Mental health >> Depression >> Depression

Publication date: October 2004                 Last updated: October 2010

Review date: October 2012

 

Depression is a common condition with a range of different symptoms and types. We interviewed 38 people about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 08 >> Argues that people in distress may have more help available to them than they think. (Played by an actor)

With the ongoing care of her GP and ongoing counselling with a skilled practitioner, she has been in recovery since early 2003. Not currently on medication.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 23 >> Says doing nothing about depression does not help - it is better to try to be active in getting help.

While avoiding medication, helpful approaches have included counselling, self-help books and alternative therapies (e.g. re-birthing). These approaches have helped reduce negative thinking and anxiety.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Experiencing depression >> Experiencing depression

Experiencing depression

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 14 >> Experience of many bouts of depression and recovery has led him to accept his depression, and that has made it more manageable.

Has responded well to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. He has the support of his wife and has built his confidence in a local sporting club. He recognises depression as a phase that passes.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Depression

Publication date: October 2004                 Last updated: October 2010

Review date: October 2012

 

Depression is a common condition with a range of different symptoms and types. We interviewed 38 people about their experiences of this condition. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Other medical treatments >> Other medical treatments

Other medical treatments

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 19 >> She had not known that her doctor had treated her for depression in the past, nor that anxiety was closely linked with depression.

Has managed to find joy in life through approaches including medication (currently venlafaxine 150mg & chlorpromazine 25mg), counselling, partner support, Christianity and voluntary work (which led to rewarding employment).

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 19 >> While severely depressed, her doctor told her to get out of the house and exercise, and so she managed to get to her local church on the bus.

Has managed to find joy in life through approaches including medication (currently venlafaxine 150mg & chlorpromazine 25mg), counselling, partner support, Christianity and voluntary work (which led to rewarding employment).

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 01 >> Argues that very depressed people need to accept help from doctors, including medication, at least initially.

Treatments have included ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy), hospitalisation, talking therapies, lithium and medication. He was on a preventative, low dose of Zoloft (sertraline 100mg/day) due to his wife's death.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 05 >> He needed a lot of help when very depressed, and says that friends and family can assist the depressed with practical help. (Played by an actor)

Has very good care from his GP. Medication was somewhat effective. He recently stopped taking Lithium and Effexor.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 33 >> Severe depression is more serious than physical illness because the mind is ill, and because depression can be invisible, it is hard for people to sup

Has not used medication and is not happy with his GP. Nevertheless, he has accessed talking therapies which have helped somewhat. He also moved away from his family.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 04 >> Urges very depressed people to get medical help without delay because they are not in a position to help themselves. (Played by an actor)

Has responded very well to Prozac (20mg/day) and cognitive behavioural therapy.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 30-39 >> Interview 36 >> When he was suicidal, he looked at everything in terms of suicide, and he felt angry he was not allowed to die, but he has never been that low again.

Useful approaches include medication, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, therapy, hospitalisation, self-help groups. Currently takes Lithium (600mg/day) and citalopram (Cipramil) 20mg/day.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 40-54 >> Interview 23 >> When his depression is severe, he feels physically different, including a pressure around his brain, and he feels confused.

While avoiding medication, helpful approaches have included counselling, self-help books and alternative therapies (e.g. re-birthing). These approaches have helped reduce negative thinking and anxiety.

• Mental health >> Depression >> Other medical treatments >> Other medical treatments

Other medical treatments

• Mental health >> Depression >> Age 65+ >> Interview 13 >> St John's Wort helped his depression, but he cautions about the side-effect of increased light sensitivity.

Has only recent seen himself as getting better, being helped by therapy (eg. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Gestalt), a clairvoyant therapist/doctor, the learning of meditation techniques, and medication (Effexor 75mg, Lithium (400mg/day).