You may have fear of the unknown when it comes to reaching out for help. I did! The best way to pacify that fear is to collect all the pertinent information about that which you fear.
Getting a good start:
The first thing I want you to do is get some specialized help. I’m talking about professional help. Start by getting a diagnosis from a General Practitioner. Or a referral to a psychiatrist if your GP feels that’s necessary for a proper diagnosis. Since depression is so prevalent in our society General Practitioners (family doctors) see cases nearly daily. A good GP will be up to date on diagnosing many depressive disorders and may be the only help you need. If you feel more comfortable working with a psychiatrist for their specialty knowledge of techniques and medications used to treat your specific disorder, that’s reasonable and you’ll simply need to request that referral from your GP.
A good diagnosis is important to figure out what is specifically causing your symptoms. I have been diagnosed with Major Depression, ADHD, & Social Anxiety but others may have a different combination of symptoms or even other health conditions all together. Sometimes depression is just an added kicker to a more complex disorder or condition. It’s important to know what category your symptoms fit into so you can most effectively treat your depression. But don’t get too caught up in your diagnosis. Your diagnosis is not your identity. It’s a tool for you to use to get the correct treatment. Regardless of your diagnosis I believe you’ll find value in the steps I’ve put together. It’s about adding meaning and health to your life.
You may have fear of the unknown when it comes to reaching out for help. I did!
The best way to pacify the fear of reaching out is to collect all the pertinent information about that which you fear. My goal is to fill in the gaps for you. By helping you through the process I can give you most of the information you need to make progress. You see, I put off getting help due to a lack of knowledge and a strong concern that I would be prescribed medication that changed my personality, etc.
It certainly didn’t help that I was dealing with social anxiety as well. Another thing that held me back from getting help was money. By the time I reached out for help I had been unemployed for six years and had no insurance. I’m the sort of person that doesn’t want to burden anyone else; whether that be the taxpayer or individuals. You may feel that way too but get over it! Your life is too valuable to get caught up in that nonsense.
There is help out there for you. And if you’re in a similar situation to me with no money to pay for treatment you’ll find wonderful caring people to help you at a community clinic or national facility depending on where you live in the world. Reach out, get help, continue doing the steps in the plan.
Are the people in your life telling you it’s all in your head?
Don’t let friends, family, pastors, rabbis, etc. discourage you from getting the help you need. Everyone has an opinion, but most are not equipped to understand the severity of your situation. They’re not the experts. I’m very passionate about this particular point because I listened to people I respected and trusted far too long which prolonged my struggle. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone by countering their advice.
At one point I went to my pastor seeking assistance with these troubles I was dealing with. He wasn’t helpful. He compared being treated with medication for depression, to the life of a young man he’d been counseling. The young man was in trouble with the law and had begun down the path of illicit drug use. That pastor was far out of his depth and should have referred me to a mental health professional. There was no comparison to be made. It wasn’t helpful and delayed my progress. Trust yourself and get help. Well-meaning people are wonderful, but not always armed with the facts. I forgive the pastor and hold no ill will toward him, but that example illustrates the importance of getting the right kind of help.
Medication:
As for medication. I’ve been prescribed Wellbutrin (Bupropion) for my symptoms, but your doctor may prescribe one or multiple anti-depressants depending on your symptoms and diagnosis. Anti-depressant medications take some getting used to, but the meds help me to get out of bed and focus on the task at hand. The debilitating effects of depression often left me so down that I was incapable of taking even the smallest steps towards relief, so the addition of medication is a good place to start.
If you start on a medication, it’s important that you stay on that medication for long enough that it can take full effect before deciding whether it’s effective in treating your specific symptoms or not. Wellbutrin for example takes around 4-6 weeks, others can take longer. But, if the new medication is making your symptoms worse or making you feel unwell, communicate that clearly to your doctor right away. You don’t need to wait for your next appointment, just request a call back from their nurse and give an explanation of your concerns. Good communication with your doctor and their staff is key to finding the most effective solution for your given symptoms. Be an active player in the process with your doctor. Make sure your concerns are being addressed and followed up on. I bring notes along to my appointments so that I don’t forget to pass on information or ask important questions.
Once you’ve found an effective medication and it’s had time to take effect, you should be feeling some relief shortly. It’s important to remember our goal goes beyond simply relief of symptoms though. Our goal is happy, productive, and a resilience from settling for “just getting by”, or worse falling back into the black pit from whence we came. Don’t fear the medication. Just treat it with respect and the tool it’s intended to be.
This whole process is up to you.
You may decide not to use medication. If that’s the case than the other steps are even more important. If you’re symptoms are very severe or if your life and livelihood are being affected negatively consider your options carefully. Avoiding the pitfall of severe symptoms impeding your forward progress is important.
If you find yourself completely debilitated, or you feel like you want to harm yourself at any point along the way please immediately get help. Your local emergency room or crisis line will help you to find your way. Remind yourself that depression is lying to you and things are not as they seem in the midst of the storm. Friends and family are good listeners when you’re down, but you’ll need professionals. Remember that people who have chosen mental health or medicine as their profession didn’t get there by accident. They’re committed and more than pleased to help people like you and me. You have no need to fear.