I need advice: stubborn depression

[Missed Link]

I'm desperate. I'm 58 and the meds keep the mania tamped down but the depression just won't let go. Thoughts of suicide are never far away. At night, when I'm exhausted, the idea is inviting. I'm trying to put up a good fight, which is in itself exhausting.

I've decided to try taking morning walks to see if that might help. I start tomorrow. I don't know what I'll do if that doesn't work.

My Dr. is trying but can't find the right mix of meds. Meanwhile, I am trying to learn how to accept the suffering as part of my present experience and move on. I keep telling myself to grow up and move forward. Has anyone been able to to this?

 

[David Baxter PhD]

When you say, "My Dr. is trying but can't find the right mix of meds", are you talking about a psychiatrist or, even better, a psychopharmacologist? If not, you might consider getting a referral to your local psychopharmacology specialist.

 

[Retired]

ML,

My Dr. is trying but can't find the right mix of meds

Thankfully your doctor appears to to be treating as would be expected, that is to say there is no "one size fits all" treatment for depression. A person may or may no respond to a given medication, in which case the dose or even the medication need to be changed.

It is not unusual for trial and error to take place over several months or even years before the right combination is found for your particular brain chemistry.

You are to be commended for your courage to seek treatment, and communicating your progress with your doctor, in time the right combination of medication and dosage will be found.

It's the state of the art at this time, ML, because unfortunately, as you know there is no blood test that can determine exactly the medication mix that's right for you.

I keep telling myself to grow up and move forward

You would be doing a disservice to beat up on yourself for the symptoms of your illness. You are not in control of the illness, but you are in control of following the treatment plan.

Stick with it, take the morning walks getting the fresh air, the exercise and the opportunity to meet other people. Your illness is treatable, it just takes a bit of time and your patience to work with your doctor to find what will work for you.

 

[Missed Link]

My Doctor is a psychiatrist. We don't have psychopharmacologists where I live.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Well, technically we don't have that designation here either. But in many cities, there are one or two psychiatrists who have specialized knowledge of psychotropic medications (there are two in Ottawa that I know of) and physicians and other psychiatrists often refer to these people for consultations when they are having difficulty determining the right medications for their patients.

Your family doctor/GP may know of one in your area.

 

[Retired]

I've decided to try taking morning walks to see if that might help. I start tomorrow

Please see this Psychlinks Post for some encouraging information on exercise and depression / anxiety.