The question was submitted
21 January 2010
Subject: When will I ever recover from depression?
During a routine appointment with endocrinologists, I was like hysterically crying & was referred to psychiatrist where I was warded for a week in december 2008. I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, diabetes type II, hypertension & later major depressive disorder.
I was working in new department for months before I was hospitalised, unable to cope with stressors at home & at work. Financially strapped along with dad with parkinson & alzhemier, aged mother unable to work as lumber spine injured due to trying to carry my dad after his fall. Medical expenses choking up. I was left alone to fend for myself. Parents always quarrelling & I couldn't take it & broke down lotsa times.
I gave myself a year to recover from MDD but then to my disappoinment, I had recurrent depression in which last yr dec 2009 when I couldn't hold myself any longer & I was hospitalised for 6.5 days again!
During the treatment period, my medicines kept on changing & finally back to fluoxetine, recently increased to 40mg but I was even more easily agitated for nothing mnost of the time & I aleniated at my mother whose staying with me & I felt guilty & bad about it. My mother was very scared!
Initially, after my 1st discharged, I didn't take medicine for 2 weeks but took it later on. Right now, it's like been a yr plus & I feel like giving up. When will I ever recover?
My facebook friends, colleagues avoided me. Am not crazy!! I felt so hurt. Often, I cried to myself when at work.
Answer from DepNet
It sounds like you went through a lot, with multiple life events and stresses coming upon you over a short period in December 2008, that precipitated your first episode of depression.
It did seem however, that with treatment and medication you managed to get back to your normal functioning, till the recent recurrence in December 2009.
I would be optimistic that with the institution of treatment you should be able to gradually improve and get back to your normal self again.
It is common to feel discouraged and feel like giving up during a depressive relapse, as thoughts often become distorted and very negative. But the medical evidence is that you will surely get better with time with the proper treatment in place, just as you had previously done.
‘Recovery’ however does mean different things to different people. Realistically having had episodes of depression, it may mean that you may continue to be vulnerable to developing future episodes of depression. However, continuing medication can prevent the likelihood of a future relapse. Psychotherapy can also help identify your vulnerabilities and improve your coping mechanisms in the face of future stressful situations.
The answer was published on DepNet
29 January 2010