i am a 20 year old male college student and i know i have had depression for over half my life. of course i had reason for it since i was neglected, forced to life with my aunt because my father was a drug addict then i was sent to live with my grandparents, i hate them and they hate me.
during high school things started to look up for me because i finally had strong friend groups, shed my baby fat, started looking good, exercised daily, had a steady income selling energy drinks, etc. but this was short lived because i was expelled at the end of sophomore year [i wont explain why, but depression had something to do with it], then it was back down the depression hill, i was able to keep exercising and doing my homework at a fast pace [trying to graduate early] for my goal which was to join the marines but after they told me i couldnt join that was the last blow. surprisingly i was the ONLY person in the second school i went to that had never been under the influence of drugs and alcohol and i am staying that way until today because dont want to turn into my father.
obviously the job market is rather unfriendly and i could not find a job so i turned to college after high school. i am unable to do my homework because of depression, i never wanted to go to college, i knew that from my first day of the 1st grade. the only reason i am able to get up is because i like my first class, but other than that i am dragging my feet and im not up the hill enough to do much.
there is one week left in the semester and i cant be dragging my feet for finals plus some of the work i am already behind on and if i cant get back up the mountain i know i will not do well this term.
2 weeks ago it hit me again after seeing an ex-girl friend now i am unable to do homework again and my sleep cycle that i have have been trying really hard to keep on schedule is ruined.
i am or have been experiencing the usual symptoms of depression.
Depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy or never enjoyed but have to do out of necessity
Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness
recurring thoughts of death, but i am not suicidal
Sleep disturbance (sleeping more or sleeping less or not sleeping at all)
Appetite and weight changes
Difficulty concentrating !!!!!!!!
Lack of energy and fatigue
complete lack of motivation
my mother has clinical depression, so it runs in the family
is there someway i can i can shake this by the end of the weekend so i can finally shake depression for the long hall and/or pass this semester.
thank you for your help, for the past 2 weeks i have been taking vitamin B and a multivitamin and cutting down on sugary foods, i think cutting out the sugary foods was probably a bad idea, i normally want to do changes before a semester to make sure i dont have to readjust during the term. i will look into vitamin D. i just read the B vitamin bottle and it said i wasnt taking enough, it suggests take 2 a day instead of one
yes i have tried channeling my depression into anger, i did it for years, but my wrists and knuckles were in pain all the time from punching things.
i think i might start doing P90X again, it made me feel energized and i often extended my session by 2 because of how good i felt, but depression stopped me from continuing. its really messing me up in bad ways
I hate what antidepressants do to people. If your mom is clinically depressed it is possible that what she really needs is to have her vitamin levels checked. Does she, or do you have night blindness?
I have been depressed & my son has been depressed. When he went to a psychologist after having trouble concentrating & sleeping in college they put him on adderal (a very addictive substance). He ended up having a mental break. I don’t know how to pick up the pieces.
I tell you this because I have learned some things. He had very low vitamin b-12. As I researched I learned that you must get to the root of the problem to fix it & not band aid it. I next found that folate also known as folic acid is needed to make b-12. AND vitamin A is needed to make folate.
B-12 deficiency manifests itself in low energy, poor concentration, insomnia & depression. If this were your problem & you took an antidepressant you would still be sick AND would change brain chemistry, lower thyroid function, gain weight & likely have sexual side affects.
You may be clinically depressed and require treatment. You also may need your vitamin levels checked and take supplements. If you buy a sub lingual vitamin b-12 (taken under tongue), vit. a & folic acid & feel better then you know.
I also suggest a walk outside, regardless of the weather-no sunblock, to boost vit. D. Stay away from alcohol & carbohydrates (sugar).
Alcohol depletes B vitamins & carbs will elevate sugar in the brain fast, but when it quickly lowers you feel terrible. Carbs create a rollercoaster in which you crave them to feed your brain. If you eat fruits & veggies & protein at every meal you won’t experience the low, low depressed states.
I suggest therapy for the emotional baggage. If you can’t then at least tell yourself that you won’t be a victim of your past. You did not deserve neglect and you darn sure do not need to neglect yourself. Forgive those who hurt you. They may have been doing their best, but were hurting or damaged themselves. In this, I speak from experience. You are your own constant companion so DON’T put yourself down. Do your best every day and forgive yourself when your best isn’t what you want it to be. Read books that help you heal, meditate, work out, join in a sport, journal, or the best I found is volunteer at something you care about. (that has healed me)
At night I suggest you eat a piece of cheese, banana & nuts, small glass of milk & take some ionized magnesium. I like Peter Gillham’s Natural Calm. You dissolve it in hot water and drink it. It calms in just a few minutes. There are others out there, but try to find the ionic magnesium for absorption. A piece of turkey helps because it contains tryptophan, which is what makes us sleepy after a turkey dinner & it is the precursor to serotonin, the feel good hormone!! Brazil nuts have selenium, a mood elevator & needed for our brains to process thyroid hormones.
This site is about vit. D & it’s relationship to depression: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/mental-health-and-learning-disorders/depression/
You may want to supplement D3. You need 2,00 IU daily if you are not geting it from the sun. Most milk is vit. D fortified.
I understand the lack of motivation. Push yourself. Quit being a negative voice in your head & say, "I can!" instead of I can’t. If you run you will get endorphins, runners high.