I need help, I have asked for help. It seems nobody cares.?

You're a "top contributer"....look how many people you've helped !!!! How could you have time to be depressed.?.Look how many questions you've answered and good answers you've given. Evidently you've been to a dr. because you have prescriptions for anti depressants. Maybe you weren't diagnosed correctly. Maybe you need to find another dr. If you don't have money...you can go to the Health Dept. like they said. I don't know if the ER takes people for depression..but they're supposed to take you even if you don't have money. You must be on the wrong medicine or wrong dosage or wrong diagnosis. If you drink alcohol..that is a depressant. Maybe you're allergic to something..foods , clorox, etc. Go to google and do some research for your symptoms. Maybe it's a physical thing in your head. You need a brain scan maybe. Good Luck.

Hi Edward~

I am very sorry you feel this way. I can truly empathize with you on this one. I felt the way you are describing up until a few years ago. I, too had no insurance and was just being "thrown" different medications with no results.

There is hope!!! It does get tiring but don't give up! If you are going to a mental health clinic and they are not providing the help you need and or not listening to your "real" needs then call your State's Advocacy office for the disabled even if you are not on disability. They can help a great deal. They were able to get me a Dr. and a therapist who work with me and actually listen to what the real problems are and heard that the medications were not working. Call your local NAMI chapter and they can often help you too. I got to the point where I even wrote a letter to my local Senator.

You are worth getting and feeling better. I understand this can be an arduous process sometimes even though it should not be and especially when you don't feel like doing anything. Try and get a friend or a family member to help you so you do not get more depressed and you have support also with them there. Things CAN and WILL get better. I wish you the best~

You must go back to your GP and demand more help. Stand there and scream if necessary, I do know where you are because I have been there. And you are right you cannot do this on your own, but there are those that can help you if they know you need it.

You sound like a really sweet and reasonable man. I am glad you have the love of your wife and Mum. When you go to the doctor really stress how bad you feel, tell them you need extra support. Therapy or whatever.

I am self employed and have never claimed but I believe you are entitled to some financial support. Your GP will be aware of this too.

If this GP isn't doing it for you find another one. I know you feel helpless at the moment, but you've survived this far and when you look back you will realise just how strong you are.

Don't wait a week for an appointment take yourself down there now. If you have the right to be seen as an emergency patient.

Clinical depression is a tricky disease and many of us are so practised at hiding it that others don't know how bad it can feel. Now is not the time to hide it. There is absolutely no shame in it.

I now manage mine with medication, regular exercise and trying to keep stress levels down.

It ain't perfect but it works.

You just need to find what is going to work for you.

So don't stop looking now. It is there somewhere.

Good luck mate.

Edward, this makes me feel so sad. I get so frustrated when someone who has depression reaches out and just gets ignored or told take these pills and you'll be fine - next!

I know how you feel mate. I have suffered from depression most of my life. I have been on anti-depressants now on and off for 8 years. I DO feel able to cope with life better when I am on them - I have friends who have had to try, and change, their medication to find something that suits them.

Unfortunately, they are all different and you may need to try a few types before you succeed. You have a chemical imbalance that makes you feel this way, and it can be helped by taking anti-depressants. I also strongly recommend that you see another doctor - it does not sound like the one you are seeing is interested in you. You need to have counselling also - I really recommend that you see a psychologist. A psychologist can help you deal with these bouts of depression and you will feel so much better being able to talk honestly and openly with a good psychologist who is used to dealing with people with depression and getting them back on track. You may also find help in a support group - either an online one if you can't face going out or one that a good psychologist or GP can refer you to.

You are right in thinking that you would hurt your wife and your mum very badly. They would be devastated and never get over it if you tried suicide. You must get help for this. As some other answerers have said - stand there and scream for help if you have to. I know it's terrible that you have to go to these lengths, but the mental health system is so clogged up with people waiting that sometimes you have to go overboard to get someone to listen, help and take action.

I live in Australia, not the USA, so I am not sure of the contacts you have available there. But you must have some sort of mental health clinics? Please go there and demand to be helped. It can be done.

I saw a fantastic psychologist some years ago, and while I still have bouts of depression, they do pass with time and perseverence on my part and I cope with them a lot better.

God Bless Edward. I am thinking of you and hoping everything turns out ok. x

I'm sorry you feel so bad-- but there really is help. A lot of people have offered suggestions, but mine are what you can do in the meantime. Studies have shown that exercise combined with therapy is just as useful as therapy and medication. And I say this as someone who hasn't gotten out of this chair except for emergencies for 24 hours-- I'm no health freak, but it might help a little to try to get out-- just do something small. I bought a blue light online a few years ago-- I don't know that it helped, but a lot of people swear by it. Try to eat as well as you can-- high protein can help give you a boost in mood (it may not last, but its fun while it does). I was on anti depressants for almost a year-- I'm with you-- it was horrible. It wasn't that I wasn't depressed anymore, I just didn't care anymore-- I was a zombie. Then, getting off was absolute torture. I'm not saying they don't work--I'm sure they do, its just not for me. Then, in order to get help getting off the meds I saw a psychiatrist, and never stopped. Its been a year, and things aren't perfect, but they ARE better. Sometimes I feel happy, and its so weird-- I've never been really "happy" before, and its so strange! I've had the best summer with my kids I've ever had, and I feel much less anxious. Again, no miracle has happened-- I still have my moments, and this week has sucked, but I know now that it will get better, and I'm not a terrible person/mother/wife/etc etc. There is hope-- this is not about you-- you have a real illness-- something is wrong with the chemicals in your brain. There is nothing wrong with YOU, your body just needs help. Good luck-- don't give up.

I'm really sorry you are having such trouble. All there really is is therapy and meds. Most places offer therapy based on income, so it's more affordable. You sound like a strong person, it's really good that you know that even though you want to hurt yourself you know it will hurt your family too. Most people are selfish and don't think about the people that care about them. Try doing things, anything that you will enjoy. Do you work out? I know that working out everyday helped me to feel at least a little better. I know it's hard, just hang in there. I hope you will find help soon.

You'll need to become your own patient advocate...I suggest you start by getting in touch with your local free clinic and see what type of services they offer to people without insurance. The free clinic should have psychologists and psychiatrists willing to help clients without insurance. You may also need some short term impatient treatment.

If the free clinic can't help you then try your county's social services department to see what services they have to offer. If one area isn't able to give you a satisfactory answer then make sure you get a suggestion on what to do next. If needed, you might have to write to your area congressman and outline your problems and how you've been trying to deal with them and what the community response has been. Good luck.

Damn, you got great responses and loads of good Answers, this is more therapeutic (in my view) than any number of 'professionals' taking your money and talking about where to send the bill!

I don't know enough about current American health care to comment much but it sounds as though there are viable options, even in Socialist countries mental health is often considered a bit of a 'luxury service' that you should pay for (ironically when you can least afford and/or are able to), I'm not sure you'd do any better even in 'more socially advanced' countries.

Force yourself to exercise like the world was on fire. The movement and physical activity would lighten your depression a bit. Being active would make you feel a lot better. It might even be the cure for your depression.

Then...

Go to a Bible preaching church. Pray desperately to God to deliver you. He is merciful and faithful to answer (Jer 29:11-12). Once He gives you balance, read the Bible so your mind would constantly be focused on God's promises. If you do that, you would be moving away from enemy of depression and you would see it "no more". Let no one who says otherwise discourage you. God loves you so much. He does not hate you. If you understand the Cross, you will see how much He cherishes you and you will be saved.

I don't know if you know anything about homeopathic remedies. But if you look in your phone book and look up homeopathy or go to your local health food store and see if there is someone who is good at and knows their remedies these can make a world of differance!!!

What homeopathic remedies are is 100% natural medacines. They use things that are from nature and are not man made. There are remedies that can be given for depression...which actually can be brought on by a chemical imbalance.

Anyway, look into those remedies. They do work!