Struggling with depression

I am spending a huge amount of time everyday fighting depression and seem to be loosing this battle.  While I thought I knew what depression was about, what I have had in the past was clearly just "the blues" and this is so much more .    I have alway have some seasonal downswing in mood in the late winter, spring has alway been right around the corner and things improve then.  With winter not even started yet, I fear this is going to be a very tough year.

I just don't know what to do to turn myself around. Somedays it is so bad, I just want to give up onlife completely.  I even fear loosing my job because I am just not getting much of anything done. 

How the heck do I jump start myself and get my life headed in the right direction again?

See a therapist right away.  They really know how to get us up and going.  God Bless you.

Are you in therapy?  Are you on any meds for depression?

If you're not in therapy, you need it now.  And you  need to talk to your doc about meds.  If you are on meds, they need adjusted.

I know what you're going through, I've struggled with severe depression most of my life.  Oh, there are times I feel a lot better.  But then there are the bad times.  I quit working fulltime eight years ago because of the depression.  Too many days I couldn't get out of bed and go to work.  Plus trouble concentrating when I was there.

If you're feeling like giving up on life completely, you need therapy and you need to see a doc.  It can get better.  But you need to get help.

And feel free to PM me if you wanna talk.

 Greetings from a fellow sufferer!

First, I am very sorry you are feeling so terrible.  Glad that you are reaching out.

Realize this is an illness.  IT WILL PASS.  

Get support.  Enlist someone who is not depressed to help you find support in your area.

Types of support:
Medical:  See your doctor and speak plainly about your symptoms - just what you said above.  Medication can be a godsend if you get the right prescription.  Get labs done and compare to previous....   while you may not be quite deficient, you may note that your levels are getting lower which means you might have gone too low FOR YOU.

Psycological - a psychiatrist, therapist, counselor of some sort - talk therapy combined with therapeutic medication is highly effective.

Pay attention to your body:  Good sleep.  Good nutrution.  Take all vitamins.  Maybe boost D.  Mild to moderate exercise if you can.

I had about 6 months of severe depression last year - and had great supports in place plus medication.  Miracle of miracles I came through it.  At my worst, I had to use all my energy to prevent myself from curling up in a roadside ditch flooded with nasty cold rain.  To me, it had a strong attraction - like somehow that would be the perfection of comfort!

Keep us posted and hope you feel better soon!

 You need to call your doc first thing in the morning... I am no depression expert, however I know there are medications/therapy that will help you deal with your depression issues.  DO NOT try to cure yourself... would you try to home medicate type I diabetes... I think not.  Depression is a serious disease that needs treatment!  I hope you start feeling better soon.

I am not in therapy or on any meds.  the idea of just picking random therapist out of the phone book isn't very appealing.  I don't even know what to look for?  Is finding the right one a trial an error process? What type of questions should I ask to help weed out the ones that are not for me? 

Check with your insurance company to see who in your area is covered on your plan.  You can call them and ask a few questions over the phone.  I don't know what things would be important to you.  When I was looking for a therapist, I wanted one that had a lot of experience with PTSD.  When I was in a relationship with a woman, I wanted one that would not feel uncomfortable with that.  I was very unhappy when I saw a new therapist and she tried to tell me being a lesbian was a side effect of being abused as a child.  So ask any questions you have that are really important on the phone, then make an appointment.

At your first appointment, interview the therapist.  Ask what kind of license they have, how long they've been in practice, how they typically treat depression.

Part of why the idea of looking for one doesn't seem very appealing is because you are depressed.  Does anything seem appealing right now?  Other than getting under the blankets and staying there forever?

Make a couple calls tomorrow.  A good therapist will help you a lot.

Also call your PCP to make an appointment to talk about the possibility of meds.

 your pcp may have a recommendation for a therapist. or perhaps someone you know sees one?

speak to your primary care doctor first. Tell you physician you are depressed, they may be able to prescribe you some meds and suggest a therapist. 
Barring that, look for a large clinic.... if you are not clicking with a therapist then you can request someone else and not have to start all over again.
Keep talking to anyone, your husband, a neighbor, the preachers wife, someone that you trust and will listen to you. 
You need to be validated, not told "this will pass".  Know there is help.

Thanks everyone.  I'll give the dr a call tomorrow and see if he can get me in Asap.