Tips for the world with depression

[DizFan101]

Hello.
I'm still suffering from depression (in therapy).
Anyway, as you can see my countdown is almost over and i'm scared i won't have any fun at the parks. I'm always tired and feeling like i'm being dragged around (Even if i go places by myself).

I just can't see the light any more even when it comes to disney because that is a special thing my mom and i do and i can't bare to think about the far future but it is always on my mind like a clear foil on top of my brain.

anyway, can anybody help me by giving tips on how to enjoy myself?

 

[smitch425]

Hello.
I'm still suffering from depression (in therapy).
Anyway, as you can see my countdown is almost over and i'm scared i won't have any fun at the parks. I'm always tired and feeling like i'm being dragged around (Even if i go places by myself).

I just can't see the light any more even when it comes to disney because that is a special thing my mom and i do and i can't bare to think about the far future but it is always on my mind like a clear foil on top of my brain.

anyway, can anybody help me by giving tips on how to enjoy myself?

I am so sorry that you are still struggling with your depression. I don't really know what issues you are dealing with so I don't know exactly what could help you, but I do have a suggestion. While you are at the parks, take some time to sit and people watch. Take a break for dessert or maybe dine outdoors and look at everyone around you. You will see children having new experiences, old folks acting like kids again, foreign people chatting about things that you wish you could understand, people with disabilities trying their hardest to keep up with the rest of the crowd, etc...

Look at all of these people and know that everyone struggles at some point in their lives, but you do your best to enjoy the life and hand you have been dealt. No one has a perfect life, but if you try to do the best you can with what you have, it will all work itself out. Take a stroll through the rose garden in EPCOT and literally stop and smell the roses. Take time to see all that is beautiful in the world and know that you have a place in it. I will keep you in my prayers, and I hope you have a wonderful trip and find some comfort there.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Hello.
I'm still suffering from depression (in therapy).
Anyway, as you can see my countdown is almost over and i'm scared i won't have any fun at the parks. I'm always tired and feeling like i'm being dragged around (Even if i go places by myself).

I just can't see the light any more even when it comes to disney because that is a special thing my mom and i do and i can't bare to think about the far future but it is always on my mind like a clear foil on top of my brain.

anyway, can anybody help me by giving tips on how to enjoy myself?

Depression is a tough cross to carry. I have some issues with it due to my thyroid disorder. When my thyroid is off (which it frequently is), I struggle with it. I've been on medication to get me through until I can get a doctor to sort out my thyroid properly, and my insurance no longer covers the medicine. I decided to go without it from now on. I thought I'd spiral into a major depression as part of withdrawal from the medication. I made a decision then and there to not allow myself to get to that point. I am doing well. I stepped up my training so I am now exercising frequently again. That has helped immensely. I am not trying to say you should do the same, because I think if you are able to, you should stay in treatment. If I could I would. I couldn't, so I had to find something to help me stay out of the dark place depression can put you. I think Smitch425 is right. You have to stop and look around. You need to find happiness within yourself so you can live your life. There are so many people out there with less than I have. My problems are small compared to so many people's out there. I was no good to my kids the way I was. I don't know what else to say because I can't solve this for you. I just wanted you to know that I empathize. You are not alone. It's a very frustrating place to be, but you are doing the right things. You are in therapy, and that can help you so much. I found therapy at my church. I was staying away while I was going through some health stuff that contributed to my depression. I found healing in going back to my church and back to the karate mat. You have to find what works for you, and until you do, we will be praying for you. Try and let go while you are at Disney. If you think about it too much you won't enjoy yourself. Two days before my Disney trip our landlord decided to give our home to some friends of his. He decided to ask us to leave, and we had a very short timeframe for doing so. I was heartbroken, hurt, scared, upset, you name it. My husband and I decided that we wouldn't let it ruin our trip. We put it out of our minds until we got home and dealt with it. It kept trying to creep back in and stress us out, so it wasn't easy, but we managed to have a fabulous trip. We just let Disney seep into our pores and our hearts. We let it fog our minds. We forgot our troubles and had the time of our lives. I hope you can do that for a couple days at least. Give your heart some happiness. You deserve it.

I am so sorry that you are still struggling with your depression. I don't really know what issues you are dealing with so I don't know exactly what could help you, but I do have a suggestion. While you are at the parks, take some time to sit and people watch. Take a break for dessert or maybe dine outdoors and look at everyone around you. You will see children having new experiences, old folks acting like kids again, foreign people chatting about things that you wish you could understand, people with disabilities trying their hardest to keep up with the rest of the crowd, etc...

Look at all of these people and know that everyone struggles at some point in their lives, but you do your best to enjoy the life and hand you have been dealt. No one has a perfect life, but if you try to do the best you can with what you have, it will all work itself out. Take a stroll through the rose garden in EPCOT and literally stop and smell the roses. Take time to see all that is beautiful in the world and know that you have a place in it. I will keep you in my prayers, and I hope you have a wonderful trip and find some comfort there.

All good, kind words.

 

[DizFan101]

For me I suffer from PTSD and major depression.
My mind is always blank... i guess it's different then before because i was always able to think of good things. now there's like a thin foil of blankness + old memories that just lies there and i can't concentrate on anything and i don't enjoy things i used to enjoy. I am scared i'm going insane because i really want to be my old self. i'm only in therapy as antidepressants were doing more worse then good. .

i just feel like i can't make any decisions, big or small.
i have to take small steps and can't really begin/start conversations. i don't/can't see myself in society any more. i just feel dead inside and and alone.
i don't feel connected to anyone and it scares me that i'm 25 years old and still where i am 10 years ago except a lot worse. no friends/no job just family that I feel disconnected to because i know for the time being that they will always be there for me when i need them, but they won't "always" be there for me in the long run. I'm scared of what is to come. I have been blind sided so badly in the past that i don't want to be blind sided with anything (good or bad). i'm just scared of life. i don't want to take chances...

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

For me I suffer from PTSD and major depression.
My mind is always blank... i guess it's different then before because i was always able to think of good things. now there's like a thin foil of blankness + old memories that just lies there and i can't concentrate on anything and i don't enjoy things i used to enjoy. I am scared i'm going insane because i really want to be my old self. i'm only in therapy as antidepressants were doing more worse then good. .

i just feel like i can't make any decisions, big or small.
i have to take small steps and can't really begin/start conversations. i don't/can't see myself in society any more. i just feel dead inside and and alone.
i don't feel connected to anyone and it scares me that i'm 25 years old and still where i am 10 years ago except a lot worse. no friends/no job just family that I feel disconnected to because i know for the time being that they will always be there for me when i need them, but they won't "always" be there for me in the long run. I'm scared of what is to come. I have been blind sided so badly in the past that i don't want to be blind sided with anything (good or bad). i'm just scared of life. i don't want to take chances...

That's a hard place to be. I hope you are able to get through it. Your family loves you, and that's what is important. Friends are great, but I've found that my family are the only people who I trust completely. I hope you are able to do the same. I hope you are able to find the light again. My only advice would be to force yourself to do things to keep you from slipping deeper into despair. Whatever happened to you isn't what defines you. I myself am a victim. I don't want to say what I am a victim of as I don't know if it's acceptable on this forum. You do the math though. Depression can't be solved universally by one means or another. Everyone is different. You have to find what will empower you and make you strong again. If you don't, the thing that happened to you is beating you. You can find a way to overcome and beat it. You are worth the work you are putting into yourself. Remember that nothing is worth pursuing if there's no hard work involved. I promise you there will be hard work to find what works for you, but I also promise you that it is worth it. This time right now can make you stronger if you let it, or it can defeat you if you let it. My hope is that you are able to win this. You can win this. Let Disney be your stepping stone to better health. Let the Disboards be a place where you can find friends to build you up until you are able to build yourself up, and I hope you can let your Disney trip be a start to your future happiness.

 

[Kim in SPR]

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I'm a long-time sufferer (survivor) of depression and I've been in and out of the places you describe. You can get through this with therapy, support, and sometimes medications.

Here's my advice for your trip... Go with absolutely no plan and no expectations. People have different ideas on what makes the magic at Disney and most become too busy trying to force it to happen. The best kind of Disney magic just happens all on it's own. Leave your mind blank. As you experience the parks, don't think about what you should be doing or how you should be feeling. Just relax and be aware of the atmosphere. Sit if you want to sit. Enjoy the sounds and the smells. Watch the children - especially when they visit the characters! Disney can be a very therapeutic place in itself. All you have to do is not worry about how to make the magic happen and just allow it to happen on its own.

 

[roxysmum123]

For me, I have Major Depressive Disorder and I go to Disney because it's the only place I feel normal. I go at least once a year and when I was on medication, I took a meds holiday while I was there too. For me, I've found its' best not to have a schedule because it takes a lot of pressures off of myself.

 

[Partyof8]

I struggle with depression. Today is one of my stay in my pajamas days, unfortunately. Hopefully you are traveling with someone who understands and knows when/how to help. If you have felt excited about trips in the past, the complete lack of feeling about this trip just emphasizes the difference in the way that we now respond to things.

 

[tina.tina]

It's like I have a recording in my head telling me that I don't deserve to be happy. I don't agree with the person who says go with no plan- but everyone needs to do what works for them. If I went somewhere (especially somewhere complicated like WDW) I would find it too stressful to decide where to go on the spur of the moment and might end up going nowhere.

I believe you said you are going with your Mom. Do what you can to make her happy on your trip. Seeing your loved ones happy can cheer you up.

I have to remind myself daily that there are lots of people who are much worse off than me. Being thoughtful and polite to strangers makes me happy.

To keep the negative thoughts away, it will help to stay busy and keep moving.

Good luck and try to remember how lucky you already are to be going to WDW.

PS- There are new medicines being invented constantly. Maybe they haven't invented the medicine or you haven't found the combination of medicines that's right for you. Be sure to see a psychiatrist regarding your medications because you want to see a specialist in the correct field. You wouldn't want a dermatologist to do surgery for your colon cancer.

 

[pepperw23]

I'm sorry you are going through all of this. Depression is hard to come back from but you CAN come back. One thing I learned as my DH struggled with healing from bi-Polar is that depression is also physical and it is similar to healing from an illness. The right medication will have you feeling great.

If your current medication is not working, tell your Dr. to give you something else, or tell you how long they will take to "kick in". My DH had to try several different "cocktails" until he found the right combination. Fight it like you would fight any other illness. You can do this.

One more thing, don't be too hard on yourself. Heck, your 20's are hard enough. There is some good advice on here from other Dissers. Stop and breathe deep. Focus on the wonderful sounds, sights and smells that is Disney. Let it take you to another place. If it works, great if not, promise yourself you will come back and try again. Then forget it, move on from it and forgive yourself.

Above all else is if it all gets to be too much ASK FOR HELP. Do not try to struggle with those feelings alone.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I know everybody is different, but make yourself get up and get going to the parks.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I was in depression when me and my DH went to WDW, for the first time. I was so sad. I wanted to cry. But I guess I had a good reason for it. But I kept thinking I did not want to ruin my DH vacation. I would get up and enjoy my time with my husband. I tried not to focus on the issue at hand. Its hard to give advice as everyone is different. But you are in my prayers.

 

[rntonp]

DizFan101
Hello,
I joined this forum just to send you a reply, after reading your posts from 11/3/11. I do not intend to meddle in anyone's business; however, I am a medical provider and if you have any questions about meds, symptoms, alternative therapies, etc., Please send me a message.
My family is going to Disneyworld this weekend for the first time; therefore, I'm not sure about how often I can check this board.
My e_mail is R N t o N P @ y a h o o . c o m (without the spacing obviously)
Andy

 

[ariel5884]

I just wanted to add that I hope that you are seeing a psychiatrist and therapist b/c the only way to get through this is with some professional help. Your family and friends will be there for you but a professional who is experienced in this field has a better understanding of what you are going through. I myself am bipolar and can tell you that I have had some real lows and it feels good for me to talk to someone trained in my diagnosis to help me. I also attend group sessions with people with the same issues as I am going through and it really helped me. A therapist should be able to give you information on local groups that you and your family or friends can attend with you. If you ever feel like you might harm yourself, you should go straight to the emergency room. I have been in the hospital 2 times, not b/c I harmed myself but simply b/c I felt like nothing mattered to me anymore and I felt like I was a waste of space. It really did help me. It's not that I have such a ****ty life but certain things happen and unfortunately I sometimes just can't deal with them, I just hit a all time low. When I hit that low I reach out for help. It doesn't make me a bad person, or a "crazy" one it's just that people are different and what seems like just a simple problem for someone else, can be a life altering problem for me. When I go to Disney I sleep in and go to the parks when I feel rested. My husband is very understanding and does not force me up at the crack of dawn to go to the parks. If I am not feeling well at the park we leave, or sometimes will take a day off from the parks if I am too tired or not feeling right. Gosh, I wish they diagnosed me when I was your age b/c things would be so different. Unfortunately my mom turned a blind eye since my dad is mentally ill and I don't think she could handle her own daughter being ill as well. You have reached your first step by admitting you are depressed, now you just need some help.