Hey @Notsowild I've suffered from depression for a number of years, my diagnoses for complex trauma (whatever that means) is only relatively recent. I am sure in my case the two are linked, but it's impossible to know for sure (would I suffer from depression had I not experienced trauma as a child...who knows..).
In my case one feeds into the other, so when I get affected by my past, or suffer an anxiety attack, it feeds into my depressive mood (along with a host of other things, it isn't just past trauma that does this).
For most of my life I had suffered from what could best be described as 'low mood'. I'd noticed it, and a tendency to flip from a positive frame of mind to a very low mood in an instant, but I had never recognised it as a serious problem and had never taken medication for it, I accepted it as normal (I'm certainly not bi-polar). A few years ago something happened that pushed me into a much more serious and long term depression. I was on medication for 3 years (taking a number of different anti depressants over this time, diazepam and sleeping tablets) until my doctor and I were both concerned I had developed a degree of dependency and decided I was in danger of being on medication for ever. I gradually dropped the dose and have been off all meds for 10 months now. I hadn't realised just how much the anti-depressants were helping me, as I really do struggle with it now. But I am determined not to go back to medication.
I think if I can heal the trauma, it will help the depression. Probably not cure it, but help. I think it is possible to 'live' with depression without medication. But I had to first recognise and accept that I suffered from it. Now I try to make lifestyle choices and changes that help reduce the intensity (regular exercise has already been mentioned, and I would add mindfulness meditation as another tool).
A strange assumption on my part, but I had just assumed PTSD and depression would go hand in hand. The posts you received suggest it's not as commonly associated as I had imagined.
I'd suggest you see your doctor, and work out a plan to help you cope and hopefully reduce the intensity. Medication can help you cope for a while, but it's not a lasting solution. The medication takes weeks to start working and often come with unpleasant side effects. I had to try several different anti-deps until I found one that didn't make me feel worse (the first I tried made me feel strongly suicidal). I changed again after a year because my doctor and I felt I was developing some tolerance (they weren't working so well).
There is a way through it, with help, and I hope you get the help and support you need. But it also takes real effort, and not all the answers are in pills.
Hope this helps a bit, you are in my thoughts and best wishes.
In my case one feeds into the other, so when I get affected by my past, or suffer an anxiety attack, it feeds into my depressive mood (along with a host of other things, it isn't just past trauma that does this).
For most of my life I had suffered from what could best be described as 'low mood'. I'd noticed it, and a tendency to flip from a positive frame of mind to a very low mood in an instant, but I had never recognised it as a serious problem and had never taken medication for it, I accepted it as normal (I'm certainly not bi-polar). A few years ago something happened that pushed me into a much more serious and long term depression. I was on medication for 3 years (taking a number of different anti depressants over this time, diazepam and sleeping tablets) until my doctor and I were both concerned I had developed a degree of dependency and decided I was in danger of being on medication for ever. I gradually dropped the dose and have been off all meds for 10 months now. I hadn't realised just how much the anti-depressants were helping me, as I really do struggle with it now. But I am determined not to go back to medication.
I think if I can heal the trauma, it will help the depression. Probably not cure it, but help. I think it is possible to 'live' with depression without medication. But I had to first recognise and accept that I suffered from it. Now I try to make lifestyle choices and changes that help reduce the intensity (regular exercise has already been mentioned, and I would add mindfulness meditation as another tool).
A strange assumption on my part, but I had just assumed PTSD and depression would go hand in hand. The posts you received suggest it's not as commonly associated as I had imagined.
I'd suggest you see your doctor, and work out a plan to help you cope and hopefully reduce the intensity. Medication can help you cope for a while, but it's not a lasting solution. The medication takes weeks to start working and often come with unpleasant side effects. I had to try several different anti-deps until I found one that didn't make me feel worse (the first I tried made me feel strongly suicidal). I changed again after a year because my doctor and I felt I was developing some tolerance (they weren't working so well).
There is a way through it, with help, and I hope you get the help and support you need. But it also takes real effort, and not all the answers are in pills.
Hope this helps a bit, you are in my thoughts and best wishes.
