pretty sure i have a mental disorder. What now?

[No_Mercy]

I would be really leery of psych meds. I guess they would be OK if the problem was strictly chemical, but far too many people are being prescribed "happy pills" to deal with situational depression.

Dunno how old you are, but my best advice for avoiding depression or mental problems: stay single!

[RunDownHouse]

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You wouldnt go to a foot doctor if you had a brain tumor would you?


[/ QUOTE ]
My guess is that if he had a brain tumor he'd come straight to OOT and ask what to do about it.

[scotchnrocks]

Are you getting regular exercise from weight lifting or some kind of cardio? That would be a good move in the mean time if you aren't already. If you're in a big city you may be able to get some cheap care through research drugs and programs.

[inishowen]

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I felt the same way most of last year. SSRIs didn't really help. I stopped drinking lost 30 pounds, started exercising and doing yoga every day, and eating healthy food . I feel a lot better now. Try that.

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This post is spot on. The bold is for emphasis. How much do you drink, drug? Do you eat crap? Exercise? Commit to feeling better, it'll be tough at first but it will get better. Don't obsess about labeling how you feel. So much of how we feel is dictated by what we put into our bodies.

Make an appt with GP first, imo. You'll probably be prescribed a med to get your chemistry back in line. In the interim try treating yourself better with proper diet, exercise and vitamins.

[CrayZee]

I'd probably seek out some mental health professional rather than a nurse practitioner. Also, many places have a sliding scale so that you can afford to seek counseling/therapy.

I'm somewhat similar in that I have a genetic predisposition to a mood disorder...most likely of the cyclothymia variety (milder bipolar). My mother is bipolar and schizophrenic, so the odds go up. And to think for all these years that I'm "just moody."

GL!

[vbm]

you sound like you have depression. Smoke some weed and try and hide your problems with drink.

[TheFaucet]

Sounds like bipolar disorder. You should keep track of your cycles so that you can be more easily diagnosed.

[TheFaucet]

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you sound like you have depression. Smoke some weed and try and hide your problems with drink.

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And don't listen to this guy. Stay away from narcotics bro.

[TS Clark]

I take medication for both depression (daily) and anxiety (as needed). Though both prescriptions for me are very low dosages, they definitely do help. My GP prescribed both of them to me.

Were I you (your symptoms sound much more severe than mine), I would go see a physician immediately. While I agree a psychiatrist is your best bet, if it's quicker for you to see a GP, go that route. You can always see a psychiatrist afterwards.

There's no need to suffer with this and there is help available for you. Go see a physician immediately and get yourself some treatment. And I am sure your doctor will be aware of any available government programs that might provide you help with the costs of prescription drugs.

Good luck, brother.

[theblackkeys]

for the sleep problem, try melatonin.