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Question

What is the most immediate way to really increase self esteem and feel good about yourself for more than a fleeting moment?

Submitted: 157 days and 10 hours ago.

Category: Mental Health

Value: $22

Status: CLOSED

Gender: Female
Age: 50

Already Tried:
Therapy, self-help books, anti-depressants, journaling, sleeping. Now I'm at a point where I have no desire to do even the daily stuff I need to do. I still go to work, but that's about it. I have never felt this way in my life ---this feeling of no hope for change, no reason to do anything has been going on for at least 1 1/2 years --which also is when my father died. I don't even do any of the "hobbies" I used to love ---I always tell myself "what's the use." I have tried, and tried and tried to change the way I think and feel, but it's never for more than maybe an hour. I have no sense of security; I have no sense of purpose; nothing makes sense to me. Is there a God, and how can I know that?

Posted by Dr Vikas 157 days and 10 hours ago.

Info Request

Hello mam,

Could you please mention the symptoms you are currently having although some are very much apparent?

How is your sleep / appetite / energy level these days?

Kindly mention your previous diagnosis ?

If it is possible for you, please go through this online test for depression and let me know about your scores?

Depression self test

Which antidepressant / Therapy you have already tried?

Are you currently under treatment of a psychiatrist?

Thanks

157 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

I have to take Ambien, or I don't sleep at all. I eat WAY too much, but think food is the only thing I enjoy. I hardly have the energy to get up in the morning. I also feel as though I don't like people at all. I seem to be angry (inwardly) a lot. I feel such rage inside of me so much. I feel my whole life (except my son--who is now 29 and married) has been a failure. Nothing has turned out the way I thought (for me). Nothing. And, I feel I'm too old to make any difference in my life. My mother is lonely and has been hospitalized three times in the last year. I feel I should be there for her, but I really can't stand going to my parents' house ---I has such bad feelings for me. Not that my parents abused me, but it wasn't fun living there. I wish I had moved away. I hate the town I live in. I grew up here, moved away, came back after my divorce, and here I am. "They" say a place doesn't matter, but this place holds no happiness for me.

Posted by Dr Vikas 157 days and 10 hours ago.

Answer

Thanks for your reply. All of your symptoms are suggestive of severe depression and this could be the reason you are feeling this way. Once your symptoms are under control you will feel a lot of difference and I am sure about it.

I am assuming that you are not taking any antidepressant or medicine currently except Ambien as you have not mentioned them in your reply. On the basis of your previous reply it appears that you have not adequately responded to medicine / psychotherapy treatment alone and I would recommend that you consult with your psychiatrist about the combination of antidepressants and Cognitive Behavior therapy in your case.

For difficult to treat case who are not responding to medicine alone, combination of Psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavior therapy and antidepressant have been prove to be vary useful according to various studies.

As you are having trouble in sleeping, sedating antidepressants such as Mirtazapine, Paroxetine could prove to be very useful in addition to Cognitive Behavior therapy.

If you have any other query, please feel free to ask.

I wish you a very early and speedy recovery.

Best wishes

157 days and 10 hours ago.

Reply

`How would you answer some of my specific questions? I did say I was on anti-depressants -- Effexor What is cognitive behavior?

With the information I have given you, I would like a summary of how you see me and what I need to do to help myself.

157 days and 9 hours ago.

Reply

My questionwas:
What is the most immediate way to really increase self esteem and feel good about yourself for more than a fleeting moment?

Accepted Answer

I am sorry if I missed that, but you have not specifically mentioned Effexor I guess.

To summarise -

Low self esteem is a prominent symptom of depression and once your depression is treated you will notice a lot of change in your self esteem.

Your symptoms are very much suggestive of severe depression on the basis of information you have provided ( although a proper psychiatric history and mental status examination are required to say it conclusively).

I would recommend you to go through the link I am giving below to know more about symptoms of depression and Cognitive behavior therapy which is a type of psychotherapy .Treatment in it is based on the idea that disorder is caused not by events, but by the view the patients take of events.
What does it feel like when in depression?
What is cognitive Behavior therapy?

Cognitive Behavior could be explained in simple words as "Behavior and emotions are determined by person's cognition where cognition means process of thought." Cognitive behavior therapy aims to change the way a person feel by changing the way of thinking.

Well it is very much evident that you have not responded properly to Effexor or if responded there is relapse of depression. For difficult to treat case who are not responding to medicine alone, combination of Psychotherapy such as Cognitive Behavior therapy and antidepressant have been prove to be vary useful according to various studies. In your case since you have Insomnia also that is trouble in sleeping, sedating antidepressants such as Mirtazapine, Paroxetine could prove to be very useful in addition to Cognitive Behavior therapy.

You need to consult a psychiatrist for treatment for your problems in my view and I am sure, everything will be alright once again.

I hope it helps,

If you have any other query, please feel free to ask.

I wish you a very early and speedy recovery.

Regards

Expert:	Dr Vikas
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:	340
Answered:	10/15/2009

Psychiatrist

MBBS ; M.D Psychiatry, MSc. Health Informatics

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What is the most immediate way to really increase self esteem and feel good about yourself for more than a fleeting moment?

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`How would you answer some of my specific questions? I did say I was on anti-depressants -- Effexor What is cognitive behavior?

With the information I have given you, I would like a summary of how you see me and what I need to do to help myself.

Reply

My questionwas:
What is the most immediate way to really increase self esteem and feel good about yourself for more than a fleeting moment?

Accepted Answer

What does it feel like when in depression?

Mental Health

Ask a Mental Health Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Mental Health question?

Related Mental Health Topics:

Question

What is the most immediate way to really increase self esteem and feel good about yourself for more than a fleeting moment?

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Info Request

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Reply

`How would you answer some of my specific questions? I did say I was on anti-depressants -- Effexor What is cognitive behavior? With the information I have given you, I would like a summary of how you see me and what I need to do to help myself.

Reply

My questionwas: What is the most immediate way to really increase self esteem and feel good about yourself for more than a fleeting moment?

Accepted Answer

What does it feel like when in depression?

Related Mental Health Questions

`How would you answer some of my specific questions? I did say I was on anti-depressants -- Effexor What is cognitive behavior?

With the information I have given you, I would like a summary of how you see me and what I need to do to help myself.

My questionwas:
What is the most immediate way to really increase self esteem and feel good about yourself for more than a fleeting moment?