Getting over depression: What can I do?

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it!

You have to fix this, I can't fix it, YOU have to get this right. Get your mind right A1C David Zent, quit allowing yourself to be the victim. Once you improve your mental, physical and emotional toughness you will be fine - try a tough mudder, get rid of the negativity. Hell, we've all had setbacks and had to deal with situations that were uncomfortable, it is how you deal with it which determines how you move forward.

A1C David Zent I see and hear a tremendous amount of pain in you right now. It can be very difficult to get over trauma. What you have experienced is emotional, not physical, but it makes you physically ill due to various endocrine systems' responses in your body.

I hope you have a psychologist/therapist/counselor you are working with. Since you were hospitalized while on A/D at Minot, your behavioral/mental health issues should be covered by VA both from the standpoint of disability compensation and health care (more important).

If you don't have a provider, go to the closest VAMC, CBOC or Vet Center, and get seen. You really need to have a psychologist/counselor for talk therapy, a psychiatrist for medical management, and in your case, I think perhaps some group work.

Getting over emotional trauma is really a full time job, and if you're not working on it, it's working on you.

If you are ever feeling like things are hopeless, and you may resort to harming yourself, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, call the Crisis Line at [login to see] option 1.

http://www.yellowpages.com/north-webster-in/va-medical-center gives a listing of all VA Medical Centers and Clinics near you.

I would suggest that wondering whether you were treated right is an irrelevant question for you right now. The question you need to ask is are you getting the treatment you need NOW?

I make myself available for tele-health counseling of veterans. Please reach out to me off line if you'd like to talk with me; I can meet over Skype, Google Hangouts and regular telephone (I don't do Apple, so no Facetime).

Whatever you do, please don't give up. There are lots of resources out there for you and lots of people who want to see you beat this. If we talk, I can advise you on VA benefits, as well as help you with your issues.

Please be in touch...

We are here for you A1C David Zent. Please know that you are not alone. Please feel free to reach out to me if you need to talk brother.

A1C David Zent we are all here for you, brother. Shoulder to shoulder.

David,

I forgot to tell you that you may contact me directly if you would like.

John

A1C David Zent. I too have battled episodes of depression. Having read the current responses, I think the answer is a combination of all. First, get someone objective to talk to. You also need to put yesterday behind you and ONLY focus on what you can do to improve the next few minutes. Its true we all have had set backs and will have them again.

Sometimes you have to calmly and confidently (fake it till you can make it) stand up for yourself (even to NCOs/Officers). As long as you are not violating policy or being disrespectful, you should be fine. Just remember to keep your military bearing. Lets call this being the UN-victim. After all, what are they going to do; yell at you and make you depressed? Granted, I dont know AF culture. I am frankly surprised to hear that AF NCOs are this feared. Sounds like the Army/Marine Corps of old. You cant control how they respond to you. However, you can control how YOU respond to them.

I am not trying to be a Pollyanna. I know depression and fear can be paralyzing. I remember being there. Maybe you cant stand up right now. In the meantime, get help, do some things to build your confidence, then take charge of your situation.

What can you do right now to move toward improving this situation? Try this, for the next 5 minutes, be strong and confident and dont let anyone run over you. I think having the courage to ask this forum is a great first step. What is the next step?

(Note: I am not a professional just a guy who has also experience tough times. If there are professionals who correct anything I suggested, do what they recommend and ignore mine. I want to help your situation, not hurt you.)

Congratulations! You have surmounted the first and greatest barrier to being cured. You recognize that you are depressed.

I have never had to deal with depression. I'm one of the fortunate ones who simply isn't wired that way. Yes, there is evidence that there may be a genetic component, a predilection to depression. Sadly, it runs in my wife's family and our son has it. Even sadder, he does not yet recognize it (though we've tried to help him see it) and thus, unlike you, he is not yet on the path to recovery. And, I've known others...

It's spooky just how similar this is to treating addiction. The first step of the Twelve Steps is to accept that you have a problem. There can be no progress without that.

So again, congratulations.

Others in this thread have offered advice and support. Of course, you have my support as well. Now for the advice...

Shop around for a clinical psychologist. Don't just hire the first candidate. Look for someone you really can trust. You're going to be sharing everything, literally everything with this person. They can't help if you don't.

Make sure that your treatment begins with a contract, an agreement of what you're trying to accomplish and how you'll recognize progress. You don't want to wander around aimlessly in your own feelings.

And remember, people who say you "shouldn't feel that way" will annoy you. Of course, your depression isn't "rational". It's a feeling. It's your feeling. It can't be explained rationally. Sheesh. Just keep in mind that they really mean well. Thank them and move on.

Reaching out is one of the hardest battles inside yourself. While most of us are a distance from you - that does not prevent us from staying in touch with you, lending an ear and shoulder, and listening. You have many here who will walk that extra mile with you, know that and take advantage of it.
Support is a good thing. Several others have commented before me and echo those thoughts. You will never be alone in this fight, depend on that and take steps from there to take care of yourself. Reach out, message, post or do whatever is necessary to give yourself the best opportunity to improve. I'll stay in touch and check in with you every so often.
Take care!

A1C David Zent....Have you seen a Veterans Administration Counselor? If you feel comfortable enough to talk I will listen and encourage you.

A1C David Zent, hang in there brother you are not alone. If you reach out you will get help. The environment you worked in was not your fault or your response was not one of weakness. In fact the leaders you worked for were the ones who should have been discharged. They are in a position of trust. They have a lot of influential power over your daily quality of work life. To create hostile and intimidating atmospheres is criminal, in my view. I hope you are a VA Patient now.