Hi,
Im an ex drug addict and *think* im suffering from depression. I'm hoping someone out there can help and tell me if I am or not.

Ive been a drug user since I was 16, I am now 36, I used/abused most drugs in this time, from tipex thinners to ecstacy to crack and heroin but I am now free from all street drugs, I am on a prescribed drug called Subutex that is used to wein me off heroin. I have been on Subutex now for 2 years.

My problem now is I have no life at all, I dont mix with other people too well, I over think about what to talk about which causes me to stumble my words when I do have something to say but mostly I can't think of anything to talk about and answer most questions with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. I am sooooo self concious its doing my head in. I dont think its just anxiety Im suffering because I dont get the sweaty palms/heart palpatations. I am such a negative thinker. I eat pretty well but my sleep is quite bad - I find it hard to get asleep at night but I dont overly lay in in the mornings.

I wish I could just go and get a job and lead a normal life for a change like a normal person.

I'd like to know your oppinion, do you think Im depressed?
Thanks, Jason

Hi:
No one here is a doctor so we can not diagnose you but we can make some guesses at it. I am wondering if your social development stopped when you started using and now your trying to catch back up. Drugs are a false front so you were not projecting you but an alter ego. That is just my opinion though

take care
trg247

I applaud you for stopping the drugs and staying clean for these past years! And, it does sound like you are in depression. Lets face it: Being strung out on drugs was a kind of out-to-the-"nth" lifestyle, (or lack thereof!). It was probably a kind of out on the ragged edge experience. Now, I doubt that you have adjusted to not living out in the extremes of life. It is surprising to me to have learned that I was no longer familiar with what living "normal"/ somewhere in the balanced middle is. It was like I had to have something more extreme in my life in order to be able to feel. And so I had to ask myself if living more in the middle away from extremes (where feelings weren't so off the richter scale of stress) could actually be acceptable to me and be enough. Sounds like you might be there. Just a thought: There is a place in the middle that becomes a better norm. You may need help getting there if this is the case with you.

About the depression, I have major depressive problems for which I am treated with medications and therapy now for many years. But I have learned of a new treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which really helps to challenge negative thinking that leads to depression and even anger...which I have had. There is a book written by David Burns, "Feeling Good...the New Mood Therapy" which I am hearing is equal to medications/therapy in about 70% of individuals who read it. I just got a copy yesterday to read. However, if you find that the depression is so severe that you just can't hardly go anymore, you might consider therapy to get you into a better place. I hope that this gives you some consolation and a bit of leads for help.

Thank you very much for replying.
I have been to see my doctor about my problem but because of my past I think he is reluctant to give me anti depressants, he has given me beta blockers which hasn't done anything for me.
I will look into both, the book and the therapy you suggested.
Thanks again, Jason.

The very best to you, Jason!

Hi,
Im an ex drug addict and *think* im suffering from depression. I'm hoping someone out there can help and tell me if I am or not.

Ive been a drug user since I was 16, I am now 36, I used/abused most drugs in this time, from tipex thinners to ecstacy to crack and heroin but I am now free from all street drugs, I am on a prescribed drug called Subutex that is used to wein me off heroin. I have been on Subutex now for 2 years.

My problem now is I have no life at all, I dont mix with other people too well, I over think about what to talk about which causes me to stumble my words when I do have something to say but mostly I can't think of anything to talk about and answer most questions with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. I am sooooo self concious its doing my head in. I dont think its just anxiety Im suffering because I dont get the sweaty palms/heart palpatations. I am such a negative thinker. I eat pretty well but my sleep is quite bad - I find it hard to get asleep at night but I dont overly lay in in the mornings.

I wish I could just go and get a job and lead a normal life for a change like a normal person.

I'd like to know your oppinion, do you think Im depressed?
Thanks, Jason

Sounds like social anxiety. Maybe a therapist can help you out. Good luck.

Jay, sounds like you just have a vacuum going on now. If you stop certain behaviors what is left until you replace them? Like Trg was saying, development is what gets us anywhere. If you were abusing you weren't developing the skills that you need. It is never too late to develop these skills!