Can ANYONE help with severe depression???

I've heard that you can only admit yourself into a hospital if you are a threat to yourself or someone else. I don't feel that I'm at that point yet, but it has crossed my mind. The only thing stopping me is concern for my family- I feel that suicide is extremely selfish. I've tried discussing my problems with others around me. It helps a little, but I think that it's time for drastic measures. I've tried scheduling with a doctor, but my insurance is crap and I have no coverage for mental health. I'm a full time student and lack of funds is a huge issue. I've also tried the counselors at school ( the "quack shack") and it's just that. The only thing they could offer was a bunch of Grad students telling me to do things like, "write a letter to yourself" and "embrace your weaknesses." Pfh. REAL help please?!? Any suggestions from someone with experience?

By the way- I was raised Christian and have tried for a year to use "the power of prayer." Yeah, not so much.

The fact that you can think rationally about your depression is a blessing from God. I know it doesn't seem like it right now. The things the Grad students suggested are also the same things that the "mental health professional" will suggest. They are just tools to help you get through the down times so that you can step back and breathe. Has anyone suggested a collage yet? They are actually kinda fun. Just start cutting out random pictures and words and glue them to a paper or poster and when you are finished look and see what emerged. This also is just a tool to get you thru. You may need meds but until that is possible these techniques can help. Keep talking to the counselors and the quack shack as these are your only resources right now. And keep praying. I have much experience with myself and my family. My sister is so depressed that she did try to committ suicide 1 week ago. That's why I said that the fact that you can still be rational about it is a good sign. Don't give up. When you get depressed you have to make yourself do something to turn your thoughts around. Change your surrounding, tell someone, take a shower, make a collage, do something. Stay away from sugar, alcohol, etc. Good luck sweetie. You are not alone.

Regarding antidepressants
- see your doctor
- pay out of pocket to see a doc. The appts are few. The expense is the meds. Check your formulary.

Regarding therapy
- check your county mental health department. You may be able to see someone there depending on your income
- shop around for a private therapist. Many do sliding scale. The cost to you for inpatient would fund many sessions.

If you want to be admitted to a psych. unit, tell the ER or psych. unit you are not feeling safe. You feel like you are going to hurt yourself. You said it has crossed your mind in the past. Once you are inpatient, medication(s) can be started or changed if you are already taking them. The social worker at the hospital will help you set up a discharge plan for after care.
This could be the beginning of you starting to feel better.
Untreated severe depression can intensify. Please do what you need to do to take care of yourself. Best Wishes.

I can do that... That is my job. In fact you describe a serious and also severe depression but it is very easy to say there are much more severe depression types showing heavy symptoms of depression. My approach your problem might been like these procedures: 1) I wanted to see you for a detailed psychiatric evaluating including your personality and family structure... Your family is an extraordinary family and need to know the causes that it is important your psycho sexual development abnormalities and interpersonal relations in your family.. I don't know your age but your telling has many childish phrases. This may be a sign extreme dependency to your family.... Interestingly, your telling has not so much depressive components, but cheerful scene.. I believe that you have big spiritual pain but your cognitive processing doesn't present these pain in your environment as a classic depression signs...I think this explanation became very complex and a little far from a consequent solution.. SHORTLY I can say you have a moderate-severe maybe lighter. But a psychotherapies approach will be very useful. An anti anxiety agent like alprazolam (0,5 mg twice a day) can be added the main antidepressant like wenlafaxine
75 mg (XR FORM) daytime, single dose at the beginning , and increasing dose response relations. (Usually 150 mg/ day is necessary) But you must see first, your psychiatrist