Depression

It has been an intriguing topic to me lately! I have known several people that have it and one or two that have overcome it. First off, from past experience through others and myself, there are several kinds. We all experience it sometimes but for some, it can be come a medical issue. One kind is anxiety, workoholic/perfectionist, overwhealmed and stressed, and also perhaps moral for some which would be overbearing guilt for small things usually triggered by living in the past. How do you think are healthy ways to overcome it? Do you feel medication is the answer or perhaps counselling or spiritual intervention. I over came my guilt through spirituality where I know someone else who could only get out of a life long depression through medication alone. Apparently, this affects over 20 million americans, yet I am sure the number is far greater. I am trying to become an expert at this topic, because I do not want to live my young life like one person I know who had it for almost 30 years. They would go almost 8 month stretches at a time with anxiety and stress. They have been cured for almost 6 months and plans to never get off of this medication. I want to learn as much about this to help others who I may encounter with problems. If you have any past experiences or other comments, feel free to post them here.

I'm dysthymic, myself. Dysthymia is a less severe, yet more persistent, form of depression. I first started getting erratic symptoms at five-/six-years old, and recognised it at ten or so. As a dysthymic, I am an insomniac, and experience a "normal" day every month or less. My dysthymia somehow seems to make me less sad than.....numb. I haven't been more than minorly irritated for at least 2 years. All I ever feel is...tired. Dead, bone tired. It just saps so much will power to function as a human being, that, when I get home, I have none left.
I almost wish I was bipolar (like my sister.....).

I still battle it today. I find this a good place to talk about it, because most the people here understand or have experienced it too.

All forms of depression are caused by some imbalance in the human system, like all other emotions. Whether or not they require medical attention depends on what kind of depression it is, of course.

Some people have genetic tendencies for depression, one way being, their bodies do not naturally produce the correct balance of chemicals needed in the brain. If these people need medication to function healthy lives, they will need that medication for the rest of their life, because genetically they are incapable of making that balance themselves.

When something bad happens to us, such as a loved one dying, etc., we enter what psychiatrists call a 'grief period', aka, we become sad. This grief period and sad feelings are caused by the same things which cause depression, (chemical imbalance), however, for most people it is simply a temporary phase. This momentary chemical imbalance within the brain is completely normal, however it can also lead to clinical depression, depending on the person. For instance, some people who are genetically inclined to depression might be able to produce the correct balance of chemicals in their brains, but their bodies might not be able to pull themselves out of a grief period as well as someone who is not inclined to it. Often, those people will need medication to get them back on track. Healthy people who do not have genetic inclinations can also get clinical depression, however. If something happens to a person which is incredibly traumatic, their grief period could be much more intense, and therefore much more difficult to pull out of, than someone who experienced a lesser tragedy. It is quite possible for a healthy person's system to be thrown so out of wack by something that they are incapable of recovering for themselves, simply because the hole was 'dug too deep', so to speak.

Psychiatry is still a relatively new field of medicine--less than 100 years old. As a result, we still have much to learn and study, and this is made evident in our limited knowledge of medication. Although we've certainly come a long way from the first popular treatment, being to induce a siezure in hopes that it would 'restart' the brain, today's medications are still not perfect. A patient usually requires a full year of medication before they are able to make it on their own, and even then most require more treatment. Again, it all depends on the individual person.

I feel that people with depression should also seek the help of a counselor. Medicine can manipulate chemicals in the brain, but in order for that medication to be successful, let alone create a lasting affect, the patient has to want to get better.

This is my own personal battle and feelings about depression. One of the problems I suffer is that I take comments as a personal attack upon first hearing or reading them and do not begin realizing that they are not personal attacks until I am in the middle of my reaction. My post below is generalized and not aimed towards anyone in particular unless I state otherwise.

I have had depression all of my life. Some episodes last one day while others last a few months. I can not exactly define which form of depression I have. All my doctor told me was that based on my symptoms I have a chemical imbalance. My depression effected how I performed at my former job. When I was laid-off I was able to stop taking the medication. When they called me back to work I was back on it the first week there. Some people tend to believe that some depression sufferers use it as a crutch. I am not one of those people. If I was using it for a crutch I would not be trying to find a less stressful working environment, nor would I care if I finished college. Instead I would be trying to get Disability so I could sit on my tush all day doing nothing. Medication does help some people. I am not on my medication now because I do not have any medical insurance to cover it and my former Supervisor knew before I told her. On the medication I do not feel overwhelmed by everyday activities that people without depression can handle without mood swings. I am able to think first before reacting. Instead of feeling helpless I am able to focus on one thing at a time and try to find alternatives and ways that I can regain control over my situation.

I do agree partially with carrderro about finding things that you enjoy doing. However, some people can be so depressed that they are unhappy doing anything and medication can help with that. I was in that position before I went to the doctor. Medication is not for every depression sufferer nor is it always a permanent option. There are some people who can be off the medicine for awhile before needing to go back on it.

Depression has many versions and does not affect everyone the same way. Most of the information I got was from WEBMD website, as well as links to other sites that discuss Depression.

I tried to condense this post without going into deep detail because it would take a lot of room. If anyone wants to discuss it further, feel free to PM me or contact me in Yahoo or e-mail.

Brandy

I too have dealt with depression for quite awhile. I remember having panic attacks as young as about 8 years old. Eventually, the stress and anxiety (I think) led to all-out depression. After having mono when I was about 20, I set into a long-lasting depression that finally ended around last May. I tried a medicine for a bit, but I hated the side effects, and I didn't think I could afford both the medicine and the doctor's visits. I have recently sunk back into a depression of some sort. I'll be okay for most of the day, and then all of a sudden be in a state of desperation and despair. I can't just do things I like because a lot of time I just feel numb towards the things I used to enjoy. A lot of times, though, I am only numb thinking about those things, but once I do them I kind of wake up again. I feel that right now is an important time for my religious inquiry. I really need a strong faith and a strong community to back it up.

Depression is a term that covers many things . Most people do not understand what it is ! { not saying that I do , mind you }

However , serious depression is much more then " feeling sorry for one's self ". And at times , a person needs professional help ! If a person is seriously depressed , some little " feel good " activity will not help . The problem is much deeper then that . A deeply depressed person just doesn't care . Really and truely don't care . Often to the point where they don't even care that they are depressed . { I think that most know thatr saomething is ' wrong " , but either don't understand what , or are to the point where they don't even care that something is wrong } .

If any of you are at that point , please , force your self to see a professional .

That's apathy, which many experience, but not all. If you read my previous post, I experience a strange sort of apathy, which I suspect is more common than actual apathy in depression. I care, I truly care, but I cannot find the will within myself to do anything. I am currently seeking help, though I truly do not wish to take medicine.

I am totally with Bastet on this one. As she said, the tools ARE there. Trying to deal with it yourself is EXTREMELY difficult.

I work with people with depression. They are prescribed medications for it and sometimes it helps and sometimes it don't. They see Psychiatrists to talk about their problems but it sometimes don't help because they are so depressed that they don't want to talk about it. Everyone has made some good points. Through my observations, finding things to do to keep your mind occupied does not work very well for most. Their depression gets worse. They get aggitated very easily. They have no respect for themselves or others around them. They confine themselves in their own environment (their room). They will try to cause incidents just to get others attention. (incidents: screaming, yelling in public, causing harm to oneself, etc)

I have witnessed depressed people that have been in and out of hospitals. Mental insitutions to recover and fall back in to depression again.

It's worse when the date of a lost one or the date of the incident that happened in the past is near or when the holidays are approaching. Anxiety occurs to a point where you can't sleep, eat, think, or even wonder about your loved once around you. Attention seeking. The state of confussion. The state of being in your own planet or in your own cave. The state of not knowing what to do or who to talk to. Not wanting to talk to anyone. Showing aggrivation, lack of attention, laziness, showing anger towards your loved one, over sleeping, not sleeping enough, etc...etc.

Like I have mentioned before. Everyone's post is correct. Depression can do so many things to someone.

Depression has also come to others as an ending.

Isn't it true that most suicides are attempted(and/or succesful) around holidays like Thanksgiving, XMas, and Valentines Day??
There was a period not to long ago that I was very depressed during. My mother and step-dad were in the middle of a divorce. It was horrible, he used to make me feel so bad all of the time, and half the time acted like it was my fault. And then in the crappy house that we lived in, you could hear anything from my room. It seemed like every single night he was calling someone else to complain about what a horrible wife he had, and how he couldn't believe that she would leave him, and that she just HAD to be cheating on him, because he was so perfect. No, it wasn't because he was a drunk that couldn't hold a job, and had cheated on her for 5 years, it was all her fault (and that f*cking piece of sh*t daughter of hers). It was a very bad time. Then it didn't help that my mom was always depressed, so the negative energy in the house just made it so hard. I got so bad that the school counselor was taking me out of class to make sure I was alright. I think that was when I started my religion quest, and started into meditation. We were finally able to move out of the house (and wow! he got evicted not to long ago and had to move to Idaho! i guess that's what happens when you don't pay your bills). Lately I have been much better know.

What I don't understand is the varying degree's of suffering that someone can go through in order to feel depressed. It seems as if the saying 'the grass is always greener' has peculiar relevance here.

I know many people who are very unhappy a large portion of the time. However, if I were to compare their experiences I think the tendancy of many people, including myself, would be to tell most of them to pull themselves together and stop mopeing simply because their problems do not seem as serious as someone else who also suffers from depression.

To illustrate this point I shall give a brief description of 2 of my friends (fake names) who have both been diagnosed with depression. Helen has, in comparison, lived a relativly easy life. She has a pair of loving parents who support her a lot. She lives in a good area with a nice house and has a fairly well off standard of living. Yet she is rarely happy and constantly displays signs of depression, such as suicidal thoughts and self harming. She is a very pleasant person who is easy to get on with, except that her depression pushes people away from her causing her to not be very popular.

Sarah also displays signs of depression and is taking medication to help her with her problem as well as, albeit irregular, councilling. She was raped repeatedly when she was younger by her priest resulting with an abortion on her part, something she has not yet to come to terms with 7 years later, and the priest getting off scot free. Her parents blamed her for this and constantly beat her whilst calling her a **** etc etc.

Whilst Sarah's experiences are most definitely tragic and it just breaks my heart to think about them, it is another point which I wish to get across. See Helen is always picked upon by other people for her depression simply because they cant see a reason for why she feels that way. Comparatively, I find it much easier to indentify with Sarah and consequently I am sure I give her far more sympathy than Helen. This merely causes Helen to sink further and further into her depression whilst Sarah, although she is still very depressed, at least is relatively stable.

Therefore I propose that people should not judge others on why they are depressed. Surely the emotions that they are feeling are far more important than their reasons for feeling them? I am uncertain whether this culture that I appear to be surrounded with, of disregarding other peoples depression as unimportant simply because they have not suffered to a certain degree, is unique to my area or not. However it is something that has seriously bothered me for awhile now so I would be interested to hear of similar experiences from other people.

Fluffy

Fluff person, have 150 coins for your great post.

But on the other hand..there is a phone line you can ring here, sort of phone counselling. It is called Lifeline (or crisisline, other aussies correct me). I once told them I was feeling suicidal andthey said they would send a CAT team to analyze me and see if I had a mental problem.

Why is it that if you are feeling suicidal, you instantly (and apparebtly) have a mental problem>

That is the thing about Depression Fuffy , people don't understand it . It is a catch all term and many think of it as a " feeling " , a state of being that can be over came if that person would just " pull there selves together . No one would view cancer that way . Or for that matter Alcoholism . Most of us drink , to some degree , but that doesn't make us all alcoholics . An alcoholic has serious problems with drinking . Most of us get feeling down at times , but that doesn't mean that we all are suffering from Depression . And like Alcoholics , a person with Depression can have any background or life style .

Bastet , it is a place that I never want to visit again neither .

Ooo thanks SoulTYPE01, its always nice to be appreciated We have 2 different phonelines you can ring in England, both of which are very good actually. I had totally forgotten about them but would highly reccomend them since it is totally anonymous and everything.

Kreeden: Thats a great analogy, it helps me to understand the problem better actually. Hehe I can see myself nicking that one a lot actually

I have been in Helen's shoes.

Helen has, in comparison, lived a relativly easy life. She has a pair of
loving parents who support her a lot. She lives in a good area with a nice house
and has a fairly well off standard of living. Yet she is rarely happy and
constantly displays signs of depression, such as suicidal thoughts and
self harming. She is a very pleasant person who is easy to get on with,
except that her depression pushes people away from her causing her to
not be very popular.

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Sometimes what you have been given is not what you want in life and don't
really know what or how to deal with it. I wasn't happy where I was even
though I was given everything I ever wanted. A big house, money, etc.
Bastet and kreeden...me neither. But when I finally chose a different path which
it wasn't easy to get too in my state at that time, I became more different.
All those things that was being given to me was not for me. I am still learning
to find myself. I am glad NOW that I have a second chance.

Sometimes given happiness is not what it's all about. It's all about finding happiness within yourself.

mrscarrdero said:

It's all about finding happiness within yourself.

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A nice thought . I am happy for you MrsCarrdero .

But I want to point out thAT we are all individuals and something like Despression hits each of us a little differently . Sometimes a person needs help and if so should get it . Sometimes a person can be very happy to start of , but it eats away at your happiness . You can end up wondering " What happened ? "

All that I'm saying is that if ANYONE out there feels that they are suffering from Despression or if they feel that something is wrong but don't know what , then please , seek help .

But Kreedence I know what is wrong, and nothing can be done.