Health Depression
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I'm sorry to hear that Ed. It sounds like Britain would be a difficult place to live at the moment as well, with the economic downturn and lack of sunshine.
The first winter i spent in london I didn't realise how bad it got me down until spring then summer came. I remember feeling the sunshine for the first time one day in April and remember thinking "oh yeah that yellow thing is actually useful".
I think whatever you have is situational, i'm sorry to hear it though. The sun will make you feel better soon, i promise.
The first winter i spent in london I didn't realise how bad it got me down until spring then summer came. I remember feeling the sunshine for the first time one day in April and remember thinking "oh yeah that yellow thing is actually useful".
I think whatever you have is situational, i'm sorry to hear it though. The sun will make you feel better soon, i promise.
shibz_1989
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Ed, you don't sound like a whinger just FYI.
I hate it when people say "Why are you sad? Life could be so much worse!" Well no shit!!! But right now I don't care about "how bad" someone else's life is. That may sound selfish, but geez, by people making this comment it causes guilty which makes the depression worse.
I hate it when people say "Why are you sad? Life could be so much worse!" Well no shit!!! But right now I don't care about "how bad" someone else's life is. That may sound selfish, but geez, by people making this comment it causes guilty which makes the depression worse.
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been here since late november. it's only extended family here, my mum, dad and brother still live in oz. but i needed a break from living in oz so i quit my job there and went traveling for a bit and decided to live in scotland for a while. but yeah, just totally up in the air about what i want i am going to do now. i didnt really have any mates in sydney which is why i moved.
extended family were great at first, but i think the novelty of seeing me has worn off and barely hear from them now.
had to go out just before and was absolutely dreading it.
eh, tomorrow is another day. opened the window to my flat, and i can hear the traffic and people walking, talking etc... thats kind of soothing.
sherb
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I've suffered from it for years. It has taken a pretty severe toll and is currently winning unfortunately.
For those who don't understand depression or who downplay its effects it is a terrible condition to suffer from, I can assure you.
I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
For those who don't understand depression or who downplay its effects it is a terrible condition to suffer from, I can assure you.
I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
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sorry to hear man. I'm feeling the same way too
just made an appointment with my old doctor, haven't seen her in 3 years, I'm not really sure why, she's the best doc I've ever had. Hopefully she can help out because I'm not in great shape right now. This thing is just destroying me, killing me really slowly. I feel like a zombie most of the time, lifeless, energyless and aimless
So, I'm thinking I might have dysthymia, as opposed to major depressive disorder. Dysthymia is characterised by low mood, but without major depressive episodes, which persists for a minimum of two years. So it's less severe, but chronic. I've posted in this thread before, but to be honest, I don't think I've ever experienced a major depressive episode. I just feel like shit a lot of the time, and I have since I was about 13 (I'm 21 now). It's rarely, if ever, truly severe, but it has impacted heavily on my social life, and it has been a constant companion, sapping my enthusiasm for pretty much everything.
I'm wondering if anybody else who has posted here might benefit from knowing about it, since it's not a form of "depression" that is often discussed or publicised, or distinguished properly from major depressive disorder. I suspect quite a lot of people suffer from it, but because of the more subtle nature and influence of the negative moods, don't realise they've got a problem and/or don't seek help.
I'm wondering if anybody else who has posted here might benefit from knowing about it, since it's not a form of "depression" that is often discussed or publicised, or distinguished properly from major depressive disorder. I suspect quite a lot of people suffer from it, but because of the more subtle nature and influence of the negative moods, don't realise they've got a problem and/or don't seek help.
obscura
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I have something similar (Or so I think). Constant low mood, apathy for most things, feel very empty sometimes. I don't know if its diagnosable or should be medicated.
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I don't really have depression (I feel like everyone hates me sometimes) so I am probably not the best to talk on this subject but having a dog that always loves me helps me when I am down. He lets me know that he cares about me and for me that helps.
Also, good luck everyone, I would hate to be depressed and I guess I am blessed not to be. Good luck all in the future.
Also, good luck everyone, I would hate to be depressed and I guess I am blessed not to be. Good luck all in the future.
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Wow I didnt realise there was a thread on this on BF.
I have been suffering this for over 5 years. It runs in my family so there was no escaping it but it took me a long time time realise that i had it. Has pretty much destroyed most of my friendships over the years and dont really get out much these days. Just come off meds again now as they dont seem to have an effect anymore just have to work it cold turkey. I run a lot for the natural high.
Its a terrible condition to have and a lot of people dont understand it they think you're just acting like that. Well for any non sufferers here I can tell you its no act. Not great when you spend most of your free time thinking about suicide.
I have been suffering this for over 5 years. It runs in my family so there was no escaping it but it took me a long time time realise that i had it. Has pretty much destroyed most of my friendships over the years and dont really get out much these days. Just come off meds again now as they dont seem to have an effect anymore just have to work it cold turkey. I run a lot for the natural high.
Its a terrible condition to have and a lot of people dont understand it they think you're just acting like that. Well for any non sufferers here I can tell you its no act. Not great when you spend most of your free time thinking about suicide.
Jesus mate, let's not go down that path but I know what you're saying.
This may sound flippant but let me assure you it's not.
As hard as it may be at times adding back to others does help ourselves.
All our lives can be as worthwhile as others' lives given half a chance by way of community work or just being there for someone else even when you, yourself may actually be in more need.
Yet many of us are blessed with it.
It's not our fault as we didn't ask for it nor do we really care for it, but we just happen to have it.
It's hard to gauge exactly as to what level any individual may be impacted by it, but I gather there to be many degrees of the same illness.
I'm so sorry it may be getting the better of you Sherb, but one thing that does help me, is to know exactly as to what I am dealing with.
I don't feel sorry for myself any more.
I don't call upon symapthy from anyone for me to feel better.
I just know it to be there in the same way I would any other of multitude of illnesses or afflictions that most on this planet have been graced with one way or another.
No-one seems to be exempt of something or another when the hard questions are answered honestly.
All the best to all you good people.
That's the problem with it, most people don't think it's diagnosable or should be medicated because it's not as "serious" as a major depressive episode, e.g. any suicidal ideation tends to be vague and hypothetical rather than specific and planned, even at the lowest points you can still function, fewer physical symptoms, etc, but it just wears you down and has long-term consequences for your social and professional life that major depressive episodes might not have.
Get your doctor to refer you to a psychologist/psychiatrist. The rebates available are absolutely fantastic, especially for seeing psychologists (I think the first 12 sessions are free or something like that). At the very least, they'll give you some basic strategies for managing your mood (excercise, eating healthy, maybe even some mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which is gaining increasing popularity for treating mood and anxiety disorders).
Shit, that's horrible to hear. Glad to hear you're getting help, and that it seems to be working.
shibz_1989
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71" GF
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After 2 fairly major episodes first in my early 20's then again 10 years later i've been free for about the last 15 yrs of it.I read a very good book on the subject which helped me to recognise why i am a person prone to common depression and how to develop behaviors to keep myself from going down that road again. The main advice i could give anybody is don't accept that you have to live with it and just control it with drugs and exercise ,depression is not a natural human form it is from what i can make out an illness that develops when a person does not handle everyday stresses that life throws up both major and minor correctly ,i.e keeping things in perspective and proper emotional proportion.A lot of people say it is inherited but that is only because you learn your emotional reactions to things from your parents primarily so basically ,if they were stress heads chances are ,you will be too.Accept that but don't let it control you.A lot of people get more depressed because they feel sad ,the fact is there may not be anything to be really over the moon about ,it's a natural emotion nothing to worry about and create another dimension over.If you do.that is when the depression will stay around however if you accept all your extreme emotions calmly as well as learn to relax and exercise, your feel good hormones will return eventually and you will no longer have depression.IMO and from personal experience,THE MAJORITY of people who suffer depressive episodes are not born with an affliction they can't help ,rather they have behavioural habits that are conducive to bringing depression on and those habits can be recognised and changed.
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71" GF
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Sorry about that been a while since i went to school and it's late.
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What you are saying is true in some cicumstances. Some situations can bring the depression on. But true depression illness is a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Back before I knew I was suffering I would go out with my mates for a night on the town. I would be having fun and enjoying myself then at a flick of the switch I would change and become a different person. It was only halfway through the night but all I wanted to do was go home and lock myself in room. My friends couldnt understand what was wrong with me. It wasnt in my control. I knew I should of stayed out and keep enjoying myself but I didnt want to so I just left.
Its the same with guys like Jonathon Hay from the Hawks who came out he was sufferning depression. After a win he would still be in a depressed state for no reason at all.
I have definitely gotten better now i know I have it and what triggers certain emotions but to kill it completely just wont happen.
71" GF
Cancelled
Yeah understand that thats why i said in the majority of common ailments ,I don't think i was ever in that category so i couldn't begin to understand what you have been through and i sympathise and wish you the best of luck.I can only comment on my personal experiences which i know now occured because of me not being equiped to handle stressful situations in a proportionate manner at the time.As for Jonny Hay ,i think there may have been a lot of other factors going on there that were never made public.
What you'll find is that you would have some chemical, neural, whatever predisposition to depressive thinking, and that this is triggered by a stress or multiple stresses in one's life. However, you are absolutely correct in the view that this is not the be-all and end-all. One of the most amazing things about our brain is the fact that we can change it. The brain doesn't just shape patterns of thinking, patterns of thinking shape the brain. The brain has a remarkable capacity for fixing itself, if you know how to tap into it. That's the basis of cognitive behavioural therapy.
What you've talked about is a great approach to handling depression and anxiety, and is pretty congruent with mindfulness techniques, both ancient and modern.
71" GF
Cancelled
You are entirely correct ,don't get me wrong ,i realise that i am still a person prone to over-stress in certain situations ,it is in my make up and i don't think that will ever change but what is different nowdays is that i can recognise that and therefor realise when i need to be extra vigilant in keeping things (problems) in perspective at these stressful times.I look back on my 2 major episodes ,the first coinsided with a good mate i played footy with dying of cancer at 19yrold as well as a breakup of a three yr relationship with an ex -girlfriend at the same time sitting my final engineering exams.Yes ,stressful times in anyones language but i realise i made a complete hash of handling it correctly in any way shape or form because i was never taught to.My instinctive reaction was what my parents in particular my mum would've done i.e to think the worst case scenario & overstress to the max.Talking to a counceller and reading up on the subject ("Breaking the Patterns of Depression" written by a doctor whose name escapes me) has helped me immensely and now i try and instill a sense of optimism in my own kids so they don't go down the same path as me rather than let them see me be pessimistic all the time as i often witnessed growing up.