Health Depression

[4evablues]

I know depression is defined by a state of low mood for a long period of time. I've been diagnosed with depression before and it did go on for a while. Having conquered that part of my life, I do find that my mood is fine most of the time, but I do go through quite depressing moods, very similar to the ones I was having. The only difference is generally I can pick myself up after a few hours to a few days.

Is this still classified as depression?

I feel that is more like normal life. I think depression is when you cant bounce back easily and you feel you are in a constant hole that you cant get out of.

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

I know depression is defined by a state of low mood for a long period of time. I've been diagnosed with depression before and it did go on for a while. Having conquered that part of my life, I do find that my mood is fine most of the time, but I do go through quite depressing moods, very similar to the ones I was having. The only difference is generally I can pick myself up after a few hours to a few days.

Is this still classified as depression?

Not unless you're unable to "pick yourself up". I'd say depression in remission

 

[Run n Spread]

I know depression is defined by a state of low mood for a long period of time. I've been diagnosed with depression before and it did go on for a while. Having conquered that part of my life, I do find that my mood is fine most of the time, but I do go through quite depressing moods, very similar to the ones I was having. The only difference is generally I can pick myself up after a few hours to a few days.

Is this still classified as depression?

Who knows? How do you really tell the difference between someone who is depressed (probably with good reason), someone who is just a melancholy disposition and someone who is mentally ill and struggling to cope. Problem is there is no one size definition and by trying to medacalise and pill up everyone who feels depressed you may do more harm then good.

I actually thought that's what doctors and mental health professionals were supposed to do but with private medical care and private charges referrals etc it is a business like any other and they want repeat customers. (Not that there is anything wrong with that everyone needs a living but potential patients really need to be aware of that).

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

I actually thought that's what doctors and mental health professionals were supposed to do but with private medical care and private charges referrals etc it is a business like any other and they want repeat customers. (Not that there is anything wrong with that everyone needs a living but potential patients really need to be aware of that).

I've worked predominantly in the public mental health system, however have dipped my toe in the evil waters of the private sector. It is indeed a business, and there definitely was a fostering of dependency. Never seen so many over-medicated patients in my life.

 

[nicky]

I've worked predominantly in the public mental health system, however have dipped my toe in the evil waters of the private sector. It is indeed a business, and there definitely was a fostering of dependency. Never seen so many over-medicated patients in my life.

Wow - i just cannot agree with that at all. I've had to deal with both public and private due to a close family member and found public to be much much MUCH MUCH MUCH * 1000000000 worse.

I pay for their private health insurance so as to not have to deal with the public mental health sector. I'd pay it alone just to never have to step foot into a public psych ward again. I know others who are in the same boat as me, i.e. paying someone elses private health insurance, just so their loved one doesn't have to deal with the public mental health sector.

I'm sure you do a great job and have no doubt there are pockets of excellence in the public mental health sector, but overall and generally speaking the user experience of the public mental health sector is diabolical.

I could write a book - have had dealings with it since i was a teenager.

 

[CLUBMEDhurst]

Wow - i just cannot agree with that at all. I've had to deal with both public and private due to a close family member and found public to be much much MUCH MUCH MUCH * 1000000000 worse.

I pay for their private health insurance so as to not have to deal with them (albeit indirectly). I know others who are in the same boat, paying someone elses private health insurance, just so their loved one doesn't have to deal with the public mental health sector.

I'm sure you do a great job and have no doubt there are pockets of excellence, but overall the public mental health sector is diabolical.

That would probably have more to do with the fact that the public mental health system deals predominantly with what's classed as "serious mental illness" i.e. the psychotic disorders, bipolar etc as opposed to the "higher prevalence disorders" such as depression and anxiety. Therefore you tend to have more "disturbed" clientele than that found in the private sector.

My initial experience in the private sector . was in an unnamed large Melbourne private psych hospital. i worked as both a nurse on the wards and a group therapist on the day program. First shift on the ward, was looking at the med charts and could not believe the amount of medication the clients were on. Antipsychotics, benzodiazepenes and mood stabilisers for people that were being treated for depression and/or anxiety.
Of course there were some decent psychiatrists, however there were others that were out and out criminals in the way they treated their patients. They most certainly were fostering a dependency on the service.

FWIW, some of the hospitals do provide excellent services for those first presenting with depression/anxiety issues, with a decent outpatient program. Some have an excellent DBT programs, treatment of choice for borderline personality disorder.

For all the public system's faults (if you've got about a month, I could go through them) they don't foster dependency to the same degree as the private sector, which is the point I was trying top make. If anything they kick people out way too soon.

I've been away from the coalface for a few years now as I work in a very specific area these days.

 

[nicky]

That would probably have more to do with the fact that the public mental health system deals predominantly with what's classed as "serious mental illness" i.e. the psychotic disorders, bipolar etc as opposed to the "higher prevalence disorders" such as depression and anxiety. Therefore you tend to have more "disturbed" clientele than that found in the private sector.

My family member has bpd/bipolar/schizo effective - diagnosis seems to swap between these. Anyway it's definitely more serious than anxiety and depression.

I just put it down to the mental health system is under too much pressure and therefore patients can put into the 'too hard basket' if they're not easily cured or diagnosed.

 

[_Christoh_]

I know depression is defined by a state of low mood for a long period of time. I've been diagnosed with depression before and it did go on for a while. Having conquered that part of my life, I do find that my mood is fine most of the time, but I do go through quite depressing moods, very similar to the ones I was having. The only difference is generally I can pick myself up after a few hours to a few days.

Is this still classified as depression?

It is depression if it causes behaviours that wouldn't ordinarily occur. Feeling sad is feeling sad. Being depressed will change behaviours.

 

[skilts]

You know, at 48 you are supposed to have your shyt together, but whatever, it is never too late. It's good to feel happy again.

Thanks nicky for reading my earlier post and responding with another idea to look at.

This is the best news I've heard in years. And yes, Nicky is among some really good sticks on these boards.

Also, I think it never a bad idea to become better-informed. I love to say I told you so. Your lack of confidence in being able to cope after so many years away from study mirrors mine when I started back, when I was 37 y.o. The striking thing I found out was that I wasn't as dumb as I thought.

Re: Feedback - a very frustrating development, even moreso over the past twenty years. Lecturers and tutors can tend to treat undergraduates as an inconvenient annoyance, and their teaching of them as an interruption to their real ambitions in research. Is it any wonder teachers in our community are held in such low esteem, when those teaching the teachers have this attitude?

 

[bradrowe#32]

Very interesting thread. Well done team.

 

[skipper kelly]

This is the best news I've heard in years. And yes, Nicky is among some really good sticks on these boards.

Thanks skilts. There is some very fine people on this forum and Nicky is truly one of them.

More happiness from me was this weekend I went to a wedding and it just happened to be my daughter. Such an emotional week for me. A quaint little wedding in a park and a lovely reception in a pub overlooking Moreton Bay. Some great stories will be told from that day. They just danced all night staring at each other, oblivious to everything else. It was perfect, for me anyway. BTW. 25 years today me and the wife. Lifes good.

Also, I think it never a bad idea to become better-informed. I love to say I told you so. Your lack of confidence in being able to be able to cope after so many years away from study mirrors mine when I started back, when I was 37 y.o. The striking thing I found out was that I wasn't as dumb as I thought.

Well you did tell me, so you can say anything you like. I never thought you would ever be lacking in confidence, but I have had the same thing said to me by some in my extended family. I still think that my hard work is the reason for any success but that's ok.

Re: Feedback - a very frustrating development, even moreso over the past twenty years. Lecturers and tutors can tend to treat undergraduates as an inconvenient annoyance, and their teaching of them as an interruption to their real ambitions in research. Is it any wonder teachers in our community are held in such low esteem, when those teaching the teachers have this attitude?

I've been told by 2 lecturers that they haven't got the time for this or that because they have their own research to do. It was like they were doing everyone a favour by doing their job. I could have responded with "thanks for your unpaid community work" but I didn't bother. To be fair I have found some that go the extra yard and are always available. So, after dropping my initial expectations, many have been fine. Feedback is still a frustration no doubt for most.

Thanks again for your help skilts.

Not meaning to take this thread off topic but as a long time sufferer of depression I believe it is helpful to hear good stories of recovery as well.

 

[nicky]

Not off topic at all skipper kelly. It's great to hear that you're doing so well!

 

[rooboy_07]

had to deal with mild forms of depression and having to again right now.. it sucks but I'll get through it again I have no doubt. Great to read some more feel good posts too. they help

 

[chunkylover53]

Been battling a bit of mild depression and anxiety. Doing 6 subjects, getting seriously dragged into my parents ugly, ugly divorce which has taken almost 2 years to get done.

Friday was told I had to be in court for my own parents divorce hearing, unable to afford lawyers my brother and I suited up and represented ourselves (long story as to why we had to be there). Came out of the court room, the parents were settled, divorce over and I could finally look forward to the future.

Applying to go on exchange next year and have the world at my feet. Go life

Great to see some good recovery stories in here. Interesting read, I wish everyone the best

 

[skilts]

Overall, this thread makes me proud to be part of the BigFooty family. It could so easily have turned to shit. I don't agree with all that has been posted, but I like to think that some may have benefited from what they've read here. Collectively, we are a repository of extraordinary wisdom, if we care to try. Sorry for the idealism. I've always thought that people are not naturally pudenda, as a first option. I've often been proven wrong. I see this as no reason to change my opinion of others, nor of life.

 

[J_Moore]

Dales.girl, if you're really struggling with study, make sure to let your teachers know, as they may be able to grant you more time, etc.

if not then look at withdrawing from your units this semester until you get your issues under control. I'm not sure if the census date has already past, but even if it has, you should consider requesting a Discontinue - Not Fail, which they should be happy to give if you're seeing a uni counsellor. It's only a bit of extra HECS debt, but will preserve your GPA.

 

[dales.girl38]

Dales.girl, if you're really struggling with study, make sure to let your teachers know, as they may be able to grant you more time, etc.

if not then look at withdrawing from your units this semester until you get your issues under control. I'm not sure if the census date has already past, but even if it has, you should consider requesting a Discontinue - Not Fail, which they should be happy to give if you're seeing a uni counsellor. It's only a bit of extra HECS debt, but will preserve your GPA.

Thanks J_Moore, at my counselling session yesterday they started all of the paperwork for helping with my exams etc. At this stage they've re-scheduled my exams so that they all start at 1pm over 3 days (had one day with a 9am and 4:30pm exam, and the next day at 9am), are giving me 30 minutes extra writing time and a 10 minute break when I need to take one, to help with my concentration problems. I have one more assignment left which is the biggest load, my teacher knows my situation and is helping me there too.

The census date has passed and I think having to withdraw would affect me more than just pushing through with some extra help and dropping my GPA a bit. I haven't ruled it out completely though.

 

[checkraiseulite]

Thanks J_Moore, at my counselling session yesterday they started all of the paperwork for helping with my exams etc. At this stage they've re-scheduled my exams so that they all start at 1pm over 3 days (had one day with a 9am and 4:30pm exam, and the next day at 9am), are giving me 30 minutes extra writing time and a 10 minute break when I need to take one, to help with my concentration problems. I have one more assignment left which is the biggest load, my teacher knows my situation and is helping me there too.

The census date has passed and I think having to withdraw would affect me more than just pushing through with some extra help and dropping my GPA a bit. I haven't ruled it out completely though.

that's very generous.

 

[dales.girl38]

that's very generous.

I'd rather take a normal exam in my normal state of mind than this still. I never asked for any of it, my counsellor arranged it all.

My doctor thinks he'll be upping my dosage in a fortnight and I'm already needing to take sleeping pills to sleep every night now, so I'm worried about that at the moment.

 

[checkraiseulite]

I'd rather take a normal exam in my normal state of mind than this still. I never asked for any of it, my counsellor arranged it all.

of course. please don't take that as suggesting you're not deserving of it, or downplaying what you're going through.

 

[J_Moore]

Universities can often be very generous and accommodating, if you ask the right people and take advantage of what's available.

I never did.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Diagnosed recently. Its been suggested more than once over the years, but I never took the suggestions seriously. One therapy session in and I had no answer for an obvious question, where do I want to get to with it. I don't know.
I don't seem any worse than I have been since childhood, and certainly better than I was for much of that time. The simple fact is I cant answer a question like that, as I have been this way for 30 years and don't know how to be, or what it is like to be, anything else. I had basically assumed everyone was much the same. I knew I tended to be more negative in expectations than many people, but have never really tied that to any sort of emotional state.

Its not that I'm miserable all the time. I just can't maintain an interest in anything (that bit has got worse in recent years but I had largely put that down to age), and don't really understand the idea of "happy" or even "content".

 

[EFL Boy]

Have been wanting to post in this thread for a while but haven't really had the courage but here goes.

I finished school back in 2011 & out of school I had come to the realisation that I had no idea what I wanted to do whatsoever with my life. Spent the majority of last year sitting at home not doing anything, and slowly blocking key friends out of my life who I haven't fully recovered friendships with till this day. I then got involved in the nightclub scene where I found myself drinking 2/3/4 times a week heavily. A kid I went to primary school & high school with had committed suicide halfway through the year which hit everyone pretty hard as he was always the guy who had everything going for him... popular, academically great, good at sport etc... it came out of nowhere. Seeing some of my close mates break down was horrible.

Early this year things started to really crash down. I have always had low self confidence in myself but realising I was stuck in a huge rut and sponging of my parents basically hit me hard. Seeing my younger siblings at Uni & school, doing something with their lives, whilst I was doing nothing. Numerous times at home, when I was out clubbing & when I was with my mates, I simply broke down into tears at the realisation I was going nowhere. Then came a week where my dog of 11 years had to be put down, my brothers good mate was involved in a serious accident & died on impact and then 2 days later a few of my good mates friend, committed suicide.

I was dreading the idea of seeing somebody about my condition as I have seen key people go through depression in my life and it was horrible to witness. Eventually I went to the doctors with my mum (she is pretty much the only thing keeping me going day to day) and I was diagnosed with major depression and put on to tablets daily.

Six months on now I have been moved from 3 different medication & am now on something which helps me get to sleep at night as well as somewhat doing the job.

I recently decided to bite the bullet and enrol in a course in Tourism, I thought why not, I may as well try something. It has been great fun & am looking to apply for a job in the travel industry early next year after I get back from America. I had a bit of anxiety recently with it, I guess just questioning myself as to am I sure this is the right thing, and I felt I didn't deserve to be there & didn't fit in.

I am nowhere near perfect, nor completely over my illness yet, I still find myself questioning things and constantly doubting myself. But the best thing I did was see somebody. It is confronting, but it installed this belief in myself that things will get better and there is ALWAYS somebody there to help.

I hope this came across alright, it's not all in order & it doesn't include everything but this is basically my story.

 

[Smiling Buddha]

Huge props to anybody willing to share their story on this forum.

For those who are willing to answer, I am curious to ask a few questions where relevant:

How was the diagnosis of depression made? How long did it take, what tests were run, etc.

How skeptical were/are you about psychology/psychiatry/pharmaceuticals etc?

What improvement (if any) have you noticed on medication?

What proportion (if you will) of the treatment recommended to you by your doctor/specialist to treat your diagnosis was/is drug-based and what proportion was non-drug based?

I won't be offended if anybody chooses not to answer any of these questions. I'm sure that to some people they might seem too personal or unreasonable. Cheers to those that do have a crack at them, though.

 

[skilts]

I am nowhere near perfect, nor completely over my illness yet, I still find myself questioning things and constantly doubting myself. But the best thing I did was see somebody. It is confronting, but it installed this belief in myself that things will get better and there is ALWAYS somebody there to help.

Some choose to call this introspection. It can be a beneficial thing, not necessarily a burden. Some Greek ****wit once said, "Know thyself."