Health Depression

[juss]

Nope. Literally paid per hr.

Fair call. Try and look after yourself with things like meditation and exercise to help destress.

Call it girly, but if you can find 20 mins to sit in a hot bath before bed it goes a long way to winding down.

 

[Run n Spread]

Fair call. Try and look after yourself with things like meditation and exercise to help destress.

Call it girly, but if you can find 20 mins to sit in a hot bath before bed it goes a long way to winding down.

Need to set myself the task. I'm literally breaking apart. Sure can have 1 or 2 days to re set but long term I've got no idea what shape I'll be in in 6-12 months. I just have no off switch.

 

[juss]

Need to set myself the task. I'm literally breaking apart. Sure can have 1 or 2 days to re set but long term I've got no idea what shape I'll be in in 6-12 months. I just have no off switch.

Its a long battle mate. I have been working through it for just over a year now. While I am not where I was was, I have made massive improvements by taking the right steps to try and get better. Exercise, pysycology sessions, medication, mindfulness, it all has positive contributions.

 

[Run n Spread]

Its a long battle mate. I have been working through it for just over a year now. While I am not where I was was, I have made massive improvements by taking the right steps to try and get better. Exercise, pysycology sessions, medication, mindfulness, it all has positive contributions.

Agree. Except the psychology but that is just me. maybe.

 

[Cotchin 9]

true, I've been through Xanax withdrawals so I'm not too scared.. how long did it take for them to work? been on it 3 weeks now feel no different

Sorry for the late reply, didn't think they really worked at all tbh. Just changed some things around in my life, not sure if I actually feel that much better, but at least I have a variety things to keep the mind a bit more active presently.

 

[Carl Hooper]

Sorry for the late reply, didn't think they really worked at all tbh. Just changed some things around in my life, not sure if I actually feel that much better, but at least I have a variety things to keep the mind a bit more active presently.

True, I just finished a month on them.. don't feel any different.

all I got were the flipping side effects.. wouldn't recommend.

 

[JD Tomahawk]

It is a long battle but you can beat it. I suffered from it from 16-22 but is still a work in progress. when things in life were going well that's when it showed its ugly head again. Felt like I didn't deserve any happiness. Was only til I hit rock bottom and lost a lot of things (job,homeless and relationship) that I was able to gain a bit of perspective on life. Managed to work my way out of it and back to reasonable mental health but support in some shape or form is key. Good luck to everyone out there who battles the black dog on a daily basis.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

How long should you give a medication? I'm approaching two weeks. Give it longer or ask doc for something else?

Speak to your doctor. Two weeks isn't long for a medication to have an effect, but maybe you need a higher dose or you need to swap. Every case is different. I suspect you need to give it another 4-6 weeks, but if your case is severe then maybe its best not to give it that time.

I was on Mirtzapine for months with little no effect, before swapping to Effexor. That took around a month before I saw any result, and that hasn't been much. Don't expect miracles. No medication will make you "well", it can just take the edge off and help you make yourself slowly improve. A drug can help restore the chemical balance of the brain, not create new pathways and ways of thinking. That, depending on your particular case, takes time.

 

[HARKER]

I love these threads where people can be honest about their best but also their worst.
Don't fear either as most of us go through highs and lows................you're not alone.

Even the worst times in peoples lives can be ultimately rewarding. I know.....that sounds crazy, but when time compresses, we see things quite differently.
Don't compare yourself to anyone else but be proud of who you are, if you haven't done bad to others.....warts and all......you're worth it.

 

[Lethality]

I have been depressed for the last 4 weeks which is unusual for me. I normally bounce back after a few days. At the moment I can't be bothered showering, shaving, cutting my nails, reading, doing the dishes, drinking my tea, meditating, leaving the house, working, reading, playing the piano, washing my car, playing video games.

I missed swimming last week, but otherwise I have kept that up. I still cycle every day just about. But all that other stuff has gone by the wayside. I am also having suicidal thoughts.

 

[Total Power]

I have been depressed for the last 4 weeks which is unusual for me. I normally bounce back after a few days. At the moment I can't be bothered showering, shaving, cutting my nails, reading, doing the dishes, drinking my tea, meditating, leaving the house, working, reading, playing the piano, washing my car, playing video games.

I missed swimming last week, but otherwise I have kept that up. I still cycle every day just about. But all that other stuff has gone by the wayside. I am also having suicidal thoughts.

Have you found out the reason why its happening? something unusual in your life maybe? i have been there done that, most of the time i didnt even realise what was bothering me until very late. Speak to someone who knows you well.

 

[Lethality]

Have you found out the reason why its happening? something unusual in your life maybe? i have been there done that, most of the time i didnt even realise what was bothering me until very late. Speak to someone who knows you well.

Thankfully I have a therapist, although due to depression I missed last week's appointment and the previous one I turned up on virtually no sleep so I didn't make much sense. I actually sort of snapped out of this last night, and showered and cut my nails this morning. Hopefully that was the end of it.

 

[Changaneen]

I have it sometimes and wonder why. I have a young family thats struggling and i tend to take on all their problems. I shouldnt but i do. Sometimes the best days i have is when i look at myself in the mirror and laugh. And tell myself you're having a good day today mate. I usually agree with myself and its all good.

 

[nicky]

I have it sometimes and wonder why. I have a young family thats struggling and i tend to take on all their problems. I shouldnt but i do. Sometimes the best days i have is when i look at myself in the mirror and laugh. And tell myself you're having a good day today mate. I usually agree with myself and its all good.

I watched a TED talk by a buddhist nun and she said the bold is the key to happiness

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I lost my job about two weeks back. I thought I was handling things. Getting away from the other job, where a couple of situations had driven me to the brink, perhaps made me think I had improved more than I had.
But, with hindsight, not so much. Doing a full week was still too much strain, I snapped and did something really stupid. I can now never go back to one of the biggest employers in my skillset (and there aren't many places who use those skills). I suspect I need a career change, but have no idea how to go about it - and at my age there's not that long left anyway.
Despite now having an income of $0, I actual feel less stressed and depressed than when I was working; but the financial reality will bite soon.

 

[craigos]

Recently lost a close mate to depression and haven't really properly processed it. As a mature age second year psychology student I thought I'd might be able to handle things a little better and I hopefully think I have helped our close knit group talk about it all but there's still on overwhelming feeling of helplessness and confusion. I'm in no way angry at my mate for what happened I just wish he'd have reached out to us all instead of wearing the burden on himself. I understand why that didn't happen though, it's just not what us men do (share feelings).

If there is one thing I wish we could change, especially as males, is to converse with our mates about sh*t that goes down in our lives. I know talking to partners/wives etc isn't a thing a lot of guys want to do and find it difficult but man, your mates, if they're true friends will never judge you on anything that is said.

 

[Engimal v2]

ive got a bad feeling about this

 

[one_twelve112]

ive got a bad feeling about this

???

 

[Croweater]

Just found out one of my best mates ended his life this morning, because of depression. Seems to be a little bit of a trend, going by this thread.

Not really sure how to react at the moment. We're all wondering why, and how, and whether or not he was in pain before he passed. We're obviously wondering about how his family is doing at the moment. I don't know, I just wish he told us what he was going through. Even if we couldn't have ultimately helped, I just would have liked to have had the chance. The chance to tell him how much we all love him, and how much of a great bloke he is, and how life is worth living. Obviously he was in a far different mindset to that, and I suppose that's his right.

Like craigos, I'm not angry at him. Ultimately, it was his choice to end his life. But I just don't get it. I just wish he'd opened up to someone. Anyone. Who knows, he might still be with us.

I just want to urge anyone who suffers from depression and anxiety, to speak to someone. It doesn't make you weak or less of a man. I'm still raw at the moment and I find that coming on here to vent my thoughts is pretty therapeutic, irrespective of how little sense they often make. So here I am, just taking a breather from everyone else. The best of wishes to everyone.

Cheers.

 

[Total Power]

I am extremely sorry that this has happened to you Crow-eater, i have been there as well.There are many reasons why people dont open up. When i was depressed i didnt open up in fear of ridicule and people not understanding my plight which will put me deeper into it. You just need to have someone to talk to, the one you trust, the one who stand beside you no matter what. I didnt have anyone back then. I am not saying this might have been the case for your mate, but i am talking about my experience. Its a terrible feeling and you feel trapped without a way out.

 

[NaturalDisaster]

At first I didn't really want to put this out there, but you know what stuff it.

I have been suffering anxiety and (possibly) depression for a while now.

I have a few (minor-ish) physical problems as well, people like to feel 'bad' and sympathetic because they think life is a struggle for me cos of it, which is all fine and I appreciate, but little do they realise my physical issues are nothing more than an inconvenience to me. I have much worse problems than physical.

Anxiety I have had all my life, social anxiety and generalised anxiety. Socially, I was never terrible as such, however I have always clammed up and froze in group situations, I constantly worry about everything I say and do even though i know I shouldn't give a shit. Constantly feeling like no one likes me, that I'm best off alone, wondering why anyone would want to socialise with me. Many people with SA come across as awkward, luckily for me I come across as just a very shy person (thats what people tell me anyway). A lot of the time it feels like the only time I can socialise comfortably is after a drink or two, after that I tend to be a lot more sociable.

Anxiety seems to be a part of my life in general as well, I constantly think of worst case scenario situations and can worry myself sick over something trivial. For instance I once thought I was going to be sacked from work because I left a thing of sticky tape lying around and forgot to put it back after I used it. I knew I was being ridicolous, but I couldn't stop thinking about it (not that i gave a shit about the sticky tape, just my job).

Another example was the other day, I was in the city during a 4 hour break during uni, so I went for a walk around the city. Now my sense of direction is horrible, after a few turns I already lost sight of where the hell I was,s o I kept walking and eventually found parliament station. To make it easy, I took the next train back to MC station (only one stop away) which happened to be the craigburn line. For some reason,I was shitting myself thinking the train wasn't going to stop at MC and I was going to end up all the way at Cragiburn. I do this a lot, especially on packed trains, I worry that I wont be able to get out and that ill end up somewhere unkownn (even though I know I can always get off and get a train back the other way, but for some reason I still panic).

I did a degree in Psychology in uni, and have now experienced that anixety and depression go hand in hand. Depression can lead to anxious thoughts and constant anxiety can lead to depression..

I have honestly felt so off the mark all year it is not funny. I have felt spaced out,disoreinted. I get confused easily over little things.. Sometimes I even feel disassociated from my own body (called depersonalisation), I can look at myself in the mirror and feel as though my own reflection is strange and unknown to me. People suffering from ,depersonalisation say they feel as though they are observing themselves from a distance rather than actually being themselves, this is exactly how i feel sometimes.

My depressive symptoms consist mostly of apathy and being just flat. I can barely enjoy outings sometimes no matter how much I try. I am not generally sad as such, just flat and apathetic. On the Tigers board we have this thread "emotionally checked out" created after a string of bad losses early this year, posters began to feel checked out. This is almost exactly how I have felt in life most of this year. I do get wave of sadness though, however I find it hard to get motivated to do anything anymore, I find it difficult to concentrate and to focus.

Despite all this I still try to keep plugging away, I still work and go to uni like normal, I try to soldier on. Football keeps me in check at times, as poor as Richmonds season has been I still love watching the games as its like an escape for me. The last thing I want is to have a complete mental breakdown of any kind.


That being said I do have my up periods, where I feel better, more confident, and I feel as though I've just been stupid all along, but it ends up being a false dawn.

 

[Carl Hooper]

At first I didn't really want to put this out there, but you know what stuff it.

I have been suffering anxiety and (possibly) depression for a while now.

I have a few (minor-ish) physical problems as well, people like to feel 'bad' and sympathetic because they think life is a struggle for me cos of it, which is all fine and I appreciate, but little do they realise my physical issues are nothing more than an inconvenience to me. I have much worse problems than physical.

Anxiety I have had all my life, social anxiety and generalised anxiety. Socially, I was never terrible as such, however I have always clammed up and froze in group situations, I constantly worry about everything I say and do even though i know I shouldn't give a shit. Constantly feeling like no one likes me, that I'm best off alone, wondering why anyone would want to socialise with me. Many people with SA come across as awkward, luckily for me I come across as just a very shy person (thats what people tell me anyway). A lot of the time it feels like the only time I can socialise comfortably is after a drink or two, after that I tend to be a lot more sociable.

Anxiety seems to be a part of my life in general as well, I constantly think of worst case scenario situations and can worry myself sick over something trivial. For instance I once thought I was going to be sacked from work because I left a thing of sticky tape lying around and forgot to put it back after I used it. I knew I was being ridicolous, but I couldn't stop thinking about it (not that i gave a shit about the sticky tape, just my job).

Another example was the other day, I was in the city during a 4 hour break during uni, so I went for a walk around the city. Now my sense of direction is horrible, after a few turns I already lost sight of where the hell I was,s o I kept walking and eventually found parliament station. To make it easy, I took the next train back to MC station (only one stop away) which happened to be the craigburn line. For some reason,I was shitting myself thinking the train wasn't going to stop at MC and I was going to end up all the way at Cragiburn. I do this a lot, especially on packed trains, I worry that I wont be able to get out and that ill end up somewhere unkownn (even though I know I can always get off and get a train back the other way, but for some reason I still panic).

I did a degree in Psychology in uni, and have now experienced that anixety and depression go hand in hand. Depression can lead to anxious thoughts and constant anxiety can lead to depression..

I have honestly felt so off the mark all year it is not funny. I have felt spaced out,disoreinted. I get confused easily over little things.. Sometimes I even feel disassociated from my own body (called depersonalisation), I can look at myself in the mirror and feel as though my own reflection is strange and unknown to me. People suffering from ,depersonalisation say they feel as though they are observing themselves from a distance rather than actually being themselves, this is exactly how i feel sometimes.

My depressive symptoms consist mostly of apathy and being just flat. I can barely enjoy outings sometimes no matter how much I try. I am not generally sad as such, just flat and apathetic. On the Tigers board we have this thread "emotionally checked out" created after a string of bad losses early this year, posters began to feel checked out. This is almost exactly how I have felt in life most of this year. I do get wave of sadness though, however I find it hard to get motivated to do anything anymore, I find it difficult to concentrate and to focus.

Despite all this I still try to keep plugging away, I still work and go to uni like normal, I try to soldier on. Football keeps me in check at times, as poor as Richmonds season has been I still love watching the games as its like an escape for me. The last thing I want is to have a complete mental breakdown of any kind.


That being said I do have my up periods, where I feel better, more confident, and I feel as though I've just been stupid all along, but it ends up being a false dawn.

Feel your pain mane.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

NaturalDisaster I know that one well. Being flat and apathetic has been my good times for the last 18 months or so - I think its fair to say I've had a couple of those "mental breakdowns" you speak of. One came close to suicide (see earlier ion the thread), the more recent one ended my career. I wanted the sort of mid-life crisis with fast cars and faster blondes; not to be.

I think I tend to check out of myself as a way of avoiding facing reality. Maybe that's true in your case, or perhaps it is a result of the anxiety. Either way the need to escape yourself isn't necessarily a bad thing, if you can control when to an extent.

I'm not sure if having a psychology degree would be a help or a hindrance to be honest. Either way, see someone. The "trying to soldier on thing" can have disastrous consequences if it gets too deep before seeking help. Its all you can do on your own, but you need someone who won't judge. Well, you know that.
Take it from someone who didn't know they had depression since primary school (it wasn't even a known thing to most people back then and certainly all mental illness was regarded very differently to now - and my parents didn't know until recently about learning to tie a noose aged 13, etc) and didn't get help until after 40. It can get nasty. Maybe it won't for you, but don't take the risk.

 

[La Dispute]

I did a degree in Psychology in uni, and have now experienced that anixety and depression go hand in hand. Depression can lead to anxious thoughts and constant anxiety can lead to depression..

Two sides of the same coin that often hold each other together.

 

[craigos]

And who the f&& are people meant to speak to exactly???????????

I have been told:
a) You don't have a mortgage so shut up
b) You are on holidays
c) You live in Australia
d) You have nothing to worry about

Ultimately the world is in a tricky place. But you need to be careful who you speak to. Best to tell people you're life is your own so go for it. No one else ultimately cares. make your own purpose. Live your own life.

I would hope that any of my close friends would be happy for me to speak to them if I was having problems, actually I'm 100% sure they would. Some people don't have that kind of strong friendship network (I'm talking 5 or so close mates I could "trust" in my case) and I can see how that can cause anxiety. Even if people go to their GP and get a referral there's no guarantee that the person they speak too is going to "gel" with you and feel right. In most cases it often takes people a couple of times to find the right psychologist who they feel comfortable talking too, that's just human nature (we like some people and not others even if they are very similar types of people).

In regards to your points, I find it ridiculous that people could say you have nothing to worry about because you don't have a mortgage, you live in Australia and you are on holidays. The level of ignorance of whoever has said those things is extreme, no doubt the same type of person that would try to cheer you up by saying there are kids in Africa that have nothing so you shouldn't be feeling down.

I know Croweater didn't mean it was easy for people to talk, it's not and he's not having a go at people that don't speak. It's often easy to ask that question though, "why didn't they say something?" when we can also ask ourselves "when did I last ask how they were doing?". Ultimately though people are really good at hiding how they're feeling, not sure if it's a pre-programmed part of human nature but showing a sign of weakness in the animal kingdom often ends up with you being targeted by others. Throw in the tough-guy male image and it's a problem that we're still a long, long way from improving.

I really do hope that schools are educating children about these issues, I know that there was no such thing when I was in school. The best we had was sex-ed and watching a cartoon guy jumping on a diving board and getting a boner, wtf that was about I'm yet to figure out but I know how to put a condom on a banana with my eyes closed