Got depression?

gsmoove23 · May 13, 2003, 22:53

Has anyone here suffered with serious bouts of depression? I was just curious, within the last couple of years I've come to the realization that I have and have always had a serious problem with depression. Before, I don't think I ever noticed it or simply didn't acknowledge it as such, but as I've grown a little bit older and become much better at interacting with people(I used to be a complete recluse, improved very much in the last few years) its slowly dawned on me that my life and feelings aren't quite kosher.

My depression isn't manic depression or involve me EVER thinking of suicide(that would involve far too much effort). Its basically an all around listlessness (that I've always thought was just plain laziness, maybe it is) and an all around lack of hope in my ability to change anything in myself or the world around me. I got through school just fine by doing the absolute bare minimum but when I got into the real world I found it got harder and harder to cope with the stuff you have to do just to live, like paying bills, finding work, keeping in touch with friends and family...

Recently, these problems have just gotten worse and I'm considering therapy but don't know how to go about it and frankly, I'm skeptical that it can help me. Whining to someone about my problems for 50 minutes a week just doesn't seem very helpful(I say as I whine to you all). Well, share your feelings, experiences, expertise on the subject, what have you. Have you been successful dealing with depression? Have you had any experience with medicating your mental problems?

Zero · May 13, 2003, 22:54

I combat it with ultra violence and depressants!

Caligastia · May 13, 2003, 23:00

Provost Harrison has suffered from depression, I don't know if he's feeling better or not yet.

Do you have a decent social life? If not, you may be becoming too self-absorbed.

Boris Godunov · May 13, 2003, 23:04

I went through a rather bad depression at the end of college, centered around my sexuality and coming out. Once I started the coming out process, it gradually began to lift. I realized I had had a low-grade depression for a long time before that, but it had come to great intensity my senior year because of anxiety over the future.

I was put on Zoloft, but it didn't do a damn thing for me, but that's because my depression was totally about self-image. Once I was able to tear down my existence to it's base and start loving myself unconditionally, I was able to rebuild and the depression subsided totally.

While I've had some unhappy times, I have been depression-free since then.

Asher · May 13, 2003, 23:04

I've had a problem with it ever since I was about 12. I was first medicated for it at 14, on and off since then.

I'm on an SSRI again right now, and seeing a psychologist, but it's not because of depression mainly. It's my social anxiety crap, but the medication (Celexa) treats both at the same time. I'm up to 40mg/day right now, and aside from the insomnia/headaches/muscle tightness of the first few days there's no side-effects for me.

I think it's working. Eventually I'm going up to 80mg/day, but already at 40 I'm noticing that my anxiety levels are reduced, which could be why I'm not as depressed, or it also could be because it's summer and I'm raking in money and just got a bunch of crap off my shoulders with the 'rents.

Medication isn't for everyone, sometimes you just need to change some things in your life. But medication worked for me.

Zero · May 13, 2003, 23:08

sleeping pills are good short term solver, but then again, I mentioned depressant already.

Even without pills.... Sleeping off your stress and depression is the best way to cope IMO (coping not solving

).

Nubclear · May 13, 2003, 23:27

Im off work, with pay. It's gotten to the point where I get too sad to do anything anymore.

Ive been diagnosed with:

Mild schizophrenia
Post-tramatic Stress Disorder
Major Depression with Psychotic Symptoms
Obessive-Compulsive disorder
and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

korn469 · May 13, 2003, 23:48

i've been really depressed before, for me an unexpected near death experience (falling in a freezing river) helped me find my way out of the darkness.

my best coping strategy now is to exercise regularly (and i'm talking like an hour or two a day 5 or 6 days a week if you have time)

Tiamat · May 13, 2003, 23:51

Suffered with horrible boughts since I was about 8. I finally put myself in therapy. I was like you and didn't think it would help at all but it did. It gave me alot of tools to use that help me when I feel the blues coming on. But again, there are times when I'm not so strong and simply give into it like I've been doing the past two days. Some days it's all I can do to function much past getting up off of the couch.

Oerdin · May 13, 2003, 23:56

Tass: Were you in the Russian Army or something? I'm wondering about the post-tramatic stress disorder.

Frankychan · May 14, 2003, 00:10

My thread.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=84038

people have actually given good advice.

Zero · May 14, 2003, 00:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
Im off work, with pay. It's gotten to the point where I get too sad to do anything anymore.

Ive been diagnosed with:

Mild schizophrenia
Post-tramatic Stress Disorder
Major Depression with Psychotic Symptoms
Obessive-Compulsive disorder
and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

I only have chronic insomnia, but I'd like to think I have many other mental illness... (easier to just say I have it then blame it on myself... and that I get more medication

)

Tiamat · May 14, 2003, 00:27

I heard a line from a song yesterday........I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell. I would like to add to that statement that I have a prescription for prozac what's your excuse?

I know I'm off but I take medication for it.......and you?

Asher · May 14, 2003, 00:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Tiamat
I heard a line from a song yesterday........I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell.

Quote:

All day...staring at the ceiling,
Making friends with shadows on my wall.
All night...hearing voices telling me
That I should get some sleep,
Because tomorrow might be good for something .

Hold on
Feeling like I'm headed for a breakdown
And I don't know why

[Chorus]
But I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know, right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be...me

I'm talking to myself in public
Dodging glances on the train
And I know, I know they've all been talking about me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there must be something wrong
with me
Out of all the hours thinking
Somehow I've lost my mind

[Chorus]

I've been talking in my sleep
Pretty soon they'll come to get me
Yeah, they're taking me away

[Chorus]

Yeah, how I used to be
How I used to be
Well, I'm just a little unwell
How I used to be
How I used to be
I'm just a little unwell...

Tiamat · May 14, 2003, 00:35

Thank you Asher

I like that line. It says it all.......I'm not crazy just a bit unwell.

Kramerman · May 14, 2003, 00:41

ive had it, but probably pretty small time compared to most of yall. it still sucks tho. And when i think about it, its root causes seem... not stupid... but something i could have easily dealt with before. Its strange.

Even now, when i talk about it so rationally, it seems to disappear, but it always seems to creep back over a variable period of time. Its gotten much better tho, ever since i achieved closure with a girl i know... but its not gone. Ive sorted out many of the other sources too, yet it stil lingers... i think the girl is still the cause, which makes me feel rediculous. The only way to completely cure that part would be to completely cut myself off from her, but we are good friends, and that would be terrible...

Ill be kind of moving away this summer tho, so hopefulkly i can meet new girls... but its so hard...

gsmoove23 · May 14, 2003, 09:17

Thanks for all the posts people, I'm always bowled over by how many people have similar problems, since no one ever brings it up in polite conversation. It took me awhile to even hit the submit button on this thread.

Quote:

Originally posted by Caligastia
Do you have a decent social life? If not, you may be becoming too self-absorbed.

Never really had a decent social life, but I've slowly improved as time went on. I used to look at friends and girlfriends as a way to get rid of the problem but they usually end up just being distractions from it. When I'm with them I can pretend there is no problem, yet I go home and its still there.

I would reply to more of your great posts but I gotta run. Be back later.

Jac de Molay · May 14, 2003, 09:40

Basically drank for five years straight to deal with my severe depression from '97-'02. Im 33 now, and came to the realization that handling depression almost requires a holistic approach (without medication which made me feel worse).

Lift weights and mountain bike. Eat well. Meditate. Write in a journal and do a lot of creative writing. It's amazing how much people allow themselves to become separated between body and mind, and then turn to a doctor and say "fix me". You have to invest in yourself every single day.

TheStinger · May 14, 2003, 09:42

After my dad died I drank too much got very lazy and was prone to anger of very trivial things(It would normally need a truck to go thrugh my front room to get me worked up). It lasted about 3 months.

Kropotkin · May 14, 2003, 09:45

Nope, not since the 1930's.

Garth Vader · May 14, 2003, 10:51

I can't help you with a way to cure the problem, I haven't found that yet. Anti-depressants didn't do it for me, I felt like I wasn't myself, like I was drugged, probably cause I was!

But my advice for doing the day to day stuff is to have a routine. I do my grocery shopping at the same time each week, I generally talk to family at the same time, etc. Since I seldom ever feel like doing anything this forces me to get things done.

Dr Strangelove · May 14, 2003, 19:42

Since my boss died and the future of the practice where I work is still quite up in the air I've been getting anxious and depressed. Some people have suggested that I buy the place, but I'm not sure about it. We're a small practice surrounded by a mammoth practice that utterly dominates a three county area. In the past few years we've been losing ground. I just hate the idea of uprooting my family.