Depressed Members

[Nebulous]

For those of you who are depressed...

Does everyone in your life know about it? Have you tried to get help? Does anything work?

If you hide it, how do you hide your depression?

 

[boombala]

I've suffered from depression and panic disorder (bed fellows) since I was 16. Yes, almost everyone I know well knows about my suffering. I have tried almost every med. available for depression and anxiety (including SAD and mood disorder meds) and have yet to find the right combo -- been years of trial and some or no results. I also went to group therapy for panic disorder where I found that all the other group members suffered from depression, as well. When I was younger, I tried to hide my panic disorder and was quite successful (very painful tho because people get the impression that one is stuck up because there are things and places that this disorder will block one from going or doing) but depression is harder to mask. A lot of the time when I'm depressed, I'm not really aware of the behavior changes that accompany it (for me it comes in the form of withdrawal from people, places and activities). Luckily, my friends can see it and let me know. The worst thing anyone can do (this was learned in group) is to try to hide these conditions. Reaching out for help and telling people that you do suffer from depression, is the way to keep ones self from falling into that dark hole.

 

[azrmacc]

Hi. I've had Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD, abbreviation's quite ironic) since I was young, and due to it being left untreated for so long, made me develop depression as well. My psychiatrist told me this. Apparently due to the disorder and me not socialising enough, I've come to be depressed. I have broken down a few times, and in public too. Both, not only depression, give you really bad feelings, although in my case, there doesn't seem to be any root for it. I'd be really sad, but I don't know why. Things like that. Also, I'm really moody. Like, there are things that really tick me off even though it's not supposed to.

Anyway, to have had it since I was in elementary school meant that it developed worse as I grew up. I was already 16 when I first sought help, and it wasn't even easy asking. You know the feeling that you know something's wrong but don't know if people see it the same? Well I'm glad my relatives are understanding enough to recommend me a doctor. I actually went to my grandmother's psychiatrist. She had a mental thing as well, but she developed it when I was still a baby when my grandfather died. I remember being told about how when people used to mention gramps she just breaks down. Okay, back to topic. I was prescribed meds, it's called Lexapro - the side effect I experienced was nausea. That one never went away. I got tired of the nauseous feeling that I stopped my meds altogether (yes, cold turkey!) even though I was supposed to take the meds for a set amount of time.

Well I actually still have the condition, and it's especially hard since I'm in university, but I'd rather deal with that than with the meds. I don't think it helped anyway.

 

[blueeyes]

I have suffered from depression and social anxiety for years and for the most part kept it hidden. That doesn't work as I came to find out because I day I completely lost it and ended up in a hospital. I am now in therapy and take medication to help ease my daily struggles. Those people in my life do not recognize or understand my ailment as a sickness. They see it as a sign of weakness, so I get very little support, unfortunately. Thank goodness I have a good therapist.

 

[Muthoni]

For those of you who are depressed...

Does everyone in your life know about it? Have you tried to get help? Does anything work?

If you hide it, how do you hide your depression?

In December last year, I was a bit depressed because I had not been paid by a company that I worked for. I did not have money for rent and very limited money for expenses. I tried to borrow from people that I thought were my friends. I finally called my mom and told her what was going on. She sent me the money that I needed to clear my bills. It is necessary to reach out for help if you feel depressed.

 

[The Man]

Whiskey my friends...crude but effective.

 

[HELLOnamesdana]

I'm pretty sure that at this point, everyone who is important to me knows about my depression. Everyone basically knows about my two suicide attempts in the past year and they know about my extensive therapy that I was in over this past summer and all of the medications I'm on for it. People definitely treat me differently because of it.

 

[boombala]

Whiskey my friends...crude but effective.

I hope you are joking because alcohol is a depressant. Just brings ya down further into the hole you're already looking at.

 

[Joe the meek]

I hope you are joking because alcohol is a depressant. Just brings ya down further into the hole you're already looking at.

Thus the reason weed should be legalized in all 50 states lol

 

[The Man]

I hope you are joking because alcohol is a depressant. Just brings ya down further into the hole you're already looking at.

Its been said yes its a depressant....but note how anti depressants are many times depressents.
With whiskey your inibitions are lowered which is actually great therapy for depression.

 

[boombala]

Thus the reason weed should be legalized in all 50 states lol

I 100% agree, Joe, and I'm not laughing.

Question for The Man -- do you or have you suffered from the type of depression we've been chatting about here? If so, I'd like to know more about your knowledge of anti-depressants. I'm considering dropping the one I now take for another. Thanx

 

[The Man]

Alcohol does make it easier to interact with people...problem is over consumption can cause behavior which many deem unacceptable.
If your meds are not working then try something different..all meds do not have the same effect on all people.
I do not reccomend alcohol and meds together for obvious reasons..but by all means if a couple shots of whiskey aid with social interactions where permissible then thats good.
Alot of our anxieties are by over thinking..we need to just knock the edge off where we dont give a shit and conquer those fears.
Depression often occurs when we can not meet our emotional expectations..this can be caused by the 'world isnt fair' by our own standard..which often happens to people which are very kind and trusting and have a great capacity to love.
We can get depressed by failure or self image...often times one punishes themselves through a guilt process and chooses to remain that way in regard to failure...self image goes beyond shame and ends tbe same way as mentioned above as failure

 

[Grumpy]

I've suffered from event-related depression in the past, things like family members dying and one point where I was having a tough time at school, but I wouldn't consider myself to be depressed in general. I do think that it's a real medical condition and I don't think it's "in the head" as many describe it, and I'm quite happy to sit and work with and talk with people who have depression. Sometimes just being there for someone and having someone to talk to can make someone's day a heck of a lot better.

 

[Peachdejour]

I can't really say I'm depressed. I'm on an antidepressant because the topamax I'm on for my horrible migraine causing some crazy mood swings and I'm prone to seasonal depression. I am a little down tonight because I belong to some online support groups for my diseases and we have lost 3 people this week. It's a lot when you think of how rare my diseases really are and the fact that membership in these groups overlaps. I do not hide when I'm having an emotional issue from my family at this point. I've been through counseling and I'm almost a counselor myself. I know the importance of working through my baggage as it arrives.

 

[boombala]

snip:...
Alot of our anxieties are by over thinking..we need to just knock the edge off where we dont give a shit and conquer those fears.
snip...

I like your answer The Man. Unfortunately, in my case, depression is clinical. I can't just "knock the edge off where we don't give a shit and conquer those fears." Believe me I wish I could. I have very little control over when my brain chemicals begin to flow and end up putting me into a downer or loading me with anticipatory anxiety. Occasionally, I'll have a couple beers or have a glass of Irish Mist to "take the edge off" but I almost always regret it later because once the effects of the booze wear off, sometimes I feel further in that dark hole.

 

[The Man]

I like your answer The Man. Unfortunately, in my case, depression is clinical. I can't just "knock the edge off where we don't give a shit and conquer those fears." Believe me I wish I could. I have very little control over when my brain chemicals begin to flow and end up putting me into a downer or loading me with anticipatory anxiety. Occasionally, I'll have a couple beers or have a glass of Irish Mist to "take the edge off" but I almost always regret it later because once the effects of the booze wear off, sometimes I feel further in that dark hole.

Thats unfortunate as lowered inhibitions generally increase confidence before and after..the exception of course is regret in the event we did something during such time that we do not approve of our self which can cause guilt and shame afterwards.
IMO there is a deeper problem going back to early childhood..when we are young our minds are very impressionable...You are an adult now and know how things should be/but as a child there was an event or you were told something that impressioned you that a neutral or positive situation was negative or perhaps you just picked up the signal wrong.
Anxiety and depression are often linked together..later anxiety subsides and the "actual depression" sets in..this is where we dont want to deal with anything or anyone /actual interests are lost rather than the fears associated with those interests...depression can be damaging as we feel run down...dont eat..its essentially the "soul" giving up as its expectations can not be met.
But as long as we have have anxiety issues that desire is there but it can push us into depression as we can not meet our expectations due to fears themselves...The anxiety needs to be treated in such cases and not the depression.
Any happy pill that lets you do what you want and should do is what you are looking for...A happy pill that does not aid with anxiety and only makes you "ok" to be depressed is not what you are looking for.
As a side note pot is often bad for anxiety issues..while I have nothing against pot there are a small percentage of people that shouldnt smoke it...as people with actual issues can increase their anxiety by smoking pot

 

[xTinx]

This is the weird thing about me. Humility aside, my resilience is uncanny - it often scares me how I'm easily able to overcome bouts of depression. Maybe because I don't dwell too much on negative thoughts and emotions (even if I have the propensity to play them over and over in my head). It's not that I try to hide my depression but I'm not one to bother others about personal problems. Whenever I'm ready to share my woes to others, they're usually 90 to 100 percent solved. Here are the things I do to overcome depression (mostly wrought by hormone fluctuations a week prior to menstruation):

1. Read a good book (Haruki Murakami, John Green and Harper Lee have done wonders for me)
2. Eat sweets particularly chocolate (thought to trigger your happy hormones)
3. Sweat it out
4. Watch an inspiring movie or TV series
5. Go out with family or friends

 

[randomdude509]

I've been depressed more than once in my life and find it to be annoying. I know how you feel wanting to find help and stuff, but my advice is just to deal with it. That's what I doband I feel fine most of the time.

The reason you should just deal with it is for the feeling of self worth. If you make it out on the other end and feel like you beat it, that feeling won't compare to medication. Medication makes it worse anyway, so I say be a man. In the long run it will help.

 

[Ruko]

I have suffered depression and anxiety at the same time. I am currently taking medication for both of those. I understand how difficult it can be to get through this, but the only person who's able to fix it is you. There is no other way. I am taking medications, talk to several psychologists, but the only way you can get through this is by being yourself. And like what the person above said, be a man. And don't back down.

 

[MLNewkirk]

I've suffered from depression for as long as I can remember. When I was 19 years old I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (my father was physically and mentally abusive) and manic depression. While I was in grad school I was diagnosed with panic and anxiety disorder. Recently, I have been diagnosed with postpartum depression. Needless to say, I've been dealing with depression for a great deal of my life. The first time I attempted suicide was when I was 10 years old.

Only my family and close friends know. I am currently seeing a therapist who has put me on a plant based diet instead of having me on meds. According to her, this diet is supposed to help decrease the amount the stress hormones that I am producing. So far, it seems to be working and I'm surprised at the amount of energy that I've had recently. As a musician, I play music to cope with my depression.