Depression

[Maritxu]

If you had all that you wouldnt even be capable of typing that on a computer. Stop taking the piss, realise we're actually trying to help someone through intelligence and piss off back to the arcade!:mad

The bipolar disorder includes a lot of the things he mentioned above, so it was probably not necessary to list so many symptons. The bipolar disorder is (made simple) basically a cicle, which involves a phase of depression that slowly becomes mania. There are of course also times of normality (which are each time shorter).

 

[Peter Parka]

Well I may have jumped the gun but most likely from the sound of it he's another attention seeking troll who's only damaging the help and good advice we're trying to give in this thread. Funny how long he's been here and he only jumps into conversation now and its to distract attention away from this persons problem, if he really wanted to talk about his problems I'm pretty sure he would have already done it without playing 100s of hours on the arcade then jumping straight into a couple of thread like this.

 

[GameCrazed]

':| THAT WAS MY POINT.

Anyone, anyone could get diagnosed with a million differen't tihngs after one check-up. So people see these Zoloft commercials and think, "You know, I'm not happy 24/7, so I must be depressed. Time for medication."

And what is this arcade, what are you even talking about?

 

[Peter Parka]

':| THAT WAS MY POINT.

Anyone, anyone could get diagnosed with a million differen't tihngs after one check-up. So people see these Zoloft commercials and think, "You know, I'm not happy 24/7, so I must be depressed. Time for medication."

And what is this arcade, what are you even talking about?

Thats my point, you're talking shit.
Oh, and the arcade is the thing you spent the rest of your time after posting 27 times here in 10 months, on, you should be familiar with it by now.:smiley24:

 

[Breath]

........

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

My career happens to be prescription drugs. I am a pharmacist. So if you'd like, I'd be happy to speak with you about this topic. PM me if you're interested.

You should know that there are very specific parameters that have to be met before a person is diagnosed as clinically depressed. This is not a psychiatrist's diagnostic tool, but this quiz will give you an idea about what may classify someone as being depressed: Quiz: Are you depressed?

A person's life can be drastically affected by depression. It can affect sleep, appetite, self-worth, attitude toward others and feelings about the future, to name a few. If you truly feel that something is amiss in your life, you should start by getting a thorough exam by your family physician. Explain what is going on. Perhaps there is a medical reason for your current state. Perhaps some simple blood tests can rule out an actual physical reason for your low mood.

Once a doctor has ruled out the common physical causes, the next step should be an evaluation by someone trained in recognizing and treating the signs and symptoms of depression. Some benefit from therapy. Some do benefit from the antidepressants currently available on the market. Please note that I consider drug therapy to be a serious commitment to handling a serious problem.

Don't expect that all you have to do is "take a pill and life will be perfect." These drugs do work intracellularly. They are chemicals that affect your biology. They don't work in a day or a week. Most need a few weeks to "begin" to show their positive effects. Some work better for some people than for others. They are not considered addictive, per se, yet increasing or decreasing the dose is never recommended.

Depression can be endogenous or exogenous. Essentially that means that it can be something caused by the outside world or something from within. Obviously, we all have the capacity to go into a depression due to circumstances beyond our control. Our loved ones die, we lose our jobs, our child develops a serious illness, the house burns down...each person has a breaking point for how much they can take. It doesn't help to say "Be strong, you can handle it". It doesn't help to be told that, "You're just being put to the test, so bite your lip and get through it." The compassionate attitude toward the person in mental anguish is to simply acknowledge their humanity. You are a man in pain and you are not alone. Some forms of depression are caused by chemical imbalances. No one knows why this happens. It doesn't mean you are bad. It doesn't mean you did anything wrong.

What an EXCELLENT post Breath. Very very well put. 10/10.

 

[Maritxu]

Treating depression is not supposed to be a debate about what is better: therapy or drugs. BOTH of them can very effective, either individually or in combination, WHEN USED PROPERLY. I emphatically stated that drug therapy SHOULD begin after other medical personnel were consulted first. I completely agree that if you go to your doctor and report that you are "sad" and then he/she whips out that prescription pad and writes you an antidepressant....well, run, do not walk, away from that physician. That doctor would not be practicing good medicine.
Antidepressant drugs DO work, when prescribed properly and when taken properly. Do not dismiss them as a temporary fix.

Probably this post is not for me, but I do not think this was a debate about what is better either, just about the steps to take rather than just selfmedicating yourself. I pretty much agree with everything you've said anyway

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Treating depression is not supposed to be a debate about what is better: therapy or drugs. BOTH of them can very effective, either individually or in combination, WHEN USED PROPERLY. I emphatically stated that drug therapy SHOULD begin after other medical personnel were consulted first. I completely agree that if you go to your doctor and report that you are "sad" and then he/she whips out that prescription pad and writes you an antidepressant....well, run, do not walk, away from that physician. That doctor would not be practicing good medicine.
Antidepressant drugs DO work, when prescribed properly and when taken properly. Do not dismiss them as a temporary fix.

Again. Concur.

For example. Someone with a overweight problem. The most effective way to deal with this is a combination of sensible DIET and EXERCISE isn't it? How beneficial is one without the other in the medium to long term? Some may go on a crash diet alone and get results only to realise the initial problem resurfaces because of the extreme or quick fix mentality toward the problem and in more times than not, treating with the problem in an unhealthy manner. The problem remains because it has not been treated in an holistic manner.

Isn't the most effective way to deal with this is to first of all go to a professional who would best consult, analyze and recommend a sensible course of diet and exercise program to suit your specific needs? What tends to happen though is there is the human element within us to take shortcuts and otherwise engage in the quick-fix syndrome and do our own thing and oftentimes misuse and abuse which brings us right back to square one.

 

[Ria]

We've covered this topic somewhere else here before which I posted on at the time.

Anyway, I talked about having had anti-depressants too a good few years ago now. They did help me and I didn't have any side-effects. I have never been depressed since either.

It's a combination though I think as well. I think a healthier diet, excersie, whether it be long walks or in the gym, doesn't matter. It all helps to pull you through.

My dr wasn't happy for me to be on them more than 6 months and offered me counselling, which I had tried for different reasons before that time and found it to be unhelpful.

However, the tablets (Prozac) helped to take the foggyness away and made my days a bit clearer than without them, they can give direction when you are feeling so lost and empty.

I had to come off them slowly though, as is the case with most if not all anti-depressants. Ever since then, I have not looked back.

However, it is paramount to understand that I was one of the ones who didn't suffer any side-effects and I didn't get addicted to them either. Some anti-depressants can but not necessarily, create side-effects for some, but that particular medication was a big help for me, but may not be for the next person.

The other main factor, which I don't think has been mentioned, is that alcohol counteracts anti-depressants, (just as when taking the pill for women, antibiotics counteract the pill) so people wouldn't feel any benefit from them if drinking say more than a couple of pints once or twice a week - more than this, well, then there is just no point unless people are prepared to cut out the alcohol. The effect of that would be a bit like trying to get a car started when the battery's flat.

I hardly drank when I was on those meds, becuase I wanted to get out of that state I was in and knew that the alcohol would make it worse if I had more than one or two.

I don't drink much anyway, but I was careful to make sure nothing got in the way to stop me getting through what I was going through.

This would be the case with many prescribed drugs also. I think if I remember correctly, that the instructions leaflet inside the packages of these meds, explains this too. I know it does in some for sure - should be in all.

You definately need to go to yr doctor first anyway, then discuss the different options available.

I don't know what it's like in America, but over here, to see a counsellor, or a psychologist, (if chosen) we have to get a referral from our GP first and be put on the waiting list. As Peter says, it can take 18 months. Sometimes, it can be as long as 2 - 3 years to get to see one of them.

Remember that as with any medical condition, each person's condition is individual to the next and not always as 'text book' as some would have it. There are the certain traits that are the same obviously for a condition to be diagnosed as depression, or whatever, but each person is individual too and needs different approaches to say, 'Joe Blogs' down the road.

 

[Maritxu]

Remember that as with any medical condition, each person's condition is individual to the next and not always as 'text book' as some would have it. There are the certain traits that are the same obviously for a condition to be diagnosed as depression, or whatever, but each person is individual too and needs different approaches to say, 'Joe Blogs' down the road.

You couldn't be more right in that way

 

[COOL_BREEZE2]

Good testimonial Freespeech.

This quote has tho is very alarming:

"I don't know what it's like in America, but over here, to see a counsellor, or a psychologist, (if chosen) we have to get a referral from our GP first and be put on the waiting list. As Peter says, it can take 18 months. Sometimes, it can be as long as 2 - 3 years to get to see one of them."

Now...isn't that ridiculous and counter-productive :confused. What good is it for someone going through a problem such as this to have to be waiting for such a long time. That just don't make sense. By the time the person gets to see the psychologist she/he could completely lose it couldn't they???

 

[Peter Parka]

Yup! The mental health service really needs a lot of work done on it over here. There are so many other rediculous things I've experienced first hand with it too, but hey, what can you do?

 

[teh_fuzz]

I believe a lot of the information the rest of the people here have posted covers it but to put it in simple words:

If youre prescribed a certain medication, make sure you follow the proper dosage and instructions, some of the medications out there have some not so serious side effects but some things like mood swings, and extreme irritability can happen out of simply not taking the medication at the same time, missing as little as a single dosage. So, if youre given the meds, take them according to the doc's instructions, it will not only benefit you those around you.

Dedication and the desire of the patient to better their condition plays a damn good part in all of this, so consistency and other form of therapy may at times be needed and are often prescribed.

good luck

 

[Ria]

Good testimonial Freespeech.

This quote has tho is very alarming:

"I don't know what it's like in America, but over here, to see a counsellor, or a psychologist, (if chosen) we have to get a referral from our GP first and be put on the waiting list. As Peter says, it can take 18 months. Sometimes, it can be as long as 2 - 3 years to get to see one of them."

Now...isn't that ridiculous and counter-productive :confused. What good is it for someone going through a problem such as this to have to be waiting for such a long time. That just don't make sense. By the time the person gets to see the psychologist she/he could completely lose it couldn't they???

I was going to write more or less what I have quoted you saying too, but my post was long as it was.

I could write loads on this and many subjects.

I believe a lot of the information the rest of the people here have posted covers it but to put it in simple words:

If youre prescribed a certain medication, make sure you follow the proper dosage and instructions, some of the medications out there have some not so serious side effects but some things like mood swings, and extreme irritability can happen out of simply not taking the medication at the same time, missing as little as a single dosage. So, if youre given the meds, take them according to the doc's instructions, it will not only benefit you those around you.

Dedication and the desire of the patient to better their condition plays a damn good part in all of this, so consistency and other form of therapy may at times be needed and are often prescribed.

good luck

Yes, it is pretty much what others' have said, but you are new and you wanted to join in the discussion, so you go ahead.

Everyone can say more or less the same thing, but it can be put in many ways, so everything's worth reading.

So, don't you worry about that - it's valid what you wanted to say too.

Welcome to this great place - looking forward to more of what you have to say.