Depression

[Sequoia]

How many folks here suffer some form of it? I know this poll's probably been done before. . . but I'm lazy :D so umm. . . re-take the poll! 8O

[Phoenix Blue]

Also, if you feel like you've fallen into a depression and you can't get out of it. . . go see a doctor! It's the absolute best thing you can do for yourself.

[AmbivalentMirage]

I feel depressed sometimes, but it's usually my reaction to something upsetting or being over-stressed. I can handle it, but sometimes I find that binge-eating is a very effective anti-depressant. ;) Depression comes and goes for me, and is not very often...but it does happen.

[Azure]

True, PB. For myself, I have a nice healthy case of seasonal affective disorder, and have had a really bad year - really bad. But most of my depression, I recognize, is stress triggered, and given time to step back I usually can deal. If things in my life don't start running a bit smoother, however, I can see myself getting to a point where I need some help.

[Flaire-FireStar]

I'm not sure what to vote..... I'm on meds, though they don't seem to help with the depression, as much as my anxiety. (If it gets me to school in the morning, it's working)

But I constantly feel depressed....sometimes I'll just stop talking to people...stare into space.. Things just seem to take too much effort, and I can't concentrate on much. Mind you, I get seasonal depression as well - so this is a bit bad in itself.... Plus the recent happenings. All my artwork (more-so) is getting to be darker..

But believe you me, the 'happiness' you see on here is usually faked, because it's so much easier to do it online, than face to face with people...

That's all I have to say for now........

[Witchy Cowgirl]

I wanted to vote NEVER!
But in all honesty I couldn't. But I can say that I suffer from depression even less often than once on a blue moom. I mean hardly ever at all! There are times of just being there - blah - but its not depression.
Now anger, that's a different story. But it's usually just surface anger, Like at work, when I have to talk with stupid customers, and slam the phone down (after hitting the release button) and say stuff like, "Stupid customer!" OK sometimes it worse. Sometimes they make me so mad that I actually shake. That kind of stuff I can shake off and be fine by the time I get home.
But depression - not much at all.

[HuntinOwl]

I also was going to say never but sometime the radio plays the right song. It's not really depression but you feel like apart of you has stop and you can't get it back to the same time era your in. so you feel dislodged or disengaged with the present. time kinda side tracks. Well *centering* ok that better. have to do that sometime. I feel the energys of my friends, I sometime reflect there emotions. I don't know what that's called. Hell on one board I sensed her trouble and I made a comment and she said "I was not invited to pick up on her emotions" oh well.

I guess that's about it. :wave:

[Djiril]

Often. Too often. Right now, between family, failure in school, failure to study anything I need to, and failure to act like a normal human being, I'm a wreck.:(
They all feed off each other too. I've been seeing a shrink for the past few years, and he has just suggested seeing a phychiatrist about meds. I tend to shy away from the idea, but I'm getting desperate. Since my parents are both somewhat opposed to the idea too, I've agreed to try this (http://www.ucsf.edu/ocim/clinical/groupmbsr.html) first, but I'm not feeling very optomistic. (Then again, depressed people seldom are.;) )

[Djiril]

Originally posted by AmbivalentMirage
sometimes I find that binge-eating is a very effective anti-depressant. ;) Hmmm.... Sounds interesting. I should try that some time. :D

[Radocs]

Often. :2G:

[Emaleth]

I voted occassionally, though I get depressed often (I can't even make a decision:rolleyes: ). But my depression seems to come and go, when something upsetting happens, I'm depressed, but I forget about it quickly.

[CloakofStars9]

i have suffered from it all my life, it runs in the family and i have been on and off my meds before, but i do see this as a lifelong struggle...i do not consider myself a victum, i am a survivor for what i have gone through, but i do accept that depression IS a part of me and willl always be

[Psyche Ague]

I have seasonal affective disorder and it's been becoming darker and darker in my own little world, so I'm going to head over to my psychologist as soon as I go on winter break. I also have a light that my mom got from the doctor that I need to sit under for an hour a day. *sigh* It's painful, but I haven't been on medication yet...

[Old Witch]

Have a mild case of SAD.........and get depressed every now and then......but always pull myself out of it.....would say I have "normal" depression, If thats possible.......

[Cajime]

am I a sad old woman who seems to think too many people are claiming to be depressed when really they aren't o.O;

I used to say 'oh, I'm depressed' just when I felt really sad, but that's far from acutally being depressed.

I've had depression once. I didn't know what to put for it so I put once in a blue moon. Generally people don't suffer from it on and off... it is an actually sickness and not feeling sad after all :\

yes yes T_T; I have to say this because I worry that because everyone is currently claiming to be depressed when the truth is only 1 out of 10 people ever suffer from depression in their lives and if everyone is complaining about it then those with the real problem will be ignored.

(I was actually said by people from the medical profession I had depression and was sent into theropy)

*huff huff*

[Phoenix Blue]

All the same, Cajime, you're probably not qualified to say whether or not all the people who claim to be depressed really are or not. That requires a medical degree in psychology or psychiatry, and a case study on the person being assessed for depression.

[Sowelu]

Ohhhhhh boy....the "D" word.....:o

Yes, I suffer from depression...some days worse than others...but not too bad lately.
Medications seem to work although I am trying to slowly wean myself off of them. It seems doctors are all too willing to throw a bottle of pills at ya' and say, "Here take these."
:ack:
Years ago I ended up in the hospital for a suicide attempt, next thing I know they're shoving a thick, black charcoal fluid down my throat.
That was then, things are much better now.
:)
I have my family, and my faith in the Gods/Goddesses, and my (our) health....and taking things one day at a time:) :heartthro

[Sowelu]

Originally posted by Phoenix_Blue
All the same, Cajime, you're probably not qualified to say whether or not all the people who claim to be depressed really are or not. That requires a medical degree in psychology or psychiatry, and a case study on the person being assessed for depression.

Agreed!;) :thumbsup:

[Saphra]

I don't think I have actual depression, but sometimes I burst out crying at the smallest thing, I get so down on myself. I even think that my friends arn't really my friends, they are just letting me hang out with them out of sympathy cuz I'm so......(I can't think of a word to put there right now, cuz I can think of so many)
I get into bouts where I won't go anywhere but to work and home. I will eat a lot and get even more down. I really don't think it's depression, just my brain telling me I'm no good...... I will normally snap out of them in a week or so and be as good as new (but a few pounds heavier).

[Cajime]

I don't think people understand T_T;

I'm not saying who is and who isn't depressed, I simply wouldn't know and especially not here or anywhere else. And I'm not having a go at anyone here for saying they do get depressed, simply because I don't know you.

So I simply read what everyone said to mean sever sadness if otherwise specified. Which is the problem, I don't know what to think, we don't know who has the real problem and who doesn't.

And that's what I mean, the term is now used interchangably between people who are really sad and those who have proper depression.

It doesn't mean I don't care about all those who arn't depressed because I simply do :\ (people probably think she doesn't care about anyone now)

Like I said, only 1 out of 10 people EVER suffer from depression. And depression really is VERY serious!

here are a few articles I've found -

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chd/DepVSad.html
http://www.mhsource.com/exclusive/depvssad.html

I think I pick up this mood from someone I know who is very close to me. They have had depression too long now that they have lost 8 years of their life. She has not been in education or a job since she was 12 years old, and she will often say the same. :\

[Mythrel]

I get bouts of depression on occassion...lately I've been doing alright but ya never know... :nyah:

[Pan]

I get depressed often... and I don't know what to do about it.

I'm broke and have no money for a doc. took a web md test and got severe depression. *sigh*

[santine]

I've suffered from depression for a couple of years. It started when I was abused as a little girl, but as time went on so did life and my feelings about myself grew worse. I guess the real thing hit in when I met my EX , I was 14 he was 30 and I helplessly head over heels for him. The relationship lasted for nearly 3 years and he treated me like dirt. This year we slept together, then he left me pregnant, I miscarried 6 weeks later. That wasd in April. since then I have been trying to rebuild my life, and about a month ago I found out I was pregnant, unfortunately as you all know I've just lost my second baby :heartthro. So I guess I could count myself as depressed!
At least we have each other here and the gods and godesses (for me, my beautiful mother).
Things do get better and time heals, I've learnt that, real hurt doesn't just vanish :ghost: it comes back sometimes and thats all part of the process.
Thank gods for friends like you all though cos someone needs to cope with my rants and madness, and my tears.
Oh and if all else fails get the doc to put you on prozac and tranqs they work like a dream! :zzz:

[Faery-Wings]

I have SAD as well. Man, this year it is killing me.:rolleyes: Each year I look into buying a light box but they are so expensive.

I have also posted here before that I had moderate to severe Postpartum depression with my second child's birth. That was a hell I never want to go back to. Even my worst "typical" depression or SAD is not as bad as that was. And too think there were other women I knew online who had it even worse where they needed therapy several times a week, and one who had to have electric shock treatment. :(

Depression is nothing to be fooling around with, I hop that all of you who suffer may find the strength, comfort, and peace you need.

[CloakofStars9]

<<< went to a therapist for the first time when i was 8
<<< has been on meds since i was 10
<<< is manic/ borderline bipolar

<<< realizes i will struggle with it my whole life
<<< does not consider herself a victum

[Raevyn]

Do I consider myself depressed? yep
Do I consider it clinical depression? nope.

I'm depressed for a good reason and it's not been debilitating for an unreasonable amount of time - everyone deals with s**t sometimes and gets depressed for awhile, and that's where I've been for a few months. Losing two babies will do that to you.

Now my brother, who was diagnosed bipolar, and keeps threatening to/trying to off himself - he's got depression. And yes he's on meds for it and he's getting therapy. In his case it's debilitating and nothing triggered this - not getting a cheque or his ex dumping him fires him off.

[Aine of the Fae]

I suffer from bipolar disorder and was put on meds several years ago. But, the meds just made me tired and blah, it was almost worse than the depression. I've since then begun a cours of daily meditation, excercise (lost 10 lbs too!{and more to go}), and daily doses of St.John's Wort . The difference has been incredible. I've pulled out of the depression, haven't had a manic episode in over a year and generally have more energy than I used to.

[Sequoia]

I've been fighting depression for about as long as I can remember, in various forms, since my parents broke up (I was two). I'd been taken to several therapists, but other than abuse me -_-;; (his name is Gene Wright, he practices in Northern California, NEVER take a child to him, NEVER. But it's been "too long" so I can't "do anything" about it. . . bah. Fools.) nothing ever really got resolved. Sooooo I have had to try to do a lot on my own! Sometimes I fall so far into it, everything loses it's colour, I think everyone hates or pity's me ("pities" doesn't look right), or tolerates me, that life is going nowhere, that I have no worth or value. . . if it gets bad enough, at nighttime the shadows and dark spots take shapes of very frightening things, that I would swear are real, like they did as a child. And I have no medical insurance right now, which sucks, because I'm finally at the point that I'm willing and ready for therapy. I really want it, actually, which is something of a small miracle. The past few days have actually taken an amazing 90-degree turn for the good. I think it's a combonation of realizing a time of trials in my life, and resolving to think positively, and mean it! I have to fight not to feel like crap, but the vibrant colours are worth it! And sooner or later, I know things will get better. :) I will keep hope, and keep trying! It's worth it.

I agree with the idea that too many people think they're depressed. I don't think anyone posting here is wrong, but I have known people before who were going "I'm depressed, pay attention to me, help me, oh life is stupid and sucks and I just don't care". . . who really weren't. Who were going through mild blues, or were only "depressed" for the day, or who were doing it because they couldn't buy the sweater they wanted or didn't win a pagent or something. It's one thing to occasionally feel a little listless- everyone does. But depression is a serious thing, that pretty much never seems to completely leave (at least not without help - I wouldn't know, I've never gotten it to leave 100%, or even 90%). There are varying degrees to depression, I think, and it's important to recognize the severity.

It swings both ways, too. Sometimes people really are severely depressed, but nobody takes them seriously.

It's the medical field these days. I remember, at a certain point in time, I was about ohh between 12 and 14. I had depression, I'd lived with it my whole life, but what I was seeing the doctor for, was migranes. My mother told the doctor that I just didn't want to go to school, that it wasn't really migranes. Did he listen to me? Nope. Prescribed me an antidepressant (a nasty one at that, I don't remember what it was called, but it turned me into a zombie), didn't even bother to run any tests, and sent me on my way. As I said, it made me a complete zombie, mostly I think because he wasn't treating symptoms at all, just what my mother had said. So I still had migranes, but I also had remarkably little consious thought -_-;; After several months, I realized what was going on, and took myself off them. I still deal with migranes sometimes. :rolleyes: Doctors these days need to pay a little more attention. They have a lot to do, I understand that, but they also make mistakes that are easily avoided.

ahh! didn't mean to go on such a rant! :D Well I'll shaddup now ;)

[Semele]

Well, I am suprised that I am the only one that voted #1. I am not exagerating either..a coworker calls me sickening and Mary sunshine and all kinds of mean things...that should depress me alone!!

I had to think for a minute because I get really emotional in the postpartum time..just the first couple of weeks. I wouldn't even call it depression, just tearful with no real understanding of the reason. It always goes away quickly and without causing any problem, but it is enough to open my eyes to the horrible feeling that so many people deal with on a daily basis.

I think I try to keep myself uplifted pretty constantly. Having watched my Mom struggle with depression on a daily basis, I am weary of depression and very sympathetic to those who suffer its grasp.

[Thistle]

I voted "almost all the time". If you'd asked me a year ago, I'd have said "occasionally", since I get mopey in winter.

This year has been incredibly stressful for me. My brother's home a few blocks away burned to the ground in March. After helping him salvage what we could of photos, family heirlooms, antiques and 50 years of stuff, I helped him move 200 miles away. We've been close emotionally for a long time, and his home was the hub of our family, so that was hard. Hubby retired. Twice as much husband, half as much $. Big adjustment! My beloved tuxedo cat Chester got lymphoma and died in my arms 3 horrible weeks later. The vet thought he'd have 4 months.

The worst, though, is what's happened with my daughter. I thought we were close until she became involved with a *very* possesive young man. She's given him money and he owes his parents money but refuses to get a job to pay them back, and is engaged in a power struggle with them over this. He's very judgmental, and lies to her about her parents and her friends and tries to "protect" her from all of us. She believes everything he says. This boy sets off all my warning bells, but he's glib and she's naive. He's disrespectful to hubby and me in our home (he even deadbolted me out of the house once), refuses to abide by our house rules, and she supports this behavior. She's a completely different person when she's around him, and not for the beter. I got fed up and some angry words were exchanged. She quit her job, quit college, and moved in with him and his parents, who spoil him and cave in to anything he wants. She hasn't spoken to us in more than 3 weeks. She's over 18, so there's not much to do. Except hurt. Adding insult to injury, my computer is on its last legs.

I've been diagnosed with clinical depression before. My dad died when I was 13, and I stuffed the grief until I was about 21 when I completely fell apart. So I have abandonment issues anyway. I saw a therapist, took anti-depressants, and eventually felt better.

Until this year. It's been 30 years since I didn't care if I lived or died. When I started feeling that bad again, it was back to a therapist and back on meds. I'll probably have to struggle with this periodically for the rest of my life. Sometimes I feel "normal", other times I just sit and sob from so much pain.

People sometimes call themselves "depressed" when they're really just sad. There's a difference. With depression, you can get sleep disturbances, either you sleep a lot of the time, or you hardly sleep at all. The same with eating. You binge, or you have to force yourself to eat. There's no joy in anything, even things you love. Like Puma said, the world loses its color. You feel worthless, unloved, and unloveable. Sometimes suicidal. It lasts a long time, months, maybe even years. My HMO says if you feel like this for more than 2 weeks, you should get evaluated.

(((((everyone who's depressed))))) We need to help each other.

[Pesha]

At this time I am fighting with some really bad depression and it is an on going battle. Trying to explain to my family why I am not happy all the time. Sheesh......I hate feeling this way.

BB
DS.:colorful:

[Thistle]

(((((Dragonsinger))))) I tried to give you karma, but it wouldn't let me, so I'll just give you karma this way!!

[morrigen]

Depression with a nice fat dose of anxiety. Diagnosed 6 years ago, saw a psychotherapist, didn't help, coped, got pre-natal depression last year, and the hospital pushed me into seeing another psychotherapist......didn't help -sigh- am I depressing you?

Hey, I always try to see the funny side :tongueout

But in all seriousness, it's a bugger of an illness, and I'm just all too familiar with it.

[Xeen]

I picked Almost all the time. I really don't know what to do about it, either.

But I get SAD, too. Well, I did the last 2 years in a row anyway. I think I'm getting it this year, too.

[tawnystar]

Dysthymia, almost all the time. Supposedly a 'mild' depression but it has been very debilitating for me.

I recommend "The Noonday Demon" by Andrew Solomon btw, it is a huge book that deals with all aspects of depression and is easy to read.

[AuroraSilvermist]

I've got chronic depression. It runs in my family. I've been told I'll probably have to deal with it for the rest of my life. But...I do deal with it. Family, faith and meds really help. I'm a Lexapro girl.

One thing, for anyone who thinks taking meds is a stigma and wants to avoid it--don't shrug medication off that quickly. I really resisted taking meds at first until my doctor (at the time) reminded me that depression is biochemical. If depression were only emotional and mental, medication would have no effect. But because depression is a physiological state, it does respond to medication. You're treating an illness. You wouldn't avoid medication if you had, say, bronchitis, would you? Depression doesn't mean you're crazy; it means your nervous system isn't quite firing on all cylinders. Avoiding getting help just makes it last longer, and perhaps even re-occur faster.

*steps down from the soapbox*

[georgina]

i get depressed all the time but no-one knows expect my boyfriend
my mask is very firmly in place all sunshine and happiness(lies)
i cant cry unless im alone i hurt silently i read a lot of the other replys
i never seen a theapis (i cant spell)
i suppose i should i suffer almost all the time
my downwards spirial keeps continuing my life line is my love the only thing keeping me here

[morrigen]

I've got chronic depression. It runs in my family. I've been told I'll probably have to deal with it for the rest of my life. But...I do deal with it. Family, faith and meds really help. I'm a Lexapro girl.

One thing, for anyone who thinks taking meds is a stigma and wants to avoid it--don't shrug medication off that quickly. I really resisted taking meds at first until my doctor (at the time) reminded me that depression is biochemical. If depression were only emotional and mental, medication would have no effect. But because depression is a physiological state, it does respond to medication. You're treating an illness. You wouldn't avoid medication if you had, say, bronchitis, would you? Depression doesn't mean you're crazy; it means your nervous system isn't quite firing on all cylinders. Avoiding getting help just makes it last longer, and perhaps even re-occur faster.

*steps down from the soapbox*


I absolutely second this opinion!!!! People without depression tend to forget, that with the (usually) exception of "reactive depression" ie: depression with a defineable cause, it has a physical/biochemical source. It makes me want to squeal at all those people who say "just pull yourself together" or "stop being self-indulgent" grrrr....

[Dextra]

I've had depression for years, and in the past few years coupled with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I was on medication for a time, and then went off them when I was feeling normal again. And I was fine for a couple of years. Then this past year has been so bad...long story...that I'm back to being depressed again. I get depressed when there is stress present. Once the stress has been eliminated, I'm back to normal. However, I don't see the stress being eliminated anytime soon, unless some sort of miracle comes along. So I guess I'll just keep smiling through the tears as per usual.

[Tammy]

I voted "I have seasonal depression/am prone to depression, but it isn't ongoing" because mine's due to a chemical imbalance, not due to emotional or mental states of depression. When I know I need it, I go on medication, and then I wean myself off it again after awhile. I don't like the idea of HAVING to have meds.

[kewlhippiechick]

Thank the God and Goddess for Zoloft, Lorazapam, and Risperdal!!!!!

[BloodRose]

I don't know how i'd classify myself now...

I've been taking meds for about 4-5 years now. I want to go off of them, but whenever I try to cut down I end up back where I was pre-meds. Not good.

Even with the meds, i'm still in sort of a limbo phase. I still have depression, but it's not to the extremes it used to be...but that's not really saying alot.

*BloodRose*

[Jenne]

I do have bouts of depression, but they aren't really self-destructive. They are more reflective and paralyzing. A lot of it is Seasonal Affect Disorder type stuff (which my husband thinks I have), but some of it too is just that depression runs in my family, and we tend to be a melancholic lot.


My coping mechanisms are varied, and probably not considered clinically effective, but they work for me, kwim? I change my routine, journal, write, get with friends and bag on whatever and whoever is bringing me down, and it works. I'm afraid to do the meds because I have an addictive personality, and I know people who've been on them for 8 years or more, and they have a hard time getting off of them. I really don't want to be dependent on a drug to be functional at this point; since I'm already quite functional with this depression (or this amount of depression I should say), I don't think the time for medications is now.

Should I become self-destructive and whatnot though, I will go into therapy and get some meds on-board. I want to be the best me that I can, for me and my kids, so I wouldn't mess around with that. But I think I'm fighting this thing well on my own for now, so I'm sort of in a "wait-and-see" pattern...