COMMENTS:
Wish I had the answer. The comedy thing helps a little.
I used to do some really crazy stunts, the rush of adrenaline would snap me out of the depression and keep me high for a few days. I wouldn't recommend it though...
by LCD on Thu Aug 26, 04 12:40pm
[+]
road trip!try north...
Sometimes it's best to just literally go with the flow. If you have no energy just let your body and mind recuperate sometimes, because life is exhausting. But... depression can be instantly lifted by temporarily giving up control of your daily schedule in order to do something spontaneous, exhilarating, but simple, especially if you allow that spontaneity to take you into a natural setting and you have an empathic friend to share it with. Someone who'll make you laugh, but won't pressure you into doing more than you feel like doing.
Sometimes a brand new challenge can help, because it takes you out of yourself, and often just a change of scenery and some sunshine can make a difference, too, preferably somewhere beautiful. Doing something valuable for other people without payment can also go a long way to dispelling the blues.
*to=towards
LCD, I've suffered with it all my life too. If I only had the answer. It's like a curse on one's life.
Nearly all the things you listed are things I've done (or still do). Suicide is something I have thought about many times.
Sometimes, if I'm in terrible anguish, I take a tranquilizer and go to bed. Sometimes a few hours of sleep can break the terrible pattern.
I do take an antidepressant as well - it worked very well in the early days but not so well now.
Hang in there.
by mojo on Thu Aug 26, 04 1:07pm
[+]
Something new in your life. Break up the routine. Look at this site, you have fifty hosts ready for you. :) Do something out of the ordinary and by that I don't mean buy whole milk instead of skim. Get out and go somewhere. As much as I hate to say it, forget about this site, and whatever other projects your working on and just go. Booze and some casual sex will help too! Gonna be in Flordia? wink wink
Doing something you normally wouldn't do.
It may be something as simple as not ordering The Usual at a restaurant. Or trying an activity that you normally wouldn't follow through on.
When given a choice between two options, whatever they are ... trying the one you haven't tried before.
And removing yourself from idiots. ;-)
Sometimes, the best thing to do is recognize when you are dealing with one or more Difficult People and remember their real priority in Your World. Sometimes, they will be jerks no matter what and the best thing to do is cut them out of your circle.
(Generalized: Don't give precious time and energy to people who drain yours and give nothing in return.)
Surround yourself with people and things that make you feel good about who you are..because you should feel good about that! :)
Hang around stupid people that make you feel smart. That way, you can feel proud that you aren't THAT dumb.
Well, that's what I do anyway...
Saaaay! Exactly why have you been spending so much time with us, hmm, young lady?!?
For real depression (vs blues), it is also important not to take any kind of depressant (sadly, including alcohol and most sedatives). This may feel as if it helps, but biochemically it is worsening the problem.
Agreed. Don't compound the problem with artificial depressants or stimulants, because it'll only come back and bite you in the butt later.
Wise words about breaking the routine, Tadema. My husband is always saying that.
by mojo on Thu Aug 26, 04 1:58pm
[+]
I try to remember that whatever it is I am going through will not last forever. You can try to preoccupy yourself with other things and people, but that usually takes effort, something lacked during depression. Just wait it out and listen to some good music. Also realize those who make an effort to help you, even us!
Another thing I try to tell myself is that my problems are so insignificant compared to some other problems in the world. If you can put forth the effort to help someone else or some other cause, it can at least make you feel a bit of self-worth.
I also suggest, and this will sound cheesy, that you feel your feelings, don't try to hide them or distract yourself. Your depression is a part of who you are, and most likely always will be. There is a bittersweet beauty to that side of you. As ironic as it sounds, many good things can result from depression. Would you honestly want to give that part of yourself up? Think of what would go with it.
I suggest "Depressed Pride" T-shirts and marches! Okay, not really.
It depends upon the degree or severity of the depression. An afternoon depression... go shopping and buy yourself something new. A depression which is a few days to a week, you probably need to change your routines to very positive influences... people, hobbies, travel, porn/sex etc... If it is for weeks at a time and generally shows up one or more times a year it will take huge amounts of self-discipline and making "to do" lists. Depressions seem to put you in a haze... you become forgetful, or just don't care... and of course, the demon of depression... Procrastination. Write things down and don't keep lists in your head. You'll never stop thinking about them... it could be something on the list tormenting you. Self-discipline will draw you to the lists which will help keep you up to speed... falling behind in life only fuels the depression.
by MO_ on Thu Aug 26, 04 3:13pm
[+]
Try not to be too introspective. I know this is easier said than done. To quote George Bernard Shaw, "The secret of being miserable is to have leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not. The cure for it is occupation".
If possible, It is best to try to accept that life is meaningless and unfair, and roll with it. Travel if possible, drink beer, (avoid wines and spirits). Try to develop an attitude which approximates to 'fuck it', then just get on with things. Try to avoid prescribed drugs or electroconvulsive therapy as these are no fun at all and can really screw you up.
Depression is an affliction of the intellect and disproportionately affects the intelligent and the affluent. Anti-depressants are rarely prescribed to those with sub-normal intelligence. Cognitive therapy with good friends, family or professionals might be the best bet, though professionals are likely to be more concerned with their careers and bank balances than with your well-being.
Depression can only go away with therapy and the appropriate anti-depressants. Listening to music? Sex? You serious? I don't think you know what depression is if those are actual suggestions. Depression is not a short state that goes away. It's a semi-chronic and dangerous disease. It's the leading psychological illness that drives people to commit suicide.
I have depression. I know what I'm talking about. And trust me, it ain't "no big deal".
Mine sounds like the most fun... :)May not be as helpful but certainly fun..
Obsessive_Compulsive, many people have recovered from quite serious depression without drug therapy. Some doctors see drugs as a first resort, others try to avoid prescribing them. Depressive illness isn't like an infection which can be treated with a universal antidote. It can be serious but a natural and 'normal' reaction to specific circumstances (organic depression) or spontaneous with no apparent 'trigger', (inorganic depression).
... or is it the other way round?
OCD, you're right: Listen to music sounds dumb, what I meant was, well read my earlier comment. Music has been my companion through depression. Without it, I wouldn't know how to cope sometimes.
Well Heretic, depression is a wider topic than that. Generally, the idea seems to be that it's unexpressed rage and anger, which would implode and create a state of self-negativity, instead of venting it on others. You no longer enjoy any of your old pastime activities, nothing amuses you, you're cold and senseless, you feel you have nothing to live for.
Yes, I know something about it. I had a nasty bout many years ago but happily got over it. The weird thing I remember was that comedy that I previously found funny just seemed sad and pathetic, music sounded like noise, people seemed self-obsessed and shallow. Though not quite suicidal I had an obsession with death which was not easy to shake off. I imagine the 'condition' affects different people in different ways. The worst thing is somebody saying 'snap out of it' or thinking that you're 'attention seeking'. Seriously I know it's a very nasty condition I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I still maintain that introspection, 'living in your head' is the worst possible thing to do.
... insomnia and recurring nightmares too. Very unpleasant business.
casual meaningless sex is winning :) Any volunteers? hahaha...
Thanks guys, Seeing how many people care really helped my mood today! I am happy again! :)
by LCD on Thu Aug 26, 04 5:55pm
[+]
Watching a comedy and trying to find things that make me laugh usually help me.
Uh oh guys, LCD is bi-polar. Expect those ratings to start swinging!
Alright...all the ladies get to share LCD! I call first! Then we'll go after Cathexis!
Ah, LCD ... I knew him, Horatio! ;-)
I agree with what mojo said. If you're having a really bad episode, simple bed rest will almost always make you feel at least a little better.
(I haven't read the whole thread yet), but also pursuing a distraction for a period of time can get your mind out of that dark place long enough for you to get a handle on it.
And chocolate. Two bottles of syrup in the morning can really work wonders. :)
...also, identify and value the things that make your life worth living. I'm not quite sure how to put this - but this website is magnificent, a great example of what I'm talking about! Well done. Thousands of people enjoy and are actively participating on a daily basis in this forum that YOU created. I've certainly had the most interesting conversations on here than anywhere else. I can always come here and find something to sound off about.
I don't know what else you have going on, but it can't be all bad if you have the capacity to create such a thing as this.
Do a dangerous stunt during Casual meaningless sex while high on Drugs and Booze. Always works for me.
Look at all the support in this ballot. I think drugs are the worst thing that anybody could do to be honest. I really don't think that there is a cure that any man on this earth can give another for depression at all. I sometimes think I'm depressed but then I remember I am the most lazy person on this earth,lol. Laziness and depression can always be confused together. The mind isn't physical it is really a spiritual concept and no matter how many times that say it is related to your brain chemistry it is just not true. I have read over and over again that no one really knows what causes any mental disease.
I'm also scared as hell about what it is going to be like when I get to college and start living on my own too. I heard 1 out of every 6 people in the country have some sort of mental illness but I would have to say it is probably more than that though. The stigma behind it is terrible. I was 8 and 9 years when they told me I had a learning disability and they said I had a chemical imbalance actually my mom had me misdiagnosed but when my father came back into my life everything began to improve I even skipped a grade in Middle School I did so well. The psychiatrist dismissed me and said that there probably was no evidence of a chemical imbalance so I think family and the love of a family can always help you out. To this day I'm kind of angry with my mom because now the stigma is forever with me and I was just a kid.
Sorry for triple posting LCD. I'm a left handed person I also had a problem with mirror writing, so you know I had a real problem. I was actually held back in first grade, can you believe that? Then when my father came back I skipped a grade and got back in my right grade.
I think laughter is the best medicine.
Yea... LCD's feeling better! I call dibs on all his unused meds/mood enhancers!!!
by MO_ on Fri Aug 27, 04 10:43am
[+]
Deepvoice - how do you explain schizophrenia? It has been established that an imbalance of dopamine in separate regions of the brain is present in schizophrenics. I studied it.
...I'm the first one to say that there is a tendency in this country to give everyone a diagnosis and throw some pills at them when most of those people can work through their problems with a psychiatrist and learn to manage them by changing their ways of thinking.
However, medication, for example - lithium for people with Bipolar disorder, has been proven effective (though not necessarily desireable) - as have benzodiazepines for anxiety (which we know faciliate the binding of the GABA neurotransmitters to their receptors), traditional and "atypical" antipsychotic medication (dopamine), or SSRIs which prevent the re-uptake of serotonin back into the neuron and therefore cause in increase in Serotonin which generally makes people feel better. Your brain chemistry DOES have an effect on your behavior, otherwise these drugs would be totally ineffective and no one would take them! Again, I look at medication as something to be used as a psychiatric tool when it is really, truly necessary - but therapy must be the overriding, if not the singular factor in treating somebody.
(Sorry for veering off topic.)
I also suffer from depression and take an antidepressant. Some days are better than others -- I've been in a funk for a couple months or so due to various things (lost a good job, girlfriend left me), so I can understand. What usually helps me is going out and breaking the routine, and/or talking it out with someone. I'm very extroverted, so talking about it helps a lot.
Mass Murderers In White Coats:Psychiatric Genocide in Nazi Germant and the US by Lenny Lapon
Liberation by Oppression:
Comparative Study of Slavery and Psychiatry
by Thomas Stephen Szasz
Trust Us We're Experts: How Industry Manipulates Science and Gambles with Your Future
by John Stauber, Sheldon Rampton
The Policeman Is Your Friend and Other Lies
by Ned Beaumont
snort 200 mgs of zoloft to start. actually, it will make you more depressed.
get up off of your @$$ and get a life!!
|
