Depression

[theintensifier 0]

Yeah. I've been terribly depressed for years now, it sucks. I can't quite shake it off either. It's a struggle for me everyday, trying to maintain, and be happy, etcetera.

 

Who else is depressed ?

 

Plus, since my injury, I can't do much of anything. And, last night, my Grandfather passed away. Just adds fuel to the fire for me. This sucks.

 

So yeah, who else is overly depressed, or just a little ?

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

SSRIs worked for me before.

[CBright7831 0]

Being a person who used to suffer from depression (and every now and then I still do), I suggest you go to a doctor.

[Guest Sylvan Grenier]

I've still had reservations about getting help for various reasons. I'll have good days or good weeks now and then but I've been absolutely miserable for about 16 months now.

[Scroby 0]

Whats making you depressed? The injury or something else?

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

When and where do you draw the line between being sad or often in a bad mood and actually considering yourself depressed? I'm not being snarky here; I actually would like to know.

[theintensifier 0]

Pretty much my entire life, no exaggeration.

 

I've been to a doctor before I joined the service, and I'm going to one right now, while I'm in the service.

 

I am just entirely unhappy right now. I'm not where I want to be, I'm not doing what I want to do, I'm lonely, bored, and have very few actual friends here. My heat stroke last August just adds more to it.

 

There's been many things in my life that have added feul to the ever burning fire, like for instance, my first real girlfriend blames me for her miscarriage. Just shit like that.

 

I'm about to get discharged from the Marine Corps, so that's something good for me. It sounds bad, but in the end, I'll be sooo much happier.

[Guest Princess Leena]

I had the depression thing, also...

 

Until the realized how stupid I was for being that way...

 

My best friend said "STOP IT!".

 

So, stop it. Thanks.

[theintensifier 0]

I've been diagnosed with a personality disorder, the type I do not know. And, I have bi-polar. Not the destructive, or mean type. The manic depression type.

 

It's hard for me to find happiness, I usually just feel alone, and empty.

[theintensifier 0]

Leena, it's not that easy. I can't just turn it off like a light switch. It's woven into my being, and I cannot rid myself of the burden.

 

Heh.

[Guest Princess Leena]

I was told I have the manic-depressive shit... and I don't believe it. (Assholes, save your jokes about my mood swings ).

 

Look at you. You're hot. You have lots of friends. There's many, many people worse off than you. Enjoy the positives you have.

[Guest Sylvan Grenier]

When and where do you draw the line between being sad or often in a bad mood and actually considering yourself depressed? I'm not being snarky here; I actually would like to know.

Depression is so sketchy in that can be both fully ascertained by consulting the DSM-IV, as well as totally written off by people whose opinions you trust. (The sketchiness of the DSM itself is a topic for another time.) I'm cautious when it comes to talking with people because I don't want to be one of those people who tries to refute each symptom as they're rattled off. In my case, I had just lost a lot of interest in getting out and enjoying life, I guess, and people had noticed. Also, I think my immune system just sorta went on vacation, because I spent a good part of last year with a bad cold I just couldn't fight, while all the other bad stuff in my life was going down, which made me particularly lethargic. So to answer your question in a roundabout way, I think I have a physical difference between depression and just not being in a good mood.

[theintensifier 0]

Damn, thanks Leena. I really appreciate that, that seriously made my day.

 

I do appreciate the positives in my life, don't get me wrong. But I have a hard time not dwelling on the negatives, I wish I didn't, but it's very difficult for me not to. It's harder than being a United States Marine. And that's pretty hard sometimes.

 

Alas, I am sure I'll pull through, I always do. I just needed to vent, and get some perspective from others.

 

Thank you.

[Guest]

I'm depressed at the moment.

 

Only because I'm sick. Some bitch gave me mono, and now I have to stay at home for a while.

[Guest Gunsmoke Bill]

Depression the disorder is a certified medical condition. Depression the disorder isn't depression the mood. Dismissing it as such would be both horribly ignorant and naive.

 

Me, I suffered from it briefly a couple of years back. It's only really cool to publicise if you've genius with which to back it up though.

[Guest The Satanic Angel]

I am depressed, clinically and emotionally.

 

I've been to a doctor about it, and I'm supposed to be on 200mg of Zoloft a day, but without insurance, I can't afford almost $200 a month on happy pills.

 

Emotionally, I've been depressed for quite a while. I've had my ups and downs (usually coinciding with having a boyfriend).

 

I had a close group of friends in Florida and lost them all one by one due to stupid shit. One I don't even know why she hates me. I couldn't hang out with her boyfriend (we were friends before she moved in with him). My (former) best friend and a high school friend of mine married, then they stabbed me in the back over money. I've made some bad decisions that are coming back to haunt me, really. I did learn valuable lessons, but I'm having trouble seeing the good before the bad.

 

Three months ago, I moved with my parents to a totally new place and have yet to find people in my age-group to hang out with. I know I'm going to get a barrage of people telling me "Go to bars, stupid!" It's not that easy.

 

I'm overweight. Not morbidly obese, but if I were to go to a bar, there would be plenty of other people who would get attention before me. I would go to a bar, sit there and drink, and slip futher into depression because no one would approach me (and I don't have the balls [most of the time] to approach someone).

 

I AM working on my weight, but it's going to take time, and I'm not a patient person. But I have the mentality that I shouldn't have to lose weight for people to like me. They should like me for who I am. So it's difficult to stay focused.

 

I have met a couple people since arriving here, but I've been blown off by one (she never called me or returned my calls) and another is a complete airhead. I couldn't stand talking on the phone with her, let alone going to a movie or whatever.

 

It's so bad that my parents are scouting coworkers (approximating age and looking for wedding rings on guys).

 

So, until school starts, this board (and my parents) is really all I have. I'd appreciate if I didn't get any snide remarks about this post, because as sad as it sounds, it's the truth.

 

I hear you, Intensifier.

 

EDIT: And my uncle passed away today, too.

[Guest wildpegasus]

I've never been diagonised or anything like that but I am very sure that I suffer from at least some depression for almost as long as I can remember.

[Hawk 34 0]

I have often felt like I probably was suffering from some sort of clinical depression, as it's been frequent throughout my life to completely lack focus or motivation in various circumstances. I have felt at times, that I was dragged down a bottomless pit but there are times when I feel like I am on top of the world.

 

The "mood swings", these days aren't swinging as I have been consistantly on the down-side of things. I haven't really been able to get out and stuff, save for the occasional times with my ex girlfriend who is pretty much the only person I even care about right now and the only person who can bring a smile to my face.

 

We're seperated by a long distance now, and I've been quite burnt by my other friends over the years, I lack trust in new people. I met someone today when I was dragged to church by my family and normally, I would have engaged with that girl but I simply hugged her and made small talk and left. The girl, was pretty and had an amazing singing voice...but I couldn't even engage with her, despite knowing she was interested.

 

My parents, are very adamant that I am suffering from emotional issues because of my recent burst of anger tirades, condescending attitude and general apathy. I went to a doctor, when I was younger (I believe, 12 or 13) because I would often get in fights at school and the school felt I had anger problems but the doctor never really found that in me. It's not that I had an abusive childhood, where that was learned because my father is an upstanding guy.

 

My parents, just think I'm lazy but I believe there has to be more to my lack of focus and desire.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Depression the disorder is a certified medical condition.

 

Which is bullshit.

 

But, I won't get into that again.

 

Besides, Marney could do it much better than I.

[Guest Sylvan Grenier]

Like I said, something about the whole "depression was cooked up by feel-good liberal psychiatrists" thing is a little questionable to me. Are drugs overprescribed? Absolutely, but I think there's a lot more to the issue than just "snap out of it, wuss," because there's almost certainly a difference here between being depressed and having depression, which most people dealing with it will attest to. BUT WHAT DO THEY KNOW.

[Golgo 13 0]

How could this happen to me...

 

I've dealt with depression on and off for a number of years, but never really considered it serious enough to see someone about it, other than when a physician recommended Prozac, which only ended up making shit worse (more temperamental, extremely anxious, too jumpy, ultimately more withdrawn), which basically turned me off of doctors as far as stuff like this goes.

 

I can't focus on positives. I dwell on the negatives as it concerns myself and thinking the absolute worst about how others perceive me, especially if I question whether they're being truthful, hiding something from me or going behind my back. Then I beat myself up afterwards over my shortcomings, only to beat myself up over how it's all selfish and illogical.

 

It's all a cause-and-effect thing, I guess. I'm certain I have some kind of social anxiety/avoidant/agoraphobia thing going on, as well as minor OCD, and just like above, I believe I'm too introspective for my own good. It seems I'm really up and down with a general pervasive feeling of just what Hawk34 described, being really apathetic, condescending, grouchy and what have you, with quick mood swings. For a few hours or days at a time, I'll feel happy and upbeat, then for the next while I'll go back into a deep funk, avoiding everyone, not wanting to do anything or go anywhere, other than engage in various self-destructive behaviors until I pull myself up.

 

As far as whether it's a real disease or not... I think it is, just like how schizophrenia is classified as one, but the tag is thrown around far too much, much like the ADD/ADHD diagnosis, and thus everyone with a serious problem (I'm not saying I am one of those) is lumped in with every emo kid who's depressed because he didn't get that iPod for his birthday.

 

Now I'm gonna go have a good cry.

[CBright7831 0]

I can't focus on positives. I dwell on the negatives as it concerns myself and thinking the absolute worst about how others perceive me, especially if I question whether they're being truthful, hiding something from me or going behind my back. Then I beat myself up afterwards over my shortcomings, only to beat myself up over how it's all selfish and illogical.

 

It's all a cause-and-effect thing, I guess. I'm certain I have some kind of social anxiety/avoidant/agoraphobia thing going on, as well as minor OCD, and just like above, I believe I'm too introspective for my own good. It seems I'm really up and down with a general pervasive feeling of just what Hawk34 described, being really apathetic, condescending, grouchy and what have you, with quick mood swings. For a few hours or days at a time, I'll feel happy and upbeat, then for the next while I'll go back into a deep funk, avoiding everyone, not wanting to do anything or go anywhere, other than engage in various self-destructive behaviors until I pull myself up.

 

As far as whether it's a real disease or not... I think it is, just like how schizophrenia is classified as one, but the tag is thrown around far too much, much like the ADD/ADHD diagnosis, and thus everyone with a serious problem (I'm not saying I am one of those) is lumped in with every emo kid who's depressed because he didn't get that iPod for his birthday.

 

Now I'm gonna go have a good cry.

I think this currently describes me.

[Guest The Satanic Angel]

Depression the disorder is a certified medical condition.

 

Which is bullshit.

 

But, I won't get into that again.

 

Besides, Marney could do it much better than I.

 

Leena,

 

Fuck off. Don't try to tell me (or anyone who has it) this isn't real.

 

MedicineNet

 

A depressive disorder is a syndrome (group of symptoms) that reflects a sad mood exceeding normal sadness or grief. More specifically, the sadness of depression is characterized by a greater intensity and duration and by more severe symptoms and functional disabilities than is normal.

 

TheMedicalSite

 

Clinical depression, on the other hand, may come upon a person for no apparent reason. This can happen because of a chemical imbalance in the brain and most generally requires a combination of a medication such as Prozac or Zoloft and psychotherapy for successful treatment.

 

Surgeon Fuckin' General

 

Depression exemplifies a mental disorder largely marked by alterations in mood.

 

Merriam-Fuckin'-Webster

 

(2) : a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies

 

Same goes for Marney.

[Golgo 13 0]

I think this currently describes me.

 

Shut your mouth. It's MY problem. I'm SPECIAL. You don't understand me.

[Guest Gunsmoke Bill]

Depression the disorder is a certified medical condition.

 

Which is bullshit.

 

But, I won't get into that again.

 

Besides, Marney could do it much better than I.

Oh. Yeah. Likeable cynicism and that.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

I'm not going into details, but I've fucked with depression for years.

 

Last year I was diagnosed as Bi-polar.

 

I just see a Psychiatrist once a month to make sure my meds are regulated, and I'm usually good to go.

 

I refused to see a doctor about it for the first year and a half, and it was hell.

 

My grandma likened it to her Diabetes. She said she didn't like going to doctors all the time, and taking meds, either, but it's a disease. Plus, she's got the whole having to give yourself a shot thing, so I caved.

 

Best thing I ever did.

 

I'm taking time off from my first two years at The Art Institute of Pittsburg, staying in St. Louis with my mom.

 

Later this year, I'm going to Chicago to finish my Masters in Media Arts and Animation, my Bachelor's in Graphic Design, be able to teach if I choose to.

 

And I wouldn't be doing any of this if I hadn't gone to the doctor and got treatment.

 

 

So, yeah, if you're fucked up, go get fixed dude.

 

Peace

[Adam 0]

I was depressed for a while. It was a mixture of growing up, people at high school, 'friends' fucking me around, girls fucking me around, crushes, and my inability to be myself around anyone.

 

Then I got over it, then I got depressed again due to an ex, and me being the biggest stressball in the world.

 

When I got sick last year, and found out that it may have been due to stress, that was kind of a wake up call. So, just like that, I decided to stop stressing so damn much, and stop being as negative about shit. It worked. I'm happier, I'm healthy, and I love what I do, and where I'm going.

 

Seriously, just take a step back and stop focusing on the negatives. When Paul Heyman was running ECW he had a strategy - excentuate the positives, hide about the negatives. I'm not saying hide what you don't like in your life, just stop worrying and stressing about it. You can't change it. If you can, go ahead. If you can't, get over it, and stop worrying. What do you like about your life? Well, focus on that. If there's a hobby you have, or a person you love, or something you've always wanted to do that you can do, then focus on that. That way you're doing something positive, and you're happier.

 

The biggest hurdle is accepting that you can't change some things, and getting over them. You may think you're over them, but if you keep thinking about them, fantasising about how good it would be to change that thing, then you're not over it. Once you accept that you can't change it and move on, you'll be fine.

 

I've been fortunate (or unfortunate) enough, depending on how you look at it, to be a magnet for those who are depressed. The stories don't change. They don't want to be here. They hate their lives. Everything is fucked up. There's something about a partner, and something about a family member that screws with their head. Someone cheated, died, or is just being a fuckhead. They either hate their job with a passion, or they don't have one at all and are broke. When you're in that situation, its very hard to take a step back and look at it from a different angle, but thats what you need to do. Change what you can, accept what you cannot. Easier said than done, sure, but its the truth.

[Guest Gunsmoke Bill]

The Adam I remember wouldn't have taken shit from any worthless bitch.

[EricMM 0]

I had a bout with depression in 00, when I found out that college could whup my ass worse than anything else, and when I was terrified of dealing with that temporary reality.

 

But I got over it.

 

I do, however, have a friend who I would ASSURE you is as Bipolar as can be, or at least Manic Depressive. Going to see her was such a chancy venture, whether she would be bubbly or morose. But she's on medication right now, and doing soooo much better, it's like night and day.

 

But mood swings are definitely real. But you really can't diagnose them over the internet

[theintensifier 0]

Yeah, looks like I am not the only one suffering through life at the moment. I am glad I brought this often taboo topic up.

 

I was on heavy medication from the winter of 2003 to spring of 2004. I got off of them because of the adverse side-effects like weight gain, seclusion, etcetera. I'm glad I got off of them, and got back into phenominal physical condition again, that always keeps my head above water. Then I joined the Marine Corps. Everything was going okay, not the greatest, then I suffered the heat stroke. And it just poured on me from there on. It still is.

 

But, I've gotten good news, I'm going to be going home very soon, as in a few days, weeks. I'm excitied to start my new life with a focused outlook on my future.

 

I'm considering getting back on medication, but I do not want to gain a ton of wieght again. Decisions, decisions.