The Depression Chat - Symptoms, Assistance, Medicines and More.
2,595 replies, posted
You guys/gals need to all cheer up. Life has been [b]awesome[/b] for me for a while now. I could point to a lot of actual things that have happened, but, to be honest, there's one cliché, seemingly bullshit thing that works wonders: having a positive attitude. Sounds stupid but it can really help life seem so much better.
Also, if you're a dude: growing a beard. No clue why, but ever since I started growing a beard I feel a LOT better about myself. Maybe it makes me look slightly more attractive, or maybe it makes me feel more manly. Either way it upped my confidence a tonne.
Whenever you're feeling sad, instead think how lucky you are to be alive in the first place. I mean, every single event that ever happened prior to your birth had to go PERFECTLY in order for the exact conditions to have existed to allow your existence in the first place. One single hydrogen atom wasn't in the right place five billion years ago and the sun didn't form. One asteroid wasn't in the right place after the sun's formation and Earth never coalesced from the dust and rocks orbiting the proto-star. The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs out never came and the human race didn't develop in the first place. The pH in your mothers body was off by 0.01 during your conception and the conditions leading to the formation of your consciousness were never in place.
EVERY SINGLE EVENT EVER had to go perfectly to allow you to be born. You're a statistical anomaly. 14 billion ([b]14 billion[/b]) years in the making and, against all odds, here you are.
Don't feel so down and out, you're special, the universe must really care about you if it let you exist in the first place. This is your time to exist so make the damn most of it, 'cause it's only gonna happen the once!
I love all of you guys! You all rule! Go show probability what a bitch it is with your mere existence!
[QUOTE=sltungle;29843184]You guys/gals need to all cheer up.[/QUOTE]
Doesn't understand clinical depression.
[QUOTE=sltungle;29843184]You guys/gals need to all cheer up. Life has been [b]awesome[/b] for me for a while now.[/QUOTE]
Good for you.
[editline]15th May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=sltungle;29843184]
Don't feel so down and out, you're special, the universe must really care about you if it let you exist in the first place. This is your time to exist so make the damn most of it, 'cause it's only gonna happen the once![/QUOTE]
The universe is incapable of caring.
[editline]15th May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=sltungle;29843184]
Also, if you're a dude: growing a beard.[/QUOTE]
Oh, okay, I'll just tell my face to start growing a beard. Shouldn't be a problem.
[QUOTE=sp00ks;29846873]Oh, okay, I'll just tell my face to start growing a beard. Shouldn't be a problem.[/QUOTE]
Take pics. I've never seen a bearded lady before.
[QUOTE=Evilan;29847613]Take pics. I've never seen a bearded lady before.[/QUOTE]
What?
[QUOTE=Tim Henson;29843956]Doesn't understand clinical depression.[/QUOTE]
Been there, done that. Not anymore, though.
[QUOTE=sltungle;29852370]Been there, done that. Not anymore, though.[/QUOTE]
mm well lucky you.
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;29852626]mm well lucky you.[/QUOTE]
Well that's why I'm trying to help out. It used to be piss me off when I was so damn unhappy and I saw other people walking around smiling and happy and having fun. It felt really... unfair to me. Like... why should they be allowed to be happy, and I'm not?
But, like I said, you can change it. Generally depression has a cause, it's not just totally random. Find the cause, and eliminate it, then you can focus on getting back to being happy again like you should be.
[QUOTE=sltungle;29852754]Well that's why I'm trying to help out. It used to be piss me off when I was so damn unhappy and I saw other people walking around smiling and happy and having fun. It felt really... unfair to me. Like... why should they be allowed to be happy, and I'm not?
But, like I said, you can change it. Generally depression has a cause, it's not just totally random. Find the cause, and eliminate it, then you can focus on getting back to being happy again like you should be.[/QUOTE]
I get what you're trying to do, and you're going about it the wrong way. My mom tries the same thing and it just makes problems worse. You're correct in talking about causes, but they tend to go a little deeper than just what happened half an hour ago.
[QUOTE=Pown;29853192]I get what you're trying to do, and you're going about it the wrong way. My mom tries the same thing and it just makes problems worse. You're correct in talking about causes, but they tend to go a little deeper than just what happened half an hour ago.[/QUOTE]
I know they do, and I'm not saying that silly, small things that happened recently are the cause (although when you already are in such a bad place tiny things that happen that are bad seem so much worse, they just seem to grow on top of this unimaginably huge pile of unhappy things you remember happening to you, and even the addition of something small is depressing).
But really, a positive attitude is a good start to feeling better. Like forcing yourself to get seriously over-excited at something mundane (whether alone or with a friend) can make for some good laughs and get you smiling again... if only briefly.
I can't fucking stand it when people say that you can get over depression just by forcing yourself to be happy. That's not how it fucking works. If it was that easy, do you seriously think anyone would be depressed?
[QUOTE=Tim Henson;29856141]I can't fucking stand it when people say that you can get over depression just by forcing yourself to be happy. That's not how it fucking works. If it was that easy, do you seriously think anyone would be depressed?[/QUOTE]
my friend kept saying i would be happy if i just had the will. I kinda laughed.
no, theres an issue, and just having a will to ignore it isn't going to fix it.
so im with you bro on the whole "just force your self" cop-out saying.
hock of BS if you ask me.
When people act like that, I tell them depression is a chemical imbalance. But the people I go to school with don't even know what serotonin is, so they usually give me a blank look and I have to hold myself back from calling them ignant.
[QUOTE=Shoupie;29856630]When people act like that, I tell them depression is a chemical imbalance. But the people I go to school with don't even know what serotonin is, so they usually give me a blank look and I have to hold myself back from calling them ignant.[/QUOTE]
Right, and those chemical levels (dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters) seem to start going wild as a RESULT of something happening in life (for me, for example, it was almost near-constant bullying from about the age of 4 to... 15). Destroyed my appetite, made me lose a tonne of weight, made me unhappy constantly, and I totally withdrew myself from people.
I'm not talking out of my ass here, I HAVE been depressed. I was depressed for MOST of my childhood (can you imagine being unhappy almost constantly for 11 whole years? It's fucking horrible! Nobody deserves to go through that, and I hope I myself never have to experience it again). The few friends I did have as a child I lost when I moved to the other side of the fucking planet (from Scotland to Australia). I felt even more alone than I had ever before, I was stranded in a weird country filled with people who I didn't know who, at first, poked fun at me because I was different and had a weird accent (although thankfully I've settled in now and made some of the best friends ever).
But I've changed all of that, I've pushed myself to stand up for myself, I'm taking a 'no bullshit' policy nowadays when people have a go at me, I've forced myself to be more confident and to stand up for myself. When I was unhappy and friends wanted to hang out I went out with them even though I really just wanted to be alone with nobody around me (and in doing so it made me a lot happier over time).
Sit there and deny it all you want, but when you finally realise that DENYING that you can change your mood will accomplish nothing positive and just make things worse, and that depression is a self-perpetuating cycle, then you'll be ready to take a new approach to life and be happier in future.
And if you want to know what I mean when I say it's a self-perpetuation cycle: I like to think of depression a lot like anorexia (and I mean REAL anorexia here, not anorexia nervosa): chemical imbalance causes problem (anorexia/depression), chemical imbalance leads to behaviour (lowered appetite/unhappiness) which worsens chemical levels, which leads to further behaviour (lowered appetite/unhappiness) which worsens chemical levels, etc, etc ( [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_deficiency#Anorexia[/url] )
[QUOTE=sltungle;29859394]Right, and those chemical levels (dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters) seem to start going wild as a RESULT of something happening in life (for me, for example, it was almost near-constant bullying from about the age of 4 to... 15). Destroyed my appetite, made me lose a tonne of weight, made me unhappy constantly, and I totally withdrew myself from people.
I'm not talking out of my ass here, I HAVE been depressed. I was depressed for MOST of my childhood (can you imagine being unhappy almost constantly for 11 whole years? It's fucking horrible! Nobody deserves to go through that, and I hope I myself never have to experience it again). The few friends I did have as a child I lost when I moved to the other side of the fucking planet (from Scotland to Australia). I felt even more alone than I had ever before, I was stranded in a weird country filled with people who I didn't know who, at first, poked fun at me because I was different and had a weird accent (although thankfully I've settled in now and made some of the best friends ever).
But I've changed all of that, I've pushed myself to stand up for myself, I'm taking a 'no bullshit' policy nowadays when people have a go at me, I've forced myself to be more confident and to stand up for myself. When I was unhappy and friends wanted to hang out I went out with them even though I really just wanted to be alone with nobody around me (and in doing so it made me a lot happier over time).
Sit there and deny it all you want, but when you finally realise that DENYING that you can change your mood will accomplish nothing positive and just make things worse, and that depression is a self-perpetuating cycle, then you'll be ready to take a new approach to life and be happier in future.
And if you want to know what I mean when I say it's a self-perpetuation cycle: I like to think of depression a lot like anorexia (and I mean REAL anorexia here, not anorexia nervosa): chemical imbalance causes problem (anorexia/depression), chemical imbalance leads to behaviour (lowered appetite/unhappiness) which worsens chemical levels, which leads to further behaviour (lowered appetite/unhappiness) which worsens chemical levels, etc, etc ( [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_deficiency#Anorexia[/url] )[/QUOTE]
No. Sometimes there is a chemical imbalance because of a genetic link or some other physical cause. I have bipolar depression and anxiety (among other things) and my doctors, after extensive talks with my parents, have put my anxiety as having started in [i]infancy[/i]. It's not something that happened to me, it's something I was born with. I have a bunch of other anxiety comorbids that I won't get into, but they too were caused because of my anxiety, not life events. There is also a strong genetic link to bipolar disorder, it's not something that you just "develop" because events going on in your life. And yes, I spent close to a decade thinking I was "just depressed" before I saw an excellent psychiatrist who took a good look at me and realized that I wasn't just dealing with uni-polar depression. The same could be true for a lot of other people out there.
I understand where you're coming from saying that you need to fake it till you make it. But you also have to realize that there are a fair number of people out there that are too deeply depressed to shake it off on their own and need help from others (either from medication, therapy, etc) to get them to a point where they [b]can[/b] do that. I do think it's a good thing to try, but you do have to understand that it might not work for everyone. I know that I've tried it for years (yes, [i]years[/i], I'm still "faking it" and haven't really "made it" yet) and while it does make me feel a bit better in general (not well, mind you, just a bit better than if I tried nothing), if I get into a bad low, all the smiling, laughing, and positive attitude in the world won't help me escape it.
[QUOTE=sltungle;29859394]Right, and those chemical levels (dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters) seem to start going wild as a RESULT of something happening in life (for me, for example, it was almost near-constant bullying from about the age of 4 to... 15). Destroyed my appetite, made me lose a tonne of weight, made me unhappy constantly, and I totally withdrew myself from people.
I'm not talking out of my ass here, I HAVE been depressed. I was depressed for MOST of my childhood (can you imagine being unhappy almost constantly for 11 whole years? It's fucking horrible! Nobody deserves to go through that, and I hope I myself never have to experience it again). The few friends I did have as a child I lost when I moved to the other side of the fucking planet (from Scotland to Australia). I felt even more alone than I had ever before, I was stranded in a weird country filled with people who I didn't know who, at first, poked fun at me because I was different and had a weird accent (although thankfully I've settled in now and made some of the best friends ever).
But I've changed all of that, I've pushed myself to stand up for myself, I'm taking a 'no bullshit' policy nowadays when people have a go at me, I've forced myself to be more confident and to stand up for myself. When I was unhappy and friends wanted to hang out I went out with them even though I really just wanted to be alone with nobody around me (and in doing so it made me a lot happier over time).
Sit there and deny it all you want, but when you finally realise that DENYING that you can change your mood will accomplish nothing positive and just make things worse, and that depression is a self-perpetuating cycle, then you'll be ready to take a new approach to life and be happier in future.
And if you want to know what I mean when I say it's a self-perpetuation cycle: I like to think of depression a lot like anorexia (and I mean REAL anorexia here, not anorexia nervosa): chemical imbalance causes problem (anorexia/depression), chemical imbalance leads to behaviour (lowered appetite/unhappiness) which worsens chemical levels, which leads to further behaviour (lowered appetite/unhappiness) which worsens chemical levels, etc, etc ( [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_deficiency#Anorexia[/url] )[/QUOTE]
tl;dr
stop being sad
[QUOTE=sp00ks;29862443]tl;dr
stop being sad[/QUOTE]
Exactly. I'm guessing this guy is only 15 or 16.
Obviously, if it were possible, depressed people would cheer up. There are exceptions where people do look for attention in playing the victim, but the vast majority would be happy if they could be. That being said, I think sltungle has a point. I think a lot of depressed people get so wrapped up in being depressed that they don't even try to look for relief in anything anymore - an obvious symptom of clinical depression. Sltungle was probably depressed, but not to the point that he had no hope of coming out of it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have actively looked for ways to keep himself happy.
I get what he's saying, about taking a 'no bullshit' attitude towards life. Whenever I get down on myself, it's usually because I feel like a pussy for bending over and taking it up the ass time and time again. Then the depression turns into internalized anger. I'm worried I'm going to go off on someone that doesn't deserve it.
Anyway, I guess what I'm getting at is don't convince yourself that you're powerless. That only makes things worse. It's okay to be depressed, but it's not okay to resign yourself to it. I disagree with sltungle in that it isn't that simple for most people to recover from clinical depression, but I think he has the right idea in that it's a self-perpetuating cycle. I know it's hard to even want to get yourself help. But if you're not willing to get help from somewhere - whether it be in medication, therapy, a friend - you're not going to get better. I know it's hard at first. I've been there. But it's worth it.
[QUOTE=PrusseluskenV2;29874744]No, I don't see any future. No, lady, I don't want your dumb "happy words".[/QUOTE]
Alright. Sorry.
[QUOTE=PrusseluskenV2;29874974]That sounded really really rude, sorry :frown:
I didn't mean you, I was referring to the girl from social services that I've talked to. I should've specified.[/QUOTE]
Oh, damn, I'm sorry. No problem. I shouldn't have assumed.
[QUOTE=PrusseluskenV2;29875073]It's nothing to worry about, really. I'm really sorry if I made you feel bad.[/QUOTE]
I was just confused. I'm fine. I just don't want you to feel worse or anything, because I know you're already not feeling good anyway.
So ive not slept so well in the last 2 days. (didn't sleep Saturday, got 7 hours sunday)
so ive been so deprived of sleep ive lost the ability to just you know, feel sad or happy. which is a little of a relief to a degree. but man when I finally wake up and come to reality. ahahahah.
also you two need to stop this sorry stuff.
Well shit. I thought everything was going fine and fuckin' dandy with one of my friends who wanted to kill herself several months ago, but I guess she got into some big hoo-rah with her boyfriend (who was actually shaping up, seeming to make her...happy again) and now she's down death-row again, at least, personally. The girl gets too goddamn obsessed with her boyfriends, and there's nothing I can do about it.
im tired of everything. nothing ever goes right.
live to live another day, this is pointless.
[QUOTE=Str4fe;29895034]im tired of everything. nothing ever goes right.
live to live another day, this is pointless.[/QUOTE]
It's pointless because you aren't really living. You're droning around for your survival and not taking time to walk off your pre-planned course to have some fun.
Seriously though, go see a therapist if you think you have the slightest inkling of worth. He/She will make you realize your life is worth living. Quit visiting this thread and reading all the sob stories, they won't help you get better, they only make you more comfortable with your misery.
asdf
Hi, I'm Spetzaz/Zemog/ZemogT - all the alts I got perma'd now to get a life. That's working okay I guess, not terrifically but better then nothing.
I just dropped by to ask for some advice before I go to my next doctors appointment. I hate to take away attention from those who really deserve it, with much more serious issues like the ones above, and I'm sorry that I'm not contributing to the solution.
Well, right now I really want to make a movie. Like, really, really. I have the camera equipment used in the shooting of House M.D., 24, Saturday Night Live, the knowhow in VFX of Freddie Wong, the lighting - everything, and I've poured a lot of money into it all (As of this date, about 15 000 US Dollars in physical equipment)
Yes, I enjoy making movies with that much passion and I intend it to be my future.
However, I don't have the courage to involve other people. I know that sounds genuinely pathetic, and that thought sends me into a depression, which is also kind of pathetic of me. But I do get really depressed by this. I have major Social Anxiety Disorder, and the thought of involving other people is terrifying. I love people, I love human contact - I'm just terrified by the thought of initializing a conversation. I don't know what to do and it lapses me into depression, takes away my life and prevents me from doing my passion.
Any advice?
[QUOTE=lucky.;29916245]Hi, I'm Spetzaz/Zemog/ZemogT - all the alts I got perma'd now to get a life. That's working okay I guess, not terrifically but better then nothing.
I just dropped by to ask for some advice before I go to my next doctors appointment. I hate to take away attention from those who really deserve it, with much more serious issues like the ones above, and I'm sorry that I'm not contributing to the solution.
Well, right now I really want to make a movie. Like, really, really. I have the camera equipment used in the shooting of House M.D., 24, Saturday Night Live, the knowhow in VFX of Freddie Wong, the lighting - everything, and I've poured a lot of money into it all (As of this date, about 15 000 US Dollars in physical equipment)
Yes, I enjoy making movies with that much passion and I intend it to be my future.
However, I don't have the courage to involve other people. I know that sounds genuinely pathetic, and that thought sends me into a depression, which is also kind of pathetic of me. But I do get really depressed by this. I have major Social Anxiety Disorder, and the thought of involving other people is terrifying. I love people, I love human contact - I'm just terrified by the thought of initializing a conversation. I don't know what to do and it lapses me into depression, takes away my life and prevents me from doing my passion.
Any advice?[/QUOTE]
Do you have any coping strategies that you use? I have severe GAD and I know that at any given time of day I'm employing at least two coping strategies and have at least another three on backup if I need them. If you aren't already talking to your doctor about coping strategies (either improving on existing ones or finding new ones) I'd recommend doing that.
I'd suggest using a coping strategy that works for you, take a deep breath and then just walk up and say hello to someone. Once you're able to do that without having a full blown panic attack, try striking up a small conversation. Take baby steps! Rome wasn't built in a day and an anxiety won't just magically disappear on you. Of course, you could try attacking it all at once, but I've generally found that to be much more mentally exhausting.
I want help, but I'm afraid to ask for it. I'm afraid of how it might hurt my parents. But I'm also afraid of what might happen if I don't.
[QUOTE=Tim Henson;29923523]I want help, but I'm afraid to ask for it. I'm afraid of how it might hurt my parents. But I'm also afraid of what might happen if I don't.[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry mate, haven't been checking up on this thread so much, but what could asking help from your parents possibly do to hurt them? You sound like the one who's hurt. Go for it.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.