Depression?

[Valksy]

I'm not sure how this goes in America, but in England teenagers aren't given very strong anti-depressants and are often encouraged to take CBT or counselling alongside the drugs to limit the chance of these suicidal phenomena occuring.

Back in the day (and given that this is quite some years ago for me) it seemed to me like GPs were handing out drugs like candy. I have no memory of it but my Mum tells me that I was given drugs after a consultation that lasted just minutes. I was some years older before therapy was on the cards, much of it was actually paid for privately (had mixed results from NHS head doctors of varying sorts).

But 14-15 years ago drugs were seen as the magic answer.

 

[Blair Bennett]

As someone who suffers from moderate to extreme depression...I'm equally unknowledgeable as you were...It's a medical and psychological condition though, so I think it goes a bit beyond "getting over it."

 

[hazelwoof]

I have clinical depression and have been suffering for about a year. It's really hard. Really hard. And nobody sends you a get well card, like they would if you broke your leg or had an operation. I ended up in the Priory Hospital for a month or so which really helped. I've found Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as amazingly helpful. So helpful, in fact, I convinced my head teacher at school to add a course of CBT into the PSHE curriculum at school! I did a talk at school about mental illness too, and hopefully enlightened some young people about mental illness.

 

[Griffolion]

I'm not sure how this goes in America, but in England teenagers aren't given very strong anti-depressants and are often encouraged to take CBT or counselling alongside the drugs to limit the chance of these suicidal phenomena occuring.

Back in the day (and given that this is quite some years ago for me) it seemed to me like GPs were handing out drugs like candy. I have no memory of it but my Mum tells me that I was given drugs after a consultation that lasted just minutes. I was some years older before therapy was on the cards, much of it was actually paid for privately (had mixed results from NHS head doctors of varying sorts).

But 14-15 years ago drugs were seen as the magic answer.

Yeah, you're right about that one. I forgot the exact stats but between the years of like 1980 and 1990, the FDA reported prescription rates for anti-depressant drugs rose by a few hundred percent, it was absolutely crazy but like all drugs that had just made their way into the world, they were seen as the magic bullet, much like penecillin was.

I like to think that today, the academic and thus practicing community's understanding of treating depression is much better. While a pharmacological approach (drugs) is still the best course of action due to it's relatively instant accessibility and its relatively short therapeutic starting timeframe, CBT and counselling are still very recommended courses of action too. While drugs deal with your chemical imbalance, counselling and CBT deals with your thought imbalances which are inextricably linked to the chemical imbalances and vice-versa.

To anyone suffering, especially those only just diagnosed. Take the drugs but also get counselling, you'll be able to deal with it far better as a two-pronged attack.

 

[Sarkule]

I'm not sure how this goes in America, but in England teenagers aren't given very strong anti-depressants and are often encouraged to take CBT or counselling alongside the drugs to limit the chance of these suicidal phenomena occuring.

Back in the day (and given that this is quite some years ago for me) it seemed to me like GPs were handing out drugs like candy. I have no memory of it but my Mum tells me that I was given drugs after a consultation that lasted just minutes. I was some years older before therapy was on the cards, much of it was actually paid for privately (had mixed results from NHS head doctors of varying sorts).

But 14-15 years ago drugs were seen as the magic answer.

Yeah, you're right about that one. I forgot the exact stats but between the years of like 1980 and 1990, the FDA reported prescription rates for anti-depressant drugs rose by a few hundred percent, it was absolutely crazy but like all drugs that had just made their way into the world, they were seen as the magic bullet, much like penecillin was.

I like to think that today, the academic and thus practicing community's understanding of treating depression is much better. While a pharmacological approach (drugs) is still the best course of action due to it's relatively instant accessibility and its relatively short therapeutic starting timeframe, CBT and counselling are still very recommended courses of action too. While drugs deal with your chemical imbalance, counselling and CBT deals with your thought imbalances which are inextricably linked to the chemical imbalances and vice-versa.

To anyone suffering, especially those only just diagnosed. Take the drugs but also get counselling, you'll be able to deal with it far better as a two-pronged attack.

I think one of the biggest problems is that people think that the medication is some kind of miracle pill. Although it does keep it down a bit, to fully recover you have to get counselling etc.

 

[Tallim]

Oh, t'is clinical depression, as diagnosed by a psychiatrist. I'm more just wondering what peoples thoughts are on depression. As a lot of people have tended to see it as something you can simply get over by thought alone.

Was diagnosed with Bipolar type II and people still used to say this to me. It's an annoying thing to say and counterproductive for depressed people. It's like telling someone with motion sickness to snap out of it.

 

[syndicated44]

I have clinical depression. I occasionally pop into a very introverted state but I refuse to take drugs for it. I did at one point and all it did was remove any emotions. I wasnt happy, sad, excited or really anything. I felt more like a shell. I would rather deal with my problems instead of just taking a pill to remove any emotions. I have seen shrinks on and off but currently I am in a good place. My fiance keeps me leveled and it is a wonder how well she deals with everything I do/did.

 

[khaimera]

People will hate me for this, but some psychiatrists believe that depression is a CHOICE. We choose it as the best way we know to fix a problem. Depression helps us avoid problems directly, stifles anger, gets us sympathy, gets us out of doing what we don't want to do, and allows others to help us. I sort of agree with this.

Depression is caused by depressive thoughts. Its not biological.

Here's a source.
http://www.wglasser.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=28

Also, my avatar suffers from depression, so I'm kind of an expert.

 

[Griffolion]

I have clinical depression. I occasionally pop into a very introverted state but I refuse to take drugs for it. I did at one point and all it did was remove any emotions. I wasnt happy, sad, excited or really anything. I felt more like a shell. I would rather deal with my problems instead of just taking a pill to remove any emotions. I have seen shrinks on and off but currently I am in a good place. My fiance keeps me leveled and it is a wonder how well she deals with everything I do/did.

Its interesting you experienced depersonalisation as part of the side effects of the drugs, generally blunted affect comes as a symptom of depression.

You seem to have a level attitude towards it and your fiance seems like a good support for you, i think a lot of us have some leaf's to be taking out of your book.

 

[wkrepelin]

Well, everyone gets depressed from time to time because of events in their lives. If your depression is not caused by an outside stimulus then what you have is probably either manic depression (bipolar disorder) or if it's a long lasting (months at a time) dee p depression then that's clinical depression.

Both Bipolar disorder and clinical depression are largely genetic in cause and there is no reason to blame the person suffering from it. People who do not have the disorder have a lot of trouble understanding why the person is so sad and from that point of view just want them to "snap out of it."

If you feel that you have the genetic form of depression then the best thing to do is to see a mental health proffesional about it. Start with a psychologist and try to deal with the problem without the aid of medication. If the psychologist feels that this is not the proper route then they will refer you to a psychiatrist who can prescribe antidepressants.

Seek help, you are not alone. Best of luck to you and don't hesitate to take action because of what others might say or think.

Cheers.

 

[Arcticflame]

Oh, t'is clinical depression, as diagnosed by a psychiatrist. I'm more just wondering what peoples thoughts are on depression. As a lot of people have tended to see it as something you can simply get over by thought alone.

I was depressed throughout my early to mid teenage years, however I was strong willed enough to tell myself to harden up, and simply went on with life. Perhaps my extremely logical approach to everything helped me out.

Throughout my life, it's always been very rare that I do anything based on emotion when it comes to life choices. As ridiculous as it sounds, I knew through past reading that teenagers often get depression through chemical disbalance in the brain as a result of puberty, and the general changes that the teenage years bring. Due to this knowledge, I always just told myself it was a normal teenage thing, and that it was a rather annoying. I often had bizarre sort of self-observation, or detachment from my own brain. Where I'd just kinda go "Huh... Depressed again" and ignore it.

So no, I didn't "get over it" by thought alone, but I maintained myself until I knew it would go away. Of course this hardly would work for many people at all, more of a personal method of it. And I wans't seriously depressed, just the standard bouts of a forlorn sort of worthlessness, which were despite anything happy that was going on.

 

[Griffolion]

People will hate me for this, but some psychiatrists believe that depression is a CHOICE. We choose it as the best way we know to fix a problem. Depression helps us avoid problems directly, stifles anger, gets us sympathy, gets us out of doing what we don't want to do, and allows others to help us. I sort of agree with this.

Depression is caused by depressive thoughts. Its not biological.

Here's a source.
http://www.wglasser.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=28

Also, my avatar suffers from depression, so I'm kind of an expert.

You're kind of going against maybe a century of scientific research that strongly suggests a significant biological component in depression.

Also, would be nice to see supporting, scientifically accepted, peer reviewed papers that support this 'reality therapy' that this random Dr is touting.

Please think before posting, because by saying depression is a choice, you're actually insulting a lot of people in this thread due to the fact that, given the choice, a lot of them would choose to be WITHOUT it.

 

[BluenetteDiviner]

You have to think about the good things in life...

I was diagnosed with Severe chronic depression a couple of years ago since I lost my mum... and i was going to mental hospitals and shite like that.

But I started telling myself that my mum wouldn't want me to hate my life, and now i'm one of the more optimistic people in my group of friends.

The only way to cure depression is to tell yourself that there are good things in life, even if they're small.

So basically it is just "getting over it" but it takes a little while.

Chin up Life's not all bad.

 

[Azure Sky]

I have suffered from Disthymia for years, although its only been diagnosed recently.
Really not pleasant, but meh, I have learned to deal with it.

Wiki exerpt for the people that are interested.

Spoiler

Dysthymia is a chronic long-lasting form of depression sharing many characteristic symptoms of major depressive disorder (in the form of the melancholic depression subtype) These symptoms tend to be less severe but do fluctuate in intensity. To be diagnosed, an adult must experience 2 or more of the following symptoms for at least two years:

* Feelings of hopelessness
* Insomnia or hypersomnia
* Poor concentration or difficulty making decisions
* Low energy or fatigue
* Low self-esteem
* Poor appetite or overeating.
* Irritability.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

Oh, t'is clinical depression, as diagnosed by a psychiatrist. I'm more just wondering what peoples thoughts are on depression. As a lot of people have tended to see it as something you can simply get over by thought alone.

I was diagnosed with it about 3 weeks ago. Talking about it seems to help - that's basically what therapy is (although therapy means you're talking to a total stranger who's actually going to just sit there and listen. It's really, really useful)

The best way to deal with it seems to be to stay active, mentally and physically. I've started becoming more sociable as a result, purely because it means I do more, and have less time to think about the general feeling of powerlessness.

And no, I had no idea there was a difference between 'depression' as a mental illness and 'depressed' as a state of mind until diagnosed. Most people don't. Depression is just seen as being unusually depressed to most people, hence the frequent suggestions to 'get over it'. I've stopped taking offence to that, because I know that those saying it don't necessarily know what's going on.

 

[Chris^^]

fuck depression, pain isn't real.



in all seriousness I know a few people with it and it's not pretty, a lot of people are so ignorant towards it, telling them to 'get over it' and whatnot.. need more understanding

 

[Jack and Calumon]

I used to be depressed. Heck, I did the same thing as you and went to the Escapist and I made a Thread seeking help. They came with this and that, and was posted early on in my Escapist life.

Now, I'm on Medication, coming off the Prozac soon, won't need it due to the boost I have recieved but I don't think it was from the Fluoxetine. When I find out what, I'll tell you. Until then, I recommend funny videos on Youtube. They really brighten your day no matter what.

Calumon: I'd Recommend Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged! Then have some cake!

 

[Riobux]

I see it something that can mess around with your life generally. I grew up generally never really happy. Sure I'd have spouts of "yay life!" but they were massively out-numbered by the amount of days that made me wonder why bother existing. I'm still here, mainly due to a fear of the after-life if I did. I somewhat feel it today still. I just find myself too easily shoved into a state where I feel somewhat worthless.

I also tend to look at the negative points in everything. Like, I don't see myself as a student with a great girl who will be going into university soon to study sociology with psychology; I see myself as a failing student who may be able to date a great girl but will likely fuck up due to my stupid humour, my annoying comments and my poor personality. Along with that, there is a strong chance I will fail my exams due to my sheer amount of stupidity.

However, it's nothing diagnosed.

 

[Griffolion]

I have suffered from Disthymia for years, although its only been diagnosed recently.
Really not pleasant, but meh, I have learned to deal with it.

Wiki exerpt for the people that are interested.

Spoiler

Dysthymia is a chronic long-lasting form of depression sharing many characteristic symptoms of major depressive disorder (in the form of the melancholic depression subtype) These symptoms tend to be less severe but do fluctuate in intensity. To be diagnosed, an adult must experience 2 or more of the following symptoms for at least two years:

* Feelings of hopelessness
* Insomnia or hypersomnia
* Poor concentration or difficulty making decisions
* Low energy or fatigue
* Low self-esteem
* Poor appetite or overeating.
* Irritability.

Generally shouldn't take academic info off Wiki since the same person has probably authored the Battlestar Gallatica episode list on said site. But whoever wrote that as *generally* got it right.

Disthymia tends to be a bout of depression lasting *roughly* 2 years that never comes back after its done with. If its recurring then its probably not disthymia.

 

[Sarkule]

People will hate me for this, but some psychiatrists believe that depression is a CHOICE. We choose it as the best way we know to fix a problem. Depression helps us avoid problems directly, stifles anger, gets us sympathy, gets us out of doing what we don't want to do, and allows others to help us. I sort of agree with this.

Depression is caused by depressive thoughts. Its not biological.

Here's a source.
http://www.wglasser.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=28

Also, my avatar suffers from depression, so I'm kind of an expert.

Depression is not caused by depressive thoughts. Maybe being slightly depressed is, but I'm talking about Depression as in the condition. It's caused by events, or just a chemical imbalance, or in cases like mine fairly severe anxiety. But saying that people cause they're own depression is incredibly insulting, and I must say I take that quite personally. Depression isn't something you would chose. Nor something that you would even wish upon someone else.