Poll: Depression.

[klakkat]

19, and I'm fairly certain I'd be evaluated as depressed, if I ever bothered to see a shrink. Dont have the money to be wasting on something I know how to deal with.

The way I deal with it, I do not recomend to anyone else. I do not recomend the following, I'll even spoiler tag it.

Spoiler

I did attempt to end my life once, and the pain I got then from fucking it up, was horrible. And the pain I get everynow and then, is a constant reminder of what not to do. My reminder of my fuck up, is how I go about not trying anything else.

Aside from that strategy, I focus my sorrow, into anger. Anger, at others, policies, things that are imperfect. ANything but my self. Never focus your sorrow or anger onto your self, it leads to negitive thoughts and then your just that much more likely to do soemthing like that.

Another strategy, is to simply keep your self busy. I like to walk, I walk, and I walk. I have music playing that the people I walk by can hear. And I talk to my self, generally about things I dislike.

And my final way to deal, is to write. Mindlessly pooring out your feelings, an actuall story, rules people should follow, things like that.

You don't have to see a psychologist to get these things out in the open. You do need it for prescription drugs, but those aren't the only answer. Find someone you respect and like, or love, preferably. Talk to them in detail about how you feel. It COULD be 100% mental, but also keep in mind you may genuinely have a chemical deficiency of some sort. In that case walking, talking to yourself, and pouring out your thoughts in creative ways are all good ways to relieve it. If it is chemical, than exercise and diet* are your best free medicines; no amount of psychoanalysis can cure that. Other people can help you get through it, but don't force it on them, nor force yourself into that solution; do what feels right.

If you're in college right now, odds are you have access to a professional psychologist for free. It's not hard; I know it takes courage to go to a psychologist, but keep in mind they see a lot of people with similar problems; they won't judge you. I went and talked to a psychologist myself, and was prescribed anti-depressants since I was diagnosed with depression based in a chemical deficiency. Since then, I've tossed the pills and taken control of it.

*when I say diet, I mean a healthy, balanced mixture of nutrients, not a weight-loss diet.

 

[floppylobster]

I'm recovered for now. I think I got into it after the realisation that nothing really matters. But I got out of it by accepting nothing really matters. And then I just started to enjoy things for what they were.

Since then I've taken an interest in politics to see how the world is influenced, and I read through Darwin's Origin of the Species to discover how little control we really have over who we are. It has helped me become more connected to the world that I am a part of, and the history I am subject to. It was a difficult transition that took place over many years, but now I'm really quite happy. And my happiness is now grounded in the realities of life, and not some misguided things I learned as a child. Or some of the mindless distraction you?ll find in the narratives of some Hollywood films and television. The consequence is that I can't stand people who were like me before I woke up, but I try not to judge them I just avoid them. I?ve changed my interests. Now seek out things that speak to who I am, not who I thought I was.

What I found was bothering me when I was depressed was that the people around me, and those who were close to me, didn't really know me. So I started talking to them and expressing my feelings and thoughts more. But most of my friends (and all of my family) were no help at all. But there were a couple, who wanted to listen, and were generally interested. They don't know what I went through, but knowing there's someone who understands how and why I sometimes feel the way I do, really helps me. They look out for me when I?m down, without trying to ?cheer me up?, they?re just there for me.

Good luck with it, and give it time, it will pass if you can communicate and learn to understand yourself. Don't let things go round inside your head without expressing them, that always gets me down. Learn to express what you're really feeling. Not just "I'm depressed" but try to work out what is it that is really bothering you. It may be something small and insignificant, but it's clearly not if this is the effect it's having on you. It may be something larger, feeling like something overwhelming. Then break it down into smaller problems. Face it, examine it, and you will come to understand it. It's hard to do when you're younger, because you're not fully aware of all the influences that are affecting your life, but keep at it.

 

[Girlysprite]

I had the quite some growing pains, but it eased out as I grew older.
However, depression related diseases run rampant in the fathers side of my family. My brother, sister, grandfather and his brother suffer from it, my niece died on the age of 22 on Anorexia. And the amount of family members on that side is small.

Being depressed is hard. Living with people with a depression is also hard.

 

[mark_n_b]

Similar situation to myself mate. Although I'm 22, and was on Prozac, but that just royally messed my stomach up. The rest is very similar to myself though. Lost my job, fiance had a mis-carriage and her way of dealing with that was to cheat on me (I can't figure it out either,) and two close family members died in the same week. Was a pretty tough time. Had all sorts of different counselling for the best part of 6 months, just didn't work.

Man, that is rough. Frankly, you are right to feel a bit depressed. When I dumped my girlfriend I was depressed, the situations you are facing are on a level far removed from that, it isn't something you just work your way through over a couple of months.

By looking for ways to improve your mood you're doing the right thing. Exercise releases endorphins and provides a reasonable distraction from other thought processes. Which is why you feel the good, then depressed again. Finding something that endures after the fact (which exercise is apparently not for you) might be my piece of advice. When I was feeling depressed in school, I used to study harder, which lead to better grades, which lead to me feeling more accomplished... etc. I'm not in school now, and neither are you it seems, so think of this as an example more than anything.

As for medication, when I was dealing with a deep personal loss a few years ago my doctor recommended an SSRI, I didn't care for the side effects either. The thing being is that SSRI's don't work if your depressive triggers are right there, for you they are. It's the same with counseling.

Depression is a normal human emotion and should be expected to occur when certain things happen, and for you they have, know that it's completely normal. But it is also normal for behavior to form patterns, the "emo kid" syndrome, if you convince yourself that hanging out at the mall is lame and just demonstrates how little the world understands you, you are naturally going to feel that way when you go to the mall whether you are there on a date or with your parents buying school clothes and it will take a concentrated effort over a period of time to not feel that way in that kind of environment. I use the mall, but it carries over to anything.

So, as cheesy as it may sound:

Friends, A pet, something social, someone to talk to, even if its in some chat room online

It does really work, finding things that you know you feel good about make feeling good easier, and as time numbs the pain of loss you have something else to replace it with, and that something is a happier set of emotions.

My sympathies for you, and I give my kudos to the forum goers for not flaming, keep up the good fight.

 

[MurderousToaster]

I just get sad sometimes, to do with anything. My social life, whatever. And also the death of my beloved 360.

 

[Chiasm]

Ya,It's one of those gateway things I think for psychological problems. In the way it is usually associated or leads to other mental problems down the road. Like Alcholoism and such why I have found making someone stop drinking alcohol without dealing with why they do so much just makes them abuse another drug.

But ya I find friends help alot like others have said,That and also try to manage your own budget is great advice too. I find on my own low days I have a tendacy to want to buy something just in hope it'll make you feel better.

P.S It is definitely not rare or something to feel ashamed about if anything it's becoming far more common I think socially due to how we as a society now live.(A emphasis on getting out of your parents house rather then having every generation live in one family house for one I think.)

 

[huntedannoyed]

Wow, the high percentages of "yes" explains the rise of Zoloft stock in an otherwise unstable market!

 

[Chiasm]

Wow, the high percentages of "yes" explains the rise of Zoloft stock in an otherwise unstable market!

So on top of the "no matter what stock", Soap and Shampoo,We should throw on Zoloft as one of those constants everyone no matter what happens will need?

 

[huntedannoyed]

Wow, the high percentages of "yes" explains the rise of Zoloft stock in an otherwise unstable market!

So on top of the "no matter what stock", Soap and Shampoo,We should throw on Zoloft as one of those constants everyone no matter what happens will need?

Yes, of course... Untill that heavenly day when science creates a form of Zoloft that can be absorbed through the scalp so that we can fortify our hair and fight the blues at the same time...

Give it time, who knows what those extra ingredients in shampoo are really doing anyways.

 

[Spinozaad]

I used to. Not anymore though. Nowadays I'm just a cynic.

 

[Amnestic]

Wow, the high percentages of "yes" explains the rise of Zoloft stock in an otherwise unstable market!

Want a guaranteed steady income in the economic crises to come? Join up with a phamaceutical company. More people than ever will be clamouring for your pick-me-ups and put-me-downs.

Sometimes both at the same time.

 

[huntedannoyed]

Wow, the high percentages of "yes" explains the rise of Zoloft stock in an otherwise unstable market!

Want a guaranteed steady income in the economic crises to come? Join up with a phamaceutical company. More people than ever will be clamouring for your pick-me-ups and put-me-downs.

Sometimes both at the same time.

Sure, but the guy who combines pharmiceutical aids with shampoo shall be the next Tesla! You can abuse drugs, but shampoo? Wash rinse and repeat! Ok, this is getting out of hand.

 

[Hyzenthlay]

As a recovered suicidally depressed person I would say that no one treatment works by itself. You have to combine different treatments and persist even if it doesnt seem to work at first. You should be able to take a different medicatio that you dont react to. I reacted to my first medication too. You also need a psychiatrist of some kind and to try to work out the issues surrounding it. Many people say their medication doesnt work and go of it WORST DECISION EVER! It can take months to work and if after months it doesnt work you need to see a doctor and switch your medication in a safe manner. It also takes effort and willpower to pull oneself out of it but its worth it trust me.

 

[Elurindel]

I went through depression once. Girlfriend broke up with me on Christmas Eve, I went into depression, had joyless, meaningless sex with a girl simply to be close to somebody, realised there were worse things in life than losing a girlfriend I never even kissed, and got my act together.

 

[Uncompetative]

Talk to a Psychologist.

 

[PureChaos]

i don't think i've ever been depressed, i don't worry about stuff, i don't see the point. if i have problems i deal with them and sort them out, i dont let them bog me down and become depressed.

 

[Death Magnetic]

I'm not even sure of what mood I'm in. I'd say I'm in a mid-point between happiness and sadness. I don't know why, it could just be me being an angsty teen.

-Ricky

 

[Sir_Montague]

The important question to me is, do you know why/ from what you are specifically suffering?

What is making you depressed? Or is it just most things...

 

[s-l-u-g]

Good days, bad days. todays one of my bad ones.

But my mum and dad were both manic depressives so i guess one of the three children of theirs were gonna end up with the depression, eh?

 

[s-l-u-g]

Talk to a Psychologist.

Get an avatar.