Poll: So, Depressed Much?

[The White Hunter]

So, this might be a bit heavy, but how many people out there are genuinely diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder involving depression?

I ask because I'm bipolar and currently having one of those episodes where the future to me is just a gaping hole of empty blackness that wants to drag me in and rip me apart and this makes me somewhat curious, in a more lucid moment, to ask if anyone else has anything similar going on here on the escapist.

Also, how do you cope with this kind of problem?
What gets you through the harder days?

And no, in advance, feeling a bit shit for a day is not depression.

EDIT: 2 things I feel I should address.
1) I'm in the middle of a mild depressive phase, it sucks, it'll end soon, they never last more than a few weeks, and it's worth noting that reflection on my life and what makes me feel this way is incredibly difficult to do right now.

2) I'd like to thank everyone for being very supportive and lovely internet people rather than the dickheads you get on other forums. Thank you for being awesome Escapists.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

When I'm sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead.

True story.

If the internet does anything, is that it makes me feel 'normal'

No depression, no sadness, only awesome.

 

[hazabaza1]

I had some therapy when I was younger. Hormones and all that shit, plus arguments with friends and discovering that I may have tourettes syndrome (later turned out that I did, imagine that) made me all messed up for a while.
Recently I've been pretty happy though. Hope you feel better soon, man.

 

[Loop Stricken]

I am quite likely clinically depressed, but that would involve me going to a clinic, I suppose.

 

[telocaster]

Mild depression here.

I found that surrounding myself with people I love and care about is a far more effective treatment for my depression than any drugs and therapy. I love my friends, they are always there for me.

 

[SaikyoKid]

I tend not to get too bummed out really. That takes effort to be concerned and sad and I'm far too lazy for stuff like that.

I know that bipolar is a tough thing in itself though dude. I can't exactly speak from personal experience, but just know that these feelings shall pass soon. Just keep hanging in there good sir.

 

[irmasterlol]

Lots of people like to self diagnose with clinical depression. I think there's something else going on.

 

[FalloutJack]

Sorry, but something must be wrong with me. I completely reject feelings of depression, even the ones of a non-clinical nature.

 

[Doclector]

I picked shit day, but it's more like a shit summer.

For one thing, I plain don't like summer. Too hot (you can put extra layers on when it's cold, you can't rip your skin off when it's hot. Well, you could, but it wouldn't help much), hayfever, which this year resulted in the resurgence of my long lost asthma, and everyone gets obsessed with sports, rather than anything useful. Don't get me wrong, I don't think sport is useless, but surely something's wrong when somebody who can kick a ball is considered more important and inspirational than somebody who's actually changed the fucking world.

Oh dear...this is gonna be one of those long posts. Like 99% of my postage.

The main problem is there's jack all to do here. The only good place to go out was bought and changed into a damn gastropub, like we needed more of those, and now my friends are trying to convince me that going out to a chav infested hell hole in the middle of "the summer of sport" could be fun. Which it won't. It wasn't when it wasn't my only option, the drinks are expensive, the music sucks, and the people make me want to punch things. I'm stuck at home gaining an intimate knowledge of the entirety of skyrim. You know it's gotten bad when you genuinely feel crushed when you've run out of new stuff on all your favourite websites. I can't sleep well and I'm having terrifying nightmares for no good damn reason. My sex drive's decided it wants to go into overdrive at the precise point it's least likely to go anywhere, which is a lot more annoying than it sounds, and oh god I have two more months of this.

So yeah, I've never had it diagnosed, but I know I tend to have bad parts where I feel so bad it seems to physically hurt, (and I have had multiple people from uni express "concerns" officially) and I'm in for a lot of that for a while. Guess I've survived worse though, so can't complain much.

I am quite likely clinically depressed, but that would involve me going to a clinic, I suppose.

Same here, except swap out depression for "something". There's no way I'm mentally normal, I know that damn well. Even with aspergers taken into account. No goddamn way. But where did that aspergers label get me? Bullied, unemployed, and stereotyped, mostly, so I'm not gonna let those fuckers "help" some more.

 

[Rawne1980]

Nope, never depressed.

Only happiness is allowed in this house.

That's why my wife has 5 sodding cats because nothing says happiness like the smell of cat shit in the morning.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Every quarter I have a few days where I'm depressed as shit. But usually after about 2 or 3 days of mooping and being down I'll be like, "I'm tired of being all depressed, let's shift gears."

 

[Ljs1121]

Nah. I consider myself a happy person. I went through a phase a few years ago in which I was extremely pessimistic and antisocial, but then I realized that I don't like being sad.

 

[TehCookie]

Take your meds and don't stop taking them just because you're in your up phase. You have to keep taking them as prescribed.

Not being clinically depressed and only having experience with normal depression I tell myself to cheer up. I just think about how my life could be worse and be happy it's not that bad. Sometimes I'll have to do it by talking to a friend or doing something I love. If all else fails I just wait it out, even if I hate my life then I know the feeling will pass eventually.

Oh and don't sit there and expect people to notice your suffering, if you want help ask for it.

 

[Imthatguy]

My doctor (yay health insurance) refered me to a psychiatrist in febuary but I never went. I guess having low motivation and it being hard to feel loved means I'm fucked in the head.

 

[TWRule]

So, this might be a bit heavy, but how many people out there are genuinely diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder involving depression?

I ask because I'm bipolar and currently having one of those episodes where the future to me is just a gaping hole of empty blackness that wants to drag me in and rip me apart and this makes me somewhat curious, in a more lucid moment, to ask if anyone else has anything similar going on here on the escapist.

Also, how do you cope with this kind of problem?
What gets you through the harder days?

It's probably because the future actually is a gaping hole of empty blackness...as it stands. The question is, what are you going to do to address that problem?

I'll be frank: I don't believe most depression, if any, can be chalked up to psychology alone (or at all). I think there are very real, very profound problems inherent to modern existence that are being ignored, consciously or unconsciously. The sooner you try to recognize what they are for yourself (though I'm talking about things that are common to the human condition here) and resolve to do something about them, the better off you'll be. Google "existential guilt", "existential angst", etc. if you can't put them into words yourself...

I'd suggest starting by looking back on your life with an attitude of confidence and see which direction you think it should lead in from there.

 

[Rylot]

Bad day to ask me this question. The last few days or so my girlfriend has been mad at me. She won't tell me what's bugging her but she's still holding it against me. Not to go too much into detail but I feel like I'm doing a lot for her lately and none of that matters. I have the feeling that the only reason we're still together is for financial concerns. I've also been diagnosed with depression and the last few months haven't been very good for me.

 

[Vault101]

I don't see why so many people suffer from "actual" real depression (there s a difference) somthing in the water?

 

[Aris Khandr]

Yes. Nearly crushingly so. No joke, I've been out of work for over a year now, and the #1 reason I want a job isn't for games, isn't for Disney, isn't even for food, but so I can afford to see a therapist. I'm not sure how much longer I can take this some days.

Captcha: ship-shape

I am not that.

EDIT:

I totally ignored the questions. I got distracted, so I'm coming back to it.

Also, how do you cope with this kind of problem?

Poorly. On the good days, I pretend that the world isn't there. I lose myself in escapism, and try my best to forget about what is wrong. And those are the good days.

What gets you through the harder days?

Four people who depend on me. As fraked up as it is, I'm their stability. So I push myself through when I absolutely hate everything, because I can't fail them. Also, my plushies. I'd seriously never survive without them.

 

[ChildishLegacy]

Nope. And trust me, I'm having a horrible time at the moment with what's been going on in my life, but if you can't smile or laugh anymore, what's the point of fucking bothering eh? I could choose to dwell on all the shit around me at the moment, but I'd much rather be having a laugh with friends, relaxing, playing some games and getting ridiculous amounts of sleep until uni starts.

It does annoy me a bit when people who have relatively nothing to complain about start getting all stressed out and depressed over it when I've been going through hell for the last few months and haven't brought down the atmosphere with my depressing crap. If I can cope with the shit I have been I think people can handle getting in a row with your friends or falling out with your boyfriend/girlfriend without having a fucking breakdown. Also if you tell people you're upset/going through bad stuff they tend to be all sympathetic and remind you of it, if you just act happy other people will act happy back, and that will make you actually happy.