Depression and other mental illnesses...

[ApeShapeDeity]

For the entire of my memorable life, I've suffered from clinical depression. To clarify, this isn't the same as feeling blue cos something went wrong. Often there is no discernable cue. It's a chemical imbalance, which, incidentally the drugs that do work cause intollerable side effects. Such as constant neausea, erectile disfunction and painic attacks to name a few.

Indeed, the statistics say that 1 in 3 people in modern western culture suffer a genuine mental illness in thier life.

I get by, by way of focusing on specific tasks, calming down the anxiety that comes with depression and never, ever bothering to try to "be like everyone else".

In my own way I manage things, but wen I describe what it's like living my life, people either don't believe me or come out with something rewally sensitive, like "Fuck, I'd have killed myself." or "Harden the fuck up!"

It doesn't help to talk about these things in that context. So, I'm at peace with my problems as much I suppose I can be... but what about you????

 

[Flutterguy]

I used to take anti-depressents, I decided to get off them drugs and just smoke a few dubes everyday. I am happier and I don't feel "blunted" like i did on the pills (I had lower highs and higher lows) mind you I am Canadian, and that may not be the best option in every country.

 

[DefunctTheory]

I've been diagnosed with Clinical Depression, PTSD, and Avoidant personality disorder. And, as some here may have seen, I've had several topics in which I explained how utterly bat shit looney I am.

I was given anti-depressants once (Offered over a dozen times). I quit them after a week. Some of my problems stemmed from me hating my job (Which have gone away now), some from my PTSD, and some because I'm just not really right in the head. I'm sure the brain damage doesn't help either.

 

[RADlTZ]

Two of my ex-girlfrends (still friends) have depression, and another one of my friends went through a small period where she took medication to deal with something similar. I suppose knowing your not alone might help? Ive tried everything from an outside possition to help my friends but eventually there is a limit to how much I can be there for people, even if I want to help.

 

[ApeShapeDeity]

I just have anxiety, its annoying as fuck, it cuases physical symptoms and pretty much happens whenever go out. I was on some medication, but it dosent work too well, now im going to see about anti depressants.

It started after I resat levels, missed time at the start (3 weeks chest infection) then I got anxiety attacks, sincethen its changed to being anxious about the anxiety attacks.

Im worried the antis wont work, only thing I can think of after that is hypnosis, and im skeptical. I wish it was a physical problem, then I could just fix it somehow, I hate mental issues becuase I feel powerless.

Incidentally, I'm trained in psych. The anti-depressants are very unlikely to work. They may infact make your anxiety problems worse or cause whole new problems (depending on your own chemical make up and reactions). If it's a fairly new problem, I'd suggest hypnotherapy. It's helped me, anyway.

P.S. capatcha= sandra ralingi... I think I wanna meet this girl...

 

[Not-here-anymore]

Yay, anti-depressant side effects! Stopped taking mine a couple of weeks ago (after a year, mind. This is a case of "I no longer need them" rather than "I'm not taking brain medication!"). Seems some things take a while to wear off. Like the impotence. And let's just say that that's currently more of a problem than it had been for the preceding year.

Anyway, depression sucks. That's it, really. Think mine was of the 'years of negativity creating an eventual hormone imbalance' kind, rather than the 'my body chemistry hates me' kind, and hopefully I'm done with it. Hopefully.

 

[Richardplex]

I have ADHD, and believe I have Depressive realism, I haven't been diagnosed for it or anything but I logically work out that I likely have it. ADHD gives me anger issues, has severely hampered my ability to make friends and my academic future. People often understimate its effects, the attention deficiency affects things that one wouldn't think it would, like handwriting. But I don't really care about people's reactions. Their pity or understanding doesn't benefit me, and nothing I do will change it, so I wouldn't say I'm at peace with it, but I do accept it and live with it.

I'm not saying ADHD is equal to clinical depression btw, depression is hell in short bursts, let alone for long durations, merely saying its not ignorable.

 

[Shymer]

I've been diagnosed with existential depression [http://psychcentral.com/lib/2008/what-is-existential-depression/] and have been this way for twenty three years. I am lucky that, as a chronic condition, it is somewhat less intense than for people who suffer with acute depression. However, the drugs don't work (cue song). Counselling, therapy, groups and stuff. Now I only use them when the mood swings start to come too quickly to deal with. It's a bit like changing shampoo.

I found mindfulness [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness_%28psychology%29] somewhat helpful - and certainly worthwhile looking into. I control my diet and have upped my exercise. That helps too.

I sympathise with your experience of dealing with mental illness. You are not alone. I understand how hard it can be to find a reason - any reason - to get up in the morning, tighten your belt and throw yourself back into the fray, when it doesn't seem worthwhile and you feel like you've lost it all.

My reasons for carrying on are probably not the same as yours. But from your post you seem to be in touch with some things and activities that help you. That's good news! Sharing is positive too, even if you sometimes attract ignorant comments. If you can seek meaning beyond trivial diversions (computer games, TV, reading, mindless browsing *8) then that will be a really good result.