Depression - Have you had it and how did you cope?

[Mandalore_15]

I'm going through depression right now and, to be perfectly honest with you, I'm sick to death of it. Four years ago I had a serious case of depression but got over it without taking any medication, which I was pretty proud of. However, since then it's been up and down all the time, going through bouts of normalcy always followed by bouts of mild or medium depression (usually after something stressful like exams).

Well, I have had an absolute shitter of a week. I'm applying for jobs and have very little time left til the deadlines, but seem completely unable to focus on what I'm writing. Yesterday, I went to see my GP and she said I needed to go on antidepressants, and I don't really want to.

Also today, I found out that my degree that I've been working balls-to-the-wall for all this year is going to be a letdown: I thought my overall average had to be above 70% for me to get a distinction, which it is. However, apparently both my research component and examination component need to be above 70% individually. My research component is 80%. My exam component is 68%. No distinction for me. Is that what you call justice? Ironically enough, it's a law degree...

Anyways, sorry for all the bitching but I just needed to vent. I hate to use the term "suicidal" but it seems to be on my mind an awful lot. More in the abstract than actually wanting to do it, but still, I've thought about it a lot the past few hours. So what have your experiences with depression been like? If you want to vent or offer others advice, please feel free to post. Thanks guys.

 

[trollnystan]

I don't know if my advice will do you any good, as I've been depressed since childhood and I've still not found my way out of it. It comes and goes in waves; this winter for example I was feeling pretty good and was getting stuff done. Then spring came and all my energy just went the way of the dodo. I'm still pretty listless and sad.

I really think you were strong to get out of it by yourself the first time. Once you've had it though you are more vulnerable to it; the up side is that hopefully you learned some methods to deal with it the first time around, making it easier to get out of it again. I highly recommend CBT (wiki link) for techniques to work past the depression. Meds can help of course, but they're best taken together with seeing a shrink of some kind.

I hope this made sense. Good luck!

 

[SerpentsLairStudios]

I have suffered depression since I was young and I am pretty much back to what would be normal (Well normal for someone with multiple other mental issues but not here to talk about that) I know this sounds cliche but the only way to beat depression is to think positive and to find ways to improve confidence and lower stress. Basically find something you are passionate and good at and work towards a strong goal once you reach that stress levels lower, confidence increases and as that happens positive thinking kicks in.

All medication like fluoxetine (Prozac) does is give you a little tiny boost to help you but the whole staying positive finding passion and being confident and happy with yourself are still the core basics.

It may sound cliche but trust me its the only way to help these kind of problems that and love but I am not too strong in that department so I am not one to talk haha.

My last tip is always stay creative and stay active do not give your mind time to slip into a bad mood. Of course take time to chill etc but try to keep your mind active as much as possible.

I hope this can help someone with some problem somewhere. As with coping with depression that is nothing easy to do. Coping with depression is something I don't particularly agree with. I believe if you attempt to cope without fighting it is a lost battle. Fighting the depression is the only way to win.

I am open to full discussions on this subject so let me know what you think

Good luck to anyone who is suffering with anything like this my heart goes out to you.

EDIT: CBT also works wonders (as poster above me stated).

 

[Lawyer105]

I've had pretty acute depression (enough that the doc tried to hospitalise me twice), and I support what trollnystan has said. Once you've had it, you're prone to future outbreaks and the best you can hope for it so learn to deal with it better and easier.

I strongly suggest talking to your doctor, getting some antidepressants and going through some CBT. Some people might look down on you for taking medication, but frankly, those people are pussies who've never dealt with anything as insidious as depression. Any idiot can put on the Conan hat and sally forth to beat up the evil nasty they're determined to defeat. Beating the evil nasty is a damned sight harder when (as in depression) you don't care that there's an evil nasty, and might quite like it if said nasty did win because then it would be over and done with.

I personally see no reason to suffer in silence (or pointlessly for that matter). Getting the pills will help you beat the depression much easier. Besides... a huge portion of many types of depression arises from chemical imbalances in the brain, and all the drugs are really doing is sorting that imbalance out letting you deal with the real problems.

Finally, the worst part of depression for me was the "don't care"/"too much effort" bit. The only way I found to get through that was to just go get started doing stuff, even if you don't want to. Even if you don't feel any better afterwards, at least you've gotten some stuff done, right? I always found that to be quite helpful.

Best of luck, and I hope things turn out well for you!

 

[Togs]

I got help, CBT training means when it starts coming on I know how to stop it dead in its tracks, I used to think of it as beast on my chest weighing me down- know its more like bee that buzzes round my head from time to time.

 

[Mischa87]

Yeah, my shrink and I are going to be starting CBT soon, as I've been on anti-depressants for much of my life (four different ones, none of which worked, and all of which had severe quality-of-life-altering side-effects) I've had a few friends who have tried it, and they said it was great, I'm skeptical, but evidently, it works, even if you don't believe it will, as long as you practice it.

And if it helps; things can always get worse, for example, my ex BF had leukemia twice, his mother had bowel, and ovarian cancer, and his little sister has a severe cleft pallete. I myself suffer from a rare birth defect that claims the lives of 70% of those with it by age 30 (I'm turning 24 next month) And that's only with treatment, I may have an obscenely rare condition (one recorded case prior) that keeps my treatment from working at all... Probably why my anti-depressants didn't work, it's not clinical depression, IE, it's not from a neural chemical imbalance, things just suck. I hope CBT works for me, and I hope you can bring it up with someone, and it works for you

 

[Sleekgiant]

I have bouts of depression off and on, usually brought on when I have nothing to do and begin to think how alone I am.

Luckily I keep myself busy with work and games now so I tend not to think about it, therefore, no depression.

 

[anANGRYkangaroo]

Any time I have fallen into bouts of depression, music has helped. In the past it was usually the angriest music I could find to get me pumped up, but lately powerful happy music helps. Not the lame-o happy stuff, stuff like this- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug68UjcnW1E <-Give it a minute to work its magic. Hope it helps

 

[omega 616]

I got told I was depressed once, I didn't want to be so I "manned up" if you will. It was weird...

Just exercise more, it helps with depression 'cos it releases feel good chemicals. Chocolate releases the same stuff so if your feeling like you need a quick pick me up, have some dark chocolate.

 

[A Username Not In Use]

First don't drink anything alcoholic in fact give it up all together even if you are having the best day of you life don't drink as it will bring you down so quickly you will not believe it, Christmas cake should also be avoided.

One thing I have found to help me is walking while listening to music. You have to be careful with your selection of music, some things that help me are

Freezepop Forever by Freezepop
What's if For by Emily Curtis and Tim Jensen
The music from Dire Dire Docks and the file select screen from Super Mario 64 (I'm not making that up)

 

[IliaSeldania]

I just recently got out of a depression lasting well over 8 years of my life, from roughly 8th grade to just barely ending about a year and 2 months ago. In my case, it was relatively simple. I was a wide eyed idealist and I could not cope with just how horrible the world and humanity could be. It pretty much ruined my life. I retreated away from all my friends and lost them all, I flunked out of college, lost both jobs that took me a long time to find. For many years I wouldn't leave the house. It all came to a terrible head last February when I attempted to go back to school and failed yet again. It was pretty much my last chance in my eyes, I was prepared to kill myself. The darkness....terrible times to say the least.

My salvation came in the form of the love of my life. She understands me and my thoughts more than anybody else Ive ever met. She didn't care that I was a miserable train wreck, she was there to help me out of it. She didn't mind that it was going to take many years to get my GPA back up. Frankly, I would be dead without her, I quite literally owe her my life. I'm happy to say now that I couldn't care less about humans and their evil ways, hell I really dont care about much these days except whats actually important to me and my future. As wise man who I cant remember right now once said, "Apathy is the key to happiness." Well, that and my love for my wife.

Really wish I could offer some advice for you. In my case my depression came from something that could never and would never be changed, the very nature of humanity, so the depression never went away. The only thing I can say is find out why it is exactly you are depressed and try to deal with that issue specifically. Many times I was asked if I wanted to take medication and I refused, I applaud you for that. Thats not a real solution, just a temporary fix to a much more complicated problem. God speed sir, I wish you luck in your search for answers.

 

[orangeapples]

When contemplating suicide it is always best to go to your family and others close to you and talk about it, but I can also understand the appeal of saving face and keeping anonimity as you don't want to be worrying real world people with your problems. I know because I've been there. I do not know your situation but what I do know is that the thought of suicide sucks and when it crosses your mind enough times it seems like a good idea, but it isn't.

I can tell you a few things right now. You're pursuing law so I know you're a clever person and you're in college so your life isn't at a dead end. There are people who would kill to be in your position right now. You are a very fortunate person to be in the position that you are in.

I'm a religious person and that did greatly help, but I also know that not everyone is religious, but the people at my churches (yes I go to more than 1 church) are very supportive.

The more important thing for me was to decide to find something worth living for. I know that this also doesn't work for everyone.

 

[Phlakes]

I was diagnosed with it a few years ago. It had gotten pretty bad.

So one day, I was doing my usual shit on the internet, and I thought for a second. I looked my depression in the eye, stared it down for a bit, then punched it in the dick and told it to piss off.

Somehow it worked.

I had it once... and I just cheered up... Seriously, I thought roughly this; fuck this sorry ass way of living. I want to be happy so that is what I will be from now on.

After this I have never had it again.

Like this. It's surprisingly effective. It's all in your head, so it's possible to use your head harder than the depression is.

 

[Johnathan Whye]

sorry sleek giant but keeping busy and trying not to think about it is a form of depression, a well known case was president teddy roosevelt after his wife died. the other thing is avoid depressants as there is no substantial evidence that suggests that they are more effective than waiting for it to go away. it sounds like your getting to the end of your study and its not quite going the way you wanted, have you tried talking to someone about what is happening, making sure someone else knows and they can help. i get a bit overwhelmed at times and talking to someone helps me put the problems into an order with i can deal with them. maybe its just a bit of anxiety but i'm not gonna make a diagnosis on here

 

[Mrsrlg]

I cope by keeping busy! And spending time with people that make me happy
Exercising also tends to mellow my extreme emotions.

I suffer from on and off-depression .. Been that way for about 10-12 years. It's worst when hanging alone at home, my thoughts tend to get the best of me. I've been on medication for maybe 2-3 months - they help, but I still get "fits" now and then.

 

[Bajinga]

Well, speaking as an ex anorexic (now a fatty), I just said to myself:
"Why the hell do I care what I look like? I have no one to show off for. Fuck everyone that cares"

I came up with reasonable arguments to when people call me fat, I am quite happy now.

Yes, I seem to talk (I say talk; I actually mean shout("shout" in my head, not out loud)) to myself to stop one emotion.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

I think I have depression, or at least had it but when I told my parents they never took me seriously.

Same thing happened to me. I told mine that I might have depression and all I got was a "Your week will get better and it will go away." Never mind that I told them that I've been feeling like that for weeks and I told them later that it's not getting better. Now my older brother, on the other hand, went to therapy for a number of things and took him seriously, but that's a whole other issue.

OT: I've had it for years now, since 7th grade, and I'm not on anything, probably should be, so I've just been dealing with it. I've just kept myself busy and tried not to think about it so much, and that doesn't work since I will get hit with it and bad.

Going to the gym does help though.

 

[Griffolion]

I have it moderately, I take medication and just battle through as best i can. You just have to find the way thats right for you, do what relieves your mood and screw what anyone else thinks.