Poll: What do you think of depression?

[Caligulove]

I honestly think everyone goes through some kind of depression during their life. I acknowledge it as an issue and something to be treated, though where I differ is the method of treatment. Got depressed the beginning of college when I broke up with my girlfriend, went to see a psychiatrist about it. All he suggested was a discussion therapy session every month and two prescriptions of antidepressants and SSRIs.

I had a problem with the fact that most of his suggestion was weighed on the effects of the prescriptions. I dont see how drugs could be the primary form of treatment for the problems I had, so I never took them, never filled the prescription. Relied entirely on therapy involving talking openly about issues, some group therapy and simply getting out of my comfort zone. Felt better eventually and got along with my life. Like anyone with depression, though, things linger and the feelings never always go away. All that changes is the level of their severity.

So yea, my method wouldnt work for everyone, either. I do think that the solution of just prescribing SSRIs for depression isnt any kind of a good idea. Single treatment for a mental issue makes no sense. No matter what drug is created, I dont think there will ever be a kind of blanket treatment for these problems.

 

[SillyBear]

72% of this community has experienced depression? 72%? Really? There is no way in hell clinical depression is that common.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

-snip-

Apology unnecessary, but accepted. I'm sorry if i seem(ed) peevish. Depression is not something i take lightly. I just find it frustrating when i see people (including people i love) who refuse to accept help or attempt to work toward their own betterment.

 

[empa]

Everyone ges depressed in one or another point in there life.

Forget the feeling that your the only one and move on is basically what tip i can give to anyone.

If you really can't find anything fun or something to cheer you up, maybe you need to force yourself todo something untill it becomes fun, or atleast an distraction

 

[not_you]

I suffer from severe depression... and everyone who says "get over it" deserves to feel how I/We do and shut their fucking mouths.....

Although the moment someone does say "get over it" I just explain to them what depression actually is and say that there is nothing you can do about it....

 

[smithy_2045]

I've been dealing with depressions for the past 5 years, so what do you think my opinion would be?

 

[rutger5000]

I accept depression to be a real ailment. But I do feel like the "Get over it" methode is a good way to go. Maybe it catches up to you in the long run, but it definitely helps you for short lived depressions.

 

[Ogargd]

Depression is a serious mental illness, whether or not people on the internet of all places think it doesn't exist is irrelevant.

 

[Warlord211]

I had depression a couple years ago. I got over it, but I'm a rare case where I didn't need medication or anything. It was depression that was brought on by the environment I was in. I left that place and a year later I felt like a new person. I never really told anyone and almost committed suicide but that period is over and I'm happy to be around today.

 

[pixiejedi]

I've been fighting depression for at least 7 years. I didn't start any anti-depressants until over a year ago when I moved away from home. Its hard for my husband to grasp what that means though. He was raised in a catholic household so he retained some of the idea that you should just pull yourself up by the bootstraps and move on.

It was him though that made me get treatment. I would have killed myself I'm sure if I didn't have to get better for him. I've done therapy, they pointed at some of my many psychological unhealthy tendencies. For a while it even helped, but it feels like there is this black hole somewhere inside of me that can just pop open, and no matter how much a fight it, it always eventually managed to suck me in. Now that I am medicated the bad time of my depression isn't a black hole, its more like an endless desert of nothing. I can understand why the suicide warnings are on there, because those are the times above all else that I want it to end. It feels like there is no color or light and everything is just static. Before the meds I just was too depressed to try it.

So yes, depression is serious. Not all drugs work for everyone, nor does therapy. However criticizing someone who is seriously depressed and not just temporarily down is personally about it the most cruel thing and senseless thing.

 

[Kroxile]

I attempted suicide when I was 16 due to depression. Looking back at it it was an incredibly dumb thing to do. I had it MADE, but for whatever reason it felt like the world was ending to me at the time.

 

[crudus]

I suffer from depression. I have basically given up on getting help for it. People keep saying they are shocked and do more harm than good when they try to help. They can't seem to let me just be depressed or express it. Its faux pa or something.

 

[i7omahawki]

I suffer from clinical depression, and I have seen a lot of people dismiss depression on the internet. They say that depression is an excuse, or to "just get over it", but I know from experience that depression is very real and not easy to shake off. It seems to me people dismiss depression in order to protect themselves from it, and people that have encountered depression are more accepting of it.

Dear reader, what are your thoughts on this matter?

My understanding of it -- which is lacking compared with any expert -- is that it can be either strictly chemical/biological, where the brain is effectively causing it, or more social/psychological (or a mixture of both). Unfortunately, nobody I know who has it has had any kind of tests done to find out which they have! That means people who are suffering psychologically are being treated only medically, and kept on medication for extended periods of time.

I don't think in either case that is appropriate to say, "just shake it off", but I think that if it psychological then it is very much a realistic option to overcome it with therapy assisted, not replaced, by the appropriate medications...

I know a few people who have been diagnosed with depression, some of whom I believe truly suffer from it, but others who most likely use it as an excuse (to get away with not handing university coursework in, for example). Those who geniunely seem to suffer with depression, (from my experience which may not apply more generally) often talk themselves further into it, letting it restrict what they do when it doesn't seem necessary. I think in those cases it is helpful to have some 'tough love', though trivializing or denying it would simply make it worse.

Anyway, all that said, I think what you said about people 'protecting' themselves may be true, or perhaps denial is the better term. In the end though, I don't think that is a good response, since it prevents you from noticing the symptoms if you developed depression yourself.

The fact that depression exists is quite scary, that your outlook and mood aren't quite as controlled as you thought. But the fact that people battle and resist it is an affirmation of mankind's strength and resolve, I think...which gives me quite a lot of hope.

 

[Astoria]

Depression is a mental illness but it is way over diagnosed. If you're going through a sad time automatically its depression.

 

[SinisterGehe]

I suffer from depression because of the neurological and pain condition on my right hand, neck and torso... I can't sleep properly, I am unable to use my right hand properly and I am in constant pain and most of all I am losing my ability to play video-games... And If someone says that is a bad excuse of not doing stuff because I am depressed, I welcome them to join my world and see how shit it is to live like this, a world in which the simple task of using a spoon/fork/knife or hold pen properly is a fucking achievement...

I take Anti-depressants for 2 reasons, to relax my mind, release tension, help with depression and for the side-effect that the medication has: it increases tolerance for physical pain. I am getting pain counseling an psychological help to live and manage the physical and mental pain.

Tho there is different types of depression. I accept people depression if they really have a problem, but not depression like "My life is OK, I am healthy, I have friends, I have money and I have no real mental/health issues" - aka Emo depression... No one should play being depressed just because they can or want attention, it is not a thing to joke about really, it hurts people, it destroys lives and is a sign of real issues that should be dealt with.


But yeah: If you have a real proper issue to be depressed, I am OK with it, I might even try to help you with it since I know how it feels. But if you want to be depressed because you can or want attention I will slap you and tell you to act like a grown-up...

I agree with what you said here, but I would like to remove the bolded parts because the crux of the matter is not the nature of our outer reality (being healthy, having friends and money, etc), but what our inner reality enables us to experience. It's all chemical, thats why the chemicals used to fight it also mess us up. The only reality we can be sure of is that reality inside our heads. Depression carries with it a level of delusion. A person can have all the happy things in the world yet not be able to see all that.

If you suffer from delusions, then you have a issue. Delusions can be treated with social interaction or with psychological help. I think you didn't understand what I meant with that part. If there is person who acts depressed just for sake of being depressed, for an example to get attention. It is wrong. Basically faking depression is wrong.
But if someone suffers from delusions, chemical imbalance in brain, mental sickness etc... Then he has problems, that I accept as a reason for him to be depressed.

 

[aPod]

I've had depression, I would describe it as walking through knee high mud and you gotta just keep trudging along until you get out of it, however that may be for you.

I never took pills for it, and I'm against psychotropic drugs because i've seen some horror from them in my own family. If you can find away to triumph with your own will power and improving your life in healthier ways.

 

[Iggy Sent Me]

It sucks to have. Worst of all it often just hits you without warning, for no immediate reason. To combat it you need to keep up healthy social relationships. Even just a few will ward it off.

 

[thirion1850]

I overcame it. I know what it's like. And unlike my parents, I don't look down on or take lightly those that truly have this condition.

 

[loc978]

I've been through it, ups and downs for most of my adult life... yet I dismiss it. I've been diagnosed and re-diagnosed by shrink after shrink, and my current therapist says I'm just too schizoid to care that I'm depressed.
I say I'm just a natural-born hater. I hate a vast majority of human society and would love to go the mad dictator route to enforce my will on humanity, atrocities and all, for the greater good as I see it. The source of my depression is my lack of ability to do so. Ah well.

 

[Schizzy]

I've had bouts of anxiety attacks, personally. But my brother suffers bonafide depression.

So, yes, pretty real.