depression and anxiety

Iv'e been dealing with both depression and anxiety issues (especially social anxiety) for a long time. I took paxil for a couple of years and it made me feel better mentally but the side effects really sucked. I have an appointment with a Psychiatrist at the end of the month and am really looking forward to getting some shit that makes me feel better again. Does anybody that's ever dealt with this shit before have suggestions on what presriptions to take or not take? I know it varies between individuals but I'm just curious.

I've had a lot of experience with anti-depression meds, and frankly, I reccomend finding another way to deal with your shit.

I was really, really depressed for quite some time. Wanted to die, anti-social, all of that fun stuff.

Know how I got over it?

I told myself to stop being so damn pathetic, quit feeling sorry for myself, and shape up my life. Worked like a charm.

Just bad side-effects or what?

I have pretty nasty social anxiety, and some nervous panic attacks sometimes. And as far as my doctors have told me, I get enough stress that I'm giving myself incredibly severe headaches (I have very low blood pressure, so I have few medication options for that).

I have to see a psychologist because of the headaches, my insurance dictated it, and I'm glad I didn't end up going to a psychiatrist. My mother used to be on antidepressants when I was younger and they really messed her up. I was borderline with it myself on and off, but I've never wanted to touch any medication. That shit's just not good for you.

Try finding a psychologist. They teach you how to deal with your problems and get around them, instead of handing you medicine to do all the work for you and screw with your body. Most of the time, things can be done to improve your well-being without any chemical intervention. Find a good psych., one that fits you (might take a few tries) and just accept the fact that you need to deal with it and make it better. I couldn't even talk to classmates without getting panic attacks for a long time, and I'm so much better now that somebody's pointed it out and made me do something about it. I was never put on medication for it, so maybe I can't speak for that side, but I'm glad I didn't need to take that route at any length.

Also, massage therapy. I have it because of the headaches, but I'll be damned if that's not an awesome stress reliever.

and all results everywhere indicate that other therapies are better than drugs. And rewire your brains too.

Drugs give you short-term results (with potentially serious side effects) that go away as soon as you're off of them, most of the time. Developing a dependency on any behavior-modifying drug can screw you up worse than you were before, too.

Like Cow said, therapy teaches you how to deal with it yourself, and that's a long-term solution. You won't need pills to function properly and it's a lot more satisfying to know you fixed it yourself.

Plus, it's usually cheaper. Psychiatrists and behavior meds are financial rape.

I just started going to therapy, have been to the same guy about five times, but found a new doctor that I think I like alot better so I'll probably switch. I just feel really, really shitty lately and since I'm so depressed it's hard to think positively and that things will get better. I know it sound ridiculous but I feel like the only way I'll feel better is with meds. Seems like lately I drink alot to quell my anxiety and I already have issues with alchohol so I was curious about medication. I don't get them often but I have had a few panic attacks as of late and they really suck.

I know quite a few people that take Wellburtin for depression and they swear by it, but I don't know of people I know that are taking anything else.

Buddhism.
http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/freenet/r...hion-front.gif

I've noticed that you have a probation thread as well. In the thread you pointed out that you got in that situation while being drunk. You also pointed out that you like to smoke the green.

I can relate to some of the problems your going through. When I was your age, I used to smoke pot on a regular basis. The first high of the day was pretty cool and I had a good time with it. The downsides for me though, was that I didn't feel motivated, often times I didn't want to socialize and I was fairly irritable during the day. Alcahol wasn't as bad, but I still felt rundown and moody at times.

From my personnal experience, I say a change of lifestyle is the best advice. Eating right and getting a good night's rest make a big difference, as does getting off the green.

I'm not suggesting you give up those outlets alltogether, but limiting them to a couple of times a week can make all the difference.

Have you recently stopped doing a mind altering drug? Like if you stopped doing pot, it will be a while before your brain gets back to normal.

I do get enough sleep (maybe too much) but my diet tends to fluctuate between pretty good and really bad. I remember when I was going to the gym I felt a lot better about myself, my gut tells me I should start doing that again.

How well do you manage your day? You may feel lost and floaty if you don't feel like you are living for something and on track.

Well I work alot on a really irregular schedule and then play video games or fuck around online and that's about it. Once in a rare while I go to a bar but usually don't have that great of a time. I go see bands once in a while and have a good time doing that. I think I may feel depressed because I just moved to a new area and outside of my roommates don't really have any friends here. I sure wish I had people near me to game with...

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Originally Posted by Frogacuda

I've had a lot of experience with anti-depression meds, and frankly, I reccomend finding another way to deal with your shit.

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Same here. I got off that shit A.S.A.P.

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Originally Posted by Ste-Von

I do get enough sleep (maybe too much) but my diet tends to fluctuate between pretty good and really bad. I remember when I was going to the gym I felt a lot better about myself, my gut tells me I should start doing that again.

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This is good, exercise will help raise your spirits.

The nasty thing about depression is that the feeling that something is wrong, and the desire to cure it, may be the very thing that is perpetuating it.
It's a cycle that the pharmaceutical companies have built an entire industry around.

I went through the whole thing with meds and psychiatrists, only to realize that they were only reinforcing the idea that if you aren't happy most of the time, then there's something wrong with you. That's not a very realistic or healthy way of thinking.

I had to learn how to cope with depression and confront the issues that cause it, rather than trying to 'cure' it with drugs, and it really has worked.
For me, it was really a matter of perspective, and I had to really question my expectations and outlook on life.

I speak from personal experience on this:

Find another outlet for your anger other than drugs.

All depression is is anger turned inwards. You need to figure out why you hate yourself and change. That is the only cure for depression.

Fuck the drugs and the drug industry. None of that shit helps.

I was a prisoner of fear, but Jim Cunningham showed me the light.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

Know how I got over it?

I told myself to stop being so damn pathetic, quit feeling sorry for myself, and shape up my life. Worked like a charm.

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Then you weren't depressed. Simple as that. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain that can NOT be solved by a simple change in outlook. it's like telling your body to "calm down" in an effort to reduce blood pressure.

Yeah shidoshi... you were just being emo.

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Originally Posted by Ste-Von

Does anybody that's ever dealt with this shit before have suggestions on what presriptions to take or not take?

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I take 75mg of Seroquel and 40mg of Cymbalta each day. I have never felt better in my life.

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Originally Posted by lithium

Then you weren't depressed. Simple as that. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain that can NOT be solved by a simple change in outlook.

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Bullshit.

Chronic, severe, chemical depression runs in my family and all seven of us beat that shit by saying "Fuck this garbage." You've never met a group of people more averse to drug therapy than my family and yet we are all better off for it. Have you ever seen people that get hooked on that garbage?

Two of my sisters were addicted to anti-depressants for years before they realized that the meds were fucking them up more than the drepression. They chucked the pills and chose to battle it out on their own with support from the family and theraputic help.

Medication is nothing but a band-aid. It doesn't deal with the real problem. Chemical imbalance or no, you can force your brain to alter itself without drugs.

Drugs are for the weak.

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Medication is nothing but a band-aid. It doesn't deal with the real problem. Chemical imbalance or no, you can force your brain to alter itself without drugs.

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Yes, it's called cognitive therapy, and is VERY different from merely "telling yourself to snap out of it." I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 13 years ago, I know cognitive therapy and medication extremely well (there's a reason my nickname is "lithium"). Cognitive therapy helped me a lot, but it took over a year of twice a week, hour long sessions before I saw that help. I couldn't have told myself to "snap out of it" if my life depended on it (and imagine that, it did)

What Shidoshi describes is a common misconception that depression is merely "being down", there's a lot more to it than that. That common misconception leads to a lot of people not getting the help they need.

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Drugs are for the weak.

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Yeah but

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Originally Posted by Josh

I have never felt better in my life.

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so I don't mind being weak.

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Originally Posted by Josh

Yeah but
so I don't mind being weak.

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If It works for you, cool.

The whole anti-drug thing is pretty much hardwired into my family's collective consciousness.

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Drugs are for the weak.

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I think that is a tad harsh.

I have a family member that had a car wreck causing brain damage. Along with he/she's vision randomly going out, this person has a slew of mental problems, like horrible nightmares. Pills are the only thing that lets this person sleep normally at night.

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

If It works for you, cool.

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I wish more people had this outlook on more things.

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Bullshit.
Chemical imbalance or no, you can force your brain to alter itself without drugs.

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LOL!

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Bullshit.

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Yes it is.

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Originally Posted by lithium

Yes, it's called cognitive therapy, and is VERY different from merely "telling yourself to snap out of it." I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 13 years ago, I know cognitive therapy and medication extremely well (there's a reason my nickname is "lithium"). Cognitive therapy helped me a lot, but it took over a year of twice a week, hour long sessions before I saw that help. I couldn't have told myself to "snap out of it" if my life depended on it (and imagine that, it did)

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You're lucky.

It took each of us an average of fifteen years to do it on our own.

I suspect that if we had money for proper therapy back then it wouldn't been so difficult.

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

You're lucky.

It took each of us an average of fifteen years to do it on our own.

I suspect that if we had money for proper therapy back then it wouldn't been so difficult.

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But therapy wasn't the only thing I used. I've been on Lithium for 13 years. Granted it's not an anti-depressant in the sense Paxil and Prozac and the like are, but it's no doubt a drug. I've also taken paxil, wellbutrin, and neurontin here and there as needed over the years and all have contributed along with therapy to a healthier life.

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Originally Posted by IronPlant

I think that is a tad harsh.

I have a family member that had a car wreck causing brain damage. Along with he/she's vision randomly going out, this person has a slew of mental problems, like horrible nightmares. Pills are the only thing that lets this person sleep normally at night.

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That's a completely different subject. Brain damage is not controllable.

The subject here is depression. Depression is controllable.

Drop some acid and party with the woods man

I currently take Cymbalta every day.........I also started eating better and excersising.
havent felt this good in a very long time. Saved my life...my relationship with my current girlfriend and family.

I'm not into into taking pills at all....but my depression was getting worse and worse and it took me a long time to do something about it. Something had to be done..

And to answer the original question...

What drug is right for you depends on a ton of things. You've got to work with your Doctor and essentially just try them. Please don't take the advice you find on a video game message board very seriously.

Paxil and the related SSRI's (such as prozac) all work generally the same but also generally have the same side effects such as sexual problems and weight gain. I gained weight very quickly on paxil.

Wellbutrin is popular these days because it actually leads to increased energy and weight loss (it's also marketed as a smoking cessation medication under the name zyban and also marketed as a weight control pill under various names) and has no sexual side effects. I liked wellbutrin and have considered taking it again. If you take too much of it, it feels very much like being on speed, work with your doctor to find the right dosage.

As for anxiety, there are a lot of drugs such as valium and the new "fad" anxiety drug neurontin. Neurontin is only approved for epilepsy by the FDA but is often prescribed for anxiety and depression. I felt no change at all on it. Valium and most anxiety oriented medications give a very similar effect as being slightly drunk. I'm sure you're less anxious after a few beers, well that's basically what valium does. I was officially prescribed neurontin to combat bipolar disorder (it's seen as a mood stabilizer like lithium, but again I felt nothing from it)

And there's of course about 5 million drugs I've never taken or even heard of, so talk with your Doctor who knows them all.

Talk to your doctor and consider other options: regular exercise and eating healthy stimulates the brain and stimulates your brain's natural anti-depressants. Sometimes that is all it takes. Therapy and group therapy can also be very effective. Group therapy is often free, especially if you live in a college town.

Less bitching about the need for drugs, guys. Depression isn't like a common virus or disease that has a set plan for being cured. I think most of the time, people that are pout on drugs did not give therapy and non-chemical treatment a chance. Drugs are tossed out like candy, because it makes money for the companies and some people just don't want to do anything themselves to get over problems. For the depression that IS a chemical imbalance, and therapy HASN'T worked, then it's fine to try medication as the next step. It does help some people a lot, I just think it's handed out without care way too often. My dad's office very rarely sends any depression patients to see a psychiatrist over a psychologist first, and they hardly ever get complaints about that practice.

Oh, and for the record, the Cleveland Clinic prescribes wellbutrin more than the others if it fits the patient. Like lithium said, less side effects, and they've had less patients become dependent on it.

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Originally Posted by Nomi

Drugs are tossed out like candy, because it makes money for the companies and some people just don't want to do anything themselves to get over problems.

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It’s a sign of the times. A lot of doctors these days are in the medical field for the wrong reasons. There are also a lot of stupid people going into medicine. Premeds are some the stupidest people you will find on a college campus. "Teacher, teacher, how do you average these three samples?"

P.S. I'm not saying your dad is like that.

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Bullshit.

Chronic, severe, chemical depression runs in my family and all seven of us beat that shit by saying "Fuck this garbage." You've never met a group of people more averse to drug therapy than my family and yet we are all better off for it. Have you ever seen people that get hooked on that garbage?

Two of my sisters were addicted to anti-depressants for years before they realized that the meds were fucking them up more than the drepression. They chucked the pills and chose to battle it out on their own with support from the family and theraputic help.

Medication is nothing but a band-aid. It doesn't deal with the real problem. Chemical imbalance or no, you can force your brain to alter itself without drugs.

Drugs are for the weak.

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iawtp.

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Originally Posted by Nomi

Less bitching about the need for drugs, guys. Depression isn't like a common virus or disease that has a set plan for being cured. I think most of the time, people that are pout on drugs did not give therapy and non-chemical treatment a chance. Drugs are tossed out like candy, because it makes money for the companies and some people just don't want to do anything themselves to get over problems. For the depression that IS a chemical imbalance, and therapy HASN'T worked, then it's fine to try medication as the next step. It does help some people a lot, I just think it's handed out without care way too often. My dad's office very rarely sends any depression patients to see a psychiatrist over a psychologist first, and they hardly ever get complaints about that practice.

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i think a lot of people use the use of medication as an excuse for their life and the way its going. chemicals really are just a band aid like you've said.

I'm going to go with the anti-medication stuff. That stuff is just bad. Depression and anxiety are just the symtoms of whatever is really bugging you.

The worst thing about anti depressants is they really didn't elevate my mood so much as restrict the range of my moods. IE i wouldn't get AS depressed or as happy but I would still feel them. Also it made me feel very detatched from reality after a while (8 months). It would get to the point where I was at a wedding, suppost to be having a good time and I was thinking "Gee this is pretty fun, I could probally smile," but in a cold detached way. Like a director to a scene. It gives you nearly total control at all times but it does wear thin. Being spock is not fun. I was on Paxil and Effexor.

The other problem is it didn't really do anything to treat my real issues. I was still at a very depressed baseline mood, I still had suicidal thoughts and still got panicy at times, i was just less affected by it.

Basicly indentifying my problems, and coming up with a coherant plan to solve them was the best thing I ever did. Therapy is good, having friends who will listen is even better. I ran with a bad group my freshman year of high school, drinking, drugs, partying and being an asshole every day. Ditching them was the first step.

I used to have this problem big time, and it still effects me today sometimes. But what works for me is to not focus on it basically. I work out, play games . When I feel that I've been to introverted, I go out, martial arts help me alot as well as meditation. I never really could see how a pill could solve my problems. Thats why I never took it.

Just remember its normal for you to go through these stages, and you can get through it every time. Each time it goes through a little faster.

Oh, writing poetry also helps me out alot.

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Originally Posted by MarsKitten

Depression and anxiety are just the symtoms of whatever is really bugging you.

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That is flat out wrong.

Depression has nothing to do with your surroundings, what is going on in your life, recent events, anything. Depression is the result of chemicals in your brain not circulating and doing their job, therefore causing you to feel down with no cause, explanation or reason why. Real depression makes you feel like you're just not a fully functioning human being. Your ability to even think is greatly reduced simply because your brain is no longer working correctly. The depressed mood is merely one symptom.

Simply put, if you can just "snap out" of your depression by buying something new, going and getting drunk, getting laid, playing a new game, whatever, then you were not depressed.

It's been proven that cognitive therapy does cause a rewiring of the brain. It does help improve depression and retrain the brain to be normal again. So do drugs. "Quick fixes", however, do not. The real problem here is society's general ignoring of depression as a real illness and the general myth that people just need to "chipper up" is what often leads people who are truly depressed to kill themselves or others.

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Originally Posted by MarsKitten

The worst thing about anti depressants is they really didn't elevate my mood so much as restrict the range of my moods. IE i wouldn't get AS depressed or as happy but I would still feel them. Also it made me feel very detatched from reality after a while (8 months). It would get to the point where I was at a wedding, suppost to be having a good time and I was thinking "Gee this is pretty fun, I could probally smile," but in a cold detached way. Like a director to a scene. It gives you nearly total control at all times but it does wear thin. Being spock is not fun. I was on Paxil and Effexor.

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I was on Lexipro for a little while, and I was like this. It sucked a lot.

People are over-medicated, and it's frequently prescribed when it doesn't need to be.

That said, I think they do serve a purpose as a starting point. Sometimes people can get depressed enough that they don't even think rationally. If someone is absolutely not thinking rationally, rational discussion and therapy won't get through at all. Medicine can curb this enough to the point where therapy becomes useful (and once therapy has progressed a decent amount, the drugs can be taken away). It's like talking to a psychotic person in a sense... before you try to talk some sense into them you have to calm them down enough so that they'll hear you in the first place.

And I'm talking about real depression here, not feeling kinda bad once in a while. Most of what's diagnosed as "depression" these days is just standard-issue feeling crappy, and taking Paxil or what have you for that is like taking an HIV drug cocktail for a headache. The cocktail has a very legitimate use, but that ain't it.

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Originally Posted by lithium

That is flat out wrong.

Depression has nothing to do with your surroundings, what is going on in your life, recent events, anything. Depression is the result of chemicals in your brain not circulating and doing their job, therefore causing you to feel down with no cause, explanation or reason why. Real depression makes you feel like you're just not a fully functioning human being. Your ability to even think is greatly reduced simply because your brain is no longer working correctly. The depressed mood is merely one symptom.

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I think you're a bit off dismissing the general sadness/anxiety depression because it's not entirely a chemical imbalance. Yes, that is ALSO depression, and therapy may not do crap. People that have no self esteem, shitty friends and family, and generally hate their lives/themselves, are still considered 'depressed'. Medical depression isn't one clear problem, it's another one of those fuzzy areas. Your definition of depression may not be what everyone else is talking about.

It's very intersting to know that more people than I thought on these boards have this problem.

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Originally Posted by lithium

That is flat out wrong.

Depression has nothing to do with your surroundings, what is going on in your life, recent events, anything. Depression is the result of chemicals in your brain not circulating and doing their job, therefore causing you to feel down with no cause, explanation or reason why. Real depression makes you feel like you're just not a fully functioning human being. Your ability to even think is greatly reduced simply because your brain is no longer working correctly. The depressed mood is merely one symptom.

Simply put, if you can just "snap out" of your depression by buying something new, going and getting drunk, getting laid, playing a new game, whatever, then you were not depressed.

It's been proven that cognitive therapy does cause a rewiring of the brain. It does help improve depression and retrain the brain to be normal again. So do drugs. "Quick fixes", however, do not. The real problem here is society's general ignoring of depression as a real illness and the general myth that people just need to "chipper up" is what often leads people who are truly depressed to kill themselves or others.

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This is very true... for real depression. The problem is that many people are given drugs for things that aren't clinical depression in any way. I know a woman who was recommended an anti-depressant after her daughter died. That is a perfectly legitimate time to be sad and does not require medication to "heal."

Depression is a legit illness, but that's only half the story when it comes to how medications are prescribed.

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Originally Posted by Nomi

I think you're a bit off dismissing the general sadness/anxiety depression because it's not entirely a chemical imbalance. Yes, that is ALSO depression, and therapy may not do crap. People that have no self esteem, shitty friends and family, and generally hate their lives/themselves, are still considered 'depressed'. Medical depression isn't one clear problem, it's another one of those fuzzy areas. Your definition of depression may not be what everyone else is talking about.

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But why do these people hate themselves? have low self esteem? etc? If it's a real ongoing problem that just won't go away, there's probably a deeper cause for it, such as a chemical imbalance.

What bothers me is how often people write off depression as if it's not a serious condition, when it is. If someone had say a blood disease such as a dangerously low white blood cell count and needed constant medical attention to stay healthy and even alive, people wouldn't tell them "oh just walk it off! stop being such a baby!" but yet for serious depression that's a generally accepted response.

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That is flat out wrong.

Depression has nothing to do with your surroundings, what is going on in your life, recent events, anything. Depression is the result of chemicals in your brain not circulating and doing their job, therefore causing you to feel down with no cause, explanation or reason why. Real depression makes you feel like you're just not a fully functioning human being. Your ability to even think is greatly reduced simply because your brain is no longer working correctly. The depressed mood is merely one symptom.

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Most people recognize what you're talking about and what they're talking about as two different kinds of depression, or different means of becoming depressed. ie: if something bad happened to you and you can't deal with it and are mopey, you're depressed but should probably find a way to deal with it and move on. A friend of mine was like that for a while and went to psychiatry and took medication and he never got better until he starting weaning himself off of it and dealt with his problems. The problem there was that he'd feel sick from not taking the medicine sometimes.

But if you're feeling down for no discernable reason, then I think people are capable of understanding that if you're like that then there's probably something physically wrong with you and you may need medication to make you normal. However, that point of being down for no discernable reason is far more important than saying people that aren't like that aren't really depressed. When they are. And they're given prescriptions for their depression. And sometimes depression and anxiety are just the symptoms of what is really bugging you, but there's no reason to treat the issue as if one particular type of clinical depression is all that exists.

I'll tell you one thing,

Depression is a constant battle in everyday life. I've had to deal with it ever since it hit me in 6th grade. It just hits you, and then from that point on, for the rest of the day, everything sucks. Then again, sometimes for it, it stoped due to me actually doing something, and getting it off my mind.

I've had the thoughts of killing myself, I suck, etc. Imagine going through your Basketball season like this. It really sucks.

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Originally Posted by lithium

But why do these people hate themselves? have low self esteem? etc? If it's a real ongoing problem that just won't go away, there's probably a deeper cause for it, such as a chemical imbalance.

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Or environmental factors. Kids with a shitty upbringing, some tragic event in the past never going away, or a series of small things that go unnoticed, ect. Yeah, it MIGHT be chemical, but it might not be. You can't always nail it down one way or the other, and that's the basic problem with diagnosing depression. I felt shitty for a lot of reasons, but I got over it (and am still doing so for some of the problems) without the use of medication. Maybe it was chemical, as I have a family background of severe depression and personality disorders. Maybe my family problems fucked me up when I was little. Do I care what caused it? No. End result, therapy has been great and I don't have to worry about any side-effects, and it's satisfying knowing that -I- got myself to feel better, not some pill.

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Originally Posted by lithium

But why do these people hate themselves? have low self esteem? etc? If it's a real ongoing problem that just won't go away, there's possibly a deeper cause for it, such as a chemical imbalance.

What bothers me is how often people write off depression as if it's not a serious condition, when it is. If someone had say a blood disease such as a dangerously low white blood cell count and needed constant medical attention to stay healthy and even alive, people wouldn't tell them "oh just walk it off! stop being such a baby!" but yet for serious depression that's a generally accepted response.

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Fixed that for you.

I suffered from "depression" and was recommended Paxil (which I never took). I hated myself, blah blah blah.

Know what it was? Generic teen angst combined with being annoyed that I was a Fatty McFatterson. I hated my body and was awkward, which made people avoid me, which made things worse, etc. It was a self-created problem, and once I got off my ass, got in shape and socialized more, I was a happier person for it.

Do I think all depression is like this? Of course not. Clinical depression is absolutely real. However, the reality of clinical depression doesn't change the fact that I consider it highly over-diagnosed. Low white cell counts can be measured, but there's no way to investigate someone's brain chemistry so we're never totally sure if it actually is clinical depression or not. These days we lean towards immediately assuming it is, while I feel it would be best to try other avenues first before leaping to the conclusion that it's a real, chemical problem.

Clinical depression can be acknowledged as a serious issue without putting everyone who feels like crap on Paxil. That devalues the term "depression" more than anything. If someone is short of breath when they walk a bit, it could either be a blood issue or they could just need to exercise more, but we don't stick everyone on blood pressure meds just to be on the safe side.

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Originally Posted by sethsez

Depression is a legit illness, but that's only half the story when it comes to how medications are prescribed.

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Truth.

People are sad/teenagers/lonely/virgins/nervous/etc and get pills and seek out help because they are "depressed". These people are just sad, buck up little soldier and learn to deal with life, not everything is happy and roses.

Legitimate clinical depression is an illness, it's not something you can just decide not to have anymore.

That's like saying you can use the power of your mind to mend that broken leg after a car accident, or you can "think away" diabetes.

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Originally Posted by lithium

That is flat out wrong.

Depression has nothing to do with your surroundings, what is going on in your life, recent events, anything. Depression is the result of chemicals in your brain not circulating and doing their job, therefore causing you to feel down with no cause, explanation or reason why. Real depression makes you feel like you're just not a fully functioning human being. Your ability to even think is greatly reduced simply because your brain is no longer working correctly. The depressed mood is merely one symptom.

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Partiallly right. Some people are just depressed without a specific cause and it could be chemical or eletrical. Eitherway it helps alot if you have a very specific and mapped out plan for the future so you don't just fall into sulking about, which is the worst thing. If nothing else you're doing "something" about it. Working out, being social, and devotion to something tangable (job, art, car) can help. But if you have an issue and yer not dealing with it, it will bite you in the ass.

Depression is a long term (month/years), nearly unbroken "depressed" mood, sometimes you can have a good week or two a year.

Me? Depressed nearly my entire life until age 22. Dealt with my issues, finally and am at 24 still getting used to the idea that I can wake up, and want to be awake, and feel suicidal as a regular thing. Its a pretty amazing experience. hell i'm pretty happy these days without taking any mind altering drugs.

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Originally Posted by Kidnemo

diabetes.

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http://www.geo.arizona.edu/~andyf/brimley.jpghttp://ecomm.mercanti.it/dvdstore/Fo...0524174308.JPGhttp://www.geo.arizona.edu/~andyf/brimley.jpghttp://ecomm.mercanti.it/dvdstore/Fo...0524174308.JPG
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/~andyf/brimley.jpghttp://ecomm.mercanti.it/dvdstore/Fo...0524174308.JPGhttp://www.geo.arizona.edu/~andyf/brimley.jpghttp://ecomm.mercanti.it/dvdstore/Fo...0524174308.JPG

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Originally Posted by lithium

But why do these people hate themselves? have low self esteem? etc? If it's a real ongoing problem that just won't go away, there's probably a deeper cause for it, such as a chemical imbalance.

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because they're unmotivated pussies? i know that sounds harsh but c'mon. nobody controls your life but you and in the end your life is a diurect result of your own actions. i'm sick of people needing chemicals to explain why they fucked their lives away. man up and face life i say.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

because they're unmotivated pussies? i know that sounds harsh but c'mon. nobody controls your life but you and in the end your life is a diurect result of your own actions. i'm sick of people needing chemicals to explain why they fucked their lives away. man up and face life i say.

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I hope some fucked up shit happens to you so you can finally understand why it takes people years to get over serious things. Some harsh things tha that happen to people take time to get over, and the time varies from person to person. I think your confusing drugies, with people who had a serious hard life, and struggled to make it, and possibly failed.

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Originally Posted by Ste-Von

Just bad side-effects or what?

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I wouldn't say it's the side effects as much as the main effects, which is relying on medication to help you avoid confronting the shit that's making you depressed to begin with. I went on paxil, imipramine, zoloft, etc and all the shit was the same. My life just kept getting worse but I was more able to further neglect it.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

I told myself to stop being so damn pathetic, quit feeling sorry for myself, and shape up my life. Worked like a charm.

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:tu:

I'm NOT going Tom Cruise and saying that there aren't some people with emotional ailments that might require and benefit from anti-depressants. But too many people out there are just pussies that use them as a crutch when all they really need is to toughen up a little.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarsKitten

Basicly indentifying my problems, and coming up with a coherant plan to solve them was the best thing I ever did. Therapy is good, having friends who will listen is even better. I ran with a bad group my freshman year of high school, drinking, drugs, partying and being an asshole every day. Ditching them was the first step.

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That isn't a very nice thing to say about tracer and station.

Maybe one of you can answer this for me. Is it just me, or is it like all women are on antidepressents? Seriously, its like they are all on them. What is the deal?

I'm not talking about tracer and station. They were the good guys later on
Women are screwed up. Men are too, they just refuse to deal with it more often.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zerohero

I hope some fucked up shit happens to you so you can finally understand why it takes people years to get over serious things. Some harsh things tha that happen to people take time to get over, and the time varies from person to person. I think your confusing drugies, with people who had a serious hard life, and struggled to make it, and possibly failed.

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ummmmm no. im saying what has been said by other people in this thread already but im not candy coating it. has nothing to do with druggies.

and thats nice to want fucked up shit happeneing to me.

The thing is Dyne, that there are actual brain patterns that create unmotivated pussies, and they can be rectified with therapy.

You shouldn't be upset, it's not tax dollars being spent on the therapy.

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Originally Posted by Cowutopia

The thing is Dyne, that there are actual brain patterns that create unmotivated pussies, and they can be rectified with therapy.

You shouldn't be upset, it's not tax dollars being spent on the therapy.

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im all for therapy. im not for pills.

Agreed.

I guess you don't work for a pharmaceutical company then.

I think a lot of the problem is nowadays that people look for excuses for their behaviour too much. If someones kid can't concentrate or isn't doing well in classes, it's because he has ADD, not because of the fact that he is just too damned lazy.

It's like Shidoshi said ealier; stop being so pathetic and feeling sorry for yourself. Stop analysing everything in your life as a medical condition which needs treatment; if you have a bad day, that sucks for you, but its not depression, you don't need pills for it.

[Added after Dyne's post]I appreciate these conditions do exist. If someone is in a state such that they're too depressed to leave the house, or feels genuinly suicidal, then I would certain agree that therapy and medication is the way to go. 99% of time though this isn't the case. People just want to feel sorry for themselves and use it as an excuse as to why their life sucks.

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Originally Posted by Burky

I think a lot of the problem is nowadays that people look for excuses for their behaviour too much. If someones kid can't concentrate or isn't doing well in classes, it's because he has ADD, not because of the fact that he is just too damned lazy.

It's like Shidoshi said ealier; stop being so pathetic and feeling sorry for yourself. Stop analysing everything in your life as a medical condition which needs treatment; if you have a bad day, that sucks for you, but its not depression, you don't need pills for it.

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this is exactly the point i was trying to make. :link:

As for the original issue about social anxiety, I guess you could say that I had that problem if you were to analyse me. I'm not that good at talking to people, with the exception of like 5 people, and I'm not even going to start to talk about how I am with girls.

But the fact is that this isn't that big a deal; it can be seen as part of my character and this isn't going to stop me doing anything I want throughout life. It's not a fucking disability. I don't need pills to sort this "problem" out: if I did, I wouldn't be me anymore so what's the point?

In the end I guess social anxiety could be put down to a lack of extensive social contact: If you want to solve it, you're going to have to get out their and become better socially - no pill or therapist can give you the ability to do that.

It's only considered a problem if it's seriously imparining your normal functioning. If you're normally a lazy douche...well....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Burky

In the end I guess social anxiety could be put down to a lack of extensive social contact: If you want to solve it, you're going to have to get out their and become better socially - no pill or therapist can give you the ability to do that.

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A therapist can definitely help people with social anxiety. Do you really think the entire field of psychology is completely clueless when it comes to a mental condition such as social anxiety? Of course not. There are Doctors who have dedicated their entire professional lives to combating social anxiety, and have learned quite a bit about it (far more than anyone posting in this thread.)

this book is rather dense in its writing (it's written by a Psychiatrist, I suppose that is to be expected), but outlines the general tactics for defeating social anxiety quite well and succintly. Of the 10 or so other shyness and social anxiety books I have read, all of them follow the exact same approach.

I've yet to come across a single Doctor or book which merely suggests "getting out there" as the solution to social anxiety anymore than any Doctors have ever said "don't eat M&Ms" as a means to control diabetes.

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Originally Posted by lithium

I've yet to come across a single Doctor or book which merely suggests "getting out there" as the solution to social anxiety anymore than any Doctors have ever said "don't eat M&Ms" as a means to control diabetes.

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ummm mebbe because they wouldnt make any money for the endless follow up appointments/sessions?

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Originally Posted by lithium

. There are Doctors who have dedicated their entire professional lives to combating social anxiety, and have learned quite a bit about it (far more than anyone posting in this thread.

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OH NO, there are people in the real world that know more about things than the people on the internet. The internet will colapse any second now.

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Originally posted by Cowutopia
It's only considered a problem if it's seriously imparining your normal functioning. If you're normally a lazy douche...well....

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Lol, I'm not lazy don't worry. Thing is I've been working my ass off in school these past two years (hoping to get into Cambridge Uni), and since then my social ability has just declined due to lack of time and contact with others. So now people are becoming at more of a distance to me than they once were, so it's kind of spiralled downward.
It's my last year in school though, so I should be able to make a fresh start next year...

I am a fucking ray of eternal sunshine, seriously.

I'm anxious that one day I will be depressed though :(

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Originally Posted by AstroBlue

I am a fucking ray of eternal sunshine, seriously.

I'm anxious that one day I will be depressed though :(

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I'm nervous about AstroBlue's anxiety

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

ummm mebbe because they wouldnt make any money for the endless follow up appointments/sessions?

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Or, I dunno, maybe because what they prescribe actually works?

I never understood why society at large has such a phobia with mental conditions. The fact is they exist, they're very real, and they can be very debilitating. Doesn't mean everyone who's a little down is depressed or everyone who's a little quiet has social anxiety. But for the people who really have these conditions to the point that they hinder their lives, why on earth would they not seek resolution?

If you've never been truly depressed before then please just shut up. You simply don't know. And telling someone who really has a problem to "snap out of it" is closed minded, and extremely short sighted. Find anyone who has recovered from severe depression, social anxiety or any severe mental condition and ask them if they did it themselves. I guarantee they didn't.

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Originally Posted by dave is ok

I'm nervous about AstroBlue's anxiety

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As long as that nervousness is not making you depressed; that would make me anxious.

As a lot of people said, a lot of the times it is misdiagnosed and so on and so forth. but I would try different ways without the meds first to really try and figure out your problem on your own. If things just arn't going well for you, that's probably the reason your depressed right there.

I've had boughts with severe depression when I was younger but I believe it may have been due to family problems and school. I wanted to isolate myself from my friends and not ever talk to anybody, often wanted to die and was sometimes suicidal, etc...I think I just told myself to start being happier but I think I might've just started feeling better as I grew up a little.

My situation now? I have a deep and dark hatred for a lot of people for no particular reason, I still want to die but I'm not suicidal, I feel as if my life has hit a dead-end and I've damaged it beyond all repair (keep in mind that I'm only 19...), I always feel incredibely bored and that I waste everyday to the fullest almost despite what I do (this is not always the case), I'm more and more prone to extreme anger more often (though I've trained myself to not act on it, or if I do, in a way that won't effect any other people), I don't really care when people close to me have died recently, I often forget a lot of things in my short-term memory and have suffered for it a good bit, I even forgot my own birthday this year, my brain can be hard to use sometimes because of the chaotic nature of my thoughts and the funny thing is that I realize a lot of my feelings and conditions are sort of ridiculous and I realize a lot of it isn't true but that still doesn't help. You know what I've learned though? Fuck it, I'm never gonna get anything done with my life if I'm all giddy about it. I am who I am.

All this "man-up and stop being a pussy" talk is bullshit posturing. Yes, part of overcoming anxiety and depression is refusing to be a victim of it anymore, but for some people it's a deeply rooted medical problem. Yes, tons of people that don't need medication get prescribed medication, but that doesn't mean medication is never a part of the solution. People that have never truly dealt with anxiety and depression love to say things like "man-up" and "pussy", and it's this general misconception that leads people to feel even worse about themselves.

Everyone that hates themselves isn't just lazy and fat, some people have lived through trauma that most of you big talking assholes couldn't begin to fathom or have problems that exercise can't fix. Talking to someone is always the best first step, and from there therapy and possibly medication. Usually medication is not intended to be a long term solution.

I understand some of you may think you suffered from serious depression issues and know the "way" because you didn't feel happy when a loved one died, but accept the possibility that you don't know what you're talking about. You're supposed to be depressed and nervous sometimes, like when bad stuff happens, that's healthy and normal. That's not what the discussion is about. I've been through most of this stuff, if anyone wants to talk PM or email me.

I think they should put meds in the water, personally. OR MAYBE THEY ALREADY DO?!?!?!

I've been on various cocktails since I was about 12. Best thing that's ever happened to me. It takes awhile to get a combo that really "works" for you, anyone who is complaining that meds didn't help them wasn't on the right mix. It can take a few years before you find that right one, but when you do you won't be complaining.

ps- fuck therapy. I probably have more therapy stories than just about anyone. It doesn't do shit. If you want to pay $70+ an hour once or twice a week instead of $20 or so once a month for meds, be my guest.

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Originally Posted by Satsuki

ps- fuck therapy. I probably have more therapy stories than just about anyone. It doesn't do shit. If you want to pay $70+ an hour once or twice a week instead of $20 or so once a month for meds, be my guest.

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I'm getting fucked to a tune of about twice that much every Friday. Gone twice now, don't know if it's going to help, but certainly the stress of thinking about that kind of money in addition to getting ushered out before my hour is up is NOT HELPING ONE BIT.

I should throw his damn comfy chair at him next time. I think the $8.50 eggs benedict I got after the last session was better for my mental well being than somebody I don't know telling me shit I already do know.

So I'm thinking about having him refer me to someone who can give me drugs to play with my brain. Or at least, drugs to actually be able to sleep, which might make all the problems go away anyway.

Thanks to those of you that actually understand some of this shit that I'm going through (Lithium, SpoDaddy, Josh). I understand that people who don't have real clinical depression/anxiety problems always say "just snap out of it" but I've been trying that for years and it just doesn't work. I stopped taking Paxil because I didn't like the side effects and it probably wasn't the right medication for me, but in retrospect I realize I felt a lot better when I was taking it than I do now.

I don't know for sure if I have a chemical imbalance, but I've had three different doctors diagnose me as clinically depressed.

I still have the physical symptoms and difficulty concentrating, but I've learned to overcome the emotional aspect of it.

The idea that people should be happy all or most of the time is just drug company propaganda.
Real life sucks and there's no way to change that.
If someone wants to go through life drugged into contentment, that's their choice, and I don't have a problem with that, but it's not the only way to deal with things, and it won't give you 'real' happiness.

I've realized that the suicidal thoughts were just a fantasy, a result of wanting to escape my life rather than fix it.
The solution, I've found, is to stop wanting to do either, and just learn to exist as I am.

I'm not a cheerful person, I don't have a lot of energy, I'm antisocial and lazy, but I just don't give a fuck.

Letting go of my expectations, desires, and fantasies has been the most liberating experience ever.

I want to go on record as saying I am clinically depressed and I do appreciate that it's a real problem, but I still don't believe that medication is the best way to handle it, and I base this on my experience with a number of anti-depressants. Only in really extreme cases where the person is no longer able to function is it appropriate.

Well we've covered all the bases here. Got the person with issues (me), the snap out of it bullshit (epeen +1!), and the pro/anti therapy/drugs stuff.

Take yer pick. Psychology and neurobiology are still new sciences, no need to discount anything widely used yet. Its still a mix and match thing for many people.

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Originally Posted by MarsKitten

Take yer pick. Psychology and neurobiology are still new sciences, no need to discount anything widely used yet. Its still a mix and match thing for many people.

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Exactly.
How can you trust your mental health to such haphazard science?

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Originally Posted by Grave

I'm getting fucked to a tune of about twice that much every Friday. Gone twice now, don't know if it's going to help, but certainly the stress of thinking about that kind of money in addition to getting ushered out before my hour is up is NOT HELPING ONE BIT.

I should throw his damn comfy chair at him next time. I think the $8.50 eggs benedict I got after the last session was better for my mental well being than somebody I don't know telling me shit I already do know.

So I'm thinking about having him refer me to someone who can give me drugs to play with my brain. Or at least, drugs to actually be able to sleep, which might make all the problems go away anyway.

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Okay, here's the deal. The straight dope on therapy from satsuki. I'm going to do the board a favor and not mention how many I've seen, but the number is upwards of 15. And I am being generous.

Woman therapist- You run fast, and you run far. Women therapists are useless, useless stand ins for mothers. Usually they either don't have kids or have grown kids, so they are always trying to substitue themselves as mothers. They are not supposed to judge, but they do. I have had kind women therapists, but ultimately they did as much as a lesbian friend would do for a male- just about nothing but nod and say "uh huh, uh huh."

Man therapist- Okay, I'm willing to give guys a little bit more leeway here, but not much. If a man is a therapist it's not because he's trying to be a father figure, it's because he is FUCKING NUTS. Ultimately crazy males are no help, except for the occasional philosophical advice that makes you go "hmmm...maybe the buddha really DID say that." However, this same situation can be rendered by going to the library and looking at the yoga books. If you must, MUST MUST see a therapist, see a male. (Males are more liberal with dispensing medication, too.)

Group Therapy- This doesn't work unless you are a desperate woman, and even then it usually is iffy. Don't waste your time.

Marriage counseling- hahahahahahahahahaha

and that is the straight dope.
Grave, I can't tell 1000% for sure, but it sounds like the guy you have sucks. Ask him to refer you to a psychologist- and be VERY vocal when you see a psychologist. "oh, doc, you gotta help me, I can't even go outside without freaking out." If you want them to give you a med that actually does something, do not, under ANY circumstances say stuff that sounds like "uhh....+stammers+ welll....uh.....ya see....uh....I've been kinda down lately." Or else they will dump you on bottom of the barrell crap- Zoloft, for one. (because they will assume you are some dumb kid.)

if you have any more questions about meds and the therapy world Grave, feel free to PM. I've done all this a million times around.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Exactly.
How can you trust your mental health to such haphazard science?

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There is nothing in this world that we know everything about. I figure most things are worth a shot if they offer a chance of improvement or change.

I've only had one woman therapist but she was terrible, it was like I was talking to a prying bored housewife or something.

If you got the funding I highly recommend light-therapy. This is what I use:
http://eukodal.homepage.dk/lightshower.jpg

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Originally Posted by dakidski

If you got the funding I highly recommend light-therapy. This is what I use:
(picture of the sun)

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Explain. I can't see how this would do anything other than hurt your eyes.

Those are full spectrum lights. The reason they look so bright is because they are literally emitting the same wave spectrum as natural sunlight.

So your "picture of the sun" comment actually wasn't that far off base.

When you go from regular light bulbs to full-spectrum light your eyes will be freaking out for a little while until they adjust, but ultimately it's better for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Letting go of my expectations, desires, and fantasies has been the most liberating experience ever.

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thats some sad shit right there.

As I said before I am a fucking ray of eternal sunshine; I am jaded as fuck, as anyone on this board is; but I'm still really easy going and optimistic. The only times I can remember being depressed in my life was when my grandfather died, and the first week I started uni and had no friends whatsoever; which really sucked for me since I'm a fairly social person.

So I'm kinda interested, when you guys are depressed. Are you just sad for no reason at all? Or do you just fixate on a "problem" in your life so much that you turn a mountain out of a molehill?

My job really grounds my perspective on life, it's hard to be emo when you have a two month old dying of cancer in front of you...

My problems is nothing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AstroBlue

As I said before I am a fucking ray of eternal sunshine; I am jaded as fuck, as anyone on this board is; but I'm still really easy going and optimistic. The only times I can remember being depressed in my life was when my grandfather died, and the first week I started uni and had no friends whatsoever; which really sucked for me since I'm a fairly social person.

So I'm kinda interested, when you guys are depressed. Are you just sad for no reason at all? Or do you just fixate on a "problem" in your life so much that you turn a mountain out of a molehill?

My job really grounds my perspective on life, it's hard to be emo when you have a two month old dying of cancer in front of you...

My problems is nothing.

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This probably comes out in the way I act when I say stupid shit online, but I think I probably have high self-esteem because I don't really associate what I do with the quality of who I am. It’s like I know who I am, and no matter how many times I fuck up, or waste/miss an opportunity, my own opinion of myself doesn't change. If I do something wrong, or something bad happens I don't blame myself. To me, shit just happens. Maybe I could have done something different, maybe I couldn't. I tried, and that is what matters.

I'm not saying that I think I'm perfect. I'm not the man I know I am yet. I just accept things and keep on chugging. Shit happens.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AstroBlue

As I said before I am a fucking ray of eternal sunshine; I am jaded as fuck, as anyone on this board is; but I'm still really easy going and optimistic. The only times I can remember being depressed in my life was when my grandfather died, and the first week I started uni and had no friends whatsoever; which really sucked for me since I'm a fairly social person.

So I'm kinda interested, when you guys are depressed. Are you just sad for no reason at all? Or do you just fixate on a "problem" in your life so much that you turn a mountain out of a molehill?

My job really grounds my perspective on life, it's hard to be emo when you have a two month old dying of cancer in front of you...

My problems is nothing.

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Most of the people in this thread are talking about the mopey-dopey, o-I'm-so-emo type of depression that everyone gets and eventually goes away on it's own.

What Lithium, myself and a few others are talking about is full-blown, crippling, severe clinical depression and the fact that most people seem to be incapable of understanding the difference. Clinical depression hits you like a wrecking ball to the skull for no reason at all. Everything could be going your way in life, but you're still severely depressed because, in short, your brain isn't doing what it's supposed to do.

Both Lithium and I have done cognitive therapy in different ways (he through intensive therapy and I through sheer willpower) and forced our own brains to rewire themselves and act right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Exactly.
How can you trust your mental health to such haphazard science?

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I don't see you busting physicists balls for not coming up with unified field theory. Physics, the very way we describe how the universe is a haphazard science yet I see you're trusting your messages of enlightenment to a science that doesn't fully understand the way electrons work. But they understand it just enough to build and maintain complicated objects like oh say... the Internets. :rolleyes:

Science isn't some magical answer machine, it fucking takes time. If you want a perfect answer ask God and get back to me. I'm sure he'll provide. Until then, learn about the scientific process and why it works. Its a method for gathering data and refining theories about how the world works. Congratulations, you failed at understanding what science is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Originally Posted by kedawa
Letting go of my expectations, desires, and fantasies has been the most liberating experience ever.

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This was the conclusion of Fight Club. :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Most of the people in this thread are talking about the mopey-dopey, o-I'm-so-emo type of depression that everyone gets and eventually goes away on it's own.

What Lithium, myself and a few others are talking about is full-blown, crippling, severe clinical depression and the fact that most people seem to be incapable of understanding the difference. Clinical depression hits you like a wrecking ball to the skull for no reason at all. Everything could be going your way in life, but you're still severely depressed because, in short, your brain isn't doing what it's supposed to do.

Both Lithium and I have done cognitive therapy in different ways (he through intensive therapy and I through sheer willpower) and forced our own brains to rewire themselves and act right.

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My wife suffers from clinical depression. She has to take Prozac, Lorazapam ( Low dose Valuum) plus Trazadone (another anti-depressant with a sleeping aid).

Like you've said here, clinical depression is a totally different ballgame. On the worst days, you could have won the lottery and still be sad. When times get tough, her depression kicks in big time. She's going through hard times at work and it's affecting her now. I have a hard time dealing with it, but we get through it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Satsuki

Woman therapist- You run fast, and you run far. Women therapists are useless, useless stand ins for mothers. Usually they either don't have kids or have grown kids, so they are always trying to substitue themselves as mothers. They are not supposed to judge, but they do. I have had kind women therapists, but ultimately they did as much as a lesbian friend would do for a male- just about nothing but nod and say "uh huh, uh huh."

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You are SO right about these bitches. I used to date a girl that was seeing a female therapist (hey, if you put a space, it's "the rapist") and she suggested that I come along this one time. Now, I'd never met this woman before. At one point I interjected something into the conversation and this cunt of a therapist jumped all over me, almost yelling, saying that I cut off my gf and that I should let her speak and how it was such a horrible thing I did. I mean, the bitch was angry. We just kinda sat there in stunned silence, and later my gf was all like, "wtf was that all about?"

Weird. I guess I'd understand if she and I were arguing or something and she was telling her therapist about it, but we weren't having any problems to speak of at the time.

you bitch slapped her right? tell me you slapped that bitch.

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Originally Posted by Dragonmaster Dyne

you bitch slapped her right? tell me you slapped that bitch.

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The therapist? I damn well should have.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kedawa

Letting go of my expectations, desires, and fantasies has been the most liberating experience ever.

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The mantra of the downtrodden.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AstroBlue

As I said before I am a fucking ray of eternal sunshine; I am jaded as fuck, as anyone on this board is; but I'm still really easy going and optimistic. The only times I can remember being depressed in my life was when my grandfather died, and the first week I started uni and had no friends whatsoever; which really sucked for me since I'm a fairly social person.
So I'm kinda interested, when you guys are depressed. Are you just sad for no reason at all? Or do you just fixate on a "problem" in your life so much that you turn a mountain out of a molehill?
My job really grounds my perspective on life, it's hard to be emo when you have a two month old dying of cancer in front of you...
My problems is nothing.

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I don't usually get depressed without a reason. I don't usually stay depressed because I've learned that, as shitty as life can get sometimes, things always eventually get better, that they could be much, much worse, that you have the power to change the situation that's making you depressed (well, usually anyway), and that no matter what, the situation will be the same if you either curl up in a corner crying or if you just do your best to deal with it and move on. It's all prespective.

And even on the rare occasions that I do get depressed for no reason, I think about it, and if there is nothing actually wrong that I can tell, I just try to ignore it, and 9 times out of 10, I carry on fine.

It's really amazing how easy it is to just wallow in sadness…there's a solace of sort in it. But not much fun.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Those are full spectrum lights. The reason they look so bright is because they are literally emitting the same wave spectrum as natural sunlight.

So your "picture of the sun" comment actually wasn't that far off base.

When you go from regular light bulbs to full-spectrum light your eyes will be freaking out for a little while until they adjust, but ultimately it's better for you.

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Yeah, what that man said. Try it, it works for me. Then again, I live far up in the cold, dark north. I heard they offer these free to use at your workplace in Norway. Light is my god.