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Discussion & help on depression & mental health related issues

Just to add, the only way I've been able to "tackle" my own depression is two fold, one is to accept it, if you are not going to take medication and two is to keep busy, I've always got something planned, whilst that's ongoing or concluding I'm making sure something else is planned.

I'm a study rat and constantly certifying myself and books and completing exams are a good help.

The cliche is answer to depression is " get out and meet/socialise " etc. I'm not a massive fan of that, so unless you are then it's quite limiting, but doing the simple things like cooking,visiting relatives, all require a little bit of determination and planning.

Like I say. I'm not saying any of this is a help, but it's helped me, and I hope one day this curse leaves me.
 
Bobby B said:
'anti-depressants are not dangerous when taken as recommended and are not addictive'

The same as any medication, if taken correctly under proper supervision, they are not dangerous.
Why would they be prescribed if they were?
As for not being addictive I wish to disagree - in my experience most anti-deressants are 'happy pills' and the longer you are on them the more difficult they are to get off.
Someone mentioned Prozac, again in my experience, if I was going to commit suicide it was when I was on Prozac or more correctly Seroxat. Perhaps not the same thing!
I kept telling the chemist I did not want it but they kept saying it was a 'generic' name - still the same constant suicidal thoughts - then they changed the pills and now no such thoughts.

Is it all in the mind? Who knows!!
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Prozac's generic non-brand name is fluoxetine. Seroxat is a different SSRI anti-depressant. It's true that you need to find the right one for you (I found one of them made me a bit "removed," like Bryan describes). Sertraline, which I'm on right now, is not a "happy pill" for me. It doesn't alter reality for me in any way, it merely makes me feel "normal" so I can get on with life.
 
Bryan said:
Just to add, the only way I've been able to "tackle" my own depression is two fold, one is to accept it, if you are not going to take medication and two is to keep busy, I've always got something planned, whilst that's ongoing or concluding I'm making sure something else is planned.

I'm a study rat and constantly certifying myself and books and completing exams are a good help.

The cliche is answer to depression is " get out and meet/socialise " etc. I'm not a massive fan of that, so unless you are then it's quite limiting, but doing the simple things like cooking,visiting relatives, all require a little bit of determination and planning.

Like I say. I'm not saying any of this is a help, but it's helped me, and I hope one day this curse leaves me.
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Good post. Agree with all of that....particularly that bit about accepting it. Even the simple step of posting on here and sharing your problems is a form of acceptance that you're not well. Important step to take. Next challenge once you've accepted it, is to address it. Bryan's suggestion about keeping busy is excellent but as he says, it may not work for everybody.

One interesting bit of research that I read recently is that volunteering or caring can have a beneficial impact on depression sufferers. It seems that one of the characteristics of depression is a focus on the self....unsurprising really. If I'm feeling low, I'm thinking mostly about me...despair can be very introspective.

The research that I read states that volunteering to help people as it encourages us to perceive the problems of others rather than just focussing on our own. This can lead - for some - to an improvement in mental health for the volunteer. So one possible solution is to look online for opportunities where you live to help others. A quick look in my local town reveals a demand for drivers to help people with mobility problems get to the shops, to work in charity shops, man coffee bars in hospitals, take youngsters on day trips (DBS checked, naturally), man charity stalls in shopping centres....all sorts.
 
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trebilcock66 said:
Good post. Agree with all of that....particularly that bit about accepting it. Even the simple step of posting on here and sharing your problems is a form of acceptance that you're not well. Important step to take. Next challenge once you've accepted it, is to address it. Bryan's suggestion about keeping busy is excellent but as he says, it may not work for everybody.

One interesting bit of research that I read recently is that volunteering or caring can have a beneficial impact on depression sufferers. It seems that one of the characteristics of depression is a focus on the self....unsurprising really. If I'm feeling low, I'm thinking mostly about me...despair can be very introspective.

The research that I read states that volunteering to help people encourages us to perceive the problems of others rather than just focussing on our own. This can lead - for some - to an improvement in mental health for the volunteer. So one possible solution is to look online for opportunities where you live to help others. A quick look in my local town reveals a demand for drivers to help people with mobility problems get to the shops, to work in charity shops, man coffee bars in hospitals, take youngsters on day trips (DBS checked, naturally), man charity stalls in shopping centres....all sorts.
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Cracking, spot on. That bit about introvert, I self diagnosed myself! I'm not about to suggest a book will help, and one day you'll wake up and have Lucy Pinder making you cheese on toast, but this was like a voice from within me this book.


If any wants to to loan a copy i have got the PDF or ebook.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0761123695?pc_redir=1398457616&robot_redir=1
 
Clint Planet said:
Just to be clear, anti-depressants are not dangerous when taken as recommended and are not addictive. They do not "space you out" (they are different to tranquilizers). They generally work by making your brain retain its seratonin (the "feel-good" chemical that your body produces naturally) for longer.

They can be a great help in just letting you get on with life in a normal manner, should you have issues with depression or anxiety.

I used Prozac about 11 years ago for a while to get me through a dark period in my life. They helped enormously. When I was ready, I came off them with no ill-effects.

I am currently on Sertraline (better for anxiety and panic attacks than prozac) following an episode that left me with PTSD a while back. Again, it is really helping.

No stigma in using anti-depressants, folks. This is a tough world. If you cut your hand, put a plaster on it. If you break a leg, get to A&E. If you're suffering from depression, see your doctor and consider taking medication for it.
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apologies mate i wasnt knocking it nor stigmatising. I just feel if there is a natural alternative available it would be better to explore it first.
 

wbn61 said:
im on here everyday (nothing better to do)
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Not directed at anyone in particular but it seems that forums such these do a lot of good but only so much
the rest is up to the individual.

The above comment is one that is frequently heard/seen and in itself makes depressing reading -
(nothing better to do) - what a pity.
 
Was Ill about two years ago and contemplated ending it all.

Things had been getting on top of me at work for a while. Job cuts led to [Poor language removed] loads of work and tried to do everything myself, and thought I was coping. And in truth I was to a point.

Then we had a supplier drop us in the [Poor language removed] and long story short, legal said there was no way the system I was putting into schools would get in. They didn't seem to grasp that it had to be installed in every school and no wasn't an option. Anyway, I went home in tears that afternoon as I felt of let everyone down. Also, we were going through another review and thought that this would all lead to me losing my job.

Bout of depression followed and I didn't leave the bedroom for over 72 hours and it all came to a head a few days later when I was lying in bed crying and the wife just sighed. Nothing in it, but I felt that she was sick of me and didn't care, so I left the room and went down stairs and really thought it all through, and figured out they'd all be better off without me. After all, if they got some money through me killing myself, then that would see them okay.

Wrote her a email the next say saying as much and was dragged to the docs by her an hour later. Received a phone call from mental health a couple of days later and she explained it could take about 3 months before I could be seen. I answered her questions and was in her office two days later, not sure what the hell I said but guess it scared her.

Anyway, talked it through and sorted myself out. Hardest part was going back to work, as I thought that everyone would treat me differently but they didn't. It didnt take long for me to get my [Poor language removed] together and sort myself out.

Life changed for me over that couple of weeks and now i don't let anything I can't control bother me. Life is too short. In saying that I'm meant to be running the Sunderland 10k on Sunday and banged my knee last week and it's now doubtful I can run, and I'm gutted but nothing compared to those few weeks.

Wouldn't wish it on anyone, but, it has changed my life.

One more thing I'll add and no doubt it has been mentioned before, but talk about it. Even more so with blokes and we never talk about feelings and the like, but I found getting it all out in the open with my mates, made a massive difference.
 
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Bobby B said:
Not directed at anyone in particular but it seems that forums such these do a lot of good but only so much
the rest is up to the individual.

The above comment is one that is frequently heard/seen and in itself makes depressing reading -
(nothing better to do) - what a pity.
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at the time it was tongue in cheek but in reality I do spend too much time on here. I do other things but it's the monotony that brings me down most of the time and the pain gives me an excuse if you will to stop and do nothing. i'm probably exaggerating as I do have good days,maybe more than the bad ones. and by the way I don't need pity.
 
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Sunderland afc said:
Wouldn't wish it on anyone, but, it has changed my life.

One more thing I'll add and no doubt it has been mentioned before, but talk about it. Even more so with blokes and we never talk about feelings and the like, but I found getting it all out in the open with my mates, made a massive difference.
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That's an important point. Although when I'm feeling low, I want the pain to stop, I want to be 'normal' again, my despair is as much part of me as my eye colour.

So another way to look at it is that we are all the sum of our experiences. We learn from what happens to us (or not). Viewed in that way, being depressed is really part of me growing up/growing old. I too would not wish it upon anybody but I can take the positives from it. It's made who I am today.

And I'm reminded that all people who are depressed can be happy again. Can laugh and cry and enjoy life to the full. May not feel like it when it bites hard but you can come through it and emerge into daylight.
 
chicoazul said:
I'm having a terribly tough time at work of late. Lots of change and stress, to the point where my life work balance is very one sided. Any time I get away from it I usually spend on here to escape.

Can't wait for it all to pass over and start enjoying stuff again.
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Mate...can't tell you how often that work/life balance thing has gotten out of whack for me. A peak at GOT can and has brightened my day when things were really shyte at work.
 
ilikecheese said:
Mate...can't tell you how often that work/life balance thing has gotten out of whack for me. A peak at GOT can and has brightened my day when things were really shyte at work.
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Aye it helps! I'll be ok, I just have to keep focused and kick against the tide. It would be nice if I had lids who motivated me from time to time but I get by like I always do.

Makes you appreciate the good times more when they come about.
 

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