Depression

[Ruskie]

Learnt a valuable lesson last night that too much alcohol is a bad idea in that mindset. I don't drink very often but I won't be doing it again in a hurry.

[anonymous-user]

Self medicating with Alcohol is never a good idea and can only lead you down an even darker road, especially if you find yourself drinking with only yourself as company.

The important thing is that you're already recognizing the signs and habits, that's more than half the battle won .

[Digger]

Tell me about it. Or you can read about it in that other thread. This morning is as good as I've felt in the last month.

[JFReturns]

FunBusMk2 said:

I've deleted the link. The thread does have a lot of contributions from sufferers though.

It wasn't so much the thread title; the URL used included the search term so that word was highlighted in yellow multiple times throughout the page.

[FunBusMk2]

I put the S word through search so would have highlighted it.

[tim0409]

Ruskie said:

Learnt a valuable lesson last night that too much alcohol is a bad idea in that mindset. I don't drink very often but I won't be doing it again in a hurry.

I have been prone to depression and I now try and avoid alcohol at much as I can as the next morning/following days can be quite bleak! For me, exercise is the key to feeling better although I know it's very difficult to motivate yourself when you are feeling down.

[Rickyy]

What ever you choose to do, make sure you seek a professional opinion. Having someone to talk to about it can make things easier! I spoke to my GP about it and it was reassuring, he gave me plenty of options, none of which I've taken up yet.

I'd also echo what others have said about exercise. I changed my diet and started running, I have felt better since that. Although this last week I've felt the black cloud loom over me, but that is due to my job and the stress that comes with it!

Seriously, even if you are just wondering about it, seek advice before it has a bad effect on any of your relationships.

My depression seems to run hand in hand with bouts of rage, that can be triggered over something very trivial! Don't let it get to this stage!

[Arif110]

2.5pi said:

"...I believe the best 'home made' antidote is to ensure regular exercise preferably in the great outdoors, the natural endorphins should help you stabilise your moods and think more clearly as to the way forward"

I will likely look back at this post and recognise its role in having saved my 'life' and my livelihood.

[duncancallum]

I sir doff my cap to your beautiful and elegantly crafted sarcasm. I wish one day to be as adroit as you with it.

Its something I feel affects more people than you would expect. I just think some people find it much harder to talk about and act on. I know I do.

[Hyper10]

Ruskie said:

Having been back through 5 months of threads I can't see one on depression. What are people's personal experiences?

I have never been diagnosed or anything but some days I have what can only be described as a 'fog' in my head that makes me lethargic, disinterested, moody and incapable of decent interaction. No warning or pattern just happens. Can last a day or sometimes a week. If I am just left alone I come out of it fine but that's the problem it's impossible to be left with work/family commitments so my OH gets the brunt of it which is not fair. Leading to me denying its me and just ignoring her efforts to talk. Just wondered what other people's thoughts on the matter are or indeed on my personal experience?

I quote your post purely to remind other readers. Looking at your profile, I see you are a Paramedic and as a casual observer without qualifications, to me your job is undoubtedly rewarding but very hard after all you constantly need to appear in control and to be fair the great British public are not the most empathic. In addition am I right in thinking that this is your busy time, you are effectively in the NHS and hopefully if you speak to either your line manager or Welfare officer, they should assist readily, of course you may wish to see your Doctor but whatever way do see someone, but someone who is suitably qualified.
For me,as someone who has limited experience of Ambulances etc, the job you do is a job I could never do and you can be proud of the benefit you bring to society.

[Mobile Chicane]

Arif110 said:

2.5pi said:

"...I believe the best 'home made' antidote is to ensure regular exercise preferably in the great outdoors, the natural endorphins should help you stabilise your moods and think more clearly as to the way forward"

I will likely look back at this post and recognise its role in having saved my 'life' and my livelihood.

Maybe one / both of you are taking the piss.

However, let's assume that neither of you mean any harm. Chill, Winston.

I've suffered from depression since I was 10 years old. Now, at the age of 46, I can assure you I know a thing or two about it!

People preach about 'exercise' as a major combatant. Well why, and to what end? I loathe the gym, the self-obsessed bunnies found there, and would far rather get out into the countryside for a walk.

Over the last few years I've found immense satisfaction in doing just that: myself and some work colleagues did a 100Km trek in aid of Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Between us we raised £3,500 which the company matched.

Last year I did a 100-mile trek across southern Morocco, and am going back this Christmas for more...

Goals and 'structure' to life help me. I'm sure that such an approach isn't a universal panacea, however at least consider it.

[M3333]

Mobile Chicane said:

Maybe one / both of you are taking the piss.

However, let's assume that neither of you mean any harm. Chill, Winston.

I've suffered from depression since I was 10 years old. Now, at the age of 46, I can assure you I know a thing or two about it!

People preach about 'exercise' as a major combatant. Well why, and to what end? I loathe the gym, the self-obsessed bunnies found there, and would far rather get out into the countryside for a walk.

Over the last few years I've found immense satisfaction in doing just that: myself and some work colleagues did a 100Km trek in aid of Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. Between us we raised £3,500 which the company matched.

Last year I did a 100-mile trek across southern Morocco, and am going back this Christmas for more...

Goals and 'structure' to life help me. I'm sure that such an approach isn't a universal panacea, however at least consider it.

Not posted anything like this in 'public' before.

A few years ago i went through a very bad stage where i split up with the girl i had lived with for 4 years, the girl of my dreams whom i still consider my soul mate but we just could not make it work for various reasons, the main one being i wanted a family and she was not ready - although we loved each other deeply it drove a huge wedge between us. Everything was amicable, we are still freinds, but the day i moved out of our home we discovered she was pregnant. She had an abortion, not a day goes by when i do not wonder how life could have been, i have still not yet found anyone who i have ever felt the same about or even come close to falling in love with again.

At the same time i found my business partner had been fleecing the company dry, a few of my customers went bust on me and i was out of pocket somewhere in the region of £50k. I found myself alone and poor and went into a deep spiral where nothing really made any sense, became a very negative and withdrawn person.

I really did not want to visit a doctor and i never ever did, but i read in great detail about different types of depression and pretty much diagnosed myself as having it clinically.

Basically waffling on - Exercise worked for me, i did join a Gym (not a self obsessed bunnie though!) and try to work out at least 3 times a week, lots of walking/cycling in between, eating healthy and generally looking after myself really boosted my self esteem. Those few sentences make it sound easy but it took me a long time to get back on track, best part of 2 years really. I managed to loose lots of weight make myself look a few years younger. I still have lots of 'off' days but generally nothing as dark and down at the worst times.

You are right with goals and leading a structured life, keeps everything in perspective and i definetly try and keep a positive mindset rather than a negative one - i really do believe Exercise is key, if i have a few weeks without a decent diet and no exercise i do start to feel depressed and down.

Well done with the Treking, that sounds Fab

Edited by M3333 on Saturday 24th December 05:22

[Funk]

I made a big leap about 6 months ago and spoke to my doctor. I'm on a light dose of Citalopram (30mg/day) which I have to say has helped. I'll post more tomorrow, I'm just posting because I can't sleep at the moment (but I really need to...)

[grumbledoak]

I'm on Citalopram, too, at the moment. 2011 was the worst year of my life, breaking up a relationship involving this little one, who I had stayed home to raise and now barely see:


But at least I know why and have gone to the GP. OP, go to yours.

Incidentally, internet fora are disproportionately populated by the depressed because it is something you can do without leaving the house.

[Thom987]

grumbledoak said:

Incidentally, internet fora are disproportionately populated by the depressed because it is something you can do without leaving the house.

Also something you can do when you can't sleep as can be seen by my late night/early morning posts.

[2.5pi]

Hello mobile chicane

So basically exercise in the great outdoors helped you? Which was exactly my point

2.5pi

[Insanity Magnet]

Funk said:

I made a big leap about 6 months ago and spoke to my doctor. I'm on a light dose of Citalopram (30mg/day) which I have to say has helped. I'll post more tomorrow, I'm just posting because I can't sleep at the moment (but I really need to...)

Just to note, in case you hadn't worked it out, that citalopram and other SSRIs should be taken in the morning as they will keep you awake. I used to split my dose 20mg am, 20mg pm and would generally be awake most of the way through the night. Improvement on am dose to sleeping at 2-3am...

[pwrc]

After dropping out of school and getting nowhere near the qualifications I was due I basically spent two years in front of the computer trying to make sense of how I went wrong. I'm on Sertraline, 50mg, which has the added effect of helping you get to sleep at night because one of my biggest issues was being kept up all night worrying about stuff and not being able to switch off.
I wouldn't say pills totally help, it doesn't really feel noticeable but things just seem a lot smoother - the earliest effect I noticed was that getting up in the morning was a lot easier.
They are a useful contribution towards recovery though and I would not shun them.
Exercise really does help, it's a very natural solution. Projects, socialising, daily structure all contributes.

[anonymous-user]

I've got to ask the PH suffers of Depression - Do you find yourself in a constant, unrelenting dark fog of Depression (until for whatever reason, you're pulled out of it), or do you very occasionally find yourself being inexplicably happy and then reverting back to the depressed/numb state?

I'm usually a miserable bd but this is occasionally broken up by rare periods where I actually feel REALLY good about life, singing, dancing, chatty, etc (albeit only for a few hours). The only way I can really explain it is like being tipsy despite being completely sober. Everything seems good, not great but good until I start to sink back down.

Just trying to gauge how much I should worried .

[Digger]

279 said:

I've got to ask the PH suffers of Depression - Do you find yourself in a constant, unrelenting dark fog of Depression (until for whatever reason, you're pulled out of it), or do you very occasionally find yourself being inexplicably happy and then reverting back to the depressed/numb state?

I'm usually a miserable bd but this is occasionally broken up by rare periods where I actually feel REALLY good about life, singing, dancing, chatty, etc (albeit only for a few hours). The only way I can really explain it is like being tipsy despite being completely sober. Everything seems good, not great but good until I start to sink back down.

Just trying to gauge how much I should worried .

As mentioned 'Depression' comes in many guises. From what you have described I wouldn't be worried, just a tad concerned and a trip to your GP would be advisable - the fact you are asking here being the clue!

I'd hazard a guess there is a hint of bi-polar about you, but who are we to second-guess what's going on in our heads.