Depression.

[wfbberzerker]

i get depressed, oh, once every 28 days.


actually, im kinda depressed right now.

 

[EvilYoda]

Been depressed for about 1.5-2 years now, but only recently (about 2 months ago), was I finally able to admit to myself that I needed help...the breakup with my g/f of 2.5 years kinda pushed me over.

The number of depressed people shocks me, and leads me to believe that most people overestimate their "depression"...no offense, but just seems like a few people are bummed that their favorite show was cancelled or something.

 

[zCypher]

Well, thank you for the excellent discussion tonight, folks.. some good stuff in here. I will surely check the thread out again if it's still floating around some time later. I will attempt to catch some shut eye now. Good night all.

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
Been depressed for about 1.5-2 years now, but only recently (about 2 months ago), was I finally able to admit to myself that I needed help...the breakup with my g/f of 2.5 years kinda pushed me over.

The number of depressed people shocks me, and leads me to believe that most people overestimate their "depression"...no offense, but just seems like a few people are bummed that their favorite show was cancelled or something.

well i've noticed that when there are posts about "take this mental disorder test," there seems to be a lot with disorders here also. so there may be a correlation between higher level of intelligence (yes, thats right, i think most people on anandtech have above average intelligence!) and occurance of mental disorders/depression.

 

[MWink]

I suffer from major depression. It's been really bad for the last year and a half with (to my knowledge) 3 distinct episodes. I'm currently in the worst one yet (they seem to be getting worse exponentially). This episode has been going on for at least 3 months.

I understand both sides of the fence on this issue. I used to be one of those people who thought mental illness, medication, psychotherapy, suicidal thoughts, etc. made someone weak. Now that I've actually educated myself on the subject and experienced it, I see that I couldn't have been more wrong. And even those who know about it will not truly understand it unless they actually experience it themselves. It's almost impossible to comprehend what it feels like to be truly depressed. I can look back on some of the things I thought when it was really bad and I can't believe I was ever thinking them. It's very scary.

Fortunately I ended up researching (clinical) depression a while back (not because I thought I had it but for another reason) and I realized that the symptoms fit me perfectly (not necessarily all of them but most of them, far more than needed for a diagnosis). I also came to the realization that it was getting worse with time and that I NEEDED help before it was too late. I finally saw a psychiatrist earlier this week and he agreed with me (after asking plenty of questions, of course). He gave me a prescription for Lexapro which I just started taking tonight (so I can't tell you about its effects/side-effects yet).

IMO, depression is one of the most misunderstood illnesses (and yes it IS and illness). It's hard to explain to most people because they think of depression as just being sad. Clinical depression is SO much more. In fact sometimes it is not about feeling sad, but about not being able to feel emotions at all. There are also a number of types of depression. I've been talking about major depression but there is also Seasonal Affective Disorder (feeling bad during the winter), Dysthymia (feeling bad (but not too bad!) all the time), and Bipolar (very high some of the time, very low the rest of the time. BTW, Bipolar is very different from the other types of depression).

For anyone who wants to learn about depression
Here is a good place to start. I highly suggest anyone who does not know about it at least read a little about it. Chances are that if you don't suffer from it, you know someone who does (if not both). Oh and one more thing... The most annoying, insulting thing you can say to someone with depression is "just snap out of it" (don't you think we would if we could!?!?!?!).

BTW, I also probably suffer from a few other mental illnesses including Social Anxiety Disorder, OCD, and Panic Attacks. Those I'm not as sure about but I do show signs of them and they are usually associated with depression. I will discuss them with my psychiatrist in the future.

 

[Mrburns2007]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Mrburns2007

Originally posted by: brunswickite
I dont think its a chemical imbalance, i think thats total bs, just a reason to sell pills, pharmeceutical companies need to make money some how.

Think about it this way, there are about a billion chemicals in your body and brain and they are suppose to whatever they were design to do properly. The fact that they usually work correctly is amazing. So it's certainly plausible that one of these chemicals doesn't work right and that a chemical imbalance occurs.


BTW: I've worked with a person who was bipolar and they are much better when there on there medication, when they go off there meds it's like watching a train wreck, not fun.

Still begs the question of why we need all these anti-depressant pharmaceuticals now. Once again I ask, how did we survive all those millenia, given so much "chemical imbalance"? I don't deny that it exists, but something tells me that much of the epidemic is exaggerated for the purpose of selling more prescriptions.

Well that could be said of many diseases such as Heart disease, cancer or diabetes. The answer is simple most of those people just suffered and eventually died. Crazy people were often thought to be possossed by the devil and burned at the stake or if they were lucky chained up in a prison.

 

[Deeko]

I had a year of extreme happiness. That year is over. Now I'm going through hell.....temporary depression, if you will. It will get better.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

i'm not sure if i'm depressed or not. i feel like it sometimes, it's mainly because i'm lonely - i can't really find other people who i can relate to. i've seriously become such a big computer nerd that it has obliterated my tolerance for stupid people. i dont mind being around them at work or whatever, but as far as socializing and whatnot - forget it. it doesnt help that i work at mcdonalds, everyone there is pretty much going nowhere in life. i'm eagerly awaiting college, where i'll actually be around at least some fairly intelligent people who have goals and want to do big and exciting things in life, not sit around and get f'ed up all day long (not that all drugs are totally bad - but when that's your only purpose in life, thats not a good thing). i'm ready to go but i cant do anything until next fall :-/

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: brunswickite
I dont think its a chemical imbalance, i think thats total bs, just a reason to sell pills, pharmeceutical companies need to make money some how.

wrong. I've seen the effects of meds. They work.

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: brunswickite
I dont think its a chemical imbalance, i think thats total bs, just a reason to sell pills, pharmeceutical companies need to make money some how.

wrong. I've seen the effects of meds. They work.

Maybe so, in certain cases - but maybe there aren't actually that many that need them?

 

[Centaur6]

Working out is the best antidepressant in the world. Enough said.

 

[tk149]

I've been diagnosed with Clinical Depression and General Anxiety. I've lost my career, my job, and my girlfriend of 7 years because of it. I've almost commited suicide several times. So, for those of you who don't believe in it, STFU! You have no idea what you're talking about.

I understand why there's disbelief in Depression as an actual illness. I have bachelor's degrees in Neurobiology and Psychology. I've LIVED through Depression, and I still can't shake the feeling that I'm just weak-minded in some way. There's a part of me that refuses to accept that I am in some way, "flawed." And yet, my own experiences tell me that Depression IS an illness, because it CAN be treated.

I've been in and out of professional therapy for the last 4 years. I've taken various medications (which have helped). Yes, I'm aware of the placebo affect, but I don't *think* it applies in my case, because some drugs worked better than others. BTW, my doctor told me that if a non-depressed person takes depression medication, s/he will experience no real effects.

Right now, I feel fine. Despite the fact that my girlfriend dumped me 3 months ago. But everyday, I feel Depression lurking, waiting, watching. I know how very little it will take for me to fall again. There isn't a day that goes by, where I don't think, "I hate my life." For now, I just keep moving.

BTW, one doctor told me that smarter people tend to be more affected by depression. I don't know if he was just trying to make me feel better.

BAH! Time to get a hooker.

 

[SlowSS]

Originally posted by: zCypher

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: brunswickite
I dont think its a chemical imbalance, i think thats total bs, just a reason to sell pills, pharmeceutical companies need to make money some how.

wrong. I've seen the effects of meds. They work.

Maybe so, in certain cases - but maybe there aren't actually that many that need them?

First you say it is TOTAL bs, and now you are back-paddling and say some cases will require medication....
Make up your damn mind.

Are you a doctor with research background to validate your claim that chemical imbalance is just a figment of imagination?

What evidence/documentations do you have to say certain medication isn't require to treat chemical imbalance or depression?

 

[zCypher]

I didn't say that! No, I am not a doctor.

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: tk149
I've been diagnosed with Clinical Depression and General Anxiety. I've lost my career, my job, and my girlfriend of 7 years because of it. I've almost commited suicide several times. So, for those of you who don't believe in it, STFU! You have no idea what you're talking about.

I understand why there's disbelief in Depression as an actual illness. I have bachelor's degrees in Neurobiology and Psychology. I've LIVED through Depression, and I still can't shake the feeling that I'm just weak-minded in some way. There's a part of me that refuses to accept that I am in some way, "flawed." And yet, my own experiences tell me that Depression IS an illness, because it CAN be treated.

I've been in and out of professional therapy for the last 4 years. I've taken various medications (which have helped). Yes, I'm aware of the placebo affect, but I don't *think* it applies in my case, because some drugs worked better than others. BTW, my doctor told me that if a non-depressed person takes depression medication, s/he will experience no real effects.

Right now, I feel fine. Despite the fact that my girlfriend dumped me 3 months ago. But everyday, I feel Depression lurking, waiting, watching. I know how very little it will take for me to fall again. There isn't a day that goes by, where I don't think, "I hate my life." For now, I just keep moving.

BTW, one doctor told me that smarter people tend to be more affected by depression. I don't know if he was just trying to make me feel better.

BAH! Time to get a hooker.

Chin up, sounds like you understand it, which is a big step in and of itself.

 

[EvilYoda]

ooh ooh! Let's start a support group.

And good call, about working out...I know I felt (not to mention looked) better over break when I was making use of the weight rooms where we stayed in Florida...my body reacts to working really fast and well, but I still don't do it on a regular basis. hmph. Although I have decided that this year, I will build my shoulders and biceps, so I should probably get started on that.

 

[Mrburns2007]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
ooh ooh! Let's start a support group.

And good call, about working out...I know I felt (not to mention looked) better over break when I was making use of the weight rooms where we stayed in Florida...my body reacts to working really fast and well, but I still don't do it on a regular basis. hmph. Although I have decided that this year, I will build my shoulders and biceps, so I should probably get started on that.

Exercise effects Brain Chemistry, it can definitly improve your mood.

 

[idNut]

Originally posted by: brunswickite
I dont think its a chemical imbalance, i think thats total bs, just a reason to sell pills, pharmeceutical companies need to make money some how.

Yup. Did you ever read in the Zoloft manual how it says they don't know how it works, heh.

 

[Darein]

I've never been real depressed, I've had bad days like everyone else, but nothing that I knew wouldn't get better. I don't think I've known anyone with depression, or they hid it pretty well.

 

[Atlantean]

Yeah I was pretty depressed last year around this time, not really sure why I was depressed, I was just depressed (for those of you who are or have been depressed you know what I mean). I took some Zoloft for a while, and I hated it so I went off (plus the dosage I was on was fairly high I think (100mg) so that could be part of the problem), and was fine after that, or at least I seem to be fine, and I feel pretty happy, not waking up every day wishing that I was dead and wanting to kill myself. Everyone responds differenty to meds so take them and see what they do for you.