Depression.

[zCypher]

How many of you who've been or are depressed, could pinpoint the SOURCE of depression, or what's causing it? How many of you who've been or are depressed were so, because of something to do with your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/your relationship with him/her?

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: kuk
I don't like the look of the results ...
BTW, I voted yes.

I wonder about this too; perhaps people who are "not happy" are voting that they are "depressed". These are two entirely different things..

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: kuk
I don't like the look of the results ...
BTW, I voted yes.

I wonder about this too; perhaps people who are "not happy" are voting that they are "depressed". These are two entirely different things..

Excellent point... So then, we must come to a solid definition of "depression". Off to dictionary.com...

edit :
"Psychology. A psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death. Also called clinical depression."

 

[lilFajita]

Originally posted by: zCypher
What do you think about depression? Where does it come from, what type of problem is it? I've heard lots of crap about chemical imbalances, but is there actually any empirical evidence backing it up? Are all these anti-depressant pill companies out for a big buck only?

Also - are you, or anyone you know depressed, or have you been ever? What happened? What were some key behavioural traits you witnessed? How did you and/or yours cope with it? Get over it? Lose friendship(s)/relationship(s) over it? Witness any relationship/correlation between depression and violence? How about depression and substance (particularly alcohol) abuse?

Just curious. Been having pretty depressing days lately, and although I'm not usually the most happy-go type, I didn't think I was highly pessimistic either. I thought it might be interesting to inquire to some of the above and see what kind of stuff the 'thinkers' of ATOT (*snicker*) come up with. I need to be cheered up... heh. Hopefully this thread stays somewhat on track though (if it goes anywhere to begin with - my threads have the tendency to get 0 replies).

wee...

depression is hard for people to understand, and has a stigma attached to it. it's hard to get a clear, unbiased opinion. you have to take some time to really evaluate where you are and what is going on, and determine whether you think, under your current circumstances, whether your feelings and actions seem justified and normal. If not, it may be worth further investigating.

 

[lilFajita]

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.

there are a lot of things that we "survived" all those millenia that we can treat better now. I think there is definetly a problem of over medication in our current world (everything from ritalin to antibiotics) but I'm not sure that we can say that just because generations of the past weren't able or didn't diagnosis these diseases, that we shouldn't.

 

[eakers]

i go through really bad periods of sadness and then really big periods of happiness i am never in the middle.
when i am sad i spend massive amounts of time online, when im happy i can't spend more than 10 minutes on the computer or i go crazy, im always doing something.

i just came out of a sad thing and so i am barely online now compared to before and i have been reorganising my closet and dresser everyday for the past week when i haven't been out with my friends.

 

[wolf papa]

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.

I'll concede that there is big money in pharmeceuticals currently, and incentive to sell medicine to people who may not need it, or benefit from it. BUT, whether it's really a chemical imbalance, or whether that's just the best diagnosis that can be made with what we currently know, modern medicine is still learning. Not too long ago, depression wasn't understood, and wasn't talked about, because a lot of those who suffered from it didn't survive.

 

[zCypher]

Alright, another variation... since we're assuming depression equals severe cases only, like self-inflicting injuries or suicide - is there such thing as "light" cases of depression?

 

[ohtwell]

Originally posted by: zCypher
Alright, another variation... since we're assuming depression equals severe cases only, like self-inflicting injuries or suicide - is there such thing as "light" cases of depression?

I believe so! A person can feel depressed and not want to go to the extreme of hurting or killing themselves. I feel depressed sometimes and hurting myself never occurs to me.


: ) Amanda

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: zCypher
Alright, another variation... since we're assuming depression equals severe cases only, like self-inflicting injuries or suicide - is there such thing as "light" cases of depression?

Why would you assume depression only equals severe cases? And if you are assuming that, what is it a severe case of?

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: zCypher
Alright, another variation... since we're assuming depression equals severe cases only, like self-inflicting injuries or suicide - is there such thing as "light" cases of depression?

Why would you assume depression only equals severe cases? And if you are assuming that, what is it a severe case of?

I just meant it seemed that, by the replies in this thread, it took a lot to be considered depression.

 

[EXman]

i go through really bad periods of sadness and then really big periods of happiness i am never in the middle.

Eakers it's called Bi-Polar

<--- me too

 

[T2T III]

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.

OK, "Mr. Happy" - go on believing that there's no such thing as a chemical imbalance. Meanwhile, millions of people will keep suffering. You should feel so fortunate that you don't have any chemical imbalances today ... and hopefully not in the future.

 

[stormbv]

Originally posted by: wje

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.

OK, "Mr. Happy" - go on believing that there's no such thing as a chemical imbalance. Meanwhile, millions of people will keep suffering. You should feel so fortunate that you don't have any chemical imbalances today ... and hopefully not in the future.

Ignorance is bliss.

Personally, I'm glad there is some greedy pharmaceutical company continually developing better and more effective anti-depressants, or otherwise my life would still be hell. Eli Lilly, I salute you!

 

[StageLeft]

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.

Oh I hate to go over it again but that's crap spouted by people who know nothing. Don't talk about something so important if you have no clue about it (yeah, like I'm one to talk ). Both of my parents are shrinks and trust me when I say that millions of people have been helped by anti-depressants. It's more than just "having a bad attitude". Sometimes psychological counselling is inadequate and does not help enough. A simple prescription can take somebody who gets so little from life such that they'd rather die and give them a reason to live and allow experiences to put a smile on their face once in a while.

 

[stormbv]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

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.

Oh I hate to go over it again but that's crap spouted by people who know nothing. Don't talk about something so important if you have no clue about it (yeah, like I'm one to talk ). Both of my parents are shrinks and trust me when I say that millions of people have been helped by anti-depressants. It's more than just "having a bad attitude". Sometimes psychological counselling is inadequate and does not help enough. A simple prescription can take somebody who gets so little from life such that they'd rather die and give them a reason to live and allow experiences to put a smile on their face once in a while.

A friend of mine said that people don't need anti-depressants...they are just weak minded and need more Jesus in their lives. Dumbass...

 

[zCypher]

lol

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: stormbv
A friend of mine said that people don't need anti-depressants...they are just weak minded and need more Jesus in their lives. Dumbass...

Heh.. IMHO, the weak-minded probably need a little less Jesus in their lives...

 

[optimistic]

Some good read in this old thread.

Nice story here from 0Anonymous0.

Interpretation from datalink7.

I'd record the poll results in the orginal body text. The poll eventually dissappears after awhile:|.

Are you depressed?
.......
Total Votes: 141

I am 52 (votes) 36.88 (%)
I have been before, but I am no longer 34 (votes) 24.11 (%)
I am not now, but I feel that I may be soon 9 (votes) 6.38 (%)
I am not 13 (votes) 9.22 (%)
I am not, but I know someone (or many) who is (are) 5 (votes) 3.55 (%)
What the hell is broccoli, anyway? 20 (votes) 14.18 (%)
Results. 8 (votes) 5.67 (%)

 

[EXman]

Heh.. IMHO, the weak-minded probably need a little less Jesus in their lives...

or the overeducated know-it-alls need more monkeys in their family trees...

 

[Nocturnal]

I am depressed, I have OCD, and generalized anxiety disorder. I take Lexapro and it helps me tremendously.

 

[Nocturnal]

Well it's pretty strange that these magical pills help people. There are more good stories than there is bad stories. People take a pill which helps their serotonin stick around longer in the synapses. Therefore, they are happier, less depressed, less obsessions, etc. There are studies that show the effectiveness of anti-depressants. Search for them.

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
I am depressed, I have OCD, and generalized anxiety disorder. I take Lexapro and it helps me tremendously.

Wow, damn. Good luck!

 

[Nocturnal]

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.

Listen, many of the people today who are depresesed or have OCD or have other problems that require medication could all live without their medicine. They used to live with their problem in pain/hell. Now that there are things that can help someone live their life like a normal person would it's a totally different story. If you had to choose between the red and the blue pill. Red pill leaving with you agonizing pain and suffering while the blue pill took away everything and gave you every lasting happiness... it's just an anology, but it's the same thing. People take the medicine because it actually helps them.

Believe me, this is coming from someone who has OCD... terrible OCD. I mean without my medicine all I want to do is sit in front of my computer and search for reassurance... With my medicine I am able to get up and move freely. Do the things I want to do. Not sit and wish it would all go away.

It's totally up to you to believe that people who take medication for these types of things are weak, or whatever. That's just an opinion, and everyone is of course entitled to one. But, for me and many others, the pros out weigh the cons. I would rather take a pill than to be suffering like how I was before.

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: eakers
i go through really bad periods of sadness and then really big periods of happiness i am never in the middle.
when i am sad i spend massive amounts of time online, when im happy i can't spend more than 10 minutes on the computer or i go crazy, im always doing something.

i just came out of a sad thing and so i am barely online now compared to before and i have been reorganising my closet and dresser everyday for the past week when i haven't been out with my friends.

Those types of mood swings sound similar to those of a bi-polar person. Are you bi-polar?