Do you suffer from depression?

I wasn't diagnosed until I was 26, but looking back on the thought processes I recall from early childhood, I think I've actually had depression since I was six years old. I do take medication, and I know better now than to think I'll ever be able to go off of it -- my brain does not kick back in and start producing the right chemicals on its own, so I have to give it that chemical stimulation.

The thing is, I don't act depressed at all, and I'm rarely sad for very long -- nobody would ever guess I had this problem! In 25 years, I've learned coping skills and thought processes that (in combination with the medication) allow me to avoid most of the emotional traps and trains of thought that get a grip on you in depression. And even at my worst, I've always loved life -- even at times when life held nothing more than a good book to read.

The fatigue and tension of depression are harder to deal with, and if I let myself run out of medication and can't get it for a few days, I feel it: my back clenches up and goes into spasms, I develop a crippling headache, and I alternate between complete insomnia and oversleeping (sometimes 16 hours out of a day).

This is why I wish we had a better word for it than depression. People think it's just about feeling sad and listless, having no initiative... but it's much more complicated and variable than that.

Years ago, I used to watch Oprah occasionally, and on one show -- if I'm remembering this right -- she was talking with someone about people who somehow just cannot keep their homes clean, people who stack junk up to the ceiling and let their houses fall into appalling squalor. Her guest said that this was often a result of depression, and Oprah said something to the effect that it just made her want to shake the person and say Come on, snap out of it!

Well, someone must have given her an education overnight, because she apologized the next day. She said she was sorry for all the people she had offended, and she understood now that depression is not something a person can just "snap out of."

So... if even Oprah, the queen of compassion, didn't get it about depression, then how oblivious is the rest of the population?

Originally Posted by LSULOVER

I do not suffer from depression, I take life as it is, stuff happens in life that we don't like, but I just take it and go on.

I don't let stuff bother me, I worry about stuff, but I don't get depressed because of it.

Click to expand...

Depression isn't "being sad" it is due to actual chemical imbalances in the brain.

You can't just "take life as it is and go on" when your brain's chemical make-up isn't working the way it should be. It's a physiological disorder, not psychological as many like to think.

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

I wasn't diagnosed until I was 26, but looking back on the thought processes I recall from early childhood, I think I've actually had depression since I was six years old.

Click to expand...

Yes, when I look back at my life, I can see that I've had depression probably since my early teens if not earlier.

I've had a very hard life having to deal with a broken home, child abuse, looking after a sick mother from the time I was 13 and being self supporting and pretty much living on my own from the age of 14, the death of 2 parents, and then later getting into an abusive relationship.

I can see that my later teen and early adult years were quite destructive. I had no regard for my safety and had very little self esteem and looked to others to provide it for me.

In late 2001 my long term relationship came to an end and I went into a serious funk that I couldn't pull myself out of. As the months wore on I found myself becoming more and more sensitive and crying alot and just not able to cope with change and feeling very overwhelmed with too much stimulation. I was a basketcase.

I finally went to the doctor in late 2002 because I was falling apart and I felt like I was going to have a stroke. My blood pressure was 200/140. My doctor immediately gave me a blood pressure pill and a prescription for more. And he started me on Celexa because I burst into tears while telling him that my life was a mess and I just couldn't function anymore.

Amazing what 1 1/2 tiny pills can do! I feel "normal" again. One day I hope that I won't need it any more, but if I have to take it the rest of my life to feel "normal", then I will. I'm not ashamed that I have depression and have to take a mediction for it. It's a very real disease just like a heart condition or parkinson's or diabetes.

Originally Posted by DaniMarie

Depression isn't "being sad" it is due to actual chemical imbalances in the brain.

You can't just "take life as it is and go on" when your brain's chemical make-up isn't working the way it should be. It's a physiological disorder, not psychological as many like to think.

Click to expand...

Very well explained/put

Originally Posted by DaniMarie

Depression isn't "being sad" it is due to actual chemical imbalances in the brain.

You can't just "take life as it is and go on" when your brain's chemical make-up isn't working the way it should be. It's a physiological disorder, not psychological as many like to think.

Click to expand...

That's not entirely true. There are different types of depression, and Adjustment Disorder, With Depression is "being sad" and that type of depression doesn't necessarily need treatment. The OP asked "Do you suffer from depression?" and did not specify what type of depression.

http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depres...ion_types.html

I suffer with anxiety induced depression. I have really bad panic attacks and am a general pessimist. I have obsessional neurosis which is like OCD but not as bad. In other words I don't do physical things, its all in my head. Had really hard time during my teenage years, drugs, alcohol, rock and roll and all that. My child snapped me out of all that when I got pregnant but my mental state hasn't changed.

Now I have an alcoholic partner (father of my child) whom I am trying to help as he is such a great guy but he is making me worse.

I find it really hard to show my feelings and bottle things up for weeks or months then have a week long cry and feel crappy all the time.

Sometimes I think I am going mad

Sorry for going on but its nice to let it out sometimes.

My kittie makes me happy though

I get depressed from time to time and have occassional panic attacks. I don't take anything for it and just try to deal with it. Controlling my mind and thoughts are the hardest thing to do. I have social anxiety and have such a hard time meeting new people.

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

That's not entirely true. There are different types of depression, and Adjustment Disorder, With Depression is "being sad" and that type of depression doesn't necessarily need treatment. The OP asked "Do you suffer from depression?" and did not specify what type of depression.

http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depres...ion_types.html

Click to expand...

For the sake of not starting an argument I'm not going to respond to this.
I work in the mental health field.
My mother has for over twenty years.

The end.

Originally Posted by Duchess15

I get depressed from time to time and have occassional panic attacks. I don't take anything for it and just try to deal with it. Controlling my mind and thoughts are the hardest thing to do. I have social anxiety and have such a hard time meeting new people.

Click to expand...

About 9 or so years ago, I was diagnosed with dysphoric depression (at that time had blossomed into major depression), anxiety and PTSD. I had panic attacks (which I no longer fear), was always tired (sleeping way too much), overeating, just generally feeling like B L A H. I am better now, but there are days when it feels close.

I was forutunate that the people who treated me were women who believed people should have all info possible to help themselves.

I took several antidepressants over a 7 year period. They would work well and then not so well after about a year. I have never taken anxiety meds because I am a big, fat chicken The PTSD is tougher for me. However, doing tons of research helped me to understand much of this. I don't feel unusual or unworthy because of the depression. Those feelings come in with the social anxiety I can fake anything when dealing with customers but in my "real" life, it is so much more difficult.

I have been off all meds for about 2 years I think. (the timeline has always been blurry for me). I think I would benefit more from anti-anxiety meds now.

What helped me was lots and lots of humor. Saving Dave Barry's columns for when I was feeling pretty bad. Reading constantly (another way of escaping). Moving out of my mother's place helped tons. Never realized how bad it was for me to live in her environment.

Yakking too much, shushing now! I get nervous when I write about personal stuff so hope this makes sense!

Originally Posted by Bonnie1965

About 9 or so years ago, I was diagnosed with dysphoric depression (at that time had blossomed into major depression), anxiety and PTSD. I had panic attacks (which I no longer fear), was always tired (sleeping way too much), overeating, just generally feeling like B L A H. I am better now, but there are days when it feels close.

I was forutunate that the people who treated me were women who believed people should have all info possible to help themselves.

I took several antidepressants over a 7 year period. They would work well and then not so well after about a year. I have never taken anxiety meds because I am a big, fat chicken

The PTSD is tougher for me. However, doing tons of research helped me to understand much of this. I don't feel unusual or unworthy because of the depression. Those feelings come in with the social anxiety

I can fake anything when dealing with customers but in my "real" life, it is so much more difficult.

I have been off all meds for about 2 years I think. (the timeline has always been blurry for me). I think I would benefit more from anti-anxiety meds now.

What helped me was lots and lots of humor. Saving Dave Barry's columns for when I was feeling pretty bad. Reading constantly (another way of escaping). Moving out of my mother's place helped tons. Never realized how bad it was for me to live in her environment.

Yakking too much, shushing now! I get nervous when I write about personal stuff so hope this makes sense!

Click to expand...

Wow, we are SO much alike.... with customers and people at work I'm FINE, good old happy go lucky dani..... in other situations it's different.

I am REALLY agoraphobic.

I take klonopin to help me cope.

I was on xanax for YEARS.

I would definitely recommend a benzodiazapene to you for the anxiety..... I've referred to that class of medication as a GIFT FROM GOD as far as my anxiety goes.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Yes, when I look back at my life, I can see that I've had depression probably since my early teens if not earlier.

Click to expand...

This reminded me of something my psychiatrist said when I asked about the PTSD. She believed I had been depressed and dealing with stuff since I was about 5 years old.

Two mother's days ago at brunch, somehow we (my family) discussed depression and meds. Turns out ALL five of my mother's children have had counseling for depression et al and taken meds. My mother was insulted and said she didn't believe in medication for brain stuff Told her it wasn't a religion, she didn't get to believe or not believe. What a great mother's day that was I knew my sister and one of my brother's had. Was suprised about the other two.

Originally Posted by DaniMarie

Depression isn't "being sad" it is due to actual chemical imbalances in the brain.

You can't just "take life as it is and go on" when your brain's chemical make-up isn't working the way it should be. It's a physiological disorder, not psychological as many like to think.

Click to expand...

Well I guess that is why I said I don't suffer from depression.

Originally Posted by Bonnie1965

About 9 or so years ago, I was diagnosed with dysphoric depression (at that time had blossomed into major depression), anxiety and PTSD. I had panic attacks (which I no longer fear), was always tired (sleeping way too much), overeating, just generally feeling like B L A H. I am better now, but there are days when it feels close.

I was forutunate that the people who treated me were women who believed people should have all info possible to help themselves.

I took several antidepressants over a 7 year period. They would work well and then not so well after about a year. I have never taken anxiety meds because I am a big, fat chicken

The PTSD is tougher for me. However, doing tons of research helped me to understand much of this. I don't feel unusual or unworthy because of the depression. Those feelings come in with the social anxiety

I can fake anything when dealing with customers but in my "real" life, it is so much more difficult.

I have been off all meds for about 2 years I think. (the timeline has always been blurry for me). I think I would benefit more from anti-anxiety meds now.

What helped me was lots and lots of humor. Saving Dave Barry's columns for when I was feeling pretty bad. Reading constantly (another way of escaping). Moving out of my mother's place helped tons. Never realized how bad it was for me to live in her environment.

Yakking too much, shushing now! I get nervous when I write about personal stuff so hope this makes sense!

Click to expand...

I do the same. I'm usually ok at work or I can fake that everything is ok, but my mind can be in chaos. Sometimes I let my paranoia take over and have to try and talk myself out of what I believe to be true. I do read a lot to get away and it keeps my mind active. The depression doesn't happen all the time, but the social anxiety does!

Originally Posted by LSULOVER

Well I guess that is why I said I don't suffer from depression.

Click to expand...

Yup, I know, just clarifying....I've worked in this field for years.



Glad you don't suffer from it. I wish beyond anything more people DIDN'T suffer from it. *le sigh*

Originally Posted by Duchess15

I do the same. I'm usually ok at work or I can fake that everything is ok, but my mind can be in chaos. Sometimes I let my paranoia take over and have to try and talk myself out of what I believe to be true. I do read a lot to get away and it keeps my mind active. The depression doesn't happen all the time, but the social anxiety does!

Click to expand...

Me too!!!!!!!!!
Trust me when I say, I totally understand this and have suffered since age 6 with this kind of social anxiety.

What most people don't realize is that depression and anxiety are uncontrollable CHEMICAL IMBALANCES in the brain.... "willing yourself" to look on the bright side isn't what this is about.

It's progressed through the years...but goddddd..it's awful and I completely sympathize with anyone and everyone who goes through the same.

Originally Posted by LSULOVER

I do not suffer from depression, I take life as it is, stuff happens in life that we don't like, but I just take it and go on.

I don't let stuff bother me, I worry about stuff, but I don't get depressed because of it.

Click to expand...

Me too Bea..I beleive that I can will myself to be happy. And when things are crappy in my life..I just imagine all the homeless, hungry children in war torn countries and realize my life is peachy.

wow, this thread has been very enlightening. I often think I am depressed, but I think it is a general malaise with my life. I come from a dysfuntional family, suffer from low self esteem, anger and lonliness. Regret that I am not married with children, but when I read all these posts, I don't think I am "clinically depressed". Although I am unhappy at times, I can usually get myself out of it after I wallow in self pity for a while.

I am sorry for those of you that have to deal with this. Life is tough enough as it is.

The link SwampWitch posted is a very good one! It lists various ways doctors describe types of depression, including "Adjustment Disorder With Depression," which is what I've always heard called "Reactive Depression."

Now here's what I learned about Reactive Depression from five or six doctors I've seen over the years, and during the period when I worked for a psychiatric hospital:

If a terrible event occurs in your life, like the loss of a loved one, it can so crush you emotionally that you just don't feel any happiness for a long time... and during that time, your brain isn't being called upon to produce the chemicals that are associated with a feeling of happiness or wellbeing.

At some point, the event that caused your depression begins to fade and you're ready to engage in life normally again -- but before you can do that, your brain has to restart production of those chemicals. If it does, you recover naturally and all's well.

But if your brain isn't able to crank up again, you need an antidepressant medication to help it along before you can fully regain your normal emotional range.

So Reactive Depression begins as a purely emotional response to a life event, and may become a chemical imbalance.

I think that's what SwampWitch was saying -- that depression can first arise out of "natural" emotions, without an initial chemical problem.

I don't suffer from depression, but I have noticed that it seems lately the majority of peope do. I know there are instances where there can be chemical imbalances that cause it. But for the most part that doesn't seem to be the case. I really think that happiness is a choice. Bad things happen to everyone, and when they do, whether you fall into depression over it depends on how you choose to react. I've always made myself get over the bad stuff and move on, becuase I know that tomorrow is another day, and life is too short to waste being sad.

I personally have unknown cycles. They can last for 3 days (more or less) and not come back for either weeks, months or in some cases a year. About 2 years ago I went back into therapy because of depression. I would just come home and cry and not really have a reason.

I quit therapy last Fall, only because I had to change therapists due to time schedules and I just well, did not like my new therapist. After one appointment I quit.

I do put on a front when I'm in public. However if I'm extremely stressed and depressed I can't hide it. Otherwise I just keep to myself until I get home. Why worry non-professionals about it and make a dramatic night???