depression

southernscouser

ILoveHenryJames wrote:

I do appreciate what you have said and please do not take this response to be an attack on your words, they sincerley aren't.

The thing about depression is; there need not be a cause which needs to be cured. By this I mean that depression can be a mere case of a chemical inbalance.

No offence taken. I'm here to be educated!

So in that instance medication is the only option?

ILoveHenryJames

southernscouser wrote:

No offence taken. I'm here to be educated!

So in that instance medication is the only option?

I guess so, yes. I really don't know the incidence of it being solely a chemical inbalance and I am sure there are some professionals who will doubt that it being a sole cause exists.

From a personal point of view; I have worked through 'root issues' of my depression in ways such as counselling and CBT but they continue to haunt me somedays by a recurring thought pattern. That said, there are times where I can appreciate that the chemicals in my brain are a little 'messed up'; these times might be when I have just woken up and not had prior chance to make a conscious thought or they can be as I am doing anything at any point. I can be doing the happiest of things with all of my friends, but in a second I can become unhappy.

iwanttosave_2

southernscouser wrote:

Good? I've already probably alienated myself by referring everyone to burnt rubber! :rotfl:

It has got to be better than some of the things you have called me :rolleyes: :rotfl:

tankgirl1

Now this is all based on my assumption that there is always something pshycologically (sp) wrong! I don't know whether this is right or wrong? Some people may not even know themselves what is wrong!

i was told my depression was a physiological thing, as there was no trigger, and when i was first diagnosed with it, life was pretty good - i had no 'underlying issues' or huge problems............ of course i have both in abundance these days :rotfl:

southernscouser

tankgirl1 wrote:

i was told my depression was a physiological thing, as there was no trigger, and when i was first diagnosed with it, life was pretty good - i had no 'underlying issues' or huge problems............ of course i have both in abundance these days :rotfl:

I know this isn't the same but I was watching a programme about people in debt. Now there was this women, who wasn't depressed, and she had a spending problem. Anyway she saw a [STRIKE]psycia[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]physchiat[/STRIKE] shrink and they found that it was all down to the fact that when she was a kid she had all her family round her and they had quite a bit of money!

Anyway as she got older I think one of her grandparents died and money became tight. I think she lost the other grandparent and a parent. Her spending was all down to subconciously taking her back to the happy part of her childhood. She saw spending as a happy time if that makes sense!

Not sure what thats got to do with anything but I just thought of it! :rotfl:

ILoveHenryJames

tankgirl1 wrote:

i was told my depression was a physiological thing, as there was no trigger:

This is exactly what I was getting at. If there is a lack of a trigger then one could (wrongly) assume that something to correct the physiolgical impairment (ie drugs) would be a simple solution; sadly the way one interacts with the surrounding world is affected and this in turn affects you in the future. It can be a vicious circle.

There are many, many words I could quote from Stephen Fry (himself a sufferer of depression), but I will add this one for now. It seems apt;

"There is never any logical reason for despair. Reason has absolutely nothing to do with it. You can't reason yourself back into cheerfulness any more than you can reason yourself into an extra six inches in height."

funkymonkey

i think we should have a thread called beating depression! (if there isnt one already!)

with great ideas of ways to help! for example - i know that sometimes my laptop screan gives me a headache right behind my eyes and makes me feel miserable because i know it only happens when im on the computer for ages - so it reminds me that i should spend some time out from msging on here or other sites!

spending half an hour in my garden really helps!

ive also got a couple of grow bags and am doing my own tomatioes. ive got strawberries in hanging baskets which are gorgeous AND ive got my own vegetable patch - which although is only about 6 foot by three foot - it has two rows of carrots / 2 of onions / 1 of cauliflower/ i of beetroot and 1 of raddishes!

now they are getting bigger it looks so nice! it makes me so proud!


Also i have given up the fags! reading the Alan Carr book empowered me and ive done it! 10 weeks later and ive never felt so proud of myself! im full of energy and just feel great!

i know its hard when you are depressed to even think about giving up the fags but without them you feel more awake - so if you have episodes of depression try and give up when you're not in one!

try to eat more organic stuff - or at least home made. you know whats in it and there are less chemicals causing all sort of horrid imbalances. Oh and cooking gives you somthing to do!

i read so many self help books when i was depressed and none really helped.

sometimes i remember some of the things i did - like i would be walking down a road and seriously contimplate jumping in front of a passing car! can you belive how horifc that sounds! luckily i have the best family and i seriously believe that talking things over can really help!

people arnt meant to live alone - its not the natural way - havig a really large family and lots of siblings really helps! my mums kitchen is like a free starbucks - there are always loads of people sitting drinking coffee and chatting. that helps the most.

so get out there and get some human interaction! im often free for coffees and chats!

tankgirl1

LOL at SS- i wish my depression was down to having a rich family, and getting in debt...... actually, my debt was a product of my depression- mostly going out drinking!

ILHJ - i see exactly what you mean- my depression started as something phisiological, but has become something so much more now - something that drugs alone will not fix! i know this, and i try to make changes (such as going to the gym), but it doesnt seem to be working thus far... and that stephen fry quote is fab- thanks

funky monkey- this can be the 'beat depression thread!!' maybe i should change the title of the thread

funkymonkey

yay! and i could start stalking everyone saying "have you had your half hour of gardening today???" LOL

shal be fun!

ILoveHenryJames

I don't know if this will help anyone either, but the diary section at netdoctor is something I find useful at times.

http://community.netdoktor.com/ccs/uk/depression/index.jsp