Non-Music: Cyclical Depression

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: Bernard
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 01:52 PM

Just one point - 'the choices we make for ourselves' - until you've had Clinical Depression, you cannot possibly begin to comprehend that the choice isn't necessarily ours to make.

I've grown tired of people insinuating that I could 'do something about it' - I couldn't. However, that facility seems to be returning now.

Trying to 'fake it' only sent me down further, as anyone who knows me will verify. I lost the ability to 'put on a front'...

Serotonin deficiency is one reason for depression, and St. John's Wort has been clinically proved to be a natural Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. In other words, it is a natural alternative to Prozac (et al.), and that's official!

It worked for me when man-made chemicals only compounded my problems.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 02:00 PM

Exercise! Lots of time spent outdoors! Meds! Good music, good books, good food. Time.

Alex

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: Bernard
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 02:29 PM

It's easy to say that from the outside...

It seems to me that the memory plays tricks - maybe you forget how bad it was.

I used to go to Morris practice every week - I had the best attendance record of the side. I can't remember the last time I went... just can't be bothered.

I used to go to the folk club every week, and am one of the 'residents' - can't remember when I last went there, either.

If I have to be on my own, I may as well be on my own. Can't stand being alone in a crowd. It's less painful to stay at home, where I'm not being a burden on others.

The last thing I want to do is to do something. No music playing in the house or the car, can't concentrate long enough to read a book, not hungry - can't be bothered to cook.

Need I go on?

Advice is fine if you are ready and able to accept it!

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: M.Ted
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 06:42 PM

Sorry to join late--but I had to just thank Bernard for his comments above--I have saved them, because they really are simple, direct, and to the point--

I have mentioned this before, in other depression threads, so please forgive if it is wearing thin, but in the last few years, as scanning technology has made it possible to examine the brain while it is working, there are indications that depression may be connected to brain damage that has likely resulted from undetected traumas of one sort or another.

This means that depression, instead of being caused by family problems or cloudy days, or such things, is the result of physical damage to the brain. Depression is a physical disability. Not that this should be a big surprise--Most other "Physical" handicaps are really the result of one or another sort of damage to the central nervous system(the results of stroke, for instance, can include motor impairment and speech impairment).

Just like other physical handicaps, depression requires coping strategies, especially support from people who understand it, which really amounts to the others who suffer from it.

It is as absurd to tell a person who is trying to cope with depresssion symptoms to "cheer up" and get an "attitude adjustment", as it is to tell old Uncle Roy to throw away his walker and dance.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 06:58 PM

Um, if I recall, the first post in the thread was in fact asking for advice.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: pict
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 08:34 PM

I know getting out and about and keeping physically occupied helps a lot of people.Depression has myriad reasons for appearing and many people have learnt to adjust their lives to its regular appearance so it definitely can be dealt with successfully.Any light you see head for it.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 12:33 PM

Alex - sometime advice can be negative. M.Ted was quite rightly pointing that out, and that is advice in itself.

A broken leg is a visible disability, albeit temporary. You can advise the person with the broken leg that they need to walk around and get some exercise, but that advice is negative as they are powerless to do so whilst in bed and in traction!

For my part, I have tried to explain to people why the advice they were giving wouldn't suit me, as a way of pointing out that depression takes different forms and directions.

I'm sorry if it has come across to some of you the wrong way, but that merely underlines the problem that depressives have to live with. Unlike a broken leg, it is invisible and insidious, and with no known timescale...

I'm not 'having a go', Alex - perhaps you could read through the postings again? You may see things differently...

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 01:56 PM

I dunno what "having a go" means. I do know what depression is like, because I have recently (last 1-2 weeks) emerged from yet another bout. (Thank you, Effexor.) I don't believe I once said anything about "just getting over it." I was listing things that help me when I am having a depressive episode. If they don't help you, that's fine; I don't expect they'll help everybody. But it sure seemed like I was being told "nobody asked you for your advice" when in fact that's what the thread was about, asking for advice, as I pointed out.

I know that depressed people often get very snippy with others (I know I do), and maybe that is what is happening here.

Peace and healing to all who suffer from this affliction.

Alex

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 02:15 PM

The intention of the sort of general, vague, "positive" advice, that people who aren't suffering from depression syptoms offer is to be supportive--but it often has the opposite effect, simply because the inability to follow the advice feeds into the profound feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness that define depression.

Even mild suggestions like "get out and about" can be threatening, since, when in depressive states, many people suffer panic, dread, and extreme and situationally inappropriate fear when they go out.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: pict
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 02:30 PM

Getting out and about helps some people not everyone but some,as I said depression manifests itself in different ways and can be dealt with in different ways the difficult part of dealing with it is finding out how to deal with your own particular and idiosyncratic manifestation of it and no one is the authority on dealing with it.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 04:29 PM

We seem to be all saying roughly the same thing but taking exception at one another. How depressing.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 04:40 PM

Well that's okay, then!

Funny how even depression can bring us all together!

It's frightening how commonplace depression is, though, innit?!

We each have to learn what is best for us, and it's going to be different for each of us to a greater or lesser extent...

No offence intended!! And none taken, either...

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: Amergin
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 12:56 AM

Excuse this little bit of self promotion here....but here is something I wrote some time ago about my experiences with depression

Amergin

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:55 PM

I apologize if I wasn't clear - Fake it till you make it is at best a temporary deal. But it is part of it. And doing something about it is going to a Doctor and getting medication, talking to friends, joining a support group, or whatever else meets your individualized needs. As far as having it? I'm 60% disabled by my experiences in the Viet Nam war. For the most part depression. That is according to the Veteran's Administration and not by my account. I'm on meds for life because it works for me as does a little faking at times. It is about choice and seeking options. And unless I am dead I have choices and options - I just have to figure a way to find and do them. I know it seems hopeless at times but you are still here and you are still making choices and you are still working on it - that is what we are supposed to do. I do enjoy this forum.

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: mousethief
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:57 PM

Well said, Steve. Hope you decide to join us for the long term!

Alex

Subject: RE: Non-Music: Cyclical Depression
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 06:19 PM

I will off and on as time permits. Join you that is. What I would really like to do is learn the lead in riff to Clayton Delaney. I think I have it but will go back to the record to make sure. Have a lovely weekend folks. BTW - The book I wrote is called "A Dictionary of Terms Indigenous to the Viet Nam War." The other was a presentation to the International Post Traumatic Stress Disorder conference in Washington D.C. on "Concurrent Treatment Modalities for PTSD and Alcohol related problems."