How to cope with 'depression'

[moonlight burner]

Just wanted to know what you guys do in order to bring back your zest in life, cause I lost mine today.......

[Kov-Ice]

Wha happened?!?

[Nuclear Krusader]

The first thing to do is manage to stay calm.

I dunno what happened but I hope it's not something very bad. Been at the frayed ends of sanity myself and I know what it feels.

The next thing is to vent. You can do so with a trusted friend or here.


Best wishes to you.

[Kov-Ice]

What he said!

Nuke, you are much more eloquent than myself. I heartily agree word for word.

Here to help!

Kov

[juppy]

I've had clinical depression/anxiety for a little over 7 years now and one of the best things I've been told by my doc to do is exercise. Something to do with exercise increasing the release of the "feel-good" chemicals in the brain. It helps to do this outside when the sun is bright too. I don't get the same effect just lifting weights inside. I usually go for long walks. Whatever is causing it, try not to dwell on it, that just reinforces the feelings of depression. It may sound stupid but you can also try thinking "positive" thoughts that counter whatever is causing you to feel down. Just suggesting "good" things to yourself sometimes helps that way. If you need someone to talk to, we're here for ya, or you can PM me if you don't feel like posting it here. hth

edit: Oh, one more thing. If you notice these feelings go on for several weeks without letting up much, you might consider going to a psych doctor for some help. Alot of the medicines work really well nowadays. And no, going to one of these docs DOES NOT mean you're crazy, you may just have a chemical imbalance in the brain. They can help correct that.

[Nuclear Krusader]

I agree.

Don't take shelter in ostracism, MB. It will only depresses you more. Same with alcohol. When you get loaded depression "vanishes" but after a few hours it actually increases to a greater extent.

I suggest to follow Juppy's advice about excercising. I remember an ocassion when my ex and me had had a fight; next day when I woke up I felt horrible. Then went to swim for about an hour. I swam hitting the water with my arms furiously. When I got out of the pool I felt much better.

Try also to not play violent games while you are depressed. If you wanna play a game, play Need for Speed. The landscapes are kinda relieving.

[Nuclear Krusader]

On a second note. I would try excercising first. If it doesn't help you can see a therapist.

But try to stay away from meds until there's no other option left.

As a doctor I can tell you that nowadays meds are the easier way but not the best one.

[juppy]

Yeah, that's what I meant Nuke. If, after trying everything else, nothing seems to help, THEN go see a doc and think about meds. Thanks for clearing that up for him, Nuke.
*just realized something*
Nuke, you're a doctor? I thought you had a computer shop or something.

[moonlight burner]

Thanks Guys, sorry to bring this up in this forum to bring the unnecessary anxiety around.
I'm feeling better, just a while ago, just tender my resignation letter , but a moment later went back to the boss room and took it back(He's not around).

I think I 'm taking a long walk after work. Just needed to hear some advise

[Blakhart]

See how things turn out?

[TimPoet]

Moonlight, we're more than just a tech help place, we're a real extended family. You'll find affection and support here. I deal a lot with biologically based depression problems, Juppy and I have talked to each other a little about ours, but yours sounds like it is situational instead.
We're here to help, either publicly in the forum or privately thru PMs. I am open if you want to contact me. We're all here if you need more support.
Sounds like you made a good decision by taking the letter back.
Keep us up to date if you need to.
Tim

Juppy, yes our humble Nuke is a doctor, not an MD, but kinda close to one. He does more with computers these days. He can't stand the sight of blood. Hehehe.

[calmius]

Ok, since I started college the academic pressure REALLY upset me and I was worried by problems with my family and friends.

I gradually became depressed, not because of ONE event. Eventually I discovered that I am constantly worrying and anxious about everything that I can' t function.

Simply sleeping a lot
listening to music I like
taking walks
talking with friends helps A LOT

ALSO I did take some anti-depressant pills
They're called PAXIL. THey make you feel weird first couple days but then weirdness goes away. They really DO make my mood better they increase Serotonin (happiness neurotransmitter) intake in the brain, thus making you happier.

I read that it has no side effects, so I wasn't afraidi to take it.

I think you should talk to your doctor and ask him to prescribe some for you, but I think only if your depression lasts for more than 2 weeks. This drug is given to people who have traumatic experiences and stress.

[bailey]

yes, I know how you felt, the only thing that is keeping me going is pcmech, take this away from me and there will be no reason to go on

[Strider]

I've been depressed and I know how it feels, I just fight through the drepression and I always have this on my back of my mind - "Tomorrow will be a better day".

[avx]

I think we all been there

Things were really looking bad when it came to my senior year of highscool....wasnt gonna graduate on time...Never ever failed a grade in my life and I had to screw up right there at the end...that sucked. I was right there on the edge for a little while...Luckily I kept a cool head...

My best advice is roll with the punches, things can wrok themselves out. After 3 weeks of 13hr days at an adult education center, I worked up my credits and graduated on time...but the 13hr days were muder...ON SATURDAY TOO. Whats the old saying? Things are always darkest before you see the silver lining of the sun.

[moonlight burner]

I had my long walk about 6 km along the road . After reaching home, I felt the 'depression' seems to subside, sort of like 'numbed out' and felt a lot calmer.
I really lost it, when I submitted the letter, but somehow or another, some 'force' made me go back to undo my to be wrong doings. Cause I 've the 'depression' for so long, that I knew it destroyed me, when it came. Didn't know why I managed to control it this time. God, guess I'm at the cross-road in my life where the decision to do or not to do is pretty unclear.

Thankyou all, didn't expect you guys would share with me your experience. Yes PCMECH is a place with Tech and most important of all, a 'Heart'.

Appreciated it

[drisley]

Just thought I'd add my own two cents - for what its worth. I really cringe when people recommend anti-depressants for such things. Yes, it might help with the immediate situation, but like a Tylenol, it only dumbs down the actual cause; it doesn't alleviate it. And long-term use can cause really serious problems. I would highly recommend you stay away from psychotropic medications. If you want more information on this, feel free to email me or PM me.

Taking a walk is great. Take special care to really look around and notice your environment. But, another big thing is body nutrition. If there are serious imbalances in vitamins and minerals in the body, it can often manifest itself as exhaustion and depression.

Wish you the best.

[juppy]

Originally posted by TimPoet Juppy, yes our humble Nuke is a doctor, not an MD, but kinda close to one. He does more with computers these days. He can't stand the sight of blood. heheh

I think that blood thing would be a problem, Tim!

"Hi, I'll be your brain surgeon today and....*clunk*"
"Uh, nurse, could you pick up the doctor? He passed out again when he saw the blood."

[juppy]

Originally posted by drisley I really cringe when people recommend anti-depressants for such things. Yes, it might help with the immediate situation, but like a Tylenol, it only dumbs down the actual cause; it doesn't alleviate it.

Not trying to start an argument dris so don't get me wrong on this. Yes, meds should be the last resort after all other methods are tried. I simply stated that in my original post because some people don't think to use that option. They go directly from the "Well, exercise and venting didn't help" stage to the "Time to commit suicide" stage without even trying the meds. To me, medication, no matter the side effects, is a better alternative than being dead.
As for the comparison to Tylenol and how they "dumb down" the actual cause, I differ on that too. Most "happy pills", whether they are SSRI's (the most widely used) or others, build up a serum level in the bloodstream; that's why it takes a couple weeks before you notice the optimal effects. These effects will linger awhile after you start dwindling off the meds too. These meds are made to correct a chemical deficiency in the brain. If you don't produce enough of the "feel good" chemicals, then these drugs help "up" your levels. Tylenol, on the other hand, just kills pain and swelling for a few hours and then its gone. No serum level and no lingering effects afterwards.

[calmius]

Originally posted by juppy Not trying to start an argument dris so don't get me wrong on this. Yes, meds should be the last resort after all other methods are tried. I simply stated that in my original post because some people don't think to use that option. They go directly from the "Well, exercise and venting didn't help" stage to the "Time to commit suicide" stage without even trying the meds. To me, medication, no matter the side effects, is a better alternative than being dead. As for the comparison to Tylenol and how they "dumb down" the actual cause, I differ on that too. Most "happy pills", whether they are SSRI's (the most widely used) or others, build up a serum level in the bloodstream; that's why it takes a couple weeks before you notice the optimal effects. These effects will linger awhile after you start dwindling off the meds too. These meds are made to correct a chemical deficiency in the brain. If you don't produce enough of the "feel good" chemicals, then these drugs help "up" your levels. Tylenol, on the other hand, just kills pain and swelling for a few hours and then its gone. No serum level and no lingering effects afterwards.

Yes, I agree, before I tried taking Paxil, I read about it on many sites and learnt that it is not addictive and has no long term effects according to FDA. Maybe I shouldn't have taken it since I don't think I was too depressed, but they really work and although they don't take the CAUSE of depression away they alleviate it in a safe way .

[juppy]

calmius > Yeah, I read about the "few" side effects Paxil was supposed to have too. That's what my doc started me out on and it worked great for over a year, then all of the sudden it just up and quit working so I had to change. For it to have "few" side effects and be non-addictive, it sure wasn't real easy even switching to Zoloft (another SSRI). I read on some other sites that some people have more trouble getting off of it than others though and that some doctors actually change their patients over to Zoloft from Paxil when they try to quit the meds because Zoloft is easier to get off of than Paxil. Paxil is said to cause some people to gain weight too. I was already gaining when I started using it though so I don't think I can blame the pills! I'm using Effexor now and have been really impressed with it.

[drisley]

If anyone has the time to catch Montel Williams show today, watch it. Its talking directly about the dangers of psychiatric meds.

[brassman]

Well, here's my story.

Seven years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. It affected my hands and wrists. That in itself would not be so bad except that I am a musician and repair brass instruments for a living. My doctors tried all the standard medications for RA to no avail. They could not get it under control. In the mean time the RA moved into my feet. More medications, no good. At times the fatigue and pain were almost unbearable. The range of motion in my wrists was down to 20% in the left and 15% in the right. It was about that time I was diagnosed with clinical depression/anxiety. (Not due to RA, but because of the RA) I had to quit gigging. I started going to "talk" therapy. Three years ago the RA moved into my hips. Newer medications, no go.
They just made me sick. The downward spiral continues. I was started on Paxil and it has made all the difference in the world on my outlook. Two years ago I was started on a combination of new medications for the RA and they seem to be helping. Un fortunately by this time my right hip was destroyed. I had a hip replacement in Nov. 2001. My femur cracked then broke. I have had seven surgerys since then to repair things, and I have to have one more in the next couple of months. I lost my job because of this, I am disabled and getting SSDI.

Now, I'm not telling you all of this because I'm looking for sympathy. I am telling you this because sometimes exercise and "talk" therapy just aren't enough. The new medications for depression do have a place for treatment.

Dris, I agree with you to the extent that the tricyclics, MAOI's and other older psychotropics can be very scary drugs,but the new SSRI's are not the drugs the old psychtropics were.

I know that Paxil has helped me immensely, and my rambling here is proof pudding. I truly don't know what would have become of me without medication.

brassman

[Nuclear Krusader]

MB, glad to know you are taking it easy and taking the time to order your thoughts. That is the 3rd step. Way to go!

Feel free to e-mail me or PM me anytime. If you need someone to talk to, PM me and I'll give you my IM handle.


Regarding meds, yes the meds help the serotonin concentration to go up faster than with exercising, however they should be the last resort. With the exception of homeophatics, all meds are in some degree toxic. No, of course I am not saying you will get intoxicated and die because a little Ritalin (used for ADD) or Paxil. I am only telling you that they should be taken with discretion. Mainly for the points Mr. Drisley already pointed out. And, even when they don't create physical dependance they create psychological dependance in some cases.


@ Tim and Juppy: LMAO . But no, it's not because of blood why I am not practicioning as a doc. In college I was the first to jump onto the patients to do the surgeries. With my methodical ways and my dexterity I could be one of the best surgeons, I know dat. It's just that computers got the hold of me and fascinated me even more than medicine. But you should see me working, I apply the medical methods I learnt in college to repair PCs, and those methods sure have helped me a lot in this trade!

[SARGE]

Works for me. Just click "presentation" and have your speakers on.

http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

[Nuclear Krusader]

That presentation is awesome. Tim sent me the link once and I liked it very much.

[bailey]

I used to think that a 44 mag would fix anything, but started feeling better, now I am down to a 380

[ylen13]

Originally posted by moonlight burner Just wanted to know what you guys do in order to bring back your zest in life, cause I lost mine today.......

sign up your self or marshal art class. Attend it as much as u can. You will have something to look for and it will keep you busy so you will not have time to be depressed.

[Force Flow]

Originally posted by SARGE Works for me. Just click "presentation" and have your speakers on. http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

Gee...

That gave a nice warm and fuzzy feeling

[drisley]

No, of course I am not saying you will get intoxicated and die because a little Ritalin (used for ADD) or Paxil. I am only telling you that they should be taken with discretion. Mainly for the points Mr. Drisley already pointed out.

I don't think anyone should ever take Ritalin. Its almost chemically identical to cocaine, has the same effects on the brain, creates the same dependencies. In fact, its become a new fad to use Ritalin when cocaine is in short supply.

Paxil is also something to steer clear of in general. You can have the same effect taking herbs. Seriously. And some of the side effects of Paxil are frightening.

Its very tempting to pop a pill and make the hurt go away. But, its not the right way to go about it. It can be done in other ways, without falling into the cycle of drug use promoted by the drug pushers in the white labcoats.

I'm glad you guys feel better, but I hope you're not still taking the stuff.