Depression...

[clowns101]

Depression,how do you deal with it.Every one has it and some cant get over it.

I honestly think that the pills and stuff like that dont work at all,I honestly think depression pills are a pill that just make things worse,and make people bottle up all their emotions...

What do you do to remove your depression?

 

[Troylee]

I don't man I keep running from it.... I gotta man up here soon and face It!!! I used to get horrible panic attacks but after I got a clean bill of health I beat them... It's a sad subject my wife didnt drive a couple years because of it..:( she is on meds now and they have helped but she still has it...:(

 

[Anthony Calfo]

with mood disorders, across the board, one of the fundamentals is routine and structure. Its a really(!) big deal to have a consistent biorhythm. See the sun first thing when you wake up to set your circadian rhythm...eat regular meals and at consistent times and above all sleeping a consistent time each night.

Sleep is the most commonly neglected. Deep restorative sleep where you dont wake up at night and you never get up.

All these things are tough at first, but it helps if you have someone supportive around or even just to call and check in daily...make sure you are chipping away (eating when you dont want to eat, seeing the sun each morning, being social when you don't wanna...and actually laying down night after night so your body gets into a rest pattern.

HUGE tip: screens off 3 hours before you actually want to sleep. no phones, no TV and especially no computer (the light is well documented to trip hormones that delay sleep). Use the time before actually sleeping to read, listen to music, play music, light housecleaning... anything mindless.

PM me if you feel you need extra help too, my friends. I have considerable experience, family/friends and a personal academic interest in holistic living and wellness.

 

[gflat65]

I generally hold it all in until I have some sort of mini break down, usually resulting in voicing my thoughts to those I needed to have voiced them to long before (or to an unexpecting ear). I've had some rough times over the last few years-really bad thoughts with little emotional attachment... Lots of bad wishes to myself and a general will for them to happen... Luckily, I've mostly been able to snap my funk by finally talking to someone who actually cares or who can help do something about it. It's not fool proof by any means, but has been working for me. Despite knowing how actually talking about the underlying issue with someone beside myself usually helps me to the next plateau. When I get a boost, i try to keep my head up and usually jump into some new project to keep my head off the recently unturned things. Just like when you feel a little ill physically, thinking about it only makes it worse. The longing for the 'worse' is hard to overcome, but provides some level of relief and opens new doors for correction of the situation.

An example from my life (a little less personal one) was when one of our cats died unexpectedly, after 12 years. Then we had a shelter kitty die from a resp problem (and the other three we ended up with ahd the same, but came through it). I was pretty messed up for at least 9 months. I broke down to a doctor when she enquired, and the weight was lifted from me completely. The sun shone again within 10 minutes of letting it out. I'd let it out to my wife, but she'd experienced it with me, so for some reason I didn't get the relief. That's not a great example, as it is not at all that easy the vast majority of the time, but I saw a path.

I'm not as active as I used to be and have had lots of health issues (thankfully, they are finally turning around:)). I think exercise is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. It sheds stress (which generally fuels mental distress), as well as providing added energy that makes being down a little harder. Not to say people who exercise don't have depression and anxiety issues, but I think it's a good start, if not already active.

 

[butts182]

Well with the current state of my tank, at least it starting to pull out of its funk, i am doing better...of course the meds are helping, but those are for panic attacks. find something you love, for me its fishing surfing, snorkeling, etc. exercising is the best thing though

 

[clowns101]

Ive tried a few diffirent things to be honest.I think Ive tried reading,running(which is a huge help,I love running),and a couple other things.

Honestly,running,and listening to music,are probably the BEST thing I have ever done to over come the depression I have dealt with.

One thing I still have problems doing is,waking up feeling good.When I wake up I have a very heavy feeling,and I feel like I have been beaten with a baseball bat all night.And Im not sure why.When I get up out of the shower,I feel fine though.

What is the cause of feeling beaten up though at night?Unhealthy diet,sleeping scedual?etc?

 

[gflat65]

The leading issue for me is sleep. I've recently been getting 4 hours a night and can really feel the improvement. The idea of 4 straight hours of sleep is still a ways out, but I've been feeling rested the last few days on my 4 hour schedule:). Since I don't sleep, the shower is my equalizer, too. I drag myself in (no problems getting out of bed, but don't want to be) and fell better when i get out.

 

[clowns101]

Interesitng,I have problems going to sleep,I lay there for 2 hours min time,trying to fall asleep,and I will slowly go,but some people hit the bed and are out in 10 min,and Id love to be able to do that,I wake up every day at 6:30,and I go to sleep at around 1:30,I get about 7 hours of sleep or so.

 

[Paul_N]

I always looked at it as you have to take care of your mind, body and soul. For my mind I read as it helps me get away, relax and actually focus more. For body, I just need to be active be it walking, playing sports, yard work, working on the house. For my soul I need to pray and do everything I can to keep God in my life. When those three things are being taken care of, my state of mind is calm. My wife gets mad sometimes because if there is a pressing issue I can sleep like a baby and she will toss and turn all night. I have always been able to shut my mind down when I go to bed. I realized that there is only so much you can do or so much worrying that can take place. The issues will still be there in the morning, I'll deal with it then. I feel that God may not always give me what I want in life but he ALWAYS gives me what I need....:bigsmile:

 

[Anthony Calfo]

Do look into a local sleep study. Universities commonly have free trials and programs. You will learn so much about why you have sleep trouble and how to solve it.

For getting to sleep, try taking a single tab of melatonin 3mg (from the grocery store) but note that some instructions are incorrect to advise you to take it at bedtime. You actually need to take it 3-4 hours before you intend to go to sleep.

Also, break your body's "memory" of the bed being for anything other than sleeping or sex. Laying in bed while not sleeping is actually bad...real bad for future sleep habits. The rule is, if you can sleep within 30 minutes or less...get up, do something light (not mentally stimulating) and try again later.

Some people also use mild over the counter aids like benedryl, though they should be taken rather close (40 minutes or less) to when you actually want to sleep.

Stick with the exercise too, my friend! Thats crucial for tempering mood disorders.

 

[clowns101]

I agree Paul.I pray daily,multipul times daily.I pray in the morning,when I eat my lunch,eat my dinner,anytime I get a down feeling,and when I go to bed.

I think I might just write a book now!Call it "For the Body Mind and Soul,A story of depression" haha...LOL,jk Paul!

 

[clowns101]

Ive heard alot about melatonin.I actully have some somwhere.I tried it,and it worked ok,a local friend said I should try somthing called "Ashwana" or somthing like that?Im not sure how it is spelled at all.

 

[Paul_N]

I agree Paul.I pray daily,multipul times daily.I pray in the morning,when I eat my lunch,eat my dinner,anytime I get a down feeling,and when I go to bed.

I think I might just write a book now!Call it "For the Body Mind and Soul,A story of depression" haha...LOL,jk Paul!

LOL....I have never had clinical depression but have a relative on my wife's side that does. Like what was stated above, routine is the key for him besides his medication.

 

[clowns101]

Mines not clinical,just enough to put you in a bad mood!

 

[dougers31]

I always looked at it as you have to take care of your mind, body and soul. For my mind I read as it helps me get away, relax and actually focus more. For body, I just need to be active be it walking, playing sports, yard work, working on the house. For my soul I need to pray and do everything I can to keep God in my life. When those three things are being taken care of, my state of mind is calm. My wife gets mad sometimes because if there is a pressing issue I can sleep like a baby and she will toss and turn all night. I have always been able to shut my mind down when I go to bed. I realized that there is only so much you can do or so much worrying that can take place. The issues will still be there in the morning, I'll deal with it then. I feel that God may not always give me what I want in life but he ALWAYS gives me what I need....:bigsmile:

Good advice.... I have also heard that reading the book of Proverbs(read the chapter that corresponds to the day of the month) can help. It was recommended by a friends counselor.

 

[ReefDreams]

What helped me the most in the past couple of years was realizing that i needed to take it one day at a time. since 07 when i lost my job i have dealt with depression ( not clinically declared), i found that you cant keep your problems bottled up. Which is what i did cause i dont want people to feel like im complaining. i started taking more interest in my religion, i watched comedy's cause they made me laugh and put me in a better mood which helped alot. i got lost in my tank when i had it cause it releaved alot of stress. After accepting things are what they are i was able to start trying to make the best of it Which is why i tell my self to take it one day at a time. Instead of waking up in a bad mood wishing different, i started thanking god for another beautiful day and asked him to guide me through the day. it wasn't easy and i still have my days were i ask why,but you have to stay positive and take advantage of the days were things are good.I owe alot to my wife cause she helped me with alot and still does. If anyone needs a shoulder don't hesitate to contact me whether through email, phone, or the forum.

Reefdreams at gmail
feel free to pm me for my number.

 

[steamer51]

I have never suffered from severe depression. I believe depression has never taken over my life because of my faith in God. When I starts I immediately pray for strength and direction to resolve the situation that is causing the depression. I think that when bad things happen it is to make us stronger when we deal with them. I don't ask for the bad to go away, I ask what does God want me to gain from the experience, how should I deal with it and what part of my life is lacking that needs more of my attention to correct. I lost my job of 26 years and was shown that the most important thing in life is not working as long and hard and you can to make as much money as possible. Success is knowing and loving your family and providing them with your time, not just your money. Two of our four children were the product of my wife's first marriage and I have always loved all of them equally but the relationship I have with my grandchildren (who I had a lot of time to spend with when I was out of work) is so much better than it was with my children when they were young. God used the loss of my job to teach me how much more you can love than I was before. That love was not just directed at the grandchildren but carried over into my whole life. The love I have for my wife, children, friends and family is so much more intense now than it was when I was working myself to death and neglecting them. I hope that God uses crisis in the future to make me even better.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I dont have any serious depression but, everyone has ups and downs. I usually play basketball, football, tennis, run, fish etc. Anything to get my mind off problem just for a little while, to kind of, catch my breath and reset. Everyone needs an outlet where they can just let go and relax from their problems in order to regroup and push through them. For me sports is my outlet.

 

[_Alex_]

i have dealt with it from about the time i was 10 years old. i watched my younger brother die at the age of 6 when he was hit by a car crossing the street. the driver was doing somewhere between 40-50mph on a street with houses. no charges were ever pressed and he never got anything from it. it happened right in front of my grandmothers house. it was very hard for me to go over ther for several years. i would make my parents drive clear around the other way so that we didnt drive over where he last laid on the street. my hole attitude towards life changed after that. i went from a very outgoing and happy child to very closed up and quiet. i had the same two dreams for about the first 5 years and only got about 3-4 hours of sleep till i was about 16. i went threw a stage where i coudlnt even bring my self to cry for several years. i even went to my grandfathers and a cousins funerals and didnt shed a tear. i tried to talk to some friends or girlfriends threw the years but it seemed to scare them and they didntk now what to say or think.

i used a online computer game to exscape reality, i would play for hours 10-14hours a day. even while in school. i slept more at school than i did at home. my father and i were very close before the accident after words, we got father and farther apart. he saw the accident as well and blamed himself becuase he was the one who told him to come back and get his coat. i went down in very dark places in my head several times and tempted ending it all twice with a razor blade, and have the small scars on my wrist to show for it. but i couldnt bare putting my parents threw that again. so i struggled threw silently hurting.

i didnt like the idea of goign to a dr or a therapist to pay someone $$$ just to tlak about my feeligns so i just hed it back. there was a few people i could open up and talk to as i got older and it helped a lot. and like said already working out is a great stress reliever. im trying to get back into i as i have been out of it for about 2 years now and regretting it daily, i know all about being down in a dark hole and not knowing what to do. life is hard and unfair but all you can do is brush off the dirt and keep going and hope for it to get better. im not a very religious person for reasons im not goign to discuss here becuase i dont want to get into that topic at this time. maybe that will change as i get older but at this time i dont think it will. i use my fish tank to exscape now and it seems to work.

 

[Tabasco1]

I"m battling a bit of a rut myself. Out of my usual routine and not taking care and finding balance. Very work dominated right now. Getting out of the routine of being unkind to your mind/body/spirit is what is hardest for me. When I am doing these things I feel great and wonder why I stopped!

Body-eating right for you. This is actually one of the harder things to start because so much planning is involved and if you don't plan and have a nice well balanced meal with you, you will eat whatever is at hand and that is USUALLY not the greatest. It doesnt help that eating healthier seems to be more $$ too.

Getting outside and exercise. At least half hour per day and preferrably in the day time. So if you can get out for a walk before work and get your heart rate up, fantastic. Lunch is great to get a mental break, and then you can be more productive at work in the afternoon. Nighttime is not bad either and can be really refreshing. Espcially if a full moon. haha, I guess there is not a bad time. Exercise is key-your body releases endorphins which make you feel happy and is one of the chemicals that drugs are trying to mimic to make you feel happier. It is why/how some people get 'addicted' to running/biking.

Mind-I try to do things that require alot of concentration so that I can only be in that momment and nowhere else. Also reading, all kinds. Reading to learn, reading to escape as long as the reading takes you somewhere and breaks the internal grind.

Spirit-this can be achieved in many ways. One of the best ways is in community service or volunteering. When I was going through a divorce and was in a precarious place I started tutoring kids who were struggling. It was a great experience. Helped take the focus off me. On the other hand sometimes the spirit needs a break and cannot give anymore and needs to restore itself and it is important to allow for that and not feel guilty to give that to yourself. Another way is to look to a higher power and be connected that way. Whatever religion or Eastern philosophy there are alot of good lessons in scripture and writings to internalize.

I am trying to find some motivation. I am very goal driven and have to have a goal to do stuff, which I don't like but it is what it is. I won't run unless I have signed up for a race or something. It keeps you accountable.

I am very guilty of falling off this train. I think March is a great time to get back on!