Depression

PeppermintPatty

PeppermintPatty

🐢. 🐳. 🐢
Location
Canada
It’s something I’ve dealt with my entire life. Much of it is due to how I was raised , my life experiences due to other mental health issues which I can’t and won’t explain and some I’m sure is due to genetics. I only met one grandparent out of 4 and that was only once.

I’m currently depressed due to many reasons most of which I can’t possibly explain but I’m actually finding myself lonely too which is something I’m not really accustomed to.

Does anyone else here deal with depression?
 

Yes, I do. Some of it's due to how I was raised, some due to health issues, and some due to loneliness (a major cause of which is where we live). And in spite of vigorous efforts on my part, it appears that none of the 3 can be improved. So that gets me down sometimes. I'm lucky I like to read, be on the internet, and watch tv.
 

I did many years ago. More of anxiety. I was prescribed Zoloft and told you had to give it about two weeks.
After one week everything was worse. I drove to work thinking I cannot get through this! It Was Horrible! A physical wrenching in the pit of my stomach of anxiety.
I almost stopped but I said I would try to use it for two weeks.
Right at two weeks everything cleared. It was like something was lifted. All the hormones adjusted themselves. I felt very normal.
I continued to take it for a month or so the very slowly and carefully weaned myself off.
It worked.
 
I have dealt with depression in my lifetime. It was situational as was my suicidal ideation, having to do with my abusive marriage. It was miserable and wretched and a terrible way to live and I didn’t want to go on. Had it not been for my children I wouldn’t have.

Situational depression and clinical depression are two very different things. The symptoms of both are very similar, but the huge difference is that situational depression lifts once one’s oppressive situation .. the reason one is depressed .. is resolved, if it can be.

Clinical depression needs no reason. It just IS. And is therefore more difficult to manage, and as others have said, requires oversight by a medical professional to direct its resolution.
 
There is real clinical depression for which the antidepressents are made to help. I assume it can be trial and error. This is due to real chemical issues with the brain.

I think much of mine is situational. The stuff I've dealt with in my life. The burden of my stepfather. The realization my brother is an abusive personality disorder himself and is of no support.

Even that stupid meeting I went to yesterday. The "do more" meeting as they always are. One big mouth who got into a desk job shooting off her mouth a lot. Never misses a smoke break while the only break I take all day is my lunch break.

Our boss telling us to ask one of the department heads if we need help. This big mouth was asked once to help me when I had too much going on. She was so nasty about it to me, I don't want to ask one more of these f'rs to help me again. They are all full of crap. Left there feeling down.
 
officerripley said:
Yes, I do. Some of it's due to how I was raised, some due to health issues, and some due to loneliness (a major cause of which is where we live). And in spite of vigorous efforts on my part, it appears that none of the 3 can be improved. So that gets me down sometimes. I'm lucky I like to read, be on the internet, and watch tv.
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I know. It's my cats, crafts and reading that keep me going. Also thrift store shopping I guess.
 
I see the mental health category has been added and this is a good thing! Thank you for suggesting it Patty. I've never suffered from chronic depression but I used to have two, but now have three grandchildren who do. Perhaps I'll expound on their struggles later. I'm hoping to learn how to help them when necessary by reading posts from those who have battled depression. I know there are things that should not be said and hopefully I'll learn what words do help. @Matrix
 
Patty, congratulations and thank you for having Mental Health become it's own forum. To answer your question, I have dealt with severe depression in the past where I went so far as to wake up angry I was still alive; angry with my son because my suicide would irreparably harm him--his life was preventing my death.

I'm not depressed like that anymore. Don't know why. Get very manic at time, like right now.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
It’s something I’ve dealt with my entire life. Much of it is due to how I was raised , my life experiences due to other mental health issues which I can’t and won’t explain and some I’m sure is due to genetics. I only met one grandparent out of 4 and that was only once.

I’m currently depressed due to many reasons most of which I can’t possibly explain but I’m actually finding myself lonely too which is something I’m not really accustomed to.

Does anyone else here deal with depression?
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@PeppermintPatty , thanks for your efforts in getting a Mental Health sub-forum established, much needed as so many do have issues that affect their lives. I see Senior Forums as a comfortable, safe haven in general, and much preferred over some of the discussion sites where anything goes.

Anyway, yes, I've had to deal with both anxiety and depression, depression not so much in recent years. I did have a significant situational depression back in 2014, dealing with a step-son addicted to methamphetamine, using and abusing the good will of the family. Somewhere, maybe it was the counselor I went to said that "depression is anger turned inward". I could see that. The counseling was very beneficial, I did got on medication for a few months, until the situation was successfully resolved.
A little over a year ago I lost my daughter, very crushing...still is. I don't feel "depressed" per se, but I do feel that 500 lb. gorilla sitting on my chest, at times.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
It’s something I’ve dealt with my entire life. Much of it is due to how I was raised , my life experiences due to other mental health issues which I can’t and won’t explain and some I’m sure is due to genetics. I only met one grandparent out of 4 and that was only once.

I’m currently depressed due to many reasons most of which I can’t possibly explain but I’m actually finding myself lonely too which is something I’m not really accustomed to.

Does anyone else here deal with depression?
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I only get depressed when something bad happens, and I am not sure that's the kind you are talking about. My father had problems with depression, it made him... well nasty and argumentative. I delt with it by steering clear of him.

I am sorry to hear that you deal with it, your posts are always friendly and often upbeat. It would be hard to know just reading them.

Does posting and reading here help with the loneliness?
 
Nathan said:
@PeppermintPatty , thanks for your efforts in getting a Mental Health sub-forum established, much needed as so many do have issues that affect their lives. I see Senior Forums as a comfortable, safe haven in general, and much preferred over some of the discussion sites where anything goes.

Anyway, yes, I've had to deal with both anxiety and depression, depression not so much in recent years. I did have a significant situational depression back in 2014, dealing with a step-son addicted to methamphetamine, using and abusing the good will of the family. Somewhere, maybe it was the counselor I went to said that "depression is anger turned inward". I could see that. The counseling was very beneficial, I did got on medication for a few months, until the situation was successfully resolved.
A little over a year ago I lost my daughter, very crushing...still is. I don't feel "depressed" per se, but I do feel that 500 lb. gorilla sitting on my chest, at times.
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I’m so sorry for your loss Nathan. That’s tragic and not that distant. I’ve known about your step son and have often wondered how you’ve managed. It’s nothing I’ve had to experience but it’s something I’ve often wondered about. That must be an incredibly difficult thing to try and deal with.

I’m very glad to have a dedicated section and can’t thank you enough for offering to moderate it . When I’d made the suggestion I hadn’t realized that I’d have to moderate it and knew it wasn’t something I could do. This section would not be here if it weren’t for you.🙏
 
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PeppermintPatty said:
It’s something I’ve dealt with my entire life. Much of it is due to how I was raised , my life experiences due to other mental health issues which I can’t and won’t explain and some I’m sure is due to genetics. I only met one grandparent out of 4 and that was only once.

I’m currently depressed due to many reasons most of which I can’t possibly explain but I’m actually finding myself lonely too which is something I’m not really accustomed to.

Does anyone else here deal with depression?
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Me too. I've been deeply depressed for a long time, very few people know because I hide it.
Lately I tried calling the Samaritans at night but each time they didn't answer. I expect they must have loads of callers.
 
Anxiety and depression are often comorbid, with a shading of one existing in the shadow of the other. I was on medication for anxiety for years when my work environment turned toxic. I’m sure that many of us here could offer perspectives gained by their own journeys down painful roads. Thank you for sponsoring a mental health section, Patty, and I’m sure that it will offer content relevant to and beneficial for many of us…
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I’m very glad to have a dedicated section and can’t thank you enough for offering to moderate it . When I’d made the suggestion I hadn’t realized that I’d have to moderate it and knew it wasn’t something I could do. This section would not be here if it weren’t for you.🙏
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@Nathan
You are moderating? Thank you so much. I always felt you were a fine man, sensitive to others.
 
Fyrefox said:
Anxiety and depression are often comorbid, with a shading of one existing in the shadow of the other. I was on medication for anxiety for years when my work environment turned toxic. I’m sure that many of us here could offer perspectives gained by their own journeys down painful roads. Thank you for sponsoring a mental health section, Patty, and I’m sure that it will offer content relevant to and beneficial for many of us…
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I do not miss work one bit. All the office politics that ground me down.
It's wonderful to be retired and never have to work alongside people who were often so petty. Some were nice and became friends, others made life hellish and you couldn't escape.

Work stress is very difficult, it affects health greatly.
 
I knew a number of people who were (are) depressed. Many have found that reading self-help books have helped them, even mor so than taking medication. Some authors call themselves experts, but are really just like you and me, but because they have gone through counseling, now they believe they can help others and to a certain extent, I wouldn’t challenge that. They certainly may have something to offer that may help someone with depression.

However, there really are true experts on the matter that have authored self-help books that may guide some people in the correct direction. For years, depression wasn’t even looked upon as an illness and many insurance companies would not cover the costs of counseling. Thank the good Lord, at least that has changed. I, myself, have never been depressed. I get sad on occasion because I am alone now, but that’s been mostly my choice. I knew one fellow that suffered from depression so bad that he hung himself. Unlucky me, I’m the person that found him.

For some, it’s a long road to become well again. I have read that people who are depressed have to try different methods of repairing their mind, until they find what seems to work best for them. The fellow that hung himself told me once that just talking about what’s bothering him makes him feel better for several hours. I don’t know how that helps, but if it worked for him, then that’s what he needed to stay with. He would come to my house and we would sit and just talk, well, he would talk, probably about 80% of our conversations were about his issues, so I learned to be a good listener.
 
Rose65 said:
I do not miss work one bit. All the office politics that ground me down.
It's wonderful to be retired and never have to work alongside people who were often so petty. Some were nice and became friends, others made life hellish and you couldn't escape.

Work stress is very difficult, it affects health greatly.
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Rose, I could tell a big difference in my mental health when I retired.
 
Ronni said:
I have dealt with depression in my lifetime. It was situational as was my suicidal ideation, having to do with my abusive marriage. It was miserable and wretched and a terrible way to live and I didn’t want to go on. Had it not been for my children I wouldn’t have.

Situational depression and clinical depression are two very different things. The symptoms of both are very similar, but the huge difference is that situational depression lifts once one’s oppressive situation .. the reason one is depressed .. is resolved, if it can be.

Clinical depression needs no reason. It just IS. And is therefore more difficult to manage, and as others have said, requires oversight by a medical professional to direct its resolution.
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I'm very glad you posted this, @Ronni ... I'm going to quote your entire post so it can be read again if missed. I think it is vital to make a distinction between the types of depressions. Many years back, I had a friend who was dealing with clinical depression... and her husband kept saying things like "snap out of it" and "you'll feel better tomorrow" or "let's go on a trip, that will make you feel better."

She told me she kept telling him that her form of depression was not just "sadness" or something she (or anyone) can just "snap out of" by doing a happy dance and going on a trip.

I believe there are a lot of people who don't know clinical depression is a chemical imbalance and worlds away from "feeling sad and blue." I hate seeing all the misinformation floating around on the 'Net and in real life.
 
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