Is It Depression Or?

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
Or is life in this world so bad it just makes us feel really bad, and for those of us who are very sensitive to that (nothing wrong with that) it's extra hard? I mean we witness all sorts of chaos via the news every day and we hear of more. Maybe there is a way for us to better train our minds to cope with all this. I am a bit tired of being labeled as depressive--I feel it's the times and the times before, too.

There is a business on us for those to profit from although I realize they need to make a living, too. But can we help ourselves by learning our own way of coping with it all? I welcome your answers.
 

I skim the headlines at Wapo about twice a week in case there is anything I need to know. I don't read the articles often, and those are not about negative things. I didn't used to be like that - I devoured the news. I realized it was making me feel bad, like a constant dark cloud of news was hovering over my mind. And that people, including me, were biased, depending on which news outlets they read. The media has a vested interest in keeping people hooked on the news, and I am convinced they know what they are doing. Well, I refuse to play.

I decided to stop with the news because of that. It was not keeping me informed of anything I needed to know. There was nothing I could do to solve the problems, and it didn't add anything to my IRL relationships. It certainly wasn't making me happier.

When I do know something about the news, my daughter is always surprised. How did you know that? And I tell her, I read about on my forums.

Anyway, I am a lot happier, more cheerful, because of this stance.
 
I'm a news junkie and enjoy being up to date and informed.

I resent the broadcasters that attempt to analyze and spin the news.

I also resent the constant use of file footage and seeing the same news clips used over and over without any updates.

I'm sad to say that I've become numb to so much that would have shocked my parents and grandparents.
 

Humans are team people. We are not meant to live alone. It is unnatural for us. Loneliness is the main cause of depression. It's a modern phenomenon. Yes, there are people who have always preferred to be alone. The key word is "preferred." Now, too many of us don't have that choice. It is what it is. Loneliness is an existential threat to one's well being.

If your first statement were actually true--"Or is life in this world so bad it just makes us feel really bad, and for those of us who are very sensitive to that (nothing wrong with that) it's extra hard? I mean we witness all sorts of chaos via the news every day'--most of us would be depressed. People in healthy, loving, touching relationships have a lesser chance of being so.
 
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Aunt Bea said:
I'm a news junkie and enjoy being up to date and informed.

I resent the broadcasters that attempt to analyze and spin the news.

I also resent the constant use of file footage and seeing the same news clips used over and over without any updates.

I'm sad to say that I've become numb to so much that would have shocked my parents and grandparents.
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Personally, really tired of seeing people getting "jabbed" with needles day in and day out...maybe they could show them smiling with the bandaid in place instead. If you have a fear of needles that can't be a "get this vaccine incentive" now can it anyway! LOL.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I'm a news junkie and enjoy being up to date and informed.
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Back in the 60's two events occurred that were appalling. On the 22nd, November 1963, JFK was assassinated. Three years later,
The Aberfan disaster was the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip on 21 October 1966, killing 116 children and 28 adults as it engulfed Pantglas Junior School and a row of houses.

Those two events caused me to stop reading/viewing/listening to the news. Such events are shocking enough, but the lurid way they get portrayed by the media is really why I gave up on news reports. Somehow or other I have always known such things as an impending election, the political grapevine I guess.
 
Being clinically depressed, and feeling depressed because of a specific situation, news story, the state of the world etc are two entirely different things.

Clinical, chronic depression just IS. It doesn’t need a reason.

Situational depression is temporary, and depends for its force on some specific thing. And yes, while it can last for a long time….as long as the situation exists…it will lift once the cause is removed.

I was depressed for 15 years. But it was situational, as were my suicidal thoughts, having to do with my marriage, and disappeared instantly the day I moved out.

I became depressed again when my son’s addiction ramped up. I remained depressed until I involved myself with Naranon and had some very fundamental realizations about my relationship to my son and his addiction. Even before he moved into recovery my depression lifted and I no longer needed the medication I’d turned to to just be able to function.
 
I think generally I say things like, "how depressing" or that I am depressed because of 'blah blah'. That is depression, it has a cause.

Despair is "What's the point of going on?" or "I'm so useless I might as well off myself." I think these thoughts come to quite a lot of people especially over 60's and during a Pandemic, myself included. Still not necessarily do I think that that is 'clinical depression'.

Despair is a very serious thing, possibly only solved at a spiritual realm. I have to get real with myself at a deeper level to answer those questions and I have found many benefits from doing so.

I don't really think I believe that there is such a thing as 'clinical depression'. jmo
 
Ronni said:
Being clinically depressed, and feeling depressed because of a specific situation, news story, the state of the world etc are two entirely different things.

Clinical, chronic depression just IS. It doesn’t need a reason.

Situational depression is temporary, and depends for its force on some specific thing. And yes, while it can last for a long time….as long as the situation exists…it will lift once the cause is removed.

I was depressed for 15 years. But it was situational, as were my suicidal thoughts, having to do with my marriage, and disappeared instantly the day I moved out.

I became depressed again when my son’s addiction ramped up. I remained depressed until I involved myself with Naranon and had some very fundamental realizations about my relationship to my son and his addiction. Even before he moved into recovery my depression lifted and I no longer needed the medication I’d turned to to just be able to function.
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So good to hear you found peace of mind in Naranon. Its hard when our kids or grandkids fall into addiction. 'There is a solution'.
 
horseless carriage said:
Back in the 60's two events occurred that were appalling. On the 22nd, November 1963, JFK was assassinated. Three years later,
The Aberfan disaster was the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip on 21 October 1966, killing 116 children and 28 adults as it engulfed Pantglas Junior School and a row of houses.

Those two events caused me to stop reading/viewing/listening to the news. Such events are shocking enough, but the lurid way they get portrayed by the media is really why I gave up on news reports. Somehow or other I have always known such things as an impending election, the political grapevine I guess.
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what ?...you've not read or watched or listened to any news in 55 years ?... how have you managed that ?:oops:
 
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Life has always been tough. Hard times come and go. Today is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Do you think things are worse now?

What you have to remember is that most things are completely out of your control. All you control are your own actions. Sure, there is plenty to be upset about. But, your being depressed isn't going to help a bit.

I tried giving up on the news. Then I realized that my real problem was taking it personally. The world is crazy, but it's not my fault. Things will go as they will go, maybe better, maybe worse. So, I read about it, shake my head, maybe cuss a bit, then move on.

You can't roller skate in a buffalo herd, but you can be happy if you've a mind to.
 
Ruthanne said:
Or is life in this world so bad it just makes us feel really bad, and for those of us who are very sensitive to that (nothing wrong with that) it's extra hard? I mean we witness all sorts of chaos via the news every day and we hear of more. Maybe there is a way for us to better train our minds to cope with all this. I am a bit tired of being labeled as depressive--I feel it's the times and the times before, too.

There is a business on us for those to profit from although I realize they need to make a living, too. But can we help ourselves by learning our own way of coping with it all? I welcome your answers.
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The external world can make us feel depressed and anxious, so can physiological factors. Regarding you query(in bold, above) a popular therapeutic approach in use today is CBT(Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). Rather than spend endless amounts of time and money on analyzing a patient's history, CBT is results driven, moving on to teaching a patient "how to" remedy their condition. Mindfulness is at the core of CBT, in essence focusing on the present, rather that anguishing or grieving over the past or the future.
Exercise and good sleep helps mood tremendously, much better that drugs or sweets, which only provide a temporary boost.
 
Ronni said:
Being clinically depressed, and feeling depressed because of a specific situation, news story, the state of the world etc are two entirely different things.

Clinical, chronic depression just IS. It doesn’t need a reason.

Situational depression is temporary, and depends for its force on some specific thing. And yes, while it can last for a long time….as long as the situation exists…it will lift once the cause is removed.

I was depressed for 15 years. But it was situational, as were my suicidal thoughts, having to do with my marriage, and disappeared instantly the day I moved out.

I became depressed again when my son’s addiction ramped up. I remained depressed until I involved myself with Naranon and had some very fundamental realizations about my relationship to my son and his addiction. Even before he moved into recovery my depression lifted and I no longer needed the medication I’d turned to to just be able to function.
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@Ronni - exactly. People do not understand the difference between situational depression, which comes from something outside you, and real clinical depression which is deep inside you. I was situationally depressed during the years I worked at a particular company, and it lifted when I finally left. My sister is clinically depressed and while positive external situations may seem - to her - to help the depression, they don't get at the root cause and really only cover up and give temporary relief.

I'm so glad you pointed out the difference because so many people don't understand this.
 
hollydolly said:
what ?...you've not read or watched or listened to any news in 55 years ?... how have you managed that ?:oops:
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Simple really, We didn't have a television for the first thirty years of marriage and the radio always seems to be an irritation rather than a pleasure.

In our teens we aspired to become professional ballroom dancers, there came a time though when we just knew that we didn't have the talent to make the grade, so we went into the world of work and enjoyed dancing at an amateur level. We still danced, taught dance, choreographed new dances and occasionally competed. We were never in to watch television.
 
I know i keep harping on this.
You originate your own thought.
No one else can erase the sadness you let settle in your own heart.
Stand and claim your own joy by your own hand or your own fist!
When thoughts of depression enter the mind, quench them.
Don't send them out into the air for someone else to feel.
The atmosphere is filled with sadness, fear, anger; from our own minds!
We have to all change the way we THINK!
If we could do that, wonders would occur on the Earth!
(for what it's worth)
 
I think that I would be happy living in some kind of situation where there were people nearby to chat with once in a while. I think I would be happy living in a place that we could safely, easily, pleasantly grow old in (i.e., services nearby to walk to and people nearby for company and help). But guess what? I'm not living in a place like that at all nor will I ever be if Huzz has his way. So now how do I think about it? Pretend that I'm happy but not worried anyway? Welp, I've never been good at pretending, so oh well. That's just the way life is for some of us, those "lives of quiet desperation" Thoreau spoke about.
 

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