How do you deal with depression?

[disinformatique]

How do some of your Magnificent Bastards deal with it? Sometimes even finishing a bowl takes a week or two. I usually keep myself busy with work, studies and entertainment, but sometimes the demons slip through the cracks.
Cheers,

Chris

 

[ashdigger]

My demons still try to fuck with me and I just keep pushing forward. No real fix and I probably do everything wrong but I alternate between Caffeine and Alcohol. I just set limits.
Oh an this quote
Sometimes I feel like giving up, but then I realize I have a lot of motherfuckers to prove wrong.

 

[bassbug]

Chris,
Please...if you are experiencing depression, if you think things are not as they should be, go see your doctor and get some advice and maybe a referral to a specialist.
I'm sure you're going to get responses from people here that will give advice and opinions, but quite honestly, this is not the place for that. Your health is not something that should be left to anonymous screen names and strangers that know nothing about you. Seek the proper help you may need. Please.

 

[hawky454]

The will to survive resides pretty strongly in me, I think it has something to do with Condor, so I’m writing you a prescription for pre-Polish Condor Plug. That oughta-doit.
But to be totally honest, I think it’s fine to get depressed from time to time. Happiness is not a constant but we have to remember that sadness isn’t either. Hang it there, listen to some good ol’ music and enjoy the ride (even the shitty parts).

 

[mau1]

First I wish to say good on you for speaking up. For far too long depression and mental health issues have been hidden, possibly for fear of judgment from others. Everyone imo faces the problem at one time or another. Speaking about it is important, the first step to understanding. Secondly, I agree with bass 100% and his advice to see your doctor and go from there. This is not something you should handle on your own.

 

[warren]

What's your definition of "depression?" Don't know that I've ever experienced a true "clinical depression." I usually ignore my moods, I let others decide how to handle my moods. I don't self-analyze. If I thought I had mental problems I'd see the doctor and not discuss the situation with people I only know superficially.

 

[saltedplug]

In support both of seeing your doctor

and speaking up on the forum. We like being lionized but not publicly outing a negative.
About seeing your doctor. Unless psychiatrist your doctor has limited understanding and training with mental health. He will more than probably give you a referral to a psychiatrist and or therapist, but his understanding is limited. I would view that referral as a starting point. As you develop your understanding of what you need in professionals you may need to move on.
Our brain's programming from experience and neurochemical function determines everything as they constitute the conditioning between us and the world as it is. For all practical purposes we are that conditioning.

 

[ray47]

Reading my Bible while smoking a pipe works for me if I'm feeling kinda down. I keep telling myself that there are plenty of people who have far worse problems them me.

 

[chilllucky]

Exercise and breaking of routine. It's not always easy to motivate myself to do it, but it works when I do.

 

[aldecaker]

Warren is right; there is a difference between "feeling depressed" or down, or even just being a perpetually gloomy person, and clinical depression. Feeling down, the forum might be able to buck you up a bit. If you feel like you're in clinical depression territory, consult a professional.

 

[sablebrush52]

Bassbug nailed it. Depression has many causes. Consult with your doctor.

 

[trouttimes]

I agree with get pro help. This can be very disabilitating. For me, I turn to faith first, then exercise. Nothing helps my head like a day bird hunting or a day fishing on the river. I call on my past where I have experienced whole countries in worse shape than I am. Things could always be better but they could be a lot worse too. Even famous and rich people have problems, that's being human. If you feel overwhelmed, get help.

 

[carolinachurchwarden]

+1 to Bassbug
You should consult with your doctor about these feelings you have. Lots of people out there have clinical depression and they never even know they do because they don't see a doctor.
I have first hand experience with this as I have an ex who's mother suffered for years. I can't relate to what you're feeling, but I know what she went through.
Kudos to you for acknowledging the fact that you are suffering from it. Lots of people don't, so at least you're stepping in the right direction.
Never had it before, myself, so it's really hard for me to grasp the idea of. Maybe I've had it and just not known it, but I always find myself keeping busy with things.
It got really hot here this summer and I usually just endure it to be in my garage and work on things because that makes me happy. Due to the heat I said screw it and I learned how to knit until it got cooler so I could still have things to do in the house. Nothing quite like knitting a hat and smoking a bowl of something tasty.
I've found if I do things that just make me happy, no matter how they look or sound to others, I'm alright by me. Besides, no matter who's around me at any point in my life, I have to live with myself all the damn time, and sometimes he's pretty damn awesome. That's how I deal with my life, but it doesn't mean it works for everyone.
Go talk to your doctor and find out what's up and then find something that makes you happy. I never get too caught up in myself because I don't give myself the time to, but hey, that's just me.
Take of yourself, friend, and best of luck to you!

 

[woodsroad]

+10 to Bassbug.
The internet is the last place that you should to for advice on mental health. See your doctor. Get a referral to a good specialist. There are treatments readily available that will bring you relief.

 

[prairiedruid]

Just chiming in with getting professional help is the place to start. I've had clinical depression for 12 years.

There are treatments readily available that will bring you relief.

One of the great myths of depression is that treatment brings relief in all cases. There are a great variety of treatment options from pharmalogical, to talk therapy, to ECT (electro-convulsive therapy, they basically knock you out and apply electric shock to your brain, sort of a power reset). 20% of long term clinical depression cases do not respond to treatment. I'm one of the "lucky" 20%. I'm now doing gene testing to see if that can give a hint to what medications might work better for me. Pipe smoking is one of the things that helps on bad days. The ritual of loading a pipe and smoking helps slow me down mentally and find some measure of peace.
Again first step is to talk with a professional and work with them. Don't give up!

 

[mikethompson]

This is probably the most important thread on the forums right now.
Everyone has bad days. But if you have more bad days than good, or have had a string of bad days, please please get help.

 

[lasttango]

Asking someone you trust or perhaps your physician for a good therapist helps... like everyone says... remember, therapists are like barbers... you won't like them all... you need to shop around until you find one you can connect with.
Now, you asked what we magnificent bastards do...
It's taken some therapy and a handful of years... but here are a few things that I have found help me not be depressed.
One, I quit drinking... while you didn't disclose anything, alcohol and drugs would be a big deal here...
Two, over time and with the help of others, I have developed a spiritual and philosophical perspective on life that works for me.
Three, doing good things for myself like a weekly Massage.
Four, I love my hobbies... vinyl LPs, pipes, etc
Good luck brother!

 

[jeff540]

A lot of great advice here, foremost to seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed or hopeless.
I have heard that keeping a journal helps. Though not something I have the discipline to do, it helps my wife especially in the winter time when it's cold and days are shorter.
If I may expand ever so slightly on the spiritual without going into "forbidden territory," I believe we are all here for a reason to learn life lessons. If I honestly assess my life thus far, the most painful lessons turned out to be massive growing experiences (divorce, bankruptcy, loss of loved ones, etc.).
Hang in there, and kudos for having the courage to speak. Even posting on a forum like this is a better alternative than staying silent.

 

[woodsroad]

I did not mean to imply that there is a “cure” for depression for everyone. That is too simplistic a view. Depression is very treatable though, and most people will find varying degrees of relief over time. Personally, a combination of therapy, medication and doing a few things, as lasttango pointed out, to help myself enjoy being me, have made a vast improvement in my life over the years.
Do not hesitate to seek help, and just as importantly, to keep seeking help if your first efforts are not to your liking.
There is light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[mso489]

I had a salty old retired general practitioner friend, M.D., whose brother (I also knew) had depression for much of his life. The brother gave some interesting and worth-hearing presentations at my church about how he handled it. The retired M.D. on an entirely different occasion, in private conversation not specifically about his brother, said directly, "Depression can be a life-threatening illness." So you don't panic, but you don't go into denial either. Find a counselor you trust, and be picky; if they're good at first, but you have doubts three appointments in, change counselors. It's worth going to find out how a professional sees your situation. Let someone experienced size it up, and don't try to self-diagnose. Get outdoors; get exercise; watch your diet and water intake; be aware of your own self-care or lack thereof -- sleep, hygiene, social relationships. Get it checked out. If you are okay, continue to monitor yourself. Take it seriously. After a long series of life reverses -- loss of spouse, romantic break-up, major dust-up at work, and more -- I checked in with a counselor who sized me up as coping. When I went to a psychiatrist with my late wife who was undergoing a career crisis, so the doc could hear us relate to each other, as we were leaving, he said, "You've been in analysis, haven't you?" Interesting. I hadn't and told him so. Take good care of yourself. Not just you, but everyone.