Depression

[Biscuit]

Tablets are only there to help get you on an even keel - they are not a long term solution. They can be helpful to get you feeling normal again and then you can build on it from there.

See a doctor though, they're trained to deal with this kinda thing. Good luck.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Find a hobby or cause that you really enjoy and throw yourself into that. It lets you focus on something that makes you happy and allows your thoughts to shift away from anything negative for a while.

As people said also see a Dr and undertake excercise and a healthy diet.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Without wanting to sound too 'hippy' - finding a meaning to your life, a major life goal, something you want to aim towards/achieve. Failing that lots of early morning sea swimming at Tidemills to stimulate body and mind.

This.

 

[bhaexpress]

I don't trust either of the first two.

Well maybe you need another doctor. I can tell drink and 'substances' only make it worse, if you are that down there are drugs you can take that are mood elevators, they don't act straight away but build up in your brain to promote Serotonin a lack of which is often the cause of depression. Trust me, you're not a pair of curtains so you won't be able to pull yourself together. Talking about it helps, bottling up your emotions doesn't. You'd be surprised just how common it is and it's very treatable.

 

[bhaexpress]

I have a feeling that Croydon will be suffering from an epidemic over the next twelve months ! Must be terrible, coming to terms with the fact that you've been delusional must be very depressing.

 

[Seagull Steve]

I suffer with depression and have been on most, if not all of the different drugs, currently back on the prozac. I have had cognitive behaviour therapy from the mental health team at the general. It is a horrible thing to go through as it gets progressively worse. Please go and discuss things with your GP straight away. I wish I'd have done it earlier, as I went to places in my mind, far too dark to talk about on a public forum. I am disabled and not able to do much exercising, but I know that does help a lot of people. I am on an even plato (sp?) at the moment. So things are good and I am really looking forward to the new season, the Amex and the signings. So my mind is occupied with that atm. Anybody wants a chat about things, drop us a pm.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

I AM NO EXPERT-THIS IS FROM THE HEART....

Such a complex subject-
A fear based anxiety can to some degree be overcome by facing such fears.
A situation based anxiety can be awkward to break if you have to deal with it day to day.

Remember we are all very much alone in this world and at the end of the day the only person that really matters is oneself-this does not mean we have to be selfish to others.

There is always a way out of any situation,the last resort is death,but you work back from that moment and other doors will present themselves as options.

Diet
Exercise
Healthy living are just some of the obvious ways to help

Maybe try a faith healer or another alternative.

Refuse, but with dignity and honour, to carry the burden of what others may or may not think of you,as such a burden will drain your very soul and there will be only one outcome.

Read books on various subject's of amazing human feats of survival through times of adversity and use these as inspiration.

Try not to think too much yet still give consideration to your self & others,but just do or do not,nothing really matters.

 

[BLOCK F]

I haven't drunk alcohol in about 9 years. GPs and medication are simply not an option, I refuse to pollute my body with drugs.

Thank you all for your advice. [/QUOT
Obviously I know no details about what might be causing your depression,but to dismiss medication and doctors out of hand does seem a little strange to me.
You say you refuse to pollute your body with drugs.Does this mean you wouldn't take any medication of any sort for any illness you may suffer?If so,I think that is eccentric and totally misguided and wonder what may have lead you to take such an extreme view.Was alcohol a problem for you?
Exercise is always good for depression,but is not necessarily a cure on its own.Go and see your G.P. and have a chat and take it from there...you don't have to take medication,but to me it sounds as if you are a bit frightened of becoming dependent rather than the polluting my body angle.Be honest with yourself.
Good luck.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

A bit off topic but I have lived with people who have suffered it, although not myself. Anyways, as other people have mentioned, it is very hard to understand if it's not you, yet you need a lot of support from people around you. There is a book about a black dog or something like that that explains the illness really well - I read it and was able to help/understand a lot more.

Having read that, I realise how vague and unhelpful that post was. Ah well!

 

[JetsetJimbo]

I'm in a similar boat to Seagull Steve, I've suffered from crippling bouts of depression all my life. I've tried various tablets (none of which really helped; some caused me to not give a damn about my external problems, which was helpful in the short term but actively harmful over time, as things just get worse while you're ignoring them); had a few courses of counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy, both of which were hugely helpful whilst they were happening, but I backslid once the courses finished.

In common with other posters in this thread, the only thing I can recommend as a long term solution is exercise. I used to be a committed salad-dodger, and would sneer at gym-goers for being vain. Eventually, frustrated at how nothing else seemed to work, I took out a gym membership and started going regularly.

Not only does the exercise itself help (releasing feel-good chemicals in your brain or somesuch), but the sense of achievement I got from seeing my fitness progressively improve has really helped improve my self-esteem (which, as you probably know, can be left in pieces by a bout of depression), as has the discipline I've had to exercise to keep going when I really, really don't fancy it.

Edit: I feel I should add, my only regret is that it took until I hit my thirties to have this realisation.

 

[bhaexpress]

This.

Anybody who can say or agree with this advice clearly has no idea about depression.

 

[bhaexpress]

Definitely exercise. Medical studies show it's as effective as drugs. Plus it keeps you fit.

Not always an option.

 

[bhaexpress]

I haven't drunk alcohol in about 9 years. GPs and medication are simply not an option, I refuse to pollute my body with drugs.

Thank you all for your advice.

You need to change your perspective here, would you refuse pain killing drugs ? Would you not have Novocaine for a filling ? There are drugs and there are drugs. Doctors now are very aware of previous mistakes with people becoming addicted so now they monitor your usage, they don't just write a prescription and send you on your merry way. I can assure you that a qualified clinician will have far better advice than a football internet board.

 

[Notters]

Depends on how bad it is. If it is bad, then GP, specialist help and medication is required certainly. The earlier the better. SSRIs are pretty effective at targeting now and no side effects.

If it is not so bad, cut out the alcohol and stay active.

No side effects?!

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

Anybody who can say or agree with this advice clearly has no idea about depression.

why-mind body and soul,spring to mind(pardon the pun)...a tri part being we all are,when 1 fails the unbalance is there for all to see-nope i agree keep yourself being something or the game is up-

 

[bhaexpress]

why-mind body and soul,spring to mind(pardon the pun)...a tri part being we all are,when 1 fails the unbalance is there for all to see-nope i agree keep yourself being something or the game is up-

Eh ?

 

[JetsetJimbo]

Because Cheeky Monkey's advice is only a slight step-up from "pull yourself together". Telling someone with depression to "find meaning" and "set life goals" is a bit like telling someone with no legs to try going for a jog.

 

[bhaexpress]

No side effects?!

It's not quite true but these days the side effects are at the most minimal. The problems caused by drugs like Valium (Diazipam) are now well known so drugs are not dispensed like Smarties anymore.

 

[bhaexpress]

Because Cheeky Monkey's advice is only a slight step-up from "pull yourself together". Telling someone with depression to "find meaning" and "set life goals" is a bit like telling someone with no legs to try going for a jog.

Exactly, the fact that HB&B agrees with it speak volumes.

 

[GoldWithFalmer]

Eh ?

I was Bha in agreement with Hove,to which i understood you were not,maybe i miss read the post or got it wrong.