The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

[floridaorange]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

But when she is angry, it's a Mr Hyde scenario. She turns on anyone and whoever is at hand or close to her, she looks for things to destroy whether physically or emotionally, herself and around her; it's completely impossible to understand her when she's in that mode because she twists and misinterprets, projects whatever she is thinking or feeling words, read between the lines. It's basically a storm and people can only pick up the pieces.
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What exactly does she bring to the relationship that makes up for this? Because frankly, that kind of toxicity would be enough to bring anyone down with them.

[feather]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

I've always had a hard time identifying depression.. I am 29 now and I've gone trough a few low points, but was it depression ? I could never be sure. Once you get to the point of suicidal thoughts, and that whole concept enters your realm, does it ever go away completely and "forever" ? Is that what depression is ?

I've had plenty of periods/days where I didn't feel like talking to anyone, or just didn't feel like doing anything.. being in a sad modd.. but I could never say if I was depressed or not because then I will have much longer periods of feeling that are on the other end of the scale.

I'm similar ... I was not brought up with an awareness of depression and it's never occurred to me to see anyone about it. I just assumed I was a pessimistic person. The only way I can describe it is being in a state of low-energy flatline although in the past I've had what might be extreme highs and downs, I don't have anything to compare it to.

But I don't affect the people around me and no one has ever mentioned anything to me so I don't think I'm exhibiting anything extreme. Maybe because I've had to deal with my ex over the years who is actually diagnosed with bi-polar among a host of other issues and I've cauterized myself from her extremities to the point that I just don't react much to anything. My colleagues actually think I'm really calm and zen.

What bothers me is this general perception of depressed people being mopy and down. I can deal with that, I think it's 'easier' to be sympathetic and 'be there' for the person and if that person can at times come out of it to see they are not alone.

I don't know what other cases of depression are like because when you read about it in the media it always paints the person deserving of sympathy and a victim.

My experience with my ex has been different. She oscillates between down and angry and despair. When she is down she shuts off and needs her own space, when she despairs she is sometimes able to communicate and I've tried to talk her through it. But when she is angry, it's a Mr Hyde scenario. She turns on anyone and whoever is at hand or close to her, she looks for things to destroy whether physically or emotionally, herself and around her; it's completely impossible to understand her when she's in that mode because she twists and misinterprets, projects whatever she is thinking or feeling words, read between the lines. It's basically a storm and people can only pick up the pieces.

I don't know if depression is simply narrowly defined as people in that mental state of being down but like I said, my own experience has included more than that and frankly paints a different picture of how the media has portrayed it. The person is a victim of the condition but not necessarily accessible, helpable, and is actually antagonistic towards help.

When a celebrity dies and depression is part of it, we get a sympathetic picture of the situation. And it certainly is. But my own experience makes me wonder if there are other sides to the situation that we don't all see.

[Micko]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

He couldn't explain it, and just said what the dr. told him, which is that his brain doesn't produce a certain chemical.

The medical model still prevails unfortunately - if anyone is interested, check out "Madness Explained" by Richard Bentall - he proposes psychological models for mental ill-health (based on up-to-date research).

The book also traces the history of psychiatry and how diagnostic criteria for various conditions has evolved over time.

From my experience working in mental health, it is by far better to treat a symptom than to treat a diagnostic label

[Micko]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

Bipolar Disorder is a tricky one to explain in that in can run along a continuum ranging from the lows of depression to manic highs. A person diagnosed with the disorder can suffer deep, deep depressions while at other times endure mania which can lead to all sorts of other difficulties. I appreciate a discussion of bipolar disorder is a sensitive one around MS.

For what it's worth, a person can suffer some of the symptoms of schizophrenia and some of the manic elements (normally associated with bipolar disorder) and be diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder. This last diagnosis is very contentious.

[floridaorange]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

^I have similar questions about Bi-polar disorder actually. What I am wondering about are what the thoughts are going through a persons mind who has bipolar. Like a good friend of mine, I asked him this morning on the way to church. What does he think about when he's going through it. What tapes are being played in his mind? Is is the same every time, does it feel like insecurity, or what? He couldn't explain it, and just said what the dr. told him, which is that his brain doesn't produce a certain chemical.

[go0gle]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

I've always had a hard time identifying depression.. I am 29 now and I've gone trough a few low points, but was it depression ? I could never be sure. Once you get to the point of suicidal thoughts, and that whole concept enters your realm, does it ever go away completely and "forever" ? Is that what depression is ?

I've had plenty of periods/days where I didn't feel like talking to anyone, or just didn't feel like doing anything.. being in a sad modd.. but I could never say if I was depressed or not because then I will have much longer periods of feeling that are on the other end of the scale.

Its almost like a mental reality that can be accessed pretty much instantly at any given point.. I see it as a very fine line, its almost as if you have to reason with it like any other dilemmas/doubts you might have. If your soul is content/whole with your current state of being, the notion doesn't come up anymore, but is it gone ? I dunno.

Then on top of that you start seeing it around, and its obviously part of society, which makes into a "realistic proposition" once your brain registers it as such. Just look at the recent events.. how many days of main headlines, articles, news stories, etc. are we going to get ?

Anyway, my advice is when you get down there, and even worse get stuck, get yourself some good psilocybin, or even better, a solid DMT hit.. nothing works better when it comes down to it. All the meds you get from the pharmas just prolong the situation, and of course it many cases they do help, but they are no where near as effective as the above mentioned psychedelics.

[floridaorange]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

It isn't Sunday night until Florida has done some rimming.

[unkle]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

the sunday night is depressive itself.

[trick12]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

what a load of right on hippie loving bullshit

lol

[Zover]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

It isn't Sunday night until Florida has done some rimming.

[floridaorange]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

what a load of right on hippie loving bullshit

[floridaorange]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

Btw that quote of Robin's you are using as a sig is a symptom of his illness not a truth.

"I can't believe I'm saying this", but I agree with Didi, on this ^ one.

[♫♫♫♫♫♫]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

This is off topic but event though I disagree with many opinions and comments here, I understand that some people are more gifted at getting their conscious points across via a message board than others. So it's best to take all posts with a grain of salt. If you have never met a person in real life or at the very least talked to them on the phone, you really have no idea who they are, message boards aren't really communicating, since most of communication between 2 humans is body language and tonality. That's why actors like Robin Williams go to amazing acting schools, so they can receive training on how to get the writers points across by using their own body language and tone to express the character they are playing. I think that 99% of the members here have good intentions. Some are goofy at how they communicate here, others are here to just have a laugh. Everyone is from vastly different parts of the country and world and are highly unique.

what a load of right on hippie loving bullshit

[floridaorange]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

Glad you're feeling better FL and for so many years. Giving hope to others is what it's all about.

Thanks hon, God bless ya. Don't let anyone here get you down, they mean well, just sometimes seems malicious, there's a lot of wisdom here though, despite the vast difference in experiences, upbringings, opinions, perspectives. It's a beautiful thing when more people participate.

[floridaorange]

Re: The reality of depression - Decoded Magazine

This is off topic but event though I disagree with many opinions and comments here, I understand that some people are more gifted at getting their conscious points across via a message board than others. So it's best to take all posts with a grain of salt. If you have never met a person in real life or at the very least talked to them on the phone, you really have no idea who they are, message boards aren't really communicating, since most of communication between 2 humans is body language and tonality. That's why actors like Robin Williams go to amazing acting schools, so they can receive training on how to get the writers points across by using their own body language and tone to express the character they are playing. I think that 99% of the members here have good intentions. Some are goofy at how they communicate here, others are here to just have a laugh. Everyone is from vastly different parts of the country and world and are highly unique.