It's pretty serious and nothing works Though I didnt read it all, Simple Minded's article looks great!
Im a naturopath and also suffer from depression which is genetic on both sides of my family dated back I dont know, 6 generations at least?
From this generation, my sister and I both suffer from it the worst -- however, we have both developed different abilities to tolerate it. She has redirected her sadness and inability to function in to anger and being a work-aholic. With this method, she is distracted from her own thoughts. Is also a control-freak. I don't agree with this method, as it is harmful to everyone around you as you try and just survive. However she is able to live a very productive life with a successful career, her personal life is barely.
On the other side, with me, I lose the ability to function and live productively. My depression prevents me from focusing long enough to study, or even to WANT to study. I also have a hard time with my jobs. It is not noticeable. I do not get fired, or have bad relationships at work and actually appear to be perfectly happy. A little too happy, sometimes. People love me, but I hate them all and constantly need change as I feel I get stuck in something and think "is this it? this is my life?" However, mentally, I developed forgiveness and awareness. Forgiveness to my family for things that have happened... even to me, personally. Foregiveness for very horrible things, if rightfully deserved. Awareness of the issue being my own problem. I believe it is a light switch that can be turned on and off, however.. it is usually just barely out of reach -- so people have to want to put in the effort to jump high enough to get it. Hope that makes sense. On a personal level, I am fine. On a productivity scale.. horrid. :)
The thing that has really helped me though has been the fact that while I have gone through some crappy times, others in the world have gone through 500x worse.. and they somehow manage. Close-to-home stories, far away stories. People can go through horrible horrible things and still somehow come out on top.
The main thing I see in other people, is they actually force themselves to be happy. My boyfriend lives an extremely successful life, with his personal life.. family life.. career, education.. it's amazing someone like that can exist. It's not that he doesnt get anxiety or depression, it is how he deals with it. If you suffer from post traumatic stress disorder the first step would be to get past that. Turn off the light switch. Then start to realize that as bad things happen to you, it is just a small part of life. Force yourself to laugh, and enjoy life.
Something else that helped me as a teenager when I started taking control of my depression was having an actual interest in psychology. I began studying it, and the different types of depression and stress disorders. Buy or borrow some books on different topics. Understanding WHY and HOW depression happens can very seriously help you figure out how to put it to an end. THAT alone did wonders for me. And I really recommend it.
Just keep yourself up beat. Even if you don't feel like it... force yourself to laugh. Play extremely up beat music, even if you HATE IT. Sad, slow music --- BOOO. My roommate does this all the time and she is horribly depressed. It just puts you in to a cycle of depression and "woe is me"... in my room, i'll blast stupid things like britney spears or whatever.. just to sing and dance along with and act stupid. :)
Associate yourself with happy perky productive people, no matter how much you can't stand it. It was unbearable for me a few years ago.. now I cant stand anything but!
Good luck! ANd make sure you read that person's post --depression can be a hormonal thing, and all medicine is derived from natural resources. It doesnt come out of thin air. Maintaining a balanced nutritious diet, and also getting plenty of exericise will DEFINIETELY HELP.
Exercise, that's another point I want to make actually.
I don't have all the sources in front of me, but you can google EXERCISE AND DEPRESSION. The link between the two is amazing. Exercising releases happy endorphins.. hormones in your body that are related to the feeling you get when you have sex, eat chocolate.. etc. When you have sex.. the happy feelings you get are very noticable. You can easily understand that hormones are being released... right? Now, consider the fact that people get even MORE of these happy endorphines released when eating chocolate. Hence, chocoholics. It is a true sensation -- and since more of these hormones are released -- people often use the term "this tastes better than sex feels". Its TRUE. Also why people develop eating disorders when relying TOO MUCH on "comfort food" -- so on to the NEXT, and better way of dealing. EXERCISE. Exercise releases even MORE endorphins than experienced in sex. And even MORE than while eating..even chocolate. exercise is definetely a way to go, and has been clinically proven to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. I definetely suggest joining a gym -- all gyms offer trial periods. If you have not been to one before, make sure you ask them about a consultation where they show you how to use the equiptment so you do it properly, and make sure you stick to a routine. Going once or twice in a month will not do much. Make sure you go 2-3 times a week at least for a month. If nothing changes after that, quit and you have permission to cut off one of my legs. :) Everything Simple Minded wrote is accurate- but people with severe depression can't even read it all, much less do all he suggests.
One thing is for sure- you CANNOT deal with it without meds
(although there is a small % of pople who respond to nothing).
You need to be under care of a psychiatrist who takes an interest in you, do what you're told, and report back as accuratly as you can.
Meds often are a guessing game because they all work differently on different people and at different doses and different combinations.. That's why new ones keep on being developed. Sometimes there are unpleasant side-effects, and often it takes at least a couple of weeks for effect.
As Simple Minded said, and you say, this is a very serious illness that can't be ignored if you want to have any life at all.
So l hope you will walk that long, long road with a psychiatrist you trust, follow directions and hang in there.
When l started there were no meds at all, not even a name for this disorder. The news is good and keeps getting better.
Lots of luck. Talk to your doctor. Clinical Depression isn't something that will go away on it's own. If your saying nothing works, then you really need to be on something! Here's something I wrote mostly myself, with the help of others:
What is depression?
Depression is more than the blues or the blahs; it is more than the normal, everyday ups and downs. When that "down" mood, along with other symptoms, lasts for more than a couple of weeks, the condition may be clinical depression. Clinical depression is a serious health problem that affects the total person. In addition to feelings, it can change behavior, physical health and appearance, academic performance, social activity and the ability to handle everyday decisions and pressures.
Depression may be caused by negative thoughts, poor circumstances, loss of loved ones, genetic factors, biochemical imbalance in the brain, emptiness in heart, unforgiveness, addictions etc. Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is involved in the onset of a depressive disorder.
Some of the symptoms of depression are...
路 Sadness and/or loss of pleasure in nearly all activities.
路 Pervasive feelings of hopelessness
路 Changes in appetite
路 Changes in sleep patterns
路 Changes in psychomotor activity (includes both mental and physical responsiveness and/or activity).
路 Struggles with feelings of low self worth
路 Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
路 Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
There are some natural mood lifting food and vitamins that you can take with your drugs. They are:
-multivitamin
-Vitamin B complex pills
- Vitamin C
- GABA (you can get this at a pharmacy) it is a natural neurotransmitter in your brain.
- SAMe
- Calcium
- Magnesium
-Evening Primrose oil
- Flax oil
- Omega 3
- St John's Wort
try to have some exercise daily. Go into the sun. Talk with friends. Pray to Jesus, he gives you peace and lifts your mood. These are scientifically proven to work.
- Listen to soothing music on a couch.
- have aromatherapy
- eat healthily, oats, wheats, brown rice, more fish, chicken, lots of vegetables and fruits and other natural food, less oil, no sugar, no deep fried stuff, less red meat
- drink lots of filtered or bottled water
have a pet
- cultivate new hobbies
- do not take alcohol and avoid caffeine
- tackle your problem that is giving you depression. Problem solve with a counselor or friend to reduce the magnitude of the problem.
If you or a loved one is experiencing the symptoms of depression mentioned above please seek help. Don't wait until your level of functioning is severely impaired. Get depression treatment now! One of the biggest reasons people do not seek help is because of the shame they feel concerning the idea of having a mental illness. The reality is that our minds are vulnerable to illness just like our bodies. There is no shame in developing the flu or some other medical condition, so why is there with the mind?
- Every time you catch yourself thinking negatively, think what is the most positive way of expressing your feelings and thoughts.
- Forgive others, release all bitterness and release all grudges, love God and love others
- Do a kind deed each day. Volunteer your service to the elderly, orphans etc
- I know I have said a lot. Take baby step, one step at a time. Give yourself time to get out of depression.
- go for a tour. It may relax your mind and spirit.
- avoid negative news. You may like to stay off the newspaper.
- Control your thought process. Don't let your thoughts stray. Once you think negatively, catch yourself and replace with a happy thought
- think of the happy times you had with your loved ones in the past.
- count your blessings one by one. You still have possessions and loved ones who care for you.
- Think positively.
You may want to see a psychiatrist and counsellor to work out your problem. Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy may help. Some of the therapy approaches used to treat depression are cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, psychodynamic, and group therapy.
A counselor can help a person gain perspective about their illness, resolve problems that may be contributing to the depression and assist the person in developing coping skills to manage the symptoms of depression.
However, in addition to counseling, medication may also be a treatment option. You can discuss this with your counselor, who can then refer you to a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage the necessary medication. Medication can have a significant effect on lessening the symptoms of depression.
Here are some more advice from a website, written by a doctor:
路 Do not set difficult goals for yourself or take on a great deal of responsibility.
路 Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can when you can.
路 Do not expect too much from yourself too soon, as this will only increase feelings of failure.
路 Try to be with other people, which is usually better than being alone.
路 Participate in activities that may make you feel better.
路 You might try exercising mildly, going to a movie or a ball game, or participating in religious or social activities.
路 Don't rush or overdo it. Don't get upset if your mood is not greatly improved right away. Feeling better takes time.
路 Do not make major life decisions, such as changing jobs or getting married or divorced without consulting others who know you well. These people often can have a more objective view of your situation. In any case, it is advisable to postpone important decisions until your depression has lifted.
路 Do not expect to "snap out" of your depression. People rarely do. Help yourself as much as you can, and do not blame yourself for not being up to par.
路 Remember, do not accept your negative thinking. It is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.
***** Prayer does help. Claim healing from Jesus. He loves you. Read the Bible, start at book of John. Take note of John 3:16, Acts 2:38. It is God's love message to you. I have wonderful moments of prayer, and God gives me peace and joy. It is not a waste of time to pray and think about God. It is uplifting, and even scientists acknowledge the power of prayer. ***********
Attend a United Pentecostal Church nearby your home. (www.upci.org)
There are brothers and sisters who care and be friends with you.
For anxiety, try deep breathing from your diaphragm and progressive muscle relaxation. You can buy books on how to overcome depression and anxiety.
You may like to join a support group on depression. Sharing with others do help to some extent.
It takes time to lift out of anxiety and depression. First thing is that you desire to get out of them. Next is the tenacity and perseverance to make changes to your life.
I've been through depression and anxiety, so I understand.
God bless you richly.
There is so much Christian help for depression as well as for those suffering from other emotional and mental struggles. Even the scientific research is clearly showing that there are many remedies for the treatment of depression: healthy and supportive relationships, exercise, cognitive therapy, as well as medications are all very effective means of treating depression. But, at the same time, most of these solutions require the individual struggling to reach out and ask for help.
There is Christian help for depression and other issues you may be struggling with. So please, if you find yourself feeling alone in your condition please take a step of faith. First pray, admitting your need before God and then ask Him to direct your steps to those who can help. Then, be willing to reach out to a pastor, a counselor or a friend or a Christian psychiatrist today. Your help is as close as your asking.
Sources :
http://www.medicinenet.com/depression |
