Depression And Anxiety Insights: Changing Lives

I think the reason some people are skeptical about these kinds of threads or people with depression in general is because they've felt bad before but usually it's linked to something, like a bad grade or an addiction or an abusive husband or too much time indoors or something. But people who have real depression feel bad no matter where they go or what they do. There's no condition that causes it or eases. That's why it's not understood by people who don't experience. They simply cannot wrap their mind around the fact no environmental or behavioral change will fix it, since it's a mental defect and only directly changing the neurotransmitters with medications on a continued basis (for a lifetime) can offer any relief.

Indeed exercise can make you feel better but it doesn't cure someone who has depression, just like it won't make a person who's fat skinnier if that person is obese for more complicated reasons.

I'm talking about clinical depression. When a person has actually went to clinics and been diagnosed over multiple visits. it's not something decided overnight. For this reason, sometimes exercise WILL help people, but they never had clinical mental illness to start with.

a reply to: Hefficide

The winter months can be cruel. I suffer from Seasonal Depression in a bad way.

So much in fact that I actually started taking a mild anti-depressant this year.

I'm usually anti Pharma all the way. I do not take any thing more than an aspirin. In fact, the last prescription I had was for birth control and I was in my early 20's. But, last year my sister told me she took and anti depressant for seasonal depression and that it worked well for her. We are very similiar when it comes to moods and depression so, I gave it a shot.

I've been taking it for nearly a month now, and I feel 100 times better than I have for the last 5 changes of the season.

I will ween myself off once spring comes around but, it has had a tremendous effect on my quality of living so far.

Heff, your analogy was spot on btw.

Thank you. You analogy is perfect.

Thanks so much for this!

I was, too, a positive, fun and popular person! I was one of those who could sense negativity and I would steer clear of it. If someone brought me down...they were not worth my time.

Now the tables have turned. I have not been right or the same since I had my 3rd child. I am pretty sure I had postpartum depression and even though he is now 2...I still do not feel like I did before.

Social anxiety...from what I personally have experienced is that I get way too nervous around a lot people. I feel drained and I care way too much about what people think of me. Like I said, I was the type to ignore negative and debbie-downers. Now I get anxious that people think the same of me now.

The shampoo??? That is one of my crazy antics I have now. I read the labels on everything! I suffer from food intolerances and allergies that manifested after each of my 3 kids. I drive myself crazy thinking that everything is going to kill me.

Anyways, just thought I would share a little too much about myself.

Thanks again for this!

Great analogy. As someone who suffers from these issues personally (particularly social anxiety - currently trying to get on disability,) I share a kindred frustration with those who cannot understand that mental illness is every bit as real, physiological, and sometimes very much outside of the sufferer's ability to control as any physical ailment. "You've got MS? Just try harder, I don't have MS so you shouldn't either," is not something you ordinarily see. Yet that refrain is constantly encountered by mental illness sufferers.

I think it very much stems from the fact that most people who haven't dealt with mental illness - and even some who have - don't want to accept the notion that they might not be wholly in control of their own consciousness. People so value their sovereignty and the control thereof, their sense of self and identity and conscious being, that the notion that they could ever experience something central to it (as opposed to the physical body, which many people view as somehow distinct from the brain - it isn't) that is beyond their ability to control through sheer choice and will is unacceptable to them.

Thus they project that belief upon those who most need their empathy and understanding, because to do otherwise would be to accept that maybe, just maybe, it could happen to them as well. The irony of course is that they aren't cognizant of the fact that this is what they're doing, so they're already operating at a less than fully conscious and in control level of self determination. But most will never accept that premise.

Here's another great illustration of what it's like for those with shorter attention spans (nothing wrong with short attention spans):



Source boggletheowl.tumblr.com...

Peace.

a reply to: AceWombat04

This is probably one of the best posts I have ever seen on ATS.

Wonderful post. And pardon me if i steer this conversation in a different direction, but hey, this is ATS.

I've suffered from terrible depression/anxiety for pretty much my whole adult life. The past few years I've been 10x better, probably bc i found the perfect antidepressant combo for my body. Of course all clinical depression has a psychological component. But for some of us, the vast majority of the cause is chemical imbalance.

Which brings me to my question. Depression and anxiety have soared to a much higher rate in just the past 20 years. Being undiagnosed is one thing. But I can't help but wonder if there is a manmade germ or a new pollution that has brought this to disease to a very common thing.

Myself and others suffering from depression/anxiety have always felt that something was up. Bc the symptoms would come on you almost like a physical sickness.

So basically, does anyone else feel that there's a conspiracy factor in the tremendous rise in mental illness? Remember that this sort of sickness surely benefits doctors and pharmaceutical companies in a major way.

Any thoughts?

a reply to: Hefficide

Taking a minute to show someone they matter to you is never a bad thing, but for someone in the depths, It can make all the difference in the world.

A galaxy's worth of stars.

a reply to: Hefficide

A rather daunting read Mr Hefficide. Using a ship as a metaphor really struck a chord in me. These slow leaks you speak of, the constant effort it takes to put on a facade in the confines of social interaction when all senses of stability are submerged in murky waters of doubt and anguish. Since childhood there as been a battle to stay afloat and although the problem was not understood as it is now it always remains a constant in my subjective experience. Yet this leak is not just doom and gloom for my captain. it has taught him the values of perseverance and in the face of obstacles unknown to most I am still here, still sailing and in those small occasions when the leak disappears I can appreciate the value of life and the intricacies the cause such a fine piece of clockwork to continue ticking. It is also with this somber and melancholic predisposition that I have pushed to discover more about life, more about myself and others. As if in some strange way it as been a push pull between making mistakes and learning from them until I finally molded a more permanent understanding of the self. This enigma we call life is truly the greatest ''trip'' and with an inquisitive mind no stimulant is needed to induce a sense of euphoria as to the how's the when's and the why's. Implore you to continue writing as even though we are thousands of miles apart I can sense what you are doing is with pure intent to help and empower all the battered ships and their unknowingly strong captains. Kind regards

"If you're going through hell, keep going" - Winston Churchill (allegedly)

"Tomorrow might be the best day you've ever had, you just have to get there first" - No idea, but I love it

Anyway, I myself suffer from anxiety and it's a pain in the ass.

a reply to: Hefficide

It has to be the season, at least for those that has not medical problems when it comes to depression, I did spend a few years with anxiety, without medication against my doctors advise I worked out on my own, I spend many times in the emergency room thinking I was having a hart attack.

What I'm feeling lately is that I can not have a full night sleep but I am not tired when I am up, Is like I'm ready to go and can not wait to do it.

Beside that I am actually very happy and get rushes of feelings of well being and satisfaction with life.

I whish I could send some of those feelings, energy and vibrations, to people in need of a boost when they are down with life many challenges, life can be wonderful but also it can drain anybody of all hopes for a better day.

a reply to: AgarthaSeed

There probably is something to that thought. We, particularly in the west, are exposed to a ton of chemicals in just about everything we put into our bodies and the connection between most of it and aspects of bad health are evident.

However I think that this is only a singular factor among many.

One of my current areas of deep personal interest, lately, has been studying the evolution of Western society from Julius Caesar onward. I'm finding the study very enlightening as it applies to the current political atmosphere in the US. A side effect of this academic research has been rather unexpected.

Every time I begin studying about some new King or Warlord, there is always at least one person in the story ( Quite often the subject themselves ) who displays obvious signs of major and easily recognizable mental health issues. In fact there are a number of historically relevant groups of people who it seems were almost all fighting such problems. Further... Before the days of the Industrial Revolution it is arguable that some mental health problems were seen as or acted as advantages or virtues. The Norse/Viking culture and British dynastic Monarchies in specific.

Then the Industrial Revolution somewhat changed things. The advent of asylums altered perceptions from what I can see. From that point forward there are still a lot of famous or influential people who exhibit symptoms or signs, but these traits are no longer discussed without commentary... From this point forward it appears that famous people are "eccentric" and all others "insane".

We have a myth these days that our recent ancestors lived horrible lives. That they died young, mostly starved and worked the fields from before sunrise to after sunset - always on the verge of starvation. However the facts show that this is not really the case. Infant mortality was much, much higher - sure. But those who survived that had a good chance of reaching advanced age. Communities were much, much more interconnected during the agrarian periods. Between neighbors and the Church there was a strong social safety net and support system.

Today's Amish "barn raisings" are a window into how things used to work on most levels.

IE pre Industrial Revolution life was nowhere near as bleak as we're told it was. It was actually much less stressful and demanding than our current model. Our ancestors had fewer and different pressures placed upon them.

I offer that our modern, detached and dispassionate "everyone is essentially a replaceable number" approach to things is a major factor in the prevalence of mental health issues. I argue this with the caveat that these issues always have been fairly common to begin with, it's just that historically the symptoms were not as demonized and singled out as they are now.

Thanks, Hef. You are beautiful.

There are days when the seas are rocky and the bilge is filling faster than I can bail, and I still shine. There are days when the seas are calm and the leak is just a trickle and I can barely lift my head.

The other kind of days -- where I am down in the bilge, or soaring in the shining sun are common too. It's hard to predict how any particular day will go.

Sometimes I write and write, and other times, I can't find 3 words to string together that make any difference at all.

I get tired of hearing about how strong I must be to weather my storms. That's where I'm at right now. But I see your light, and grin a reply anyway. Thank you.

Great thread and actually registered (finally) to comment.

My experiences are mirrored in the replies by so many here and on other places on the net. (Therapy, meds, meditation, etc...) If I felt better it was fleeting and difficult to recognize. How much longer do you really feel better before you notice it?

My fiance who also suffers what she just calls "the blues" stumbled upon Rhodiola root as a supplement to help with both of our anxiety and depression. We started using it daily as a weak tea brewed at the end of July. (I now use a powder every other day in my morning cup of coffee... yes it makes it taste funny but it isn't bad.) I almost hate to say it but within hours I was feeling different. I noted the change in a journal and continued to test the tea for the next two weeks. Then I stopped for several days and noted how my mood after about 72 hours would begin to slip again. I haven't looked back since and am also now trying L-Tyrosine and GABA off and on to see if they also help at the suggestion of one of my friends who is in naturopathic medicine. I can't say they are effective for me, but the Rhodiola I now think was a godsend. To test myself along the way I have tried, really tried to force the darkest thoughts that one just exploded up from seemingly nowhere into my conscious mind. I find that I cannot do it for long. Where the dark cloud once sat over me for days or weeks, I can't keep it there if I try. This isn't the same as saying that I feel "amazing" or like I am extremely energetic... just, more even. I go out. I have been writing, programming, and doing my art again, and these things are great. Moments come and go where I might feel off, but it lasts only a few minutes and usually I realize I forgot to take the tea in the morning. As for the anxiety help, that is for me a much weaker response. I had taken Xanax for a bit after a divorce several years back and I hated it. I could still feel the tension and the anxiety in my body and in my muscles, just it made my brain not seem to care as much. I would say Rhodiola root is similar in that I can still feel anxiety but it doesn't cloud my brain as much.

Dunno if it will help anyone, but if you haven't tried it I don't think you have much to loose. Placebo? Maybe, but so far I don't really care. And if it works like it has for me, then you have one more tool to help patch that hole in the ship.

Good luck to everyone and may we all find the peace and fulfillment we need.

Longtime sufferer here.

I have both. Anxiety and Depression.

My solace is nature. I seem to find a peace, and calm from walking in the woods. My mind is immediately settled, and things are clearer. I go at least once a week, the effect seems to last a bit.

Other than that, I pretty much go unmedicated. I do have a prescription for an anti anxiety, but it's for panic attacks. I do have to say, that when I have to take one, the first thought that runs through my head after it kicks in is "So this is what it feels like to be normal"

My mind never stops. I don't fall asleep easily, I wake up every 45 minutes to an hour all night. I get a nervous stomach so bad that it's debilitating. I don't like crowds AT ALL. I can't stand up in front of people and speak. I dread things, I worry about EVERYTHING.

This has been my life for as long as I can remember. All the way back to early childhood. I honestly didn't know it was out the ordinary until middle school.

I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I'd give ANYTHING for the ability to control it, without drugs.

staff edit

I've got to have a google tab open to look up a couple words for your posts.

As far as your subject matter and posts, you never miss. Why aren't you POTUS?

originally posted by: poncho1982
My mind never stops. I don't fall asleep easily, I wake up every 45 minutes to an hour all night. I get a nervous stomach so bad that it's debilitating. I don't like crowds AT ALL. I can't stand up in front of people and speak. I dread things, I worry about EVERYTHING.

This reminds me of me, when i haven't had enough beers.

a reply to: Hefficide

Thank you for this excellent metaphor, Hefficide!

I suffer pretty much the same fate, though with age (45 now), experience and a very good therapist (specialized in CPTSD - Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) I am better able to deal with it. You touch on the age-old question of nature vs nurture, and in my case, I am quite sure that both apply. I have a highly sensitive nature, which was abused by an older brother, and also by my parents. As a result, I have a low "window of tolerance", and am easily triggered into emotional flashbacks.

Complex PTSD is a relatively new concept in psychology, and is not yet recognised by the DSM. It is often misdiagnosed as Borderline Personality Disorder, but there are huge differences. CPTSD does not involve narcissistic traits, which are at the core of BPD and other Cluster B personality disorders. An often recommended book on CPTSD is "CPTSD - From Surviving to Thriving", by Pete Walker. I have just finished reading it, and it answers most of the questions I had been unable to answer during the last 20 years. So if you have not looked into the recent research on CPTSD, I highly recommend it!

I'm wondering if you would mind me using your brilliant metaphor in order to explain my problems to my siblings. That would be very helpful because they expect me to be just like them and cannot understand my struggles in life.

Thanks!

soulwaxer

a reply to: Hefficide

My wife suffers from Bi-Polar Disorder and PTSD. She also is dramatically affected this time of year and it relates to SADD. The amount and spectral make-up of sunlight changes this time of year and through the winter exacerbating her condition. One thing that seems to have helped is getting her a full-spectrum lamp that she can spend a few hours every day around. You should look into it. SADD is real. I've seen it for the past 14yrs.