Depression is NOT a Real Disorder

Sheesh. If I wasn't depressed before, I certainly am after reading over this entire thread. I've never seen so much negativity rolled into a single space in my entire life. Can we stop sharing sob stories and begin trying to help each other through such obstacles instead? I had never contemplated suicide before reading this thread. However, I'm not sure if I can still honestly make that statement.

Smother the flames, don't fan 'em!
(And yes, I understand that sometimes talking is better. This just isn't the place for that solution.)


All the best to ATS,
Strype

Originally posted by Strype I had never contemplated suicide before reading this thread. However, I'm not sure if I can still honestly make that statement.

Those with mental illnesses are 26 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population.

One does NOT get clinical depression from life events but life events trigger the existing mental illness.

Originally posted by muzzleflash
Depression is a state of mind, it's your attitude.

Research depression a little then come back and apologize.
It drives me crazy when someone such as yourself, shows up with all the answers to the universe but doesn't know the questions.
You have no idea what you're talking about.

But know that I am an enemy of these lies and I will stand up against them whenever I have to.

I do the same thing with stupidity and ignorance and also stand up against them whenever I have to

reply to post by venik88


Another idiot with the ability to speak.
Seeashrink

I've never though of depression this way. Now I understand better why depression is a serious illness.

man you get depressed reading this thread, some scream they are depressed, that's depressing.

OK....

I am confused. So if situational depression is not the same clinical depression, than what separates them besides the name? For instance, I have read that when a person is "in love" they release a chemical into their brain and when the break up occurs then you feel the down of not having that anymore. So if both are caused by chemical imbalances and one can be fixed by sunshine, a new "love" or just setting goals than why does this not work for the other type?

And yes, I have dealt with situational depression (all my exgirlfriends have cheated on my including my ex wife so i had plenty of reasons to fall into the pit) and even contemplated suicide. However... I fixed it (threw a big old party, had 5 bands over, 200 ppl ect which is what made me realize how much i had to live for instead of how unfair my life was) and if you ask me I think all of you can do the same.

Another example is my wife now. After our first child she had a hard time losing the baby weight. And at one point even weighed more than me (and she is a foot shorter). Her depression started to affect the others in the house. So I set some life changes that SHE had to make and she did. She started exercising, sewing and is now happy again and is a much more outgoing person than when I met her. Not 100%... but once we become adults i don't think we ever get back to 100%.

So back to what I was saying, why will these things not fix the "clinical" depression? Or maybe some of the real drugs on the streets (hallucinogens especially) might help. After all LCD was used to treat alcoholism

Anyway I wish you all luck, but saying the situation is hopeless is your first mistake if you ask me.

To be honest, i knew it would not be long before a thread like this was started, and all the idiots who say its not a real disorder will come on for their little bit of attention.

Saying depression is not a real disorder is very ignorant, considering all the evidence that points to the condition. I just think that people who disagree are either attention seeking,trolling, or one of these annoying people that think its rubbish because they don't suffer with it

Its a sad world we live in people

reply to post by PETROLCOIN


Indeed it is a real mental disorder.I suffer from bipolar,ptsd,depression,anxiety and ocd.I wont go into great detail as to why i have them.I have learned over the years that those who deny ever having anything mental are those who seem to think its not a real disorder.Those who think" It cant happen to me" Guess again i say.It can happen to anyone and when you least expect it.I have learned from my husband who has schizophrenia that it is a daily disease.It can happen and linger for many many years.Usually without you even knowing it until it is pointed out to you by someone else.
Below is a statistics page on depression.

depression.emedtv.com...

In a given year, over 20 million American adults have a mood disorder. The median age of onset for mood disorders is 30 years.

I think one reason there is a lot of depression in this world is because of the word can't. I can't do this or I can't do that. Or people think there not good enough and stuff like that. I think a lot of people should ask themselves, why do I care? Why do I care if I cant do this or cant do that. Why do I care if im not good enough or am not up to peoples expectations? Those who are ignorant about depression as a whole and refuse to understand say that deprssed people are self-absorbed and such, I wonder if its the opposite. Maybe they overthink things and care too much about what others think. Maybe they make things seem bigger than they really are, causing them to overthink. Just a theory.

i have only read through one page of the thread, so what i'm asking may have been addressed already...

If this clinical depression is a brain chemical imbalance, will proper treatment be affordable after
the health reform law is in full operation? (i believe its phased in from 2010-2014)

Why isn't this health disease cateorgised as a permanent disability..at least for those who
cannot pay for extensive therapy...and those who do afford the treatments can adjust their
taxable income minus the treatments.

It seems to me that the man-on-the-street is merely responding to the way authority treats
the depressed people... that they are not disabled for the most part, unless one is among
the truly rare cases that need committed to a Mental Health facility, perhaps for life.


i have only had the manic-depressions (old terminology) associated with schizophrenia,
so have never experienced chronic, clinical depression... however after 13 years of generic
meds, i have discovered what anxiety attacks are...
i can empathise with those with depression...
i think...

Originally posted by OutlanderHuman24
I think one reason there is a lot of depression in this world is because of the word can't. I can't do this or I can't do that. Or people think there not good enough and stuff like that. I think a lot of people should ask themselves, why do I care? Why do I care if I cant do this or cant do that. Why do I care if im not good enough or am not up to peoples expectations? Those who are ignorant about depression as a whole and refuse to understand say that deprssed people are self-absorbed and such, I wonder if its the opposite. Maybe they overthink things and care too much about what others think. Maybe they make things seem bigger than they really are, causing them to overthink. Just a theory.

Depression is not just about "ican't do this" or "can't do that" there are many people who suffer from some form of depression who are very succesful in what they do. There is alot more to depression than just that.

Uhm... Happiness is a choice...

Some people have a harder time making that choice than others... Some don't realize that it is a choice, still others have been taught that happiness is wrong to feel...


The solution that i have found to depression is stark reality.... That seems to set everything back to zero... The state of unconditionality ....


But if you have a hard time being happy, do the rest of us a favor, and get some Meds and don't make your unhappiness a burden to others.

reply to post by geo1066

Certain situations DO require a supplement of some sorts ( ie-drugs). EXAMPLE- You were born with an abnormal sequence of

i said for it in early posts: depression is not independent illness -- it's result the different mental/physical disorders, but most cases have been only self-sorry. drug treatment can be applied just to situations caused by physical disorders, but, in any case, there are no treatment of depression itself, except its real roots. to treat pure mental disorders or, furthermore, self-sorry with drugs is real criminal.

Reading the OP and the other post above...

you correctly illustrated Matter of Essence: yes, human body, in particular brain, has the Great Potential & each among us needs to study ways to open/actualize it & that cannot be easy road with whatever magical pills.

Originally posted by HunkaHunka
Uhm... Happiness is a choice...

Some people have a harder time making that choice than others... Some don't realize that it is a choice, still others have been taught that happiness is wrong to feel...


The solution that i have found to depression is stark reality.... That seems to set everything back to zero... The state of unconditionality ....


But if you have a hard time being happy, do the rest of us a favor, and get some Meds and don't make your unhappiness a burden to others.

You obviously have no idea or care about what is being discussed here.

Do you seriously think a few "Meds" is going to cure people or make their problems dissappear?...It may deal with the effects but doesn't deal with the solution.

YOU are part of the world that contains the unhappiness that is such a burden to you and if you cannot handle living with it, it is your problem, not theirs. Don't be so weak and self rightious.

And why should depressed people do you a favour when you don't give a damn about them?

One day things might change for youy and you will understand from a more realistic point of view.

reply to post by SarK0Y


In this world with so many chemical inbalances that destroy lives, and are harder to beat for many than cancer itself, and with the severe pain and trauma's most people on this planet endure, there are NO SELF-SORRY's. Anyone who used a term like that is completely self absorbed and thinks only what they see or feel themselves others are, and lack in both SIGHT, INSIGHT, and EMPATHY.

My introductory note on this topic is that I happen to understand and have appreciation for the more severe conditions that involve depression that are recognised by medicine and psychiatry, but it's very difficult to subscribe to the theory that situational depression is a disorder itself, because there's nothing proven, scientifically, to classify it as such. The case for such an argument can be made upon the fact that we don't, yet, have proven means of establishing how exactly a chemical balance can be measured, or indeed, how it can be translated to any quantifiable or treatable means other than basing a solution on life-style situations, behaviour patterns or nutrition.

I don't think it's a case of arguing whether ignorance is the case here. I'm sorry to be so direct, but I felt a little annoyed when I first started to read through the thread because some of you generalise the opinions of people who don't experience or suffer depression and declare that we'll never understand. That's absurd! Just because we, or indeed I, don't experience or suffer what you do doesn't mean I don't try my hardest [from both a logical and compassionate perspective] to understand what it is you're going through. Of course, we may never experience or share the same emotions you have gone through, but we can try to recognise them and act accordingly. Are you not already alienating yourselves by putting yourself into that category of us and them?

I don't really care if I'm unpopular for saying so, but I genuinely, genuinely believe we're more in control of our state of mind that we'd like to lay conscious thought upon, whilst it may not cure your situation or state, it may indeed provide adequate foundation from which to build. There's a good deal of truth in that most, if not, all problems do have a solution. Some individuals need nurturing to reach that solution for longer than others.

reply to post by PETROLCOIN


i was just wondering - If no one had told you that you were "clinically depressed", what would you have thought it was?
And if they didn't have medication available for "depression" what do you think you would have done?

You know, I was actually really scared to open this thread. I've looked at the title a couple of times today and thought 'nup, can't open it', I suffer from depression (as well as mild OCD, massive BDD & ED's) and have as long as I can remember, so the thought of a thread saying 'Depression is NOT a real disorder' was making me quite upset, but, I opened it and THANKYOU. Thankyou for posting this. I don't understand how it's so difficult for people who don't suffer from depression to see that it's not just a bad mood, or, since i'm a woman 'pms' I suffer from clinical depression too, I choose not to take medication as it makes me quite ill, and actually has made me more suicidal on the perscription meds. (Effexor)

There's so much more I wish to say about this, as it's something i'm really passionate about, but I can see that it would turn into a rant, and the ignorant people on here now already assume i'm crazy since i've openly admitted my illness.

Originally posted by BAZ752
My introductory note on this topic is that I happen to understand and have appreciation for the more severe conditions that involve depression that are recognised by medicine and psychiatry, but it's very difficult to subscribe to the theory that situational depression is a disorder itself, because there's nothing proven, scientifically, to classify it as such. The case for such an argument can be made upon the fact that we don't, yet, have proven means of establishing how exactly a chemical balance can be measured, or indeed, how it can be translated to any quantifiable or treatable means other than basing a solution on life-style situations, behaviour patterns or nutrition.

I don't think it's a case of arguing whether ignorance is the case here. I'm sorry to be so direct, but I felt a little annoyed when I first started to read through the thread because some of you generalise the opinions of people who don't experience or suffer depression and declare that we'll never understand. That's absurd! Just because we, or indeed I, don't experience or suffer what you do doesn't mean I don't try my hardest [from both a logical and compassionate perspective] to understand what it is you're going through. Of course, we may never experience or share the same emotions you have gone through, but we can try to recognise them and act accordingly. Are you not already alienating yourselves by putting yourself into that category of us and them?

I don't really care if I'm unpopular for saying so, but I genuinely, genuinely believe we're more in control of our state of mind that we'd like to lay conscious thought upon, whilst it may not cure your situation or state, it may indeed provide adequate foundation from which to build. There's a good deal of truth in that most, if not, all problems do have a solution. Some individuals need nurturing to reach that solution for longer than others.

edit on 8-11-2010 by BAZ752 because: pesky typos!

See, you say "i genuinely believe" you are going by what your mind tells you, and this is the problem. Unless you suffer from this disorder, or know someone who does, then you will really never know what it is like. It easy to look from the inside and say i think this, i think that, but its not the same.