Atitudes to depression

[Asguard]

The purpose of this thread is twofold

The first is an atempt to stop people derailing my Depression Services!!! thread

My second reason is to try to understand why of all the mental illness there is such a stigma and lack of empathy around depression.

Off the top of my head (dont have the exact figures to hand at the moment) I belive the estemate of those who will suffer depression in there life time is at least 1/3

This can be for all sorts of reasons. It maybe caused by oviouse acute causes like the loss of a loved one, pet, job, social conacts ect. It could be acute pycosis trigged by drugs or achole or other adictions. It could be something that seems to have no root cause. The latter is exactly how it has been in my case. I have never been able to pinpoint a reason for my bouts of depression with the exception of the night i tried to comit suicide. At the time i was already in a deep depression anyway and i found out my parter had cheated on me which was the last straw so to speak. Luckly for me i chose what was tipically a female way to do it (ie sleeping pill overdose). In general men will not survive a suicide atempt as most men use vilont means to do it (ie hanging, gun, stab themselves ect) and most women use more reversable means (OD, slit wrists ect). This however can lead to worse problems in some cases. When i was on placements we transfered one young girl to the womens and kids hospital, she was around 15 and had tried to overdose on paracitamol. Unfortunatly paracitamol is pritty final, yes the orgional ambos got her to hospital and treated her and we picked her up and tranfered her to the kids but there was little chance she would live longer than about a month. She was going to die from liver failure which is a horible way to die because paracitomol is so toxic on the liver.

Suicide is not a "cry for atention" in most cases, its part of the disease progression of depression. Like most mental illness its has a biological and a psycological cause and effect. A drop in seritonin causes lower mood which makes you more suseptable to negitive thoughts which causes a drop in seritonin and off you go again. This is a spiral that can take you down and down until you either become catatonic or comit suicide. Generally in this spiral there is ONE cry for help to a friend, family member, total stranger ect and if that person is able to regionise the sign and show them that help is there then that have probably saved that persons life as much as jumping into save a drowning child is. This relies on people knowing what depression is, not making it a taboo topic and lissioning. That sign maybe as small as someones responce to the greating "how are you".

For some reason people view mental illness as different from a pysical illness. THERE NOT! both are real and BOTH need treatment, PROFESSIONAL treatment not bible bashes telling them that life is good and chin up. This sort of dissmissivness is EXACTLY what gets people killed. The best way to help someone suffering depression is to LISSION to them, this is the ONLY way you are going to know how immidiate there need for assitance is. If you start telling them "things arnt bad" or "other people have it worse" or what not they will just shut down and the next sign you will get will probably be a suicide atempt.

[draqon]

Asguard, depression is not treated with pills or chemicals or isolation of some sort. Depression is treated from within by the person themselves.

Giving anti-depressant drugs leads to more depression and suicide.

[Asguard]

depression is MANAGED by SSRI's and then treated using cognaive theorpy. Howevery you do need to stablise a person before they can be treated

[Asguard]

I just reread my post and i never even talked about treatment. I was talking about first line management not what happens once you enter the treatment phase

[draqon]

I just reread my post and i never even talked about treatment. I was talking about first line management not what happens once you enter the treatment phase

you said "they need treatment" , I disagree with you there from the start. They don't need treatment, there is no problem with them, they must help themselves because only they not some doctors can help them.

[Asguard]

Oh god, i really pitty you, maybe i should start reffering to you as Tom. I hope you never suffer depression or scitophrenia, or bipola or any other mental illness.

What experiance do YOU have in dealing with people with a mental illness?

[draqon]

Oh god, i really pitty you, maybe i should start reffering to you as Tom. I hope you never suffer depression or scitophrenia, or bipola or any other mental illness.

What experiance do YOU have in dealing with people with a mental illness?

umm...I suffered depression. I am my own experiment. I know what helped me.

[Asguard]

what clasification?
For how long?
why?

[draqon]

what clasification?
For how long?
why?

why? I left my country and all that was with it, I was left alone by my parents for 5 years, my grandmother and grandfather died consecutive year and I was not told about it ... yet I saw it happen in my dreams, I came to a state to university and now I feel alone oncemore...I have no parents here, I have no friends for the next 800 miles from me. But all that is gone, I found new hope in my own destiny I created for myself.

[Asguard]

Congratulations, you managed to pull yourself out of it. However just because YOU could dosent mean that others find it as easy as you did. I dated a girl with bipola, should i critise her for being depressed or manic? No i shouldnt, she needed treatment and thats what she got

The same goes for those with clinical depression

[Huwy]

why? I left my country and all that was with it, I was left alone by my parents for 5 years, my grandmother and grandfather died consecutive year and I was not told about it ... yet I saw it happen in my dreams, I came to a state to university and now I feel alone oncemore...I have no parents here, I have no friends for the next 800 miles from me. But all that is gone, I found new hope in my own destiny I created for myself.

I'm sorry to hear you had a number of painful experiences and a lot of grief, its sounds like those were circumstantial issues that made you feel unhappy, abandoned, lonely, and grieving for loved ones who died.

If personal circumstances were the cause of your distress, it makes sense that person solutions should be found, and thankfully it sounds like you found them.
I'm not sure if you were diagnosed with a form of depression by a trained professional as you haven't answered the question as to what "type" of depression it was.

This thread however, is talking about depression as a mental illness, which can often involve physiological symptoms and even biological/chemical causes.

I'm often told not to reference to wikipedia, but I'll do it anyway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinical_depression
The opening sentence differentiates "temporary depressed mood when one "feels blue" from actual clinical depression, which is what is being discussed here.

It is difficult to determine in any case of depression what portion of it is due to circumstantial/environmental/childhood factors, and what portion of it may be due to chemical/biological/genetic factors. Also, the former can affect the latter over time and vice versa.

It makes intuitive sense that many would prefer that the approach they take to dealing with any of the former causes be therapeutic/natural/non-medical, whereas with mental illness caused by the latter factors (mentioned above) medication or other medical treatment may be required.
Although most of the time in my opinion most people receiving medical treatments also benefit from combining this with therapy/counselling, education, social support, healthy lifestyle etc.

[John99]

The latter is exactly how it has been in my case. I have never been able to pinpoint a reason for my bouts of depression with the exception of the night i tried to comit suicide. At the time i was already in a deep depression anyway and i found out my parter had cheated on me which was the last straw so to speak.

That is a horrible reason to want to kill yourself. Just remember that 'life sucks and then you die'. When you get depressed do you realize that what is happening is not normal?

The reason i ask is because i dont believe depression is a medical problem but more of an indication of what your own expectations as to how life should be. It is not like Bipolar or schizophrenia but more like something you can fix on your own.

[Asguard]

Your wrong. Clinical depression IS a seriouse MENTAL ILLNESS

What is Depression?

Depression is not simply normal sadness, being moody or just a low mood, but a serious illness. It causes both physical and psychological symptoms.
Depression is common. Up to one in four females and one in six males will experience depression in their lifetime.
Depression is the leading cause of suicide.
Depression is often not recognised or treated.
Current treatments for depression are safe and effective.
Depression also commonly occurs with specific anxiety syndromes.

viewed 11/02/08 at 16:00

Clinical depression (also called major-depressive disorder or unipolar depression) is a common psychiatric disorder, characterized by a persistent lowering of mood, loss of interest in usual activities and diminished ability to experience pleasure.

Although the term "depression" is commonly used to describe a temporary depressed mood when one "feels blue", clinical depression is a serious illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts that cannot simply be willed or wished away. It is often a disabling disease that affects a person's work, family and school life, sleeping and eating habits, general health and ability to enjoy life.[1] The course of clinical depression varies widely: depression can be a once in a life-time event or have multiple recurrences, it can appear either gradually or suddenly, and either last for few months or be a life-long disorder. Having depression is a major risk factor for suicide; in addition, people with depression suffer from higher mortality from other causes.[2]

Clinical depression is usually treated by psychotherapy, antidepressants, or a combination of the two. Clinical depression may be a stand alone issue having differing features in patients, or as part of a larger medical issue, such as in patients with bipolar disorder or chronic pain.

viewed 11/02/08 at 16:00

Signs and symptoms

Clinical depression can present with a variety of symptoms, however almost all patients display a marked change in mood, a deep feeling of sadness, and a noticeable loss of interest or pleasure in favorite activities. Other symptoms include:

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Loss of appetite and/or weight loss, or conversely overeating and weight gain
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Restlessness or irritability
Feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt, helplessness
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down" or sluggish
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Not all patients will present every symptom, and the severity of symptoms will vary widely among individuals. Symptoms must, however, persist for at least two weeks before being considered a potential sign of depression, with the exception of suicidal thoughts or attempts.[3][1]

Diagnosis of clinical depression in children is more difficult than in adults and is often left undiagnosed, and thus untreated, because the symptoms in children are often written off as normal childhood moodiness. Diagnosis is also made difficult because children are more likely than adults to show different symptoms depending on the situation.[4]


viewed 11/02/08 at 16:00

[draqon]

the biggest cure for depression is a test of faith/power of will

[Asguard]

what a load of crap, i seriously doubt you have ever experianced depression at all, yea you had some bad times. So? depression is a MENTAL ILLNESS not feeling low

[draqon]

what a load of crap, i seriously doubt you have ever experianced depression at all, yea you had some bad times. So? depression is a MENTAL ILLNESS not feeling low

yeah well when you feel low for years? is that just feeling low? When your parents envite you to Disney World and all you think is suicide and how to use the shoe laces to kill yourself? is that just feeling low? When your the only one in school with no friends and hating life, thats all just feeling low?

[draqon]

Test of will, is the tool to bring oneself back to life.

[John99]

what a load of crap, i seriously doubt you have ever experianced depression at all, yea you had some bad times. So? depression is a MENTAL ILLNESS not feeling low

Your really making much more of it then it really is and i think that is part of the problem. Think of all the things you would have missed out on and for what??? Because of a woman and something you had no control over.

[Asguard]

If this aplies to you you were LUCKY, someone somewhere probably helped you and you didnt know it because very few (I would suggest NONE) people ever sponatinously leave depression.

Are you depressed?

Complete the checklist below to see if you are possibly suffering from a depressive illness. Please note, we keep no record of your test results or identity.

For more than TWO WEEKS have you:

1. Felt sad, down or miserable most of the time? Yes No
2. Lost interest or pleasure in most of your usual activities? Yes No

If you answered 'YES' to either of these questions, complete the symptom checklist below.

BEHAVIOURS

• Stopped going out
• Not getting things done at work
• Withdrawn from close family and friends
• Relying on alcohol and sedatives
• Stopped doing things you enjoy
• Unable to concentrate

THOUGHTS

• "I'm a failure"
• "It's all my fault"
• "Nothing good ever happens to me"
• "I'm worthless"
• "Life is not worth living"

FEELINGS

• Overwhelmed
• Unhappy, depressed
• Irritable
• Frustrated
• No confidence
• Guilty
• Indecisive
• Disappointed
• Miserable
• Sad

PHYSICAL

• Tired all the time
• Sick and run down
• Headaches and muscle pains
• Churning gut
• Can't sleep
• Poor appetite/weight loss

If you answered 'YES' to question 1 and/or 2 and ticked at least three symptoms in the checklist, you probably have a depressive illness.

viewed 11/02/08 at 16:20

[Asguard]

Have you people ever herd of anxiaty disorder or agrophobia?

They are mental illnesses VERY closly alined with depression and can actually occure in tandom with clinical depression