Major Depression

[Mucha Man]

I had an old school father like you who refused to acknowledge my depression when I was a teen. It meant going through absolute fucking hell for two years more than I needed to. Soon as I got on anti-depressants I was on the road to recovery within a week.

What you wrote is good for maintaining mental health and I practice all those things faithfully. But depression is real and once you've gotten past a certain stage all the exercise and music and walls are not going to help anymore.

[headhonchoII]

[quote="TheGingerMan"]Clinical depression?
What is that but a very contradiction in terms?

Please pardon me if I level much vehemence against the school of thought that pervades the study of depression and mental health. If I have to read any more claptrap jargon, I will surely heave!

I hail from the more practical element of that discipline, and as such, can only offer the following.
1. Exercise of both body & mind are crucial.
2. Avoid advice that is not part of your prism.
3. Study your prism. Note how the refraction changes with the angle of light. Maintain that angle, give it a name. It is yours.
4. Read literature, especially the old stuff. One can find much resonance in the old tales. Don't take it religiously.
5. Build a wall, with whatever it takes. A sanctuary away from the caprice of everyday human evil.
6. Listen to uplifting classical music as much as possible, chamber suites most especially.
7. Maintain the perimetre. Plan ahead tactically, have reserves, and get them out in the field to relieve, and learn from, the grizzled veterans.
8. Above all, Keep on Keepin' On.

Is that really you... the
Caped crusader...the hero of Gotham himself？

[the bear]

I love it when people who don't actually suffer from a major depressive disorder claim you can beat it with cold showers, rigorous exercise and a good book.

[sandman]

I love it when people who don't actually suffer from a major depressive disorder claim you can beat it with cold showers, rigorous exercise and a good book.

Pretty much how I cured mine. (Substitute hot springs for the cold showers, though). Works.

[Mucha Man]

I love it when people who don't actually suffer from a major depressive disorder claim you can beat it with cold showers, rigorous exercise and a good book.

Pretty much how I cured mine. (Substitute hot springs for the cold showers, though). Works.

You were lucky, recognized it early, and clearly were not suffering from a major depressive disorder (and yes we do know that, or can make a damn good inference, from the way you described your feelings online and your ability to still work and deal with family matters). Others aren't so fortunate.

I've worked my way out of many minor depressive states with exercise, sunshine and good diet. I know many others who have as well. That means nothing when faced with a state of profound and debilitating depression.

[almas john]

I had a friend who was suffering from depression. Told him to pull his socks up, and reminded him to "Be British.*" It worked and he's doing okay. Of course, that's just one case - need to run proper clinical trials before it goes mainstream I think.

* my friend wasn't technically British (although of British stock).

Oh, come to think of it, he changed medication at the time of my advice.

[Indiana]

I love it when people who don't actually suffer from a major depressive disorder claim you can beat it with cold showers, rigorous exercise and a good book.

Pretty much how I cured mine. (Substitute hot springs for the cold showers, though). Works.

Then it wasn't clinical depression...it was just a depression most likely caused by external factors.

My baby sister went through the clinical form of depression as a teenager, and I can assure you that medication was the only thing that could help her at the time (and was the only thing that kept her from taking her life). There were no external factors that would have made her depressed...good family, lots of friends, a very well-adjusted young girl involved in sports, gymnastics, chorus, etc. on top of being an excellent student. It literally came out of nowhere and was a huge mystery until she was diagnosed.

[the bear]

I had a friend who was suffering from depression. Told him to pull his socks up, and reminded him to "Be British.*" It worked and he's doing okay. Of course, that's just one case - need to run proper clinical trials before it goes mainstream I think.

* my friend wasn't technically British (although of British stock).

Oh, come to think of it, he changed medication at the time of my advice.

You should write a self-help book AJ...I hear you can make a bundle in that racket.

Seriously though you (not meaning AJ here) do no one any favors by telling them to "snap out of it" "take up macrame" etc. etc. That simply gives people who need drug therapy further cause to avoid addressing a debilitating illness. It's exactly the same as telling someone who has an infection that requires antibiotic treatment to take an aspirin.

[the bear]

DP

[superking]

Clinical depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, no? Acute (episodic) depression is situational. It is hard to know which one it is, although if you are going through a shitty time that is usually a nice way to assign it. My experiences have been that episodic depressives enjoy the relief that meds give them, but there are issues of dependence setting in. Clinical depressives don't usually seek out the meds (contrary to episodic depressives) but the meds are effective to varying degrees because you are trying to restore some sort of imbalance. Of course, all of this is a general picture, and will not chime with many people who don't fit into that pattern.

2. Avoid advice that is not part of your prism.

Despite the paradox of being advised not to listen to advice, this is probably the best piece of advice to give. Anyone trying to shove advice down your throat, telling you to pull your socks up, getting angry with you, or that sort of stuff are usually very well meaning, but so wide of the mark it is untrue. (Although weirdly the friend bollockings you get remain sharply in your mind afterwards.) Listening and just being there is the only thing other people can really do. OWN your depression. Do whatever you need to do to get through it, but if you are damaging your body excessively or harming others.... then we need to talk!