How do you handle depression?
Reply #260 - October 16, 2014, 04:44 PM
Oh dear Nikolaj and INCepTion, I'm sorry to hear that. I got no indication whatsoever of that from the posts that I've read from both of you. You both seem so together and seem always to be in good spirits.
Although I have heard mention of one or two anti-depressants backfiring in the early stages, and even leading to suicide, sometimes the only really effective and almost immediate fix is definitely to take medication for the illness. The one that you try first may not necessarily work, or it may have adverse side-effects that exceed the benefits gained from them, but in my experience, there usually is a medication out there that helps you to climb back onto your feet. Whether you will remain on your feet for the long-term is a different matter entirely. That side of things is helped by other means, such as therapy, and making positive changes to your life or lifestyle, and even ideally by evaluating some of the sources and triggers of the depression, and thus by understanding them more, setting on a course to tackle them.
I know all of this because I have helped to nurse and advise an awful lot of people that are close to me, and that have been affected by various forms of mental illness.
It shames me to say this, but I am hesitating in admitting that I have been affected by this myself, for two periods of nine months each, in my early twenties (I am not ashamed to admit it btw, just ashamed that I am hesitating in admitting it). I guess I struggle to admit that because I have not fully exorcised the demons of what I went through in that period. Plus, I have always probably accepted the stigma that goes hand in hand with mental illness, and have refused to admit even to myself that I have been affected by it once. Anyways, my illness was possibly initiated by too many hard drugs, mixed with a difficult period for me, along with possibly the propensity to become mentally ill within my genes (or so I keep reading).
Medication helped me, as it has helped almost everyone else that I know that had been affected by one type of mental illness or another. Once that helped me get back onto a level where I felt I was at last fit to be in the same room again as other 'normal' people, and once I started waking up again without the thought of wishing I hadn't, I started making changes to my life that have probably rescued me from the continuous cycle of depression that I have seen others sadly fall into. For me, these changes included calming down on the illegal drugs and alcohol, not leading such a chaotic life, and having purpose and goals, as opposed to being a free, wandering and sensitive soul. I started valueing my friendships. I started making relationships more than just fleeting. I returned to my hobbies. I returned to culture. I worked on getting a job, holding on to it, and even getting a career. Without sounding too corny, I think I chose life. Or one that was not completely destructive for me. And you know what, I'm so glad I did. I have experienced so much since then, so much life, love and joy that I am so, so glad I didn't leave this world in my early twenties, like I wanted to so badly at the time.
God I've ranted. I have no idea why I turned this post into being one about me, because I honestly only started with the intention of letting you both, Nikolaj and INCepTion, know that I felt for you both, and that I am rooting for you.
Hi
Topic: How do you handle depression?