How does it feel to be depressed?

LegacyUser

After looking up a load of places on line and reading some leaflets I am no where closer to knowing what feeling depressed is meant to be like.

I am wondering if recent physical maladies and cronic tiredness could be due to depression, but I don't know what depression feels like. I know I feel apathic and am constantly worried by everything but don't know if that is depression.

Anyone with persious personal experiance, your views would be much appricated as I am embarressed to go to a pyschologist if I don't need to.

Thank you.

Beruthiel

apathy can be depression, being worried all the time could be stress, or a combo of both
I have suffered from depression in the past (self diagnosed however) but I was in no doubt as I was very down at the time and could not make a decision to save my live, those voices in your head, ‘do it’ or ‘don’t do it’ which direction is the right one etc… in the end I listened to my ‘gut’ which always seems to be the way to go. It’s hard to see the woods for the trees when you feel like this, however looking back, it’s as plain as the nose on your face. Have you always felt like this? If the answer is no, then you know what must be done.
I wouldn’t be afraid to go see someone about it, no doctor will laugh at you for this, if you are posting here then you feel that something is wrong (gut talking here me thinks)
then most likely there is probably something wrong, no?

Skud

Gentle tiredness is a result of stress. Depression can be cause of this too. Your body is trying to compensate for your mind and then you're more and more tired as a result. If you think you are depressed talk to someone or involve yourself in things you enjoy. Talk to your friends anyway. They'll help you as much as they can, especially the funny ones.

I am MAN

I suffer with depression and take medication.

It's hard to say really alot of the time you're depressed pattern of behavour may seem normal to you. With me I suffered with anxiety panic attacks,angry and grumpy all the time and didn't really have much push in me not to say that i'm not like that anymore but I can see some benefit.

Go to you're GP there is absolutely nothing embaressing about it they deal with this thing more than a few time's a week no matter if it's you're family doctor for year's or some new guy you will be treated professionally.

Some may send you to a pdoc but most would prescribe some sort of medication from my experience.

hedgetrimmer

I suffer from clinical depression, though thankfully have found other means of dealing with it than medication - which had side effects for me.

I define depression as an absence of emotion, an inability to emote, and an inability to see that people around you are emoting towards you.

The effects on the individual differ for each person, through there are certain recognisable symptoms. There's a great and wide respected book available in most Irish book shops for €5 called "Depression: A Common Sense Approach". Whenever my friends ask about depression, I buy them that book.

Victor

Imagine you have just broken up in a relationship you really cared about and you best friend has just died. Thats a start. Then imagine every hour of every day is 8am Monday - "Do I really ahve to get up?". Then you go through a whole "why bother, no matter what I do, nothing changes".

There are some health websites listed in the useful links thread here. Essentially you need to be suffering from more than 5 of the 10 main symptoms and at least one of the primary symptoms for a minimum of two weeks.

Trojan

Originally posted by Victor
Imagine you have just broken up in a relationship you really cared about and you best friend has just died. Thats a start. Then imagine every hour of every day is 8am Monday - "Do I really ahve to get up?". Then you go through a whole "why bother, no matter what I do, nothing changes".

It's may not necessarily be that bad, or could be worse. I guess depending on how strict a definition we're talking about, and it gets very complex.

I don't agree with Victors "check the boxes"/metrics approach to diagnosis (no offense Vicky, it's just a little too specific) but maybe that's being more scientific about the thing. Since it's a state of mind I believe it's a more fluid definition.

I know some people who have recovered from clinical depression without the use of any drugs, as well as some who recovered using them (and swear by them). Then there are people who become reliant on the anti-ds just to maintain a floating "semi-depressed" constantly.

So it's a very complex subject, and it's well possible that you're just "feeling a bit down", or have Seasonal Affective Disorder, slight depression, full-blown clinical depression or something else.

I am MAN

www.trappedminds.org

Try these aswell I find them useful.

loismustdie

wingofmadness.com
trappedminds.org

give info

jerenaugrim

If you think you might be depressed, then you probably are. Tiredness, apathy, heavy feeling in the chest. In any case, seeing someone about it never hurts, tho' the process can be painful, and it will probably take a while between making any decision and acting on it. If you don't want to see your usual GP, any of the Helplines can recommend the next step. Like someone above said, it's really obvious after the event. And being depressed can actually be a positive process, a taking stock. It's a way of being told that something's wrong.

Best of luck.

smiles

If you're feeling like this and have been sick then definitely go to the doctor, it will set your mind at ease whatever his diagnosis, could be a medical explanation for your maladies.

<< Fio >>

Wolfie

Originally posted by hedgetrimmer
I suffer from clinical depression, though thankfully have found other means of dealing with it than medication - which had side effects for me.

I define depression as an absence of emotion, an inability to emote, and an inability to see that people around you are emoting towards you.

The effects on the individual differ for each person, through there are certain recognisable symptoms. There's a great and wide respected book available in most Irish book shops for €5 called "Depression: A Common Sense Approach". Whenever my friends ask about depression, I buy them that book.

Hmmm.. inability to emote etc.. isnt that psychopathy?

Anyway, getting back to the original question, you could suffer with mild-depression (as opposed to the serious depression Victor talks about) or it could be stress, or physical problem. First go to your GP for a physical test, explain your fatigue - it could be caused by many different things (underactive thyroid for example), anemia (iron deficiency or B-12 deficiency) or you may just need a vitamin tonic.

Your GP knows best. My own advice would be to meditate on the problem in your own space. Clear your mind and allow yourself time to find what is bothering you. Determine your goals to achieving what you desire and proactively go after these goals. If you smoke, quit smoking. If you drink, quit drinking (or seriously cut it down). Read self-improvement books, to improve your perception, confidence and mind, and make sure you get lots of exercise. The self improvement books can offer many effective techniques to achieving what you want, but doing or experiencing things you normally wouldnt do can take you out of your comfort zone and rekindle an appreciation for the mystery and splendour of life. It will take a while, and the beginning will be somewhat strange and maybe difficult, but after a while the new you will emerge, and you will be happier.

The doctor can give you pills for your stress or depression, but only you know the root of your problems and apathy. Life is for living, for enjoying, apathy is wasting the life you have been given, but *you* can sort it out, and make a difference when you have. You first need to make a difference to yourself. Work to improve yourself and remove the sources of your fears and doubts. Exercise is very important... try to achieve a balance between your mind, body and spirit... when you do this, also realise that what anybody else thinks of you is irrelevent. Its your life to live.

AngelofFire

horrible. i went thru a phase of it from about late 98 to mid 99. I had lost two people close to me within 3 months as a result of suicide. it was horrible. i felt like i couldnt go on. i was reduced to a state of apathy. i wasnt working not school i barely spoke to my friends much. i felt like life had lost all value and meaning. but when i was able to get over it. i started enjoying life again and everything was more or less ok

banquo

think feeling rotten to the core... and then take away everything except the core.

have you ever had a sore liver or kidney? its like hte throbbing pain that you get from those.

its anxiety/wanting to cry (not in the face, but the warm feeling belowthe lungs and behind hte stomach.



here's a project: suck in your chest (not too much), close your throat so you cant breath in or out, and try asa hard as you can to breathe out.


at least for me.

anyone know a good counsellor...?

Victor

Originally posted by robbb_mm
anyone know a good counsellor...?

Your GP should have a list of counsellors in your area.