Have you ever/ do you suffer(ed) from depression!?

Disease Ridden

Just curious as to approximately what percentage of people on here can safely say they have never suffered from depression.
It seems these days everybody knows people taking pills for it and what not. It strikes me as a bit counterintuitive that in a country with adequate food, water, healthcare (in fairness, we have), opportunities to succeed, no massive problems with poverty (not counting the homeless, seeing as nobody on these boards are homeless...surely) that people can get to the stage that life seems extraordinairily difficult and pointless. Surely not having food, water etc would be the most depressing thing that could happen to a person and yet I doubt people who live with those problems in other parts of the world would even consider feelings of hoplessness and depression an illness.

EDIT: I may have started off on the wrong foot in this thread so please read through it! I wasnt saying depressed people shouldnt be depressed cause their physiological needs were met; I was just trying to talk about how annoying it is for sufferers that despite knowing they are better off in material terms than many others, they are simply unable to enjoy their everyday lives.

Karoma

It seems to me that overlooking all aspects of being human but the base physical existence, and assuming that all one needs to be 'happy' (or at least not depressed) is that one's physiological needs are met is rather dim.

KStaford

Hi OP

Depression is really an illness that can not really be quantified by your yard sticks. It is irrelevant that we have healthcare, work, food etc. Depression at a chemical level, is about depleated serotonin and odd levels of dopomine in the brain. At a psychological level, it can be caused by a lack of vitamin D (lack of sunshine). Alcohol is a major contributor as it affects the chemical balances I speak of above and then there is the fact that a lot of people have some unresolved hurt or sadness in their lives. This will often be a deep rooted cause for drinking/drugging etc. Irish people in particular are emmotionally insecure and not very good at expressing themselves socially. This too can lead to a sense of isolation and a feeling that there is no one to talk to about an issue or just about reality. It is unsurprising to me that many people in the western world (not just Ireland) are depressed these days. Unfortunately, many are put on pills when waht they really need is group / talk therapy, exercise, diet and a new life. Pills are required by some but in reality unfortunately they are severly over prescribed by medical practitioners.

What you refer to above is the bottom rung of Maslow's hierarchy of needs (shelter, security). These are the basics required for survival but as you travel upwards along the hierarchy, Maslow identifies things such as love, belonging, esteem, experience, purpose etc as being of far greater importace to humans than the things you mention.

GhostInTheRuins

Fortunately, no.

KnifeWRENCH

I honestly don't know.
"Depression" is a very strong word to use. I'd find it hard to distinguish between being depressed and feeling a bit down.
The last few months of 2008 were very rough for me. There were a good few days where I just didn't get out of bed because I just felt crap and didn't want to go outside. I was on Roaccutane at the time and mood swings are a fairly common side effect of that drug but I don't know if I ever had it bad enough to be called "depressed".

So I'll have to vote for "maybe so" in that poll.

rainbow kirby

Knife-WREEENCH wrote: »

I honestly don't know.
"Depression" is a very strong word to use. I'd find it hard to distinguish between being depressed and feeling a bit down.
The last few months of 2008 were very rough for me. There were a good few days where I just didn't get out of bed because I just felt crap and didn't want to go outside. I was on Roaccutane at the time and mood swings are a fairly common side effect of that drug but I don't know if I ever had it bad enough to be called "depressed".

So I'll have to vote for "maybe so" in that poll.

I would be similar, I've had quite a lot of ups and downs over the last few years and the downs have been pretty rough. That said, I've never been on medication for depression.

Disease Ridden

KStaford wrote: »

Hi OP

Depression is really an illness that can not really be quantified by your yard sticks. It is irrelevant that we have healthcare, work, food etc. Depression at a chemical level, is about depleated serotonin and odd levels of dopomine in the brain. At a psychological level, it can be caused by a lack of vitamin D (lack of sunshine). Alcohol is a major contributor as it affects the chemical balances I speak of above and then there is the fact that a lot of people have some unresolved hurt or sadness in their lives. This will often be a deep rooted cause for drinking/drugging etc. Irish people in particular are emmotionally insecure and not very good at expressing themselves socially. This too can lead to a sense of isolation and a feeling that ther eis no one to talk to about an issue or just about reality. It is unsurprising to me that many people in the western world (not just Ireland) are depressed these days. Unfortunately, many are put on pills when waht they really need is group / talk therapy, exercise, diet and a new life. Pills are required for some but really they are not an ideal solution

Aye, I know that every emotional state has a physical basis behind it in the brain; but a reduced level of seretonin in the brain comes about as a result of the input the brain receives, either fom the outside world, chemical abuse or the persons own already-present brain activity. So, leaving out the depression caused by overusage of drink, drugs etc, why do people in the western world suffer depression as a result of situations that, in terms of depression-causing-potential, pale in comparison to those situations experienced by those living in poorer conditions as described in my OP?

KnifeWRENCH

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I would be similar, I've had quite a lot of ups and downs over the last few years and the downs have been pretty rough. That said, I've never been on medication for depression.

Oh neither have I. Roaccutane is a treatment for acne.

(Sorry, I probably should have specified that! )

KStaford

Bear in mind that there is no "happy life". There is no constant state of euphoria. A lot of people spend a lot of energy looking for this. In reality life is up and down. Its happy, sad, exciting, dull, scary, exhilerating, depressing, boring etc etc and thats pretty normal. Thats the way it is for most and thats the way it should be. Dont waste your time looking for some nirvana that just dont exist.

KStaford

Disease Ridden wrote: »

Aye, I know that every emotional state has a physical basis behind it in the brain; but a reduced level of seretonin in the brain comes about as a result of the input the brain receives, either fom the outside world, chemical abuse or the persons own already-present brain activity. So, leaving out the depression caused by overusage of drink, drugs etc, why do people in the western world suffer depression as a result of situations that, in terms of depression-causing-potential, pale in comparison to those situations experienced by those living in poorer conditions as described in my OP?

One thought...
The way we live in the western world is sometimes unfulfilling for some. Huge mortgages, financed lives, hours wasted commuting, too much of everything available immediately (thus nothing is special). Dropping kids off with childminders at 7am before they go and sit in traffic. Lousy boring and unfulfilling jobs. A lot of people live this way. No sunshine, too much alcohol, unable to talk about things, bullied or abused as children, lousy parents. Jesus I could go on all night

Disease Ridden

KStaford wrote: »

Bear in mind that there is no "happy life". There is no constant state of euphoria. A lot of people spend a lot of energy looking for this. In reality life is up and down. Its happy, sad, exciting, dull, scary, exhilerating, depressing, boring etc etc and thats pretty normal. Thats the way it is for most and thats the way it should be. Dont waste your time looking for some nirvana that just dont exist.

Quite true; we didnt evolve in a world that could afford us the luxury of constant system of serotonin and dopamine breakdown and re-uptake seeing as good things were hard to come by back then and the evolution of such a system would have been both pointless and wasteful, in biochemical terms.

wylo

Id say so tbh, I had times when I was really down over something particular, I wouldnt call that depression though.

I knew I was depressed before when I wasnt in the mood for doing anything about anything, all good now though, dunno what came over me but Ive been grand for years now

Disease Ridden

Hmm, its interesting to note that so far only 2 out of 22 voters answered that they have never suffered depression for sure; why is everybody so unhappy in this day and age! We have the best lives of any people to have ever lived (excluding a very, very small minority, for example the multi-millionaires in the states....actually, now that I think of it, a lot of them are on drugs and stuff aswell because they arn't happy!! )

KnifeWRENCH

Disease Ridden wrote: »

Hmm, its interesting to note that so far only 2 out of 17 voters answered that they have never suffered depression for sure; why is everybody so unhappy in this day and age! We have the best lives of any people to have ever lived (excluding a very, very small minority, for example the multi-millionaires in the states....actually, now that I think of it, a lot of them are on drugs and stuff aswell because they arn't happy!! )

Living in a wealthy, first world country doesn't guarantee happiness. Just because someone might be physically healthy and quite well-off doesn't mean that their mental health is going to be perfect.
Good standrd of living does not equal a good life. People are unhappy for several different reasons - I could list off lots of things that I think are **** in my life right now if I wanted to. I am very fortunate to not be starving or poor, and I acknowledge that, but that doesn't mean I'm happy all the time.

wylo

Disease Ridden wrote: »

Hmm, its interesting to note that so far only 2 out of 22 voters answered that they have never suffered depression for sure; why is everybody so unhappy in this day and age! We have the best lives of any people to have ever lived (excluding a very, very small minority, for example the multi-millionaires in the states....actually, now that I think of it, a lot of them are on drugs and stuff aswell because they arn't happy!! )

tbh I think most people dont understand proper depression so they just presumed the last time they were upset over something they were depressed, probably myself included

Nightwish

Was treated for it for a year when I was a teenager, but suffered from it for a lot longer.

KnifeWRENCH

wylo wrote: »

tbh I think most people dont understand proper depression so they just presumed the last time they were upset over something they were depressed, probably myself included

That's why I voted "maybe". It's difficult to state exactly what qualifies as depression and what doesn't.

Disease Ridden

Knife-WREEENCH wrote: »

That's why I voted "maybe". It's difficult to state exactly what qualifies as depression and what doesn't.

I think a lot of the time its the inability to respond positively (or as positively as you once did) to situations or things that you once considered, well, good!
Anhedonia is the correct term for it afaik, the inability to experience pleasure. For example, a person having a rough week with college or a break-up or work might think that they are depressed; but if somebody offered them a cheque for a thousand euro, or a new car, their mood would probably pick up right away and they would at least temporarily forget what was troubling them and feel happy. With a depressed person, the money and car would do little or nothing to change their despondant or apathetic outlook on life; they cannot simply will themselves to snap out of their state of misery.

Podge2k7

Nope never.!

S.I.R

i was depressed before then i stopped voting for the progressive democrats...


Fine ever since.

Newaglish

It's embarrassing to see how many people actually think they suffer from depression. It's a serious illness. "omg like i have no one to bring 2 d debs" is not depression.

seanybiker

Newaglish wrote: »

It's embarrassing to see how many people actually think they suffer from depression. It's a serious illness. "omg like i have no one to bring 2 d debs" is not depression.

I agree with ya on that one.
I am suffering from depression and agoraphobia since I been 12. Well agoraphobia started when I was 12-13 the depression is longer.
I would go into it but I rather not. Search some of me posts if ya want.
I cant stand the emo people that get upset cos daddy wont insure their brand new car .
I have suffered it for years and I would not wish it on anyone but I am starting slowly to get over it I hope.

The Gnome

In the Third Wold the more worrying about the bottom two levels, being in a First World country, I worry about the top three thus making me more suceptible to "depression".

http://nodearth.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/maslow-pyramid.jpg

liah

Yes. It's a "girl thing" in our family-- as in, every female (that I've known, so grandmother, mother, and two aunts) has to deal with it on a clinical level. Every woman in my family is on medication save myself. I've always refused meds, and mostly deal with it on my own, though it can be ridiculously hard sometimes. I manage. I was worse off when I was younger, but I feel it creeping back once in awhile.

It's something I'll never be 100% fully away from. It's at the point where I literally can't experience extreme happiness or excitement, but I damn well can experience full anger and sadness.

Snowie

Disease Ridden wrote: »

Just curious as to approximately what percentage of people on here can safely say they have never suffered from depression.
It seems these days everybody knows people taking pills for it and what not. .

yep I have suffered depression for 5 years or maybe more i dont really know. What I do know is that the tablets are like a crutch walking stick... You need to talk about your problems to deal with your demons

Disease Ridden wrote: »

It strikes me as a bit counterintuitive that in a country with adequate food, water, healthcare (in fairness, we have), opportunities to succeed, no massive problems with poverty (not counting the homeless, seeing as nobody on these boards are homeless...surely) that people can get to the stage that life seems extraordinairily difficult and pointless. Surely not having food, water etc would be the most depressing thing that could happen to a person and yet I doubt people who live with those problems in other parts of the world would even consider feelings of hoplessness and depression an illness.

I dont think you have any idea on what your talking about to be perfectly honest.

You suffer from depression and then make up your own mind, because its the most awfull feeling in the world first time in 6 years I wake up HAPPY, and im going to have to listen to some idealist come at me with that crap?...

Seriously your post is just touching the mark, you get bullied kicked to the ground, humiliated buy a teacher at the age of 13.... in front of a hole class evereyday i tell you what mate, that does something to your self isteam self confidance It changes you for a very long time... Depression is caused bye pain horrible pain it tares you apart inside you develop a huge inner critical way, you knock your self for saying anything stupid, on the out side people can appear to be happy go lucky on in the inside the climbing the walls of desperation unhappyness searching for a way out...

You have no ****ing idea what your talking about :rolleyes:

StopNotWorking

I went through the typical few horrible months when I was 17. No one ever knew and as such it went on a lot longer then it should of. Funnily enough it was the end of my leaving cert and te start of a part time job in a steel workshop in darndale(next door to a meth clinic of all places) that got me out of the slump. Some of the nicest people I have ever met have been the lads in that horrible little workshop.

BlitzKrieg

I dont know...

havetoquit

Without going into more discussion on a subject I personally have not experienced but with which I am very familiar from listening to others, can I just say that I think one of the most important things for anyone suffering any form of depression be it mild, acute, clinical or even 'feeling low' as some people put it, is to not let it fester, share with someone you trust as soon as the symptoms arise, be aware that it does not have to last, responds well to the the correct therapy, awareness groups, personal councelling etc. Drugs alone are not the answer and often serve to mask the cause and prevent one from confronting it and seeking complimentary treatments. Keeping it to oneself is probably the worst. So easy to say I know especially for those who find it difficult to communicate their feelings to others, but even a call to 'Aware' where you will be listened to and put in the direction of the correct form of support will be a huge step in the right direction.

Abi

Disease Ridden wrote: »

Surely not having food, water etc would be the most depressing thing that could happen to a person and yet I doubt people who live with those problems in other parts of the world would even consider feelings of hoplessness and depression an illness.

You have very clearly, no understanding whatsoever what depression is.

mmmdee

Depression is a misunderstood topic among a lot of people. If you think you may be suffering from it then seek professional help, initially from your doctor.

Your doctor will then be able to determine if it's a normal life-experience depression such as 'I might lose my job' or 'I have no dress for the debs', or whether it is a deep-rooted depression that may need treatment in the form of counselling, or medicinal, or both.

Can I recommend a book - I HAD A BLACK DOG By Matthew Johnstone, ISBN 0330421832. It's a very simple book that upon reading will allow you to see what depression is, either in yourself, or in others. It takes about 10 minutes to read and describes in a few pages what exactly depression is.

biko

I've been blue, under the weather and down in the dumps but never depressed. Still like emo music though.

Teacherman

There is a difference between those who are clinically depressed and those who are not. By clinically I mean -have gone to a doctor and prescribed tablets. There are many people who would be diagnosed as clinically depressed but never go near a doctor.Then there are those who are medicated but should never have been medicated but I reckon they are a tiny minority.

We all suffer depression-its part of being human. Being medicated is a step up. There is of course a distinction between depression caused by events and depression that seems to be biologically based. Sometimes its a mixture of the two.
There are only three ways to deal with event depression: accept reality or change your perception of reality.

Abi

Teacherman wrote: »

.Then there are those who are medicated but should never have been medicated but I reckon they are a tiny minority.

Afaik, SSRI's have no effect on those who do not have depleted seretonin levels. It only becomes effective for those that do.

Faith

I've never been diagnosed as clinically depressed, no. I went to a counsellor before and we established I do suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, so I tend to be quite down in winter, but it's not as bad as clinical depression.

There certainly was a period when I was a teenager that every day felt like an uphill struggle, but there was so much going on at that time that I don't know if my moods were just a result of circumstances or if the circumstances actually resulted in depression.

Terry

Yep.
Tried to kill myself twice in the one weekend.
That was fun.

Don't suffer from depression any more. Well, I can control to to a certain extent these days.
The agorophobia is still there though. Had it bad on Friday.

Meh. I'll get by.

Xiney

I had "suicidal ideation" from the ages of 11 to 13. I never got close to doing it, but I used to think about it all the freakin' time.

Then I got somewhat better for a while, but **** me if moving to Ireland wasn't the worst decision I ever made. 5 months into being unemployed now and day three of the happy pills.

Gyalist

I've never suffered from depression and, hopefully, never will. No one in my immediate family has either.

TBH, I'm quite startled that so many people that I've met on the internet are/have been on anti-depressants.

xOxSinéadxOx

that many people have suffered from depression? either boardsies are very depressed people or I just don't believe it

Disease Ridden

Abigayle wrote: »

You have very clearly, no understanding whatsoever what depression is.

How can you know I don't; perhaps I'm just trying to assess the situation from a rational point of view? If I felt I was suffering from depression I'd have to ask myself "how can that be the case, given that there is nothing in my life that is a genuine threat or danger to my well being or survival, as is the case with many people in the world". From the perspective of people living in much worse conditions, surely we have much to be content about?...And I don't just mean the basics of survival, we have enough money to go out and have fun (every now and again), raise children knowing that they will most certainly survive in the world and many other things that arn't available to lots of people in the world.

dr.bollocko

Disease Ridden wrote: »

How can you know I don't; perhaps I'm just trying to assess the situation from a rational point of view? If I felt I was suffering from depression I'd have to ask myself "how can that be the case, given that there is nothing in my life that is a genuine threat or danger to my well being or survival, as is the case with many people in the world". From the perspective of people living in much worse conditions, surely we have much to be content about?...And I don't just mean the basics of survival, we have enough money to go out and have fun, raise children knowing that they will most certainly survive in the world and many other things that arn't available to lots of people in the world.

Ah so I see you are part of the "Cheer up you miserable so and so" school of depression treatment.
Not too many people with qualifications in the field would back that one, it has to be said.

Disease Ridden

dr.bollocko wrote: »

Ah so I see you are part of the "Cheer up you miserable so and so" school of depression treatment.
Not too many people with qualifications in the field would back that one, it has to be said.

No no, I really am not! But does nobody else find the statistics obtained in the poll a bit mad? I know that a person suffering from genuine depression can never simply will themselves out of it seeing as you cant create serotonin and dopamine in your brain from thin air! I know they very often need treatment by a proffesional to get better. But i find it intruiging that our society as a whole is very sad, despite a good standard of living; perhaps over time our emotions get blunted when we have too much too easily?

Abi

Disease Ridden wrote: »

we have enough money to go out and have fun (every now and again), raise children knowing that they will most certainly survive in the world and many other things that arn't available to lots of people in the world.

Are you are trying to suggest that we have no right to be depressed? What exactly is your understanding of it?

Xiney

It all comes down to the human condition - we are naturally driven to progress, to constant improvement and so on.

I mean it's like that comedian said, everything is amazing and nobody's happy.

Sure, I should be happy with what I've got: a husband who loves me, financial safety net if not security, and a heck of a knack to be good at just about anything I try. But I've been trying to rationalize that with myself for the past 20 months now and you know what? It wasn't working. I wanted more (to travel, to have a rewarding job) but I'm stuck due to unemployment. So I gave up and went to the doctor.

Disease Ridden

Abigayle wrote: »

Are you are trying to suggest that we have no right to be depressed? What exactly is your understanding of it?

Of course people have a right to feel what they naturally feel! But it strikes me as counterintuitive that in our country, and indeed the rest of the western world, for quite a high percentage of the population, the natural feelings they experience are ones of depression.

My understanding of it? Well, sometimes I feel really down too, often being able to tick most of the boxes for a depression diagnosis; but I remember then that things really arn't as bleak as they seem in my head, especially given the situation of my life (things I might be good at, potential to suceed, absense of any real threat of hunger, disease etc) so I continue on and try to fight those irrational thoughts. I realise that I can never be as happy as somebody who genuinely is blissfully ignorant but I cant change that so I dont try!

Einstein

Disease Ridden wrote: »

But i find it intruiging that our society as a whole is very sad, despite a good standard of living; perhaps over time our emotions get blunted when we have too much too easily?

You obviously havn't read half the posts on this thread.
Depression has nothing to do with what our country is like, or our standard of living. It's personal. It's due to problems in the past. It's due to childhood issues that we thought we had taken care of. It's due to too many people brushing you aside saying "cheer up".

You need to get the whole "our way of life should mean that nobody gets depressed" attitude.

Ever burst into tears for no reason? Ever feel like someone as ploughed a knife through your heart even though everyone is being positive and trying to help?

No?

Didn't think so.:mad:

Abi

Disease Ridden wrote: »

My understanding of it? Well, sometimes I feel really down too, often being able to tick most of the boxes for a depression diagnosis; but I remember then that things really arn't as bleak as they seem in my head, especially given the situation of my life (things I might be good at, potential to suceed, absense of any real threat of hunger, disease etc) so I continue on and try to fight those irrational thoughts. I realise that I can never be as happy as somebody who genuinely is blissfully ignorant but I cant change that so I dont try!

I have accepted that you don't really understand it at all. Otherwise I would find you quite infuriating. Lay it on the table.. is it weakness? stupidity? attention seeking? All of the above?

Being depressed is not something you can choose to be, or have any control over. Its a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression can be prolonged, and especially so if it remains untreated. Next you will be telling me that SSRI's are just a placebo to trick the hypercondriacs that claim to suffer from depression into copping on.

Disease Ridden

Abigayle wrote: »

I have accepted that you don't really understand it at all. Otherwise I would find you quite infuriating. Lay it on the table.. is it weakness? stupidity? attention seeking? All of the above?

Being depressed is not something you can choose to be, or have any control over. Its a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression can be prolonged, and especially so if it remains untreated. Next you will be telling me that SSRI's are just a placebo to trick the hypercondriacs that claim to suffer from depression into copping on.

Yes, I know you dont choose to be depressed, no more than you can choose to stop being depressed. It's a chemical imbalance. But the imbalance arises as a result of something eg cumulative stressful situations, something going wrong in your life. I dont see how, if the statistics on this poll are anything to go by, only 15 percent of the people on these boards live lives that don't warrant feeling any feelings of depression.

Look, I've had a good few setbacks myself, felt unreal miserable for a few years. Still do some days. But I never got treatment for it because I couldnt accept that my situations in life were bad enough to warrent treatment. They shouldnt be. I might be coming across that I dont know what depression is but that's just because I'm trying to look at it in a rational light; maybe too rational.

Latchy

I have always being of the opinion that anybody anywere, from any type of background can come down with depression just as some people are more prone to colds and flu than others .And the statistics are out there to prove it .How people deal with it is another thing .It can be hard to diagnose from person to person as each will have different circumstances in their lifes which will have contributed to it and their also can be a chemical imbalance involved .Turning to drink and drugs are some peoples way of dealing with it which of course doesn't get to the root of the problem .It use to be a case of '' just get on with it '' and many did and still do just that. People who have commited suicide would have being driven to the deapths of depression before killing themselfs and would not have got the help they needed beforehand .But thankfully now it is recognised now for what it is ,a serious conditions that affects millions and it does not have the stigma it once had .

Gyalist

Gyalist wrote: »

I've never suffered from depression and, hopefully, never will. No one in my immediate family has either.

TBH, I'm quite startled that so many people that I've met on the internet are/have been on anti-depressants.

I was on them for quite a while and eventually realised that it's something which a lot of people don't openly talk about. Many people consider professional help as a sign of weakness so either don't seek it themselves when they may need it or they won't tell anyone they got it (for fear of backlash from the "cheer up" brigade). Thankfully I think I'm coming out the other side now but it's taken about 8 or 9 years for me to get to this point.

Abi

Disease Ridden wrote: »

I might be coming across that I dont know what depression is but that's just because I'm trying to look at it in a rational light; maybe too rational.

I'm afraid you are


Sadly the word gets thrown around far too often, it doesn't get taken as seriously as it should. That and the words 'panic attack'. You would know all about it if you had either.

Disease Ridden

Abigayle wrote: »

I'm afraid you are


Sadly the word gets thrown around far too often, it doesn't get taken as seriously as it should. That and the words 'panic attack'. You would know all about it if you had either.

I've seen somebody have a true panic attack once, and you're right, it isn't a label that can be applied to simply being anxious! Really is frightening to watch.