Beating Depression One Day at a Time

bartooseboy

I have just recently admitted to myself that i am suffering from depression. I have for years been in denial about this but i turned 30 a few weeks back and I have decided that its well past time to face up to my problems and start to fight this. I have finally after more than 5 years ade an appointment to see a GP and hopefully i can start getting my life back.
As part of my battle to beat this illness i have decided that i will try to post 1 reason a day to keep fighting and to be cheerful. I am fully aware that this is not going to be easy but I have to start somewhere.

Reasons to be happy about life: 1) My 4 beautiful nieces

joshrogan

A blog would be alot more appropriate.

Quazzie

Fair play OP. It takes massive amounts of courage to get to the stage you are at.

mikemac

Start a blog

2ygb4cmqetsjhx

I am still skeptical as to whether depression is real or not. Normally I'd just say "Pull yourself together" but then again I don't know. I'm not a doctor

Princess Peach

Good for you Yeah I think a blog would be a great idea and you can put a link to it on your Boards signature here.

Hope things go well for.

7sr2z3fely84g5

Karlie Creamy Explosion wrote: »

I am still skeptical as to whether depression is real or not. Normally I'd just say "Pull yourself together" but then again I don't know. I'm not a doctor

i spare you a bollocking from the rest,its an illness.

candy-gal1

Your alive, thats a big plus point there i always think
Plus, having enough money to live comfortably and have fun days/nights out is a close second.

you could be dead, homeless, starving to death, being beaten up, or tortured, which btw i hope and assume your not any of those things, so the best answer is as you said make the most of each day and be as happy as you can lifes too short for anything bad to bring you down for too long. Ive learnt that tbh.

tallus

Best of luck OP, and ignore the silly comments. I hope you get it sorted out. Been there a lot myself and it can be hard to see light at the end of the tunnel sometimes.

inkwell

bartooseboy wrote: »

I have finally after more than 5 years ade an appointment to see a GP

I hope your GP is a real Doctor and will take you seriously. GP I went to see some time ago after I told her I think I am depressed and I find it hard to face every day told me I have to start exercising and get myself together. :rolleyes:

mamoonkay

Good for you keep your head up. :D:D

flutterflye

Some people display such enormous amounts of stupidity that things they say would make me very angry if I did not reassure myself that they must be pitied for being off the charts on the stupidity scale.

mikemac

inkwell wrote: »

I told her I think I am depressed and I find it hard to face every day told me I have to start exercising and get myself together. :rolleyes:

I'll leave aside the last part but the exercising part is great advice.

Would you have preferred if she skipped straight to medication?

Aoifey!

I think a blog'd be great too OP. I know I'd have a look at it

inkwell

mikemac wrote: »

I'll leave aside the last part but the exercising part is great advice.

Would you have preferred if she skipped straight to medication?

No, I wouldn't, I would prefer if she wouldn't just ignore it.
I am 100% aware exercising helps a lot and I was always very active (walking, swimming, cycling etc) It;s just as important as getting enough sun shine and healthy diet, but- there is a point when you are depressed when you simply cant -you dont have enough motivation anymore -anything seems to be hopeless.
She should know better then this and I hope she wont hear in her carrer about some patient killing him/herself after such a visit..

barone

1st step is the hardest to take,you took it,remember that part as ya go along.

Temptamperu

ive been suffering with depression since i was 17, meds dont work but exercise is a great way to lift your spirits.

inkwell

Temptamperu wrote: »

ive been suffering with depression since i was 17, meds dont work but exercise is a great way to lift your spirits.

If you are able to exercise you are not really depressed - you are just in a bad mood..
I wouldn't straggle so much for so many months if I would get some help. My friend took some medication and she was a different person. Of course its not everything, sometimes problem is something else then just to low levels of some substances in your body - but often changing at the beginning is a must in a real depression.

I also think we often call depression so called "seasonal affective disorder" :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

- and I've heard those therapy lamps help a lot. (anybody knows where I can get one?)

CavanCrew

Karlie Creamy Explosion wrote: »

I am still skeptical as to whether depression is real or not. Normally I'd just say "Pull yourself together" but then again I don't know. I'm not a doctor

You have a sore throat you take cough medicine, you break a bone - you get a cast.

Same with depression,you get the appropriate treatment to get you better.
Dont fuel the stigma.

Temptamperu

inkwell wrote: »

If you are able to exercise you are not really depressed - you are just in a bad mood..
I wouldn't straggle so much for so many months if I would get some help. My friend took some medication and she was a different person. Of course its not everything, sometimes problem is something else then just to low levels of some substances in your body - but often changing at the beginning is a must in a real depression.

In a bad mood sice i was 17? it takes work to get up and get out but i do it to make myself feel better.

flutterflye

Temptamperu wrote: »

In a bad mood sice i was 17? it takes work to get up and get out but i do it to make myself feel better.

You've probably got dysthmia.
(I'm not trying to diagnose btw. I am not a doctor)

MungBean

inkwell wrote: »

If you are able to exercise you are not really depressed - you are just in a bad mood..

Nonsense, there is varying degrees of depression all of which left untreated will build into something serious. Just because its not 100% debilitating doesnt mean its not depression. And exercise is a great help. But as with all things when your depressed its extremely hard to push yourself to do it.

inkwell

Skunkle wrote: »

Nonsense, there is varying degrees of depression all of which left untreated will build into something serious. Just because its not 100% debilitating doesnt mean its not depression. And exercise is a great help. But as with all things when your depressed its extremely hard to push yourself to do it.

You just doesn't know what depression really is. :rolleyes:

MungBean

inkwell wrote: »

You just doesn't know what depression really is. :rolleyes:

Did you come here to troll ?

CavanCrew

inkwell wrote: »

You just doesn't know what depression really is. :rolleyes:

Eh.. exercise releases endorphins, so you are wrong.

inkwell

CavanCrew wrote: »

Eh.. exercise releases endorphins, so you are wrong.

I know what exercise does, but as I said before sometimes you just can't! It could be so bad you don't even see the reason to get up in the morning!

inkwell

Skunkle wrote: »

Did you come here to troll ?

Stop with this "troll" thing -its childish! I was treated bad by a Dr when I needed help and I was studying psychology for almost 2 years.
May I have my opinion please?

CavanCrew

No but you said ..

inkwell wrote: »

If you are able to exercise you are not really depressed - you are just in a bad mood..

You can exercise and still be depressed, just making the point that just because you can get out of bed and can go to work doesnt mean you cant suffer from depression and that it is not " just a bad mood "

MungBean

inkwell wrote: »

Stop with this "troll" thing -its childish! I was treated bad by a Dr when I needed help and I was studying psychology for almost 2 years.
May I have my opinion please?

You told someone who has suffered from depression for years that the fact that he exercises to help with it means he doesnt have depression he's just in a bad mood. Then I (also struggled with depression) state that exercising does help its just hard to push yourself to do it you tell me I dont know what depression is.

Your the one being childish, shrugging off helpful suggestions of exercise and assuming that just because your depressed nobody knows what its like.

pragmatic1

Karlie Creamy Explosion wrote: »

I am still skeptical as to whether depression is real or not. Normally I'd just say "Pull yourself together" but then again I don't know. I'm not a doctor

Its very real. Can be due to a chemical imbalance. One of those things that cant really be explained until you've experienced it yourself. Hope you never do.

VenusPlays

inkwell wrote: »

Skunkle wrote: »

Did you come here to troll ?

Stop with this "troll" thing -its childish! I was treated bad by a Dr when I needed help and I was studying psychology for almost 2 years.
May I have my opinion please?

If you studied psychology you should know that the clinical definition of depression does not state a complete inability to exercise as a strict criteria!


For the OP well done for having the courage to post and I wish you the best of luck with your journey. For myself after battling depression for years & taking medication for some of that time, yoga & meditation have helped me enormously. No relapses now for 5 years :-)

The King of Moo

Well done OP, you've taken the hardest step, and get the privilege of causing my 1,000th post (another reason to be cheerful!).

As others have said, exercise is great. I think a run in the morning is great as it's so easy to do and gives you a lift at the start of the day when you need it most. And obviously good for your physical health too.

Keep going, and remember you're not alone.

locked_out

Karlie Creamy Explosion wrote: »

I am still skeptical as to whether depression is real or not. Normally I'd just say "Pull yourself together" but then again I don't know. I'm not a doctor

Don't question the drug companies. Gotta sell those drugs.

Apart from that, Depression is a horrible state for anyone to be in. Good luck.

Micky Dolenz

Bickering stops here, please and thanks.

bartooseboy

bartooseboy wrote: »

I have just recently admitted to myself that i am suffering from depression. I have for years been in denial about this but i turned 30 a few weeks back and I have decided that its well past time to face up to my problems and start to fight this. I have finally after more than 5 years ade an appointment to see a GP and hopefully i can start getting my life back.
As part of my battle to beat this illness i have decided that i will try to post 1 reason a day to keep fighting and to be cheerful. I am fully aware that this is not going to be easy but I have to start somewhere.

Reasons to be happy about life: 1) My 4 beautiful nieces

well done OP, good luck to you

cocoshovel

As said already in the thread, exercise is the best way to get your spirits up. Although initially its hard to motivate yourself to do it, once you realize how good it is you will keep it up regularly.

zagmund

If you can, talk to a close friend or family member. As well as getting support here on boards.ie you also need support in real life.

Talk to someone and tell them that you're getting treatment, but you need their support from time to time, if only to act as a buffer when you come across some people who express views like some of the above - "pull yourself together", "arragh sure, have a drink and you'll be fine", "cheer the f-up, come on out to the cinema with us", etc . . .

With a broken arm, people see your cast, people see you wince when you lift something . . . and so they don't ask you to lift things or carry home the shopping, they take it easy, make allowances, etc . . . with depression it's not as easy for them to tell, but that doesn't help you, so get someone else 'on your side' if you can.

You will be amazed how many people out there have been treated in one way or another for depression and associated conditions.

Best of luck,

z

macca.86

If your GP doesnt listen, go see another! My friend was suffering from depression and went to GP who didnt take it seriously! Sadly she never got the help and it was too late! GPs just arnt properly qualified to deal with this stuff!!

inkwell

VenusPlays wrote: »

If you studied psychology you should know that the clinical definition of depression does not state a complete inability to exercise as a strict criteria!

Are you for real... :rolleyes: I thought it does... whats your IQ - 30?

Coriolanus

Definitely go see another if need be. Even another doctor at the same clinic, it's not something that any reasonable doctor would get bent out of shape over.
I was being treated by one doctor, who was pushing a line of treatment that just didn't seem to be working. She went on maternity, I had an appointment with another and everything got changed around and much better.

inkwell

inkwell wrote: »

If you are able to exercise you are not really depressed - you are just in a bad mood..
I wouldn't straggle so much for so many months if I would get some help. My friend took some medication and she was a different person. Of course its not everything, sometimes problem is something else then just to low levels of some substances in your body - but often changing at the beginning is a must in a real depression.

I also think we often call depression so called "seasonal affective disorder" :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder

- and I've heard those therapy lamps help a lot. (anybody knows where I can get one?)

It is this kind of view of depression that aids with the massive stigma it has in society. I suffer from depression. I exercise. I still suffer from depression. I don't sulk around all day feeling sorry for myself and I am regularly happy. I still suffer from depression. It happens every month of the year so can't be defined as SADS.

Putting people into the boxes you define above makes people less willing to come forward with their illness, particularly with young men. This country needs to open its eyes and mind massively and realise depression is real, it is an illness, it can be cured, and if ignored can have devastating consequences. Everyone just think how many young people (men in particular) you know or know of have committed suicide in the past few years? How many times did you hear "if only he/she had talked to someone".

I say fair play to you OP. To those of you who don't believe in depression...wake the f*ck up

inkwell

Starla_o0 wrote: »

It is this kind of view of depression that aids with the massive stigma it has in society. I suffer from depression. I exercise. I still suffer from depression. I don't sulk around all day feeling sorry for myself and I am regularly happy. I still suffer from depression. It happens every month of the year so can't be defined as SADS.

Putting people into the boxes you define above makes people less willing to come forward with their illness, particularly with young men. This country needs to open its eyes and mind massively and realise depression is real, it is an illness, it can be cured, and if ignored can have devastating consequences. Everyone just think how many young people (men in particular) you know or know of have committed suicide in the past few years? How many times did you hear "if only he/she had talked to someone".

I say fair play to you OP. To those of you who don't believe in depression...wake the f*ck up

Maybe if you would read all my posts with uderstanding you would know were my statement about not beeing able to exersise comes from..
Ok, maybe I didnt make myself clear - what I meant is : SOME people suffering depression are not able to be active and exercise - I wasn't.
-and I think the way I was treated by GP -( Dr Marie from Galway -hello! :mad:) was hard to accept!

inkwell

inkwell wrote: »

Maybe if you would read all my posts with uderstanding you would know were my statement about not beeing able to exersise comes from..
Ok, maybe I didnt make myself clear - what I meant is : SOME people suffering depression are not able to be active and exercise - I wasn't.
-and I think the way I was treated by GP -( Dr Marie from Galway -hello! :mad:) was hard to accept!

I did read your posts and you most definitely seem to be trolling

inkwell

Starla_o0 wrote: »

I did read your posts and you most definitely seem to be trolling

Ok, I give up. It's ridiculous! I posted my story about how I was treated by GP and about what she told me and how I felt.. and I hear some rubbish about trolling.

North_West_Art

Art therapy for depression. Here you go OP... 100 Excellent Art Therapy Exercises for Your Mind, Body, and Soul
(and anyone else suffering from depression of course)

VenusPlays

inkwell wrote: »

Ok, I give up. It's ridiculous! I posted my story about how I was treated by GP and about what she told me and how I felt.. and I hear some rubbish about trolling.

Considering your last comment to me I'm not surprised by the reactions of others to you.

You stated that if someone was able to exercise, they were not depressed, just in a bad mood.

Now you have amended that to "Ok, maybe I didnt make myself clear - what I meant is : SOME people suffering depression are not able to be active and exercise - I wasn't."

A lack of interest in exercise can be an INDICATOR of depression but being able to exercise does not mean you are not depressed which is what your original comment appeared to be stating.

And no my IQ is not -30. I've a degree in Psychology

Regardless lets stop diverting the thread from the OP

pragmatic1

Bit of advice OP.Dont sweat the little things. Remind yourself that these things dont make or break you and will soon be forgotten.

inkwell

VenusPlays wrote: »

And no my IQ is not -30. I've a degree in Psychology

It doesn't mean your IQ is any high - I know few so called Psychologists and they are annoying swots not beeing able to think independently at all..

foxy06

inkwell wrote: »

It doesn't mean your IQ is any high - I know few so called Psychologists and they are annoying swots not beeing able to think independently at all..

But I bet they can spell

df1985

Best of luck OP, I went through a phase of it in the last 12 months, always remember-PEOPLE DO CARE no matter how alone you may feel.

I cant recommened the samaritans enough if you just want to just have a chat or even a rant/cry to someone on the other end of the phone, it works.

inkwell

foxy06 wrote: »

But I bet they can spell

English is my second language you know.. I would like to see you spelling some French or German... :pac: