The result of depression if left untreated?

Rossonero

I've been feeling depressed on and off( not manic depression, I'm either depressed or in an ok-good mood) for around 3 years.
It seems to be a bit deeper depression the last few months than ever before.

What would be the consequences in years and years if i left it untreated? Would I get over it naturally?

Beruthiel

you will get no professional answer on that here, only opinions.
this is not a medical board
go to your doctor for a proper answer
B

LegacyUser

I dont think you can ever get over it, fully and I dont think anyone can, but I think that you should learn from your past experiences and become stronger from them. Look at the little things in life, insignificant things that can put a smile on your face.

When a girl smiles at you, that should put a smile on your face (assuming she hasn't fallen from the ugly tree...). Learn to identify the things that cause your depression and try to overcome them or else avoid them. Only do things that you feel comfortable doing.

Life is good, and way too short, dont waste time feeling down!

Santa Claus

Herr_captain,
I agree with Beruthiel. Speaking from experience you need to see a professional (doctor / public health nurse / counsellor) to get their opinion.
If you do nothing else, I'd strongly urge you to ring the aware helpline and speak to someone there...1890 303 302.

Santa

LegacyUser

You might become sucidal...

Have you tried to overcome it on your own? Taking care of your mental/physical health helps.

Uthur

I recommend seeing an expert - a shrink that is. Your GP will be happy to refer you. Don't let your GP treat you though - they don't know enough about this type of thing to do the job right. Anyone who has been treated over an extended period of time for depression will tell you the same.

rain on

It might get worse, you might commit suicide, it might get better. Treatment increases the probability of the latter course of events, which you will find to be infinitely more enjoyable for you and those around you. As someone who is currently clinically depressed and has lost two extended family members to suicide in the space of a year, trust me on this.

stratos

I dunno about the above depression is a relative term. Is it affecting your life and how badly. Going to a proffesional will soon have you on mind altering drugs ( it's all they know). Depression can be creative, it's just a personality trait. We don't treat happy people or see it as a disease. The world needs many types of people. Draw from your depression embrace it, and see if it offers you a different outlook on life. Maybe there is something you can offer us all. whats wrong with being different?

RedRules5

( not manic depression, I'm either depressed or in an ok-good mood)

I was like this for years and was of the opinion that

stratos wrote:

it's just a personality trait. We don't treat happy people or see it as a disease. The world needs many types of people... whats wrong with being different?

Until it started getting worse and the bad days were becoming more frequent the good no longer as good and few and far between. Needless to say suffering frequent mood swings wasn't good for my relationships with friends, family, colleagues and so I got help. I was prescribed anti-ds and the affect has been remarkable, I only wish I had done something earlier in my life.
My advice would be to not accept it as being part of who you are, it is an illness that can and should be treated.

stratos

fair enuff to the above

Rossonero

randommm wrote:

Have you tried to overcome it on your own? Taking care of your mental/physical health helps.

Yes, before i used to kip fit as hell. I'd do a 6 mile run 4 days a week and be either playing soccer or swimming in between (during summer). I used to cycle alot too (60-120km distances)

Being depressed made me want to run until I dropped. But I don't keep as fit anymore.

Rossonero

stratos wrote:

Is it affecting your life and how badly.

I pulled out of uni twice before ( one after 2 months the second after 4 months) and I've missed alot of lectures and practicals this year. Got a N.G. in x mas maths.

I don't have any motivation lately except for this morning when I feel cheery, but can't get myself to study.

Pet

To look at it dispassionately, I guess that's an interesting question. If you look at it as a disease, then it has to have a cause (neurotransmitter malfunction/absence, which might be nutritional or genetic). In that case I guess you would descend into complete psychosis, and perhaps eventually catatonia. But in this day and age it would never get to that stage, because friends/family or just society would intervene and medicate you.

If it's chemical depression (and it can be tricky to distinguish between "personality"/situational depression and chronic chemical depression), and it's caused by a nutritional deficiency (a lot more common than you would think) then you can take steps to treat it. It wouldn't work overnight; it can take weeks to notice a difference, but it might be worth a shot. There's something called Becalmed or something like that (sorry to be vague); it's basically a supplement which has the building blocks for neurotransmitters, and it's meant to work really well for depression (it was originally produced for people with ADD). And you can try curezone.org - look for the forums (ignore the first page of crap). There's some quackery there, so take whatever you read with a miligram of salt. Even so, there's some very helpful stuff there too.

joseph brand

I'm no fan of going to a 'shrink', like the Yanks!!

Maybe a change of lifestyle is needed. Eat lots of fruit if you don't already, apples make me happy for some reason.

Also, I think getting out of the house works wonders for the soul. I have two friends who NEVER leave the house and sit at their PC's for hour upon hour EVERYDAY??? Humans need sunlight to live, just like trees.

I think my friends are wilting.

REDZ

if you moods change dramatically for no reason, then it may have something to do with brain chemistry. if thats the case then maybe medication might help, though a change of diet can help too. examine the reasons for your mood chsnges, if college doesn't motivate you, then maybe your are in the wrong course, look into changing it.

Nightwish

i took prozac but stopped when i couldnt afford to renew my prescription. that was 18months ago...im dealing with it. its always there but i hope i can cope. i hope you can too

Agent Smith

i went and had a few sessions with a "shrink" last year, a lot of things went wrong with my life and it was a time that i felt very very low,

if nothing else, its not often that you get to speak about yourself for an hour at a time, and its a great help, imo

Corksham

Just because there are no 'professionals' here there are plenty of people who suffer and they are the real experts

Last year I attempted suicide and am now on lexapro (an SSRI a/d). I have suffered for years, I am 29. I have read extensively on the topic in the last year and from my own experience and from the literature I have noticed a few things

Talking about it works, full stop. Be that just admitting it to friends, family or as you have done, posting here, or going for professional help, talking is one of the hardest but most important steps, can literally save your life. You are far from alone (the stats are frightening). Read about CBT and other therapies that adress behaviour, automated neagative thinking etc.. there are lots of very good books on it

The medical world is split between psychiatry (the 'shrinks') and psychology (I favour the latter big time). In general psychiatrists and GPs are quick to prescribe medication but there is no single scientific paper in existence that proves the usefulness of these, that being said I find lexapro does work for me. Psychologists prefer the talking therapies and here the real help lies in my opinion.

Read up on the topic (very difficult at the start but it will fill you with hope), talk to someone close or a psychologist

Changing your diet, excercising all comes later, you have to have hope before you can do any of this.

To answer your question - untreated it can consume and kill and is as real an ilness as cancer and you wouldnt ignore that if you had it

James