Fighting depression?

[smuwillobrien]

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I don't know why I feel so depressed right now. School has been going excellent, and my marks are exactly where I want them. I just feel so dead and so unenergetic right now. Please someone give me some advice or share experiences on getting over this crappy feeling.

Thanks.

 

[jlee9531]

i dunno dude...

but i do hope you feel better....

does it have to do with girls?

watch dr. phil

ok ok i was just playing around....

but i do hope you can feel better.

 

[cather]

It could just be in senior slump and you want to move onto other things. Or maybe your just down cause there is no challenge for you right now. Like you say, school is going well, everything is in place, so it could be that there is no challenge for you right now.

 

[skypilot]

Have you been excercising enough? Some aerobic excercise every day can be a good antidote for mild depression.

 

[woolie]

Hi Smu

I love the Maritimes myself and my dad's family comes from New Brunswick, but I definitely know how gloomy November can be in New England and up your way.

My grandfather used to quote a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier that goes something like:

" ... no sun, no sky, no moon, no leaves - November ! "

 

[spumoni620]

it's getting darker earlier, isn't it? i remember when i lived in canada and london it would always strike around this time of the year...not depression, but just a general sense of "down" and lethargy. i hate it when it gets dark at 4 pm. 🙁 anyway, this will sound corny but try getting up early when it's bright, get outside on the days it's sunny, walk around (the person who suggested exercise is dead-on --it NEVER fails to work for me 🙂 ). if it's severe, i.e. as in SAD (seasonal affective disorder), i've read that exposure to bright light (i.e. a sunlamp--but sorry, i don't know about the uv implications or where you'd go about getting one) has helped patients in the past. in any case, definitely exercise and try to spend time outdoors if the weather's ok. i know canada at this time of the year can be more than just a little trying 😉 oh yeah, and make sure you are getting enough zinc and vitamin b.

hang in there!

 

[VictorynJesus]

Sometimes it is not always a physical thing as we may think.
Remember your spirit.🙂

 

[finnpipette]

spend more time with friends doing stupid random crap...usually makes me feel better.

 

[lessismoe]

I'm not sure this is altogether true, but I've heard that low cholesterol can drive people to depressed, suicidal moods. I got this from my dad, who is by no means a scientist, by the way, but he said that fish fat is supposed to be as effective as some medications at aiding depression.

Heck, sounds like a good excuse for sushi to me!

 

[Megalofyia]

Isn't eating spicy food suposed to have some mild mood elevating effects?

 

[dramaqueen]

go away someplace else for weekend

maybe u just need change of scenery for a lil bit

 

[skypilot]

Originally posted by lessismoe
fish fat is supposed to be as effective as some medications at aiding depression. Heck, sounds like a good excuse for sushi to me!

Here's an ABC news article about fish oil:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/MedicineCuttingEdge/brain030819_prozac.html

But how about a can of sardines instead of sushi?

 

[Megalofyia]

cause sardines are gross and sushi is way yummy!!!!!!!!!!

However I'm not sure that the fish oil works for everyone. I eat quite a bit of fish like easily 5 - 6 times a week and I still get pretty mellow in the winter. I know for me I need the sun to stay cheerfull.

 

[calebho501]

If Fish Oil doesn't work, prescription medication is always an option. Anti-depressants are pretty safe nowadays, with less side-effects than before. People seem to respond well to SSRI's like Paxil, Zoloft, or Prozac

There's more evidence showing that depression can be caused at least partly by neurological problems. Therefore, just like any other illnesses, depression should be treated instead of ignored.

 

[TTSD]

I was one of those people who didn't know they were suffering under depression.. during that time I hit Academic Probation and a number of other "fun" stuff. The only thing I can feel lucky about was it was during my lower division :-\

If you think it's more than just a current mood swing.. go take care of it asap. A lot of times, if you're under a lot stress and not taking care of yourself correctly, it is a slump you will not climb out of as time passes by. Trust me, I was so busy taking care of my mother and various friends that I never noticed my own deterioration and just wondered why I was not having any motivation to study and felt the more than excessive need for sleep.

 

[Megalofyia]

What is the general feeling about St. John's Wort here?

 

[calebho501]

Originally posted by Megalofyia
What is the general feeling about St. John's Wort here?

There has been studies that doubt the effectiveness of St. John's Wort on Moderately (?) depressed people. I'm not sure if there is study that definitely proves that it works for mildly depressed people. Also, St. John's Wort has to be taken over a certain dosage to work (900mg??) Most Over-the-counter St. John's Wort only recommend you to take 300mg or so a day.

I personally think SSRI's like Paxil or Prozac are more effective.

 

[woolie]

I'm not a big fan of pills for depression; I think depression comes from feelings that are not being expressed.

I am struggling with a stressful new job in a city far from home, working with the HOMELESS, by the way - who are not very nice people alot of the time 😡 .

Oh, and by the way I am not a social worker so when the clients yell and scream at me - surprise, I get upset and angry. There isn't much support for me on staff so I talk to someone outside the office, as well as with my friends.

I definitely feel that the 'talking cure' as Freud (I think?) called it, is incredibly valuable and lifts my depression and helps me to see things differently.

Just my 0.02 worth.

 

[PianoGirl04]

Originally posted by calebho501
There has been studies that doubt the effectiveness of St. John's Wort on Moderately (?) depressed people. I'm not sure if there is study that definitely proves that it works for mildly depressed people. Also, St. John's Wort has to be taken over a certain dosage to work (900mg??) Most Over-the-counter St. John's Wort only recommend you to take 300mg or so a day.

I personally think SSRI's like Paxil or Prozac are more effective.

Heh...I'm doing a term paper on this (due next Friday). Basically, most of the dozens of studies that have found SJW to be effective had major methodological flaws. So a group of researchers decided to conduct the perfect study to determine whether removing these flaws (e.g. incomplete blind, too low comparison doses, too short...) would lead to the opposite conclusion. And it did...they found absolutely no difference between SJW and placebo. This study was published in JAMA a year or 2 ago, and it brought major media attention. But it hasn't been replicated yet...and it's the only study that has found SJW to be ineffective for moderate depression. As far as I'm concerned, the jury is still out until this study can be replicated.

As for the OP's concerns...read up on SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). It's that time of year now. SAD can be treated by exposure to daylight-spectrum light from a light box. Seasonal or not, you should probably see a professional (or even a peer counselor, since they can refer you if necessary). Talk to your family, trusted friends, college advisor...whoever. Don't just try to get through this alone. Depression can be a truly debilitating illness, and it may be important to see a doctor about it, since medications like SSRIs are the most effective treatments.

 

[spumoni620]

Originally posted by woolie
I'm not a big fan of pills for depression....

Yup, i agree w/this. i think in general overmedication for depression is common--part of the "quick fix" many patients seem to want. no worries --it's definitely normal to feel down sometimes (even *very* down ) as long as it's not for weeks on end. some days are good, some bad. things will pick up. 🙂

 

[Nor2themax]

Hey guys - even though prescription SRI may be "over-prescribed" to some extent, there is also a big prejudice against Americans with depressions and other mental illnesses that NEEDS medications.

Americans tend to be macho and have the attitude "Just get over it already.... drugs are just and excuse to cover up other stuff... for weak people who are too lazy to try" When that is not the case for MANY people.

I suffered for 18 years with anxiety disorder before I realized that I was not going to "get over it" by thinking positively or eating better or exercising.

I've encouraged lots of people to go to counseling and, if necessary, get on medication and ignore all the people who think you're taking an unnecessary drug because you're a weak person.

I know I'm not a weak person. I just knew how to admit when I needed help.

 

[calebho501]

Originally posted by woolie
I'm not a big fan of pills for depression; I think depression comes from feelings that are not being expressed.

Certainly not all depression are caused by lack of enough seratonin or other neurological imbalance, but some cases ARE caused by it.

So in those cases, just like many other illnesses, you cannot necessarily "heal" yourself by forcing yourself to think in a certain way or by counseling therapy alone. As an analogy, people with schizophrenia cannot control what illusions they see, they can only get better at recognizing what's an illusion and what's real.

I think it's a common misconception that if a depressed person "think positively", eventually the person can get over it. For some, that's true, but cases due to neurological problems, SSRI's are the most effective treatment as of now.

 

[skypilot]

Originally posted by calebho501
So in those cases, just like many other illnesses, you cannot necessarily "heal" yourself by forcing yourself to think in a certain way or by counseling therapy alone.

There definitely are mental illnesses that are caused by chemical imbalances that are so severe they can only be treated with medication. Look at people driven to suicide.

I cannot even relate to the kind of mental pain that would drive someone to that. But I recognize it as a true illness and not a weakness of character.

 

[smuwillobrien]

I really appreciate all the responses I've gotten. I never thought that people would care that much. I'm not like a manic depressive or anything (atleast I hope not), so I think it was just a couple week stint. I'm starting to feel better after having a pretty relaxing week with little to study or worry about.

Thanks everyone.

 

[madlovescience]

Originally posted by Nor2themax
Hey guys - even though prescription SRI may be "over-prescribed" to some extent, there is also a big prejudice against Americans with depressions and other mental illnesses that NEEDS medications.

Americans tend to be macho and have the attitude "Just get over it already.... drugs are just and excuse to cover up other stuff... for weak people who are too lazy to try" When that is not the case for MANY people.

I suffered for 18 years with anxiety disorder before I realized that I was not going to "get over it" by thinking positively or eating better or exercising.

I've encouraged lots of people to go to counseling and, if necessary, get on medication and ignore all the people who think you're taking an unnecessary drug because you're a weak person.

I know I'm not a weak person. I just knew how to admit when I needed help.

I cannot agree more! My father committed suicide when I was 3 years old, anbd when I started to show signs of depression also, I avoided getting help for a long time because I didn't want people to think there was something "wrong" with me. Now I take a low dose of Effexor every day and the only thing that is so different is that I'm not always feeling awful for no reason. Check to see if your family has a history of depression or other mental illness. Years ago people never talked about it (my own grandparents told people my father had a heart attack!) because it has such a stigma, so you may not know until you ask.
On the other hand, it could just be a lousy time in your life. Try to keep at least one really good friend who you talk to often, that should help.

 

[greenie8]

Hi all,
I've looked into St. Johns Wort for mild depression/anxiety and just wanted to warn everyone: SJW may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Not sure of the mechanism, but hormones are not as absorbed into the bloodstream in the presence of SJW. (Piano Girl you might know more about this b/c of your paper). So if you're on OCs, be careful with SJW or else you may have a new addition to your family!

While I agree that many people are unnecessarily treated with prescription anti depressants, I think it's alarming that many of us future doctors are quick to dismiss clinical depression as "all in your head" or something you "just need to get over." It's a medical problem just like any other.

If you had a moderate asthmatic in your office would you tell your patient to "relax and concnetrate on their breathing" instead of prescribing a long acting Bagonist?

If you had a child with strep throat will you tell them to "get over it and have a popsicle" instead of prescribing antibiotics?

Maybe those who are adverse to prescribing anti depressants don't know anyone with clinical depression and haven't seen the good they can do. They do not mask the personality of the patient, and they don't create an artificial happiness.

I'm not trying to attack anyone...I'm just curious as to how some people separate psychiatric illnesses from others. Please tell me.

 

[ErraticLotus]

Originally posted by greenie8
Hi all,
I've looked into St. Johns Wort for mild depression/anxiety and just wanted to warn everyone: SJW may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. Not sure of the mechanism, but hormones are not as absorbed into the bloodstream in the presence of SJW. (Piano Girl you might know more about this b/c of your paper). So if you're on OCs, be careful with SJW or else you may have a new addition to your family!

While I agree that many people are unnecessarily treated with prescription anti depressants, I think it's alarming that many of us future doctors are quick to dismiss clinical depression as "all in your head" or something you "just need to get over." It's a medical problem just like any other.

If you had a moderate asthmatic in your office would you tell your patient to "relax and concnetrate on their breathing" instead of prescribing a long acting Bagonist?

If you had a child with strep throat will you tell them to "get over it and have a popsicle" instead of prescribing antibiotics?

Maybe those who are adverse to prescribing anti depressants don't know anyone with clinical depression and haven't seen the good they can do. They do not mask the personality of the patient, and they don't create an artificial happiness.

I'm not trying to attack anyone...I'm just curious as to how some people separate psychiatric illnesses from others. Please tell me.

hear hear.

It's so easy to think that people should just "get over" their depression. The problem is that when you're so depressed that nothing in your life has any meaning, then what's the use of talk/cognitive therapy? You'll only continue to downplay the value of anything. When you're that depressed, anti-depressants tend to give you the motivation to make yourself better.

 

[periodic]

Originally posted by greenie8
I'm not trying to attack anyone...I'm just curious as to how some people separate psychiatric illnesses from others. Please tell me.

From what I've learned, often the only recognizable difference between a clinical depression and a temporary "normal" one (which are the ones most people will have at some point and will go away) is degree of severity...how long it's been going on, how much it affected your life and relationships with other people, etc.

It's true in either case that people need to DO things that make them feel fulfilled and better. Drugs can be a part of that, making it easier for you to finally do things to feel better, but so can your friends making sure you get out of the room/house enough, or meeting a girl (or guy) you really like. We all need things in our life that make us feel good about ourselves, and the ability to recognize them. Talk may be the first step, but it's not the last.

Overmedication may be a problem for some populations, but don't underestimate the huge stigma that others apply to mental illness, of any form. For cultures or families where mental sharpness is prized beyond all else, psychiatrists are quacks and even the thought of medication is unfathomable. This can be crippling for someone who needs the aid of a drug.

The advent of antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs is an unbelievable boon. Talk to someone who has dealt with the mentally ill for more than the past 5 years, and you'll hear how transforming it has been.