Depression and Anxiety Thread

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My father got downstairs a few minutes ago, I hugged him and said good morning and the first thing he said was: "I wish I was dead". You can imagine how I feel now.
 
kikie
My father got downstairs a few minutes ago, I hugged him and said good morning and the first thing he said was: "I wish I was dead". You can imagine how I feel now.
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Damn. And for him to tell you that seriously, he must be in a really bad place.
 
If you have pets, one thing I thought of is that if you aren't feeling happy, your pet(s) may be. You could use energy from your pet(s) to help cheer yourself up. I often believe in doing certain things to where you can draw in energy and be able to use that drawn energy to help give you energy in return. It was something I sort of thought of for those of you who may have pets.

As always... stay in the fight! Don't let depression win.
 
Don't worry, not on the brink of anything stupid, but man, I'm so close to just saying '**** it'. Various strands of my life have reached the end of the line, and now the whole thing isn't tied together very well.

I've gotta change my groove man.
 
A few people have told me this year that I should start with Yoga which is a very good anti-depression thing, apparently.
 
kikie
A few people have told me this year that I should start with Yoga which is a very good anti-depression thing, apparently.
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I've heard similar things. I'm pretty sure there's been research into general exercise and its effects on mood too.

MatskiMonk
Don't worry, not on the brink of anything stupid, but man, I'm so close to just saying '**** it'. Various strands of my life have reached the end of the line, and now the whole thing isn't tied together very well.

I've gotta change my groove man.
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Damn that sucks to hear.

Even if things have come to an end can you not look forward to new beginnings or a fresh start in other parts of your life?
 
kikie
A few people have told me this year that I should start with Yoga which is a very good anti-depression thing, apparently.
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Sports is a very potent anti-depressant, as long as you don't overdo it or get too ambitious or expect to reach unrealistic goals fast. I started weight lifting to control my depressions and dull them down a little, I have no idea where I would be without this hobby. The last 15 years I have been spending 2 hours / day on weight training with like a total of 30 days downtime.

Also one side effect of sports is once you reach your first goals you'll get a little ambitious and to reach your next goals you will no longer give in to the looming temptations of alcohol or other drugs, which drastically undermine your fitness goals.

Regular sports and in combination with spending time in nature are probably the two biggest anti-depressants there is.
 
Michael88
Sports is a very potent anti-depressant, as long as you don't overdo it or get too ambitious or expect to reach unrealistic goals fast. I started weight lifting to control my depressions and dull them down a little, I have no idea where I would be without this hobby. The last 15 years I have been spending 2 hours / day on weight training with like a total of 30 days downtime.

Also one side effect of sports is once you reach your first goals you'll get a little ambitious and to reach your next goals you will no longer give in to the looming temptations of alcohol or other drugs, which drastically undermine your fitness goals.

Regular sports and in combination with spending time in nature are probably the two biggest anti-depressants there is.
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Yes, I know about sports being an antidepressant. But it is more cardiovascular exercises that are very effective, mainly jogging. Power and weight lifting are less effective.

I stopped jogging because of the side effect and the 15kg of overweight. I have been jogging (running) for years and finally decided to stop because I got serious injuries due to the side effects.

Oh yes, (the bold text) is so true. I completely agree! 👍 Except for the "the two biggest". There are many natural antidepressants besides sports and nature. And it also depends on what kind of depression one has.

My depression is very easily treatable but it is also very easy for me to relapse. My body is perfectly capable of producing the neurotransmitters that I need to be depression free but because I'm one of those people who are hypersensitive, it is also very easy to get in depression.

I have been told several times this year (last Friday was the last time) to start with yoga. I'm also going to start with alternative treatments to get rid of my childhood and young adult traumas and hope that this makes me less sensitive. These things are also very good antidepressants (at least for my kind of depression). Oh, before I forget, the best antidepressant for me is relaxation and meditation (even better than jogging, yoga and nature) but as long as I have these traumas, it will always be possible to relapse.
 
kikie
Yes, I know about sports being an antidepressant. But it is more cardiovascular exercises that are very effective, mainly jogging. Power and weight lifting are less effective.
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I find serious weight lifting far more potent in its anti depressant effects than cardio. Before I started lifting I was a hardcore cyclist, the problem was the way I did this sport I could only do it three times per week, otherwise I would have ground my body into oblivion. I simply could not do 120 kilometers more than 3 times a week in this very hilly place where I live, and if I did more my body ached horribly and depression got worse. Not to mention in winter I could not do any cycling at all and in summer I got fried by the heat.
Now weight lifting I can split so I can do 2 hours every day without killing myself, and that's 365 days / year. And, a personal thing, I'm happier with being able to deadlift 250kg or strict overhead press 110kg instead of doing 100+ km on the road, I think its a bigger achievement, but that's just a personal thing.

Also I need the constant daily workout, for my kind of depression I need a constant stimulant. For me nothing is worse than relaxing, sleeping or having nothing to do, I need to be moving constantly and focus on something. When I have nothing to do at work I instantly feel the intense urge to stand up and walk around randomly just to be moving - which I often do. Relaxing is like death for me.

My depression is very easily treatable but it is also very easy for me to relapse. My body is perfectly capable of producing the neurotransmitters that I need to be depression free but because I'm one of those people who are hypersensitive, it is also very easy to get in depression.
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That sounds promising, its also a good thing that you are so aware of your state. 👍
 
I've been looking at various online sites trying to learn about worldwide rates of depression. Afghanistan seems to be worst off. There seems to be quite of a bit variations between countries, regions and even within the same country. For instance, for the UK, I've seen rates of over 20% and as low as 10%, but with women being somewhat worse off. In Euro countries, Iceland seems to be worst off. Why do you suppose that is?
 
Dotini
In Euro countries, Iceland seems to be worst off. Why do you suppose that is?
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Since depression rates climb rapidly the further north you go I think it has a lot to do with staying indoors due to the climate and lack of sunlight - especially in Iceland, in winter the sun hardly rises beyond the horizon, and that just for a couple hours. AFAIK Finland is also pretty high on the list of most depressed populace.

I think lack of outdoor activities, being trapped indoors for many months and living a lifestyle with very little physical activities skyrockets depression in the populace.
 
Michael88
Since depression rates climb rapidly the further north you go I think it has a lot to do with staying indoors due to the climate and lack of sunlight - especially in Iceland, in winter the sun hardly rises beyond the horizon, and that just for a couple hours. AFAIK Finland is also pretty high on the list of most depressed populace.

I think lack of outdoor activities, being trapped indoors for many months and living a lifestyle with very little physical activities skyrockets depression in the populace.
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Thanks! That makes much sense. But stats I've seen show countries in North Africa and the Middle East to also be extremely high in depression rates. It couldn't be due to cold weather, so it must be something else. And in Afghanistan it is insanely high. Do you think economic conditions or conflict zones could be implicated?
 
I've always had a social anxiety issue, especially when it involves making sure that someone's happy with a service. Mostly why I've preferred jobs that were in the background and had little customer interaction. But a sudden change in my workplace has fellow co-workers and managers encouraging me to take a promotion, however I feel myself doing nothing but fearing the worst outcomes. It feels stupid of me to be given these "great" opportunities, only to be too scared to take them and possibly make a huge mess of it. I'm sure this could just be called getting out your comfort zone, but all I do is think of past mistakes and fear that I'll disappoint everyone.

It feels like anytime I've tried to do something, I fail and am told "I knew you couldn't do it."
 
I was just randomly reading this thread regarding sports. As former competitive swimmer and long distance swimmer I can tell you in my opinion lifting weights is probably best for getting "high" with sports (again it's just my opinion, and I'm not depressed) because when you lift HEAVY in big exercises like Dead lift you will stimulate your hormones and seratonine much more opposed to if I go and do 10 km swimming training that will just drain me and will want to go to sleep.
 
HenrySwanson
Social anxiety is crippling and can lead to people not realising their full potential. Are you on any medication or currently seeing anyone for it? There is a good forum that may be able to help: https://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/
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I was recently prescribed Sertraline and I have been seeing a therapist. But this was all pretty recent, so I'm not sure if I'm really over it and ready to take on a full on customer service position.
 
Easy come, easy go this depression business. While I will state that I’m a chronic depressive, I do have some respite from time to time, even if the break is chemically induced.

All I can think to say is that death may be the answer, it might be that we ascend after biting the bullet but that’s just a hypothetical. The real reason to stay alive is because of the unexpected; tomorrow.

Don’t change yourself, change your environment, your situation, and if you still feel like crap then consult a bar tender, they’ll help you with all your worldly woes.
 
W3HS
....and if you still feel like crap then consult a bar tender, they’ll help you with all your worldly woes.
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Heck, I cant even go to any bars anymore because my chronic gut inflammation prevents me from ingesting even the tiniest amount of alcohol.
Haven't seen the inside of a bar for 5 years now. This also prevents me from attending to any parties, twice I've been at parties without consuming any alcohol, lets say it was incredibly boring - for me. So I just stopped.
 
W3HS
Easy come, easy go this depression business. While I will state that I’m a chronic depressive, I do have some respite from time to time, even if the break is chemically induced.

All I can think to say is that death may be the answer, it might be that we ascend after biting the bullet but that’s just a hypothetical. The real reason to stay alive is because of the unexpected; tomorrow.

Don’t change yourself, change your environment, your situation, and if you still feel like crap then consult a bar tender, they’ll help you with all your worldly woes.
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It hits you hard and always at the wrong time.

I was sitting up all last night having nervous tics due to my PTSD. I haven’t gotten help for it, yet.

2019 has been the loneliest year in my life, but it has been a great one. Although having my issues, I cut out a lot of people from my life that were just using me as a prop or just to have a laugh.

2020 will be a definite struggle, but I have a feeling that it will be better than this. There’s a lot of financial pressure that I’m going to have to work off and I plan to finish school.

I need to figure out a way to shake old memories and all the crazy stuff I saw as a kid.
 
MedigoFlame
I was recently prescribed Sertraline and I have been seeing a therapist. But this was all pretty recent, so I'm not sure if I'm really over it and ready to take on a full on customer service position.
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There's a good quote from Balzac that might give you something to think on:

“Our worst misfortunes never happen, and most miseries lie in anticipation.”

phillkillv2
It hits you hard and always at the wrong time.

I was sitting up all last night having nervous tics due to my PTSD. I haven’t gotten help for it, yet.

2019 has been the loneliest year in my life, but it has been a great one. Although having my issues, I cut out a lot of people from my life that were just using me as a prop or just to have a laugh.

2020 will be a definite struggle, but I have a feeling that it will be better than this. There’s a lot of financial pressure that I’m going to have to work off and I plan to finish school.

I need to figure out a way to shake old memories and all the crazy stuff I saw as a kid.
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You say you plan to finish school - have you come back to education as an adult learner?
 
HenrySwanson
What do you think is stopping you getting help for the PTSD?
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I stopped looking because I wasn’t getting call backs from anyone.

I’m going to start looking again soon, I’m just in a rut. Also, I don’t want medication, I’ve gained weight from taking it back in 2018. I’m going to look into the more therapeutic side of things.

I feel like I have a pretty strong willpower, I just need to put a few bits of the puzzle together with someone who can help me understand, further, why I am who I am.
 
If you suffer from depression this time of year and with such limited light, be sure to have some light therapy. Holidays time can be stressing to begin with. You all take care of yourselves and be well nonetheless.

And of course... DON'T let depression win.
 
Wanting to go to a GP and talk about having "thoughts", but it feels awkward just imagining being in the office and saying you have problems with your mind. Also I don't know how to tell my parents about this, since it's useless even telling them about my anxiety.

I mean I'm not exactly suicidal but I'm just super tired all the time, add anger problems and growing anxiety to that, nearing the end of the year, I'm actually starting to worry about myself.
 
GTboyz
Wanting to go to a GP and talk about having "thoughts", but it feels awkward just imagining being in the office and saying you have problems with your mind. Also I don't know how to tell my parents about this, since it's useless even telling them about my anxiety.

I mean I'm not exactly suicidal but I'm just super tired all the time, add anger problems and growing anxiety to that, nearing the end of the year, I'm actually starting to worry about myself.
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I know it seems like it will be awkward but GPs have been trained in mental health issues and it accounts for a large percentage of reasons for a visit so they won't be lacking in experience.

You may even get a referral to a psychiatrist/psychologist out of the consultation.
 
HenrySwanson
I know it seems like it will be awkward but GPs have been trained in mental health issues and it accounts for a large percentage of reasons for a visit so they won't be lacking in experience.

You may even get a referral to a psychiatrist/psychologist out of the consultation.
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Okay I'll try, thank you.
 
Simply put... just take advantage of any sort of help you can have available to you. Best to give yourself a chance rather than hold in your emotions to where they slowly eat you alive.
 
Has anyone ever experienced falling out of love with friends and family all of a sudden for no apparent reason?

Over the past 8 months or so I lost all feelings for all my close friends and family - its not that I dislike or hate them, I simply can't love them anymore even if I try hard. Said people have done me no wrong or done things I dislike that could serve as a catalyst, in fact they are caring and nice and I've never really had any serious problems with any of them.

Its just I don't really care about their struggle anymore, I don't feel like I should help them, I don't want to have them around, I'm not interested in what they have to say, I try to avoid conversations or cut them short, I don't want to do any activities with them anymore and I don't want any help either.

The only thing I feel is guilt and confusion for feeling that way, but I really cannot help it. Right now I'm doing my best to cover it up to avoid problematic conversations I don't need in my life, the problem is I've always been bad in hiding my feelings and I have already been asked why I'm so distanced lately, some say my character has changed a lot and they asked me if I was ok.
My usual reply is that I'm alright, just tired and overworked, but that only works so long.

First I thought its just something temporary, but there is no sign of it getting any better so far and its already been many months now. And its not something that slowly developed, if I remember correctly it happened inside a week or so.

Has anyone else experienced this? As for my life, its so-so right now, not so great, I am not happy by any means but I feel only ''moderately'' depressed, nothing serious, stress is also at moderate levels, pretty normal for a normal modern human being I'd say.
 
@Michael88, I’ve felt that feeling before, but I couldn’t explain why. It’s just one of those things.

I’ve been steadily depressed, although, functioning for a while now. Not sure how long I can continue until alcoholism turns me into a non functioning person.

Sunday I spent the whole day considering the best way to end it. I’m not particularly sad, melancholic or distraught, I’m just numb. It’s only really after a drink that I feel anything and that just causes more depression once withdrawal sets in. A vicious cycle.

I haven’t spoken to anyone yet, not sure if my medication has stopped working or if this is just something I can get through like it has been before, but the end of a rope has never looked so tempting.
 

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