I think I might be 'depressed' if it's a thing in-and-of itself.

Boredom and suicide often fill the gaps when I'm not doing something.

I'm not sure it's uncommon though as I can tease it out of others quite easily - I think it's just being alive and capable.

I welcome any other opinions though, the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

Great topic hepzibah!! I think we'll find depression is a major epidemic and hopefully share ways of dealing with it.

-m0r

When I was at the doctor's office couple years ago she said I seem to be depressed and recommended getting antidepressants, but I said no thanks.I've had shit in my life in the last few years that make me feel blue most of the time, but I'm not sure if I'd call it depression per se. Or then I can't admit it. I do admit it's difficult to get excited over things nowadays and I spent most of my time home alone, watching movies. I'm glad I have several best friends who I know I can always confide in and whom I can trust, so there's always that if things seem to get too bad.

It's really sad that the state of younger kids is so bleek at the present. Suicides and school shootings and such have rapidly increased here in the last decade and people seem to be more prone to go and do stupid things like shoot strangers in the street and so on. But I know there are people less fortunate than me so I try not to make a big deal out of feeling blue.

I do think this topic is a good idea, if it helps people open up for their own will and hearing other people's stories alleviates the depression.

I don't think there's anything wrong with taking anti-depressants, that's not what I meant. I just don't think I need them at the moment. I don't have suicidal thoughts or anything like that. I just feel like the future might not be that bright for me. Meaning that I would suddenly find the love of my life, have a family, get a job and so on. But like I said I have lots of friends who will help me if for some reason things would get too bad. And I have my music, which is my way of channeling my thoughts and feelings into music and lyrics and I've noticed it helps.

Thanks for your concern, but I'm just fine and dandy as it is, hep. I tried to find the test in that link you posted but couldn't find it. Besides, I have you girls here now. What's there to be worried about when I'm surrounded by a bunch of lovely ladies. Can't complain.

Yes, yes, thank you m0r1arty, that is the correct one (I really must learn how to tag things!), For the record, you aren't the Moriarity who strapped explosives to my cat, it was the other one.

My mother suffers from severe clinical depression. She had a breakdown when she was young, was ok for a long time, and another breakdown about 30 years ago, was then ok for years but has been bad again with it for the last 3 years. It is, in her case very debilitating. In her case she gets bad when very stressful things, like illness, operations or life changes come about. She doesn't adapt easily. She sometimes refuses her medication which in her case makes her much worse. With cases as severe as hers then a lot of professional help is needed.

However, I think it is proved that being physically active can really help with depressive illness. Getting out in the fresh air, raising your heart rate etc. Of course medication and counselling also have a part to play.

For all those of you who suffer from this debilitating illness in one of its various forms, I wish you well...literally.

 

I don't have depression but my Dad and sister do. My Dad has had it for ages and my Mum told me about it when I was 7. It can be quite scary sometimes as he gets more angry than sad
My sister was diagnosed with it quite recently (she also has Asperger's) and she has the sad kind, she cries sometimes in school. It's a bit better now but a year ago it was pretty awful...

This is a really good topic and I really impressed at how honest everyone is I don't know if I'd be able to do this if it was me with the illness!

I've bounced from one episode of depression to another (about every two years, it seems). I've spent the last ten years trying to work out the best ways to manage my mental health and now have some strategies in place to help keep me floating.

Be careful about using online tools to diagnose yourselves, though. You should always see a Doctor if you have concerns about your mood. And remember, if shitty stuff is going on in your life then it's normal to feel down. It doesn't mean you have depression.

Also, there are ways to manage your depression (if you have it) or just your general mental wellbeing without medication; sometimes you need it (and I do, sometimes, take medication when necessary) but sometimes you can manage without. Just another gentle reminder that mental health is never a one-size-fits-all, so be wary of giving advice or accepting advice from people who are pushing an agenda, or who don't know you/your symptoms very well.

Great thread, Hep

"Anger turned inwards".... anger towards whom? Myself? Somebody else? "The world?"
I often think I may have some kind of depression. Maybe it is some kind of anger towards myself. I often have the feeling I did everything wrong. At least my parents often told me when I was a child and later the doctors. Everything seems to be my fault. Although I know this can't be right, it creeps into my mind from some hidden corner from time to time. So I guess this thought "MY fault! I'm doing wrong! I'm lazy! I should do this! And that!" is somehow always on my mind.
Had some talks to a psychotherapist and she managed to make some things easier for me. So I force myself here and then to remember her words.
(She needed several hours to notice that something's wrong with me, because to the outside I am an opened, happy and funny person... I didn't know until then that I am such a good actor; I didn't meant to be, though...)

Nope. And now don't tell me that was another mistake!