some words

hi all.

 

i have learn't so much about people, about me and about mental health, around the world. we all live with depression differently, and moreso our depressive elements, even with the same dx are different. this is because we are all different. we are young, we are older, and we are old. we are poor, we are surviving, we are well of and some are rich. sadly, depression does not care.

 

depression is insidious in nature, when it hits, and it does so via many channels. from relationships, from finances, from work-and lack of, from disputes, from loliness, from chemical imbalances, from past experiences, from family, etc. etc......

this is why depressed people are tired, fatigued, and lethargic, because as it is brewing, we push harder, and for some we push into denial, you see for a lot of people depression is seen as a form of weakness, a giving in, sadly what the uneducated do not know is that we have actually pushed that darn hard that we break-mentally and then physically. ie the term breakdown.

 

okay, yes sometimes we are our own worst enemy. wow, to get to that is depressing me. how to help, for me, i appreciate those that hear, listening is okay, providing the people we are talking to are awake!! what irks me, and still in this day and age is the stigma. yes it is a medical condition, to the uneducated it is a weakness. a lot more collaboration is required, by all, and for all, around this entire planet.

 

people around this planet have there own methods of coping, some good, some bad and some ugly. gee, i have avoidance coped very badly over the stretch. we find it hard to practice what we would rather preach-me, guilty as charged!! depressed people are not bad people, society seems to stem an association that depressed people somehow drop 25 points of iq because we are seen as being stupidly self-obsorbed....if anything we are the intellectual buggers who have the best ideas - especially in all aspects of offering care and companionship. look at this site HW. ALL THE FORUMS..........

 

hoping in the future we continue to push forward in explaining to people the complexeties about what it is and how it is in being a depressed person. i strongly wish that people-oneday learn of the hardship we go through in fighting this medical battle, as we fight like heck before we know that we have it. so to those ill-informed, give depressed people a break. it may just happen to you.

 

-jamie.

 

  thx karen. jamie.

Jamiee, I find your post has excellent answers and reasoning in all aspects of

depression. I will refer to it often. I think that doctors are more knowledgeable now of the depressed person and they seem to be more willing to listen to their patients and try to understand. I think it is still a work in progress for them. I do however

think that younger doctors are more aware and I believe this is a condition learned in medical school so that the new doctor can recognize and treat patients. And of course those people in the mental health field seem to have plenty of experience in helping the depressed person and not just with meds but with therapy. I find the problem is with the rest of those people who know nothing of depression. They dismiss it as "all in your head," "you just have to snap out of it." This is the type of thinking that professionals need to get out, that to get over it is not going to help or relieve the problem. The mental health professionals need to convey to everyone that depression is a medical condition in any and all forms it takes. And if we can help educate the people we know about depression that would be a big step. I find with some people I know that they really can't comprehend this because they have not experienced depression. And this amazes me in a negative way because I have friends who have family members suffering greatly from depression and who are receiving treatment. But the member without the depression just won't even try to understand. They don't even want to be around a depressed person. But that is negative behavior on their part. I know when I am out with friends I never exhibit my feelings. I try to act as normal and happy as possible. Maybe thats not good either but sometimes it is the only way to spend time with this type of person. And trying to explain the condition to this type of person is like hitting a brick wall. And you are right when you say that those who don't understand may one day find themselves hit with depression and not even know what is wrong with themselves.  Thanks for giving us such helpful insight into this subject. I wanted to reply with some of the things I see going on too.

Best to you Jamiee, you are a God send to this forum and so strong.

Aurora

Dear Sweet Jamiee


Well said my dear friend. That's all I can say. You summed it up well.

Jamie,

How are you today my friend?

Hugs, Karen

hi jamie, that post is just wonderful. keep up the great work.

 

regard's

 

beverley

Hi Jamie
Great post. You pretty much described how I'm feeling. I've been separated from my boyfriend and while he promises that he will continue to stand by me, sometimes its seems as if he's hearing me but not listening. He even told me that it's easier to tell me what he thinks I want to hear instead of telling me the truth. He thinks that I'm just feeling sorry for myself and he doesn't get that all I really need is for him to be quiet and listen. It's tough enough that I beat myself up...I don't need his input too. I would love for there to be more resources readily available dedicated to the people who have loved ones battling depression to perhaps educate them on this illness and how to approach it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Jamie

- Fiona

Fiona,

It is hard for our boyfriends to understand sometimes. Men are the type of human that want to be able to fix things and when they can't, they get frustrated. Sorry guys. But let him know that this is something that only you can fix and that you love him very much for trying.

Keep up with counseling and going to the doctor. You will get there, and we are right here supporting you.

Hugs, Karen

thx HC. what is ECR? jamie. definately a pssibility for fibro and or CFS. KEEP WELL. jamie.

ahh, E.C.T, ABSOLUTELY LIFE SAVING. in short, some minor memory loss, for a bit, confusion for a bit, a sore melon for a bit. otherwise it brought me back from the brink. i had 6 treatments in 04. i had both polars of the brain done. ECT takes around 1.5 seconds, as a result you have a very minor seizure. (fingers and toes lightly flutter) just before treatment you are given a mild sedative and are out to it. the setting up is where the time elapse comes in. yes you will be foggy. a course of treatment is six, you may have less or more, and it maybe only be done on one polar. this is usually dependant upon the severity of your depression. ECT is usually the last bastian for resistant type depression, it is safe and very productive. if i can be of help please reply. all the best, with compassion, jamie.

an advocate of ECT.