Depression

[Paul]

I think a lack of stress in life can be a factor in some mental illness. We are programmed for stress, both mental and physical, and the two great modern illnesses of depression and obesity stem from the lack of stress in many modern lives.

 

It is possible to live a completely sedentary lifestyle in this country that the state will fund. Clearly that's not applicable to every case or even most cases, but I do think it's a factor for quite a lot of people.

[Kevin D]

Some sobering stuff on this thread. I'm no expert but I think a lot of it stems from the way we live our lives now. Much is often made of the fact South European countries have lower suicide rates than in Northern Europea and it's usually put down to the weather, the sun etc, but I've always thought it's more to do with lifestyle. They put family, friends and basic enjoyment of the simple pleasures in life like food and drink above status, money and career. My mate lives in a hugely poor part of Madrid, he told me once 'we had a big water fight yesterday, everyone in the whole estate'. "Why?" "They just do it now and again."

 

For the last few months I've been comuting to work down the motorway, up at six in th dark - suck in traffic for an hour, hour and a half , home at half six in th dark - too tired to do anything, friends don't go out for the same reason, then, if I'm lucky, some kind of weekend blowout, and for what? Not for enough money so I can buy a house or save enough to start a business, but just so I can survive and 'get by'. It dawned on me that (a) this is how most people probably live and (b) it's pretty shit.

 

Barrett estates everywhere that look like they were shat out by The Borg, beige colour schemes, NEXT furniture, big TVs with reality shite on them, his and hers Andy Sugden jackets, chain pubs, Facebook, not knowing your neighbours, not having time to play with your kids, being estranged from your extended family, not having the security of long term work or a pension, charity shops where fairgrounds used to be. That's why everyone's fucking depressed. We weren't meant to live the way we live now.

 

I see all this potential, and I see it squandered. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables – slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars, but we won't. We're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.

- Mohandis K. Gandhi

[Spy Bee]

I lead a life that most would kill for, earn far more than I need, love my job, sleep with beautiful women, see the world and generally have a great fucking life, but I'm afflicted, so your little theory is horseshit, try again Mr Unenlightend.

 

Yeah I suppose you think MS and AIDS are real afflictions too don't you?

[brucespanner]

Yeah I suppose you think MS and AIDS are real afflictions too don't you?

 

I know someone with MS, cruel condition, so I know that exists, but AIDS, fuck off, I'm not that gullible!

[Pony Princess]

I think a lot of the problem is that there are two types of depression, reactive and chemical (clinical).

 

Reactive depression is where you are depressed because of something like your partner or parent dying. Chemical is due to imbalances in serotonin and dopamine.

 

Some doctors have a tendency to dish out anti-depressants for reactive depression when it is not necessary. It is cheaper however than sending people to 'talk' therapy such as counselling.

 

If you have clinical depression then generally a mix of anti-depressants and more clinical 'talk' therapy such as CBT are required as no amount of 'pulling yourself together' is going to sort it out.

[Fink]

Seriously its dickheads with BMWs and private reg plates that cause depression. I am being 100% with that statement.

[Spy Bee]

Reactive depression is where you are depressed because of something like your partner or parent dying.

Fucking hell, if my ex partner had died I would have looked like I'd downed 30 e's. My brain would have been like an explosion in a serotonin factory.

 

Okay, I can see I am not really adding anything constructive to this thread. I'll leave you to it.

[brucespanner]

Seriously its dickheads with BMWs and private reg plates that cause depression. I am being 100% with that statement.

 

Go on, my curiosity gland has been piqued.......

[rEddie]

So' date=' in conclusion, modern life is rubbish?[/quote']

 

I think for me it is the conveyor belt, bleak daily routine of long commute, just get-by job and sense of pointlessness that Section outlines that resonates. I do think that the bland, routine of modern life can affect a lot of people. It's a tough cycle for many. Throw in a commute the starts in early morning darkness and ends in evening dusk in winter months and you have what many consider an average existence. This can take its toll especially if at each end of the day and at weekends there is no strong family unit to look forward to.

[Champ]

I think a lot of the problem is that there are two types of depression, reactive and chemical (clinical).

 

Reactive depression is where you are depressed because of something like your partner or parent dying. Chemical is due to imbalances in serotonin and dopamine.

 

Some doctors have a tendency to dish out anti-depressants for reactive depression when it is not necessary. It is cheaper however than sending people to 'talk' therapy such as counselling.

 

If you have clinical depression then generally a mix of anti-depressants and more clinical 'talk' therapy such as CBT are required as no amount of 'pulling yourself together' is going to sort it out.

 

Not quite right, 'clinical' depression is the existence of a collection of symptons that conform to the medical definition

 

'Clinical depression': What does that mean? - MayoClinic.com

 

that may develop from things in the patient/sufferer's (dont normally like that word but is fairly apt in this situation) life, like the death of a loved one as you describe, hence the description, 'reactive' definition

[Fink]

It's a generic swipe at aspirational society which rolls over people for the sake of money.

 

You can be a nice guy but the cunt in a BMW will always charge through the gap - why? Because he's a cunt.

 

There is nothing you can do about it except internalise the battle and wish someone would through ammonia in their faces.

 

...ok...just me then.

 

BMWs, private reg plates, Callaways in the boot, shagging behind his wifes back, fucking idiot dolly who drives a 4x4, corporate tickets for events they have no interest in. Ridiculous haircuts on 40 year old fat men who have never read a book in their life. Men without soul. This is not an individual, I know too many people like this.

 

The desire for aspiration and showing off for the sake of showing off.

 

...and facebook.

[brucespanner]

It's a generic swipe at aspirational society which rolls over people for the sake of money.

 

You can be a nice guy but the cunt in a BMW will always charge through the gap - why? Because he's a cunt.

 

There is nothing you can do about it except internalise the battle and wish someone would through ammonia in their faces.

 

...ok...just me then.

 

BMWs, private reg plates, Callaways in the boot, shagging behind his wifes back, fucking idiot dolly who drives a 4x4, corporate tickets for events they have no interest in. Ridiculous haircuts on 40 year old fat men who have never read a book in their life. Men without soul. This is not an individual, I know too many people like this.

 

The desire for aspiration and showing off for the sake of showing off.

 

...and facebook.

 

Jealousy is a cunt, can lead to depression you know, you should be careful!

 

Anyway..

 

[VladimirIlyich]

I think a lot of the problem is that there are two types of depression, reactive and chemical (clinical).

 

Reactive depression is where you are depressed because of something like your partner or parent dying. Chemical is due to imbalances in serotonin and dopamine.

 

Some doctors have a tendency to dish out anti-depressants for reactive depression when it is not necessary. It is cheaper however than sending people to 'talk' therapy such as counselling.

 

If you have clinical depression then generally a mix of anti-depressants and more clinical 'talk' therapy such as CBT are required as no amount of 'pulling yourself together' is going to sort it out.

 

Good post but I'd imagine that some of those 'reactive' cases are the ones that turn into chronic 'clinical' depression.

The lack of Doctors using Counsellors ahead of High dose SRI and SNRI's is staggering.

[Pony Princess]

I think a lack of stress in life can be a factor in some mental illness. We are programmed for stress, both mental and physical, and the two great modern illnesses of depression and obesity stem from the lack of stress in many modern lives.

 

Yup, this. In psychiatry, positive stress is called eustress and some people can truly thrive on it and become depressed without it. Think high-level salespeople, financial traders, bomb disposal experts, soldiers etc.

 

I know that when depressed (reactively) the temptation is to sit on ones arse moping, but a lot of the time exercise and socialising will lift a huge amount of gloom.

[Section_31]

While I actually agree with your comparison between how those in the med live and how we live, I don't agree with your summary. Blokes used to work down mines on long shifts and then go home to their 1 up 1 down overcrowded house (via the pub) and knock shit out of their missus. That was their lot, then they got to 55 and developed asbestosis, emphysema or cancer.

 

But yeah, give me the continental life style all day long!

 

I think that scenario (minus the knocking shit out of the mrs, for most anyway) is accurate and would be hellish for many, but, I think what difffered then to now is the breakdown of community and family. I think it'd be hard to argue against the fact that both have deteriorated massively, especially among poorer areas, and when I say 'we weren't meant to live like this' I mean that human beings are social animals, what we're slowly becoming or have become, is battery hens. I'd be interested to know on here how many people know or mix with people on their street, how many can rely upon their neighbours to help them if they need it, how many have a relationship with their extended family, how many socialise on a 'school night', or indeed, do anything other than rest and worry about work on a 'school night'.

 

Virtually any other culture you come across these days embraces the concept of friends and family more than we do.

[Ian Sea]

I like not knowing my neighbours and I'm not depressed. There's a link there I reckon.

[Champ]

Good post but I'd imagine that some of those 'reactive' cases are the ones that turn into chronic 'clinical' depression.

The lack of Doctors using Counsellors ahead of High dose SRI and SNRI's is staggering.

CL makes some valid points about the drug v talking therapies arguments but the definitions are incorrect.

 

In your following post, CL, you state

 

'I know that when depressed (reactively) the temptation is to sit on ones arse moping, but a lot of the time exercise and socialising will lift a huge amount of gloom.'

 

I am guessing that you have not had depression before because in my case, which is fairly mild, it has not been about 'the temptation' to sit on my arse but the almost total ability to do anything else and while having made that statement, strangely enough, the one thing I was able to do was to keep up was my cycling. I have always loved the buzz from aerobic exercise but have been very interested to find that that buzz is only very short lived after stopping.

 

Socialising has also been extremely difficult; losing the desire to see people or go out generally and when I did force myself to go out did find the whole experience extremely stressful. And that in part explains why I have spent so much time on here of late, because I havent been going out and chatting to people anonymously has distracted me from my racing thoughts or torpor at different times

[Spy Bee]

I think that scenario (minus the knocking shit out of the mrs, for most anyway) is accurate and would be hellish for many, but, I think what difffered then to now is the breakdown of community and family. I think it'd be hard to argue against the fact that both have deteriorated massively, especially among poorer areas, and when I say 'we weren't meant to live like this' I mean that human beings are social animals, what we're slowly becoming or have become, is battery hens. I'd be interested to know on here how many people know or mix with people on their street, how many can rely upon their neighbours to help them if they need it, how many have a relationship with their extended family, how many socialise on a 'school night', or indeed, do anything other than rest and worry about work on a 'school night'.

 

Virtually any other culture you come across these days embraces the concept of friends and family more than we do.

 

I agree to a large extent. 'Get on your bike and find work' was a massive turning point in our society, and definitely not one for the better. I suppose I am sheltered from a lot of this because I live in a small village where my mum and sister also live and I work with my dad. I drink in a local pub and socialise with a lot of people who live on my street. Having said that, when I lived in Manchester I did much the same in terms of socialising and getting to know people. I'm by no means wealthy, but I can afford to get out and socialise too.

 

I still maintain that a lot of people didn't have it great in previous generations. Many things have improved as well as some faltering and worsening. I do take on board what you've said about communities not being what they were, it's hard to argue with that really.

[Spy Bee]

Depression doesn't exist, it's just one of these made up medical explanations for why people feel sad. They normally feel sad because their life isn't everything they want it to be. I'd suggest the best way to get rid of 'depression' is to get your life a lot closer to the way that you would like it to be.

 

I think they should have an acronym for depression. They do for most other made up illnesses, like SAD, ADHD, ME, MS and AIDS.

 

LFD just negged me for this, but that's okay, because he doesn't exist.

[melons]

To be honest Sherry I have no issue talking openly about the depression I suffer(ed). In fact I'm happy to do so, especially if it helps someone in any small way. It's more the other issue of how it manifested itself or rather how I used to try and come to terms with it. I'm not really clear on which way round it was, but they I suppose it doesn't matter as that response doesn't play a part in my life anymore.

 

That's the crux of it though, everyone is happy to talk about depression, when it comes to talking about how it developed and manifested itself it puts you out of your comfort zone. I posted quite frankly, but bugger me, i left shit loads out because i'm still uncomfortable in telling people for fear of their reactions.

 

Some sobering stuff on this thread. I'm no expert but I think a lot of it stems from the way we live our lives now. Much is often made of the fact South European countries have lower suicide rates than in Northern Europea and it's usually put down to the weather, the sun etc, but I've always thought it's more to do with lifestyle. They put family, friends and basic enjoyment of the simple pleasures in life like food and drink above status, money and career. My mate lives in a hugely poor part of Madrid, he told me once 'we had a big water fight yesterday, everyone in the whole estate'. "Why?" "They just do it now and again."

 

For the last few months I've been comuting to work down the motorway, up at six in th dark - suck in traffic for an hour, hour and a half , home at half six in th dark - too tired to do anything, friends don't go out for the same reason, then, if I'm lucky, some kind of weekend blowout, and for what? Not for enough money so I can buy a house or save enough to start a business, but just so I can survive and 'get by'. It dawned on me that (a) this is how most people probably live and (b) it's pretty shit.

 

Barrett estates everywhere that look like they were shat out by The Borg, beige colour schemes, NEXT furniture, big TVs with reality shite on them, his and hers Andy Sugden jackets, chain pubs, Facebook, not knowing your neighbours, not having time to play with your kids, being estranged from your extended family, not having the security of long term work or a pension, charity shops where fairgrounds used to be. That's why everyone's fucking depressed. We weren't meant to live the way we live now.

 

I don't think that's depression, thats a dissatisfaction in life, which in turn adding in other factors and life events can lead to depression.

 

Depression doesn't exist, it's just one of these made up medical explanations for why people feel sad. They normally feel sad because their life isn't everything they want it to be. I'd suggest the best way to get rid of 'depression' is to get your life a lot closer to the way that you would like it to be.

 

I think they should have an acronym for depression. They do for most other made up illnesses, like SAD, ADHD, ME, MS and AIDS.

 

Bastard, i almost bit.

 

 

I think a lot of the problem is that there are two types of depression, reactive and chemical (clinical).

 

Reactive depression is where you are depressed because of something like your partner or parent dying. Chemical is due to imbalances in serotonin and dopamine.

 

Some doctors have a tendency to dish out anti-depressants for reactive depression when it is not necessary. It is cheaper however than sending people to 'talk' therapy such as counselling.

 

If you have clinical depression then generally a mix of anti-depressants and more clinical 'talk' therapy such as CBT are required as no amount of 'pulling yourself together' is going to sort it out.

 

It's far more complex than that, there are so many mental illnesses out there, people just umbrella them into depression, because people can understand that word.

 

Chemical depression as you're describing - the imbalance in either extreme is linked to both Parkinsons and Schizophrenia. So wouldn't someone be able to argue that the depression is a mild form of either? But we label depression.

 

Reactive, the body has an ability to deal with certain life stressers, it takes time for the system to recover before it can deal with another life stresser. Life doesn't appreciate this and we can be thrown with a few in a year or two.

Discovery Health "Think Your Life Is Stressful? See if You're Right"

 

The body with too much stress goes through a general adaption syndrome, and then you're a bit fucked.

 

Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome, classic stages of chronic stress

 

Doctors can't always wait for talking therapies, it's not so much down to cost as it is to waiting times - can this person cope for another 4 months before s/he sees the surgery counselor?

 

Good post but I'd imagine that some of those 'reactive' cases are the ones that turn into chronic 'clinical' depression.

The lack of Doctors using Counsellors ahead of High dose SRI and SNRI's is staggering.

 

It's not through choice on the most part. Depressed people can almost be a ticking bomb, if a doctor fucks it up and doesn't prescribe and that person harms themself questions are asked.

 

When i was ill the health visitor was desperately trying to get the CPN to take me on, she knew i was too far gone but the lack of specialist care for PNI meant no-one else was able too.

[Guest LFD]

LFD just negged me for this, but that's okay, because he doesn't exist.

 

What do you expect when you say depression doesn't exist.

 

You could be fishing, you could be serious, you could be trying to be funny.

 

I don't know or care, it is inappropriate!

[Spy Bee]

Oh me, oh my!

[Spy Bee]

I've been negged again by somebody else. Did you really think I was serious?

[Spy Bee]

If I carry on getting negged, I might get depressed.

[VladimirIlyich]

SA,are you trying to take over from your friend SL?