yesterday i was talking to a friend of mine and she told me that 2 mutual friends of ours had tried to commit suicide in the past 6 months, i was flabbergasted! i went through my bout with depression about a year ago and not only am i over it; i think that i'm better because of it. there are so many celebrities coming out about their conditions within depression, people who seemingly have it going on are contemplating suicide and over medicating just to get through the day. maybe in this thread we can share some info on what we can do to help people with this illness, personally lexapro and prayer helped me out of the doldrums but are there any other solutions out there?
How did you cope with it, AB, if you don't mind me asking? My sister is currently going through this. It's really been causing a rift in the family because she doesn't really seem to want to fix the problem. Instead, she's determined to make everyone walk on eggshells around her and ruin nearly every family get together. My fiancee's to the point to where it'll take a lot to get her to spend another holiday with my side.
Mental related illnesses have to lose their stigma. We've had a zillion posts about peoples back problems or sports injuries. So far, you're the only one brave and open enough to acknowledge your struggles with depression. All the more commendable since you're one of the few full-monty posters -- and a public figure to boot!
i sought help from a professional, tried to locate the source of my anxiety and dealt with it through the aforementioned medication and praying. it's a really tough road and although she seems to be pushing you guys away, she is probably crying out for help. don't give up on her. let her know that she is not alone, and that the strong do indeed survive. cop2comic@aol.com
AB, I commend you as well. Thank you for sharing something so intimate. Rocketman95 and anyone else, my suggestion would be to not give up. I know it hurts and it's like you're living in a nightmare that you want to end, but you have to be patient and gentle. I would read up on it and see what you, as a brother, would do. Definitely find out the root of the problem. Is it weight? A past relationship? She's calling out! Even though it seems like she's pushing everyone away. She's seeing how far everyone will let her go without going overboard.
My stepfather has depression really bad then about 2 years ago he used this program http://www.stresscenter.com and it worked really well for him.. He still deals with it, but it seems lots better than it used to be..
I don't think it's an epidemic in that it's treatable, but certainly, many people suffer. I dated a girl who suffered from it. She didn't tell me until a year into the relationship. I couldn't tell the difference. But she was taking her drugs. seeing her specialist. All was good from my end. I don't really know on her end, but She seemed to be doing ok with it. Brook Shields has it now too.
RM95, is this the same sister who just had a baby? I hear that can be really difficult... I agree with the above posters who said depression needs to lose its stigma. It happens a lot more than you would think. We have medicine, counseling, therapies, whatever, and that's good, but I don't think it should be considered some weird disease that only "crazy" people get. Instead, it's part of the human condition and it seems like it happens to almost everybody sooner or later. Some struggle more than others. My three closest friends in high school all attempted suicide at some point. (They got through it, though one of them had a brother who struggled a lot more and eventually did kill himself. ) Seems like most of my friends here have either been diagnosed with depression (or bipolar) or seem to be exhibiting symptoms of it anyway. As for myself... I don't know. I don't fit any classical list of symptoms... when I'm down, usually I just need someone to cheer me up or distract me, and between their help and my own determination I'm off and running and I'll be OK for a while. It usually does tie in with circumstances; I don't get depressed for no reason. I do have an artistic/melancholy temperament and tend that way a little. I've never been on meds or anything. Though who knows... the way our society is going, maybe I should run down to the Prozac store and bring my friends while I'm at it. Maybe we could all use some. (just kidding... what a lot of us could use is mainly group therapy and to try to be understanding with and help each other... it's a good question. Where do normal fluctuations end and chemical imbalances begin?)
Thanks guys. We definitely haven't given up on her and immediate family understands that this has been going on for awhile and so we're able to take the bad with the good. However, when you're someone who's never been away from your family for major holidays, then has someone basically ruin the first two you do spend away, one can understand her apprehension at spending more time than need be with that person for awhile. She's been on medication and that seemed to work great. Not sure why she's not now. However, she's divorced and feels that she won't ever find anyone else. Unfortunately, she places way too much emphasis on that and we think that's one of the reasons she treats my fiancee the way she does...jealousy. Of course, she's in a craphole town (Tyler) and pours all her energy into her kids instead of using some of that energy into helping herself. There is a medical term for those who don't want to be happy (can't think of it right now) and we think she fits that bill. We just want her to get the professional help she needs. Isabel, It's not the same sister that just had the baby. Miraculously, she bounced back from losing her last child even though it still upsets her from time to time. We just remind her that Connor has double the personality.
Paxil really helped my sister. Before the drugs, she was irritable and depressed. Now, she's almost normal. Big thumbs up for Paxil over here.
I think it's become fashionable to be "depressed" and on mood meds in recent years, & the lines between serious "hardwired" depression & temporary situational depression have become blurred to the detriment of those with a real illness. I'm very depressed because my girlfriend is moving soon. More depressed than I've probably ever been. But, that's a far cry from the people who have longstanding, clinical depression. Something that consumes their entire lives... People who cannot function because their depression is so suffocating. I don't think I'm a Paxil candidate because of this, yet some would classify me as depressed because I'm all mopey now... Everyone gets bummed - or even into deep funks - about relationships, careers, crappy NBA referees, but I would hesitate to call them depressed.
There is a significant difference between clinical, chronic depression and occassional, recurrent anxiety or depression. Drugs can help people stabalize but they don't fix the problem. It's like having an injury and taking pain medication. Sure, it makes the pain go away, but it isn't healing the injury. I think we are too quick to brush aside depression as not serious or to take it to the other extreme and create an entire society of people with disorders. They actually have a disorder for PMS and medication as well. It's just the body's natural way of shifting itself at that time for women and we've turned it into a disease. It's a weird balance. People who get depressed are embarrassed to admit it, but when they do, they are often overmedicated. Strange.
We're a culture of strength and results. Mental illness isn't an excuse for manning up to the real world...
There is a different real world for the mentally ill and "manning up" is not the challenge, survival is.
You are a very Lucky man. I have suffered for more years than I care to remember. I have good days and bad ones. The bad ones are brutal. I deal with it. I wanted to start a thread like this many times over the years, but never went through with it. There are many different types of depression, seasonal (many people get depressed during the winter), post natal (women get depressed after giving birth), bipolar (used to be known as manic depressive), to name a few. Some treatments work on some people but not on others. Depression is an illness that ruins people's lives and affects everyone that cares for that person. AB is dead on about your sister RM95. The more she seems to be pushing everyone away, in actuality, she is crying out for help. The sad part is, you cannot help someone who won't let you help them. It does seem to be the "In Thing To Do" now is to say you suffered from deprssion. I am sure some people get treatment and do get better, but there are those that don't get better. They live with depression their entire lifetime.
I should include rolleyes. Anyways, not admitting to or realizing depression is more cultural than anything else.
Wow...thanks, AB, for bringing this up. I've never been through that personally, but I've known those who have. Helpful to understand this perspective. And of course I'm sooooo glad you're doing better!!!!
