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jacker77
Stranger
Registered: 09/05/05
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Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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depression
#5856527 - 07/13/06 11:44 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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I come from a family that has depression throughout. Ive come to the conclusion that I am depressed. Ive been looking at the world and people in a negitive perspective and I also have mood swings everyday. I dont try to isolate myself from the world but I have a hard time thinking positive and I have axieity towards mostly social situations which really sucks but I'm not the kind of person that will let myself do that. I'm not sure what I should really do. Is getting on antidepressants the way to go?
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Neon
Stranger

Registered: 01/04/05
Posts: 497
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Re: depression [Re: jacker77]
#5856948 - 07/14/06 03:31 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Anti-depressants should really be a last resort, they have serious side effects. Exercise, a healthy diet, meditation, herbal supplements, all these things help. Try to set goals for yourself and find balance in your life. Wake up at the same time every day, eat at the same times every day, etc.
Attack the depression from many angles simultaneously, trying one thing at a time isn't nearly as effective. Read through other people's posts about depression and anxiety in this forum, there are many words of wisdom here. I would suggest holding off on the anti-depressants for now.
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swiftrance
Let there be light

Registered: 03/20/05
Posts: 449
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Re: depression [Re: Neon]
#5857081 - 07/14/06 05:52 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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well said Neon. But i'd like to throw in that for many there are little to no side effects to using antidepressants, and another thing that you'd be suprised how many people use them.
All in all, if you feel like your depression is beginning to truly have a negative effect on your current situation ie: failing out of college, gonna lose your job etc. then u may want to give the pills a shot. if you dont have insurance, they'll run you about $90/month.
Antidepressants are a temporary solution to help you begin to develop good habits again.
I took lexapro 20mg daily for 3months, then stopped for 2mo. and relapsed. now I've decided to take them until I'm out of college. A big thing that's helped me is my mom who has been through all of this before. These episodes can last over a year. You should see how your other family members have dealth with it, see what works and what doesnt.
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Neon
Stranger

Registered: 01/04/05
Posts: 497
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You're right, some people experience little to no side effects. Though rare, some people experience serious side effects for years after quitting the drug, sometimes after taking them for as little as a week. I suppose the main thing that worries me about these drugs are the side effects that aren't readily apparent.
Antidepressants are a risk, like most drugs, but like you say if somebody was going to lose their job, the ADs may be worth trying. I hadn't really thought about that situation. Supposedly the newer ADs are a little more friendly, so it's not quite the gamble it was five or ten years ago.
I was on zoloft for a couple years, it worked ok but I experienced moderate side effects. Since then I've found a couple natural supplements that work better with no side effects, for me personally anyway. Unfortunately the western medical community/industry seems more interested in creating and distributing iffy pills so that's what most people end up with when they go to a doctor for help.
Edited by Neon (07/14/06 08:00 AM)
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bobjones
...


Registered: 10/12/05
Posts: 999
Loc: Tx
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Re: depression [Re: jacker77]
#5857587 - 07/14/06 10:41 AM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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I can't say anything in regards to pills, but I've found that it's incredibly rewarding to work through anxiety / depression. I started with meditation, and through that, and few mushroom trips, I've pretty much relinquished my attachment to those emotions. For me, anxiety was a choice. And now that I have chosen not to slip back into that mind frame life has become quite enjoyable.
-------------------- "Outside of a dog a book is a man's friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read" -Groucho Marx
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MushmanTheManic
Stranger

Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 4,587
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Re: depression [Re: jacker77]
#5859087 - 07/14/06 06:52 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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If you're a person who enjoys reading, I suggest picking up a book by the psychologist Albert Ellis.
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Veritas

Registered: 04/15/05
Posts: 11,089
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"Guide to Rational Living" is his best, but I also recommend "How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable."
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The_Hobbit
Bilbo Baggins


Registered: 04/06/04
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Loc: The Shire
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Re: depression [Re: Veritas]
#5862147 - 07/15/06 03:23 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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Anti-depressants are not the answer, in my opinion.
You know what you want and need, so go for it. Try your best and keep looking forward (figuratively speaking). If you give your all, you will get alot back.
One thing that has been helping me recently is to go swimming in the ocean. I just mess around and have fun.. play in the water doing whatever I feel like. The whole thing is.. I take it easy. I use that as a time to gain focus as well as well as strength (physically and mentally). Yesterday I was in the water for almost 2 hours and it helped me more than I can describe to you. I think it's important to have those times of contemplation as often as possible because they help to get your priorities in check.
It's hard for anyone to think positive. Just remember that it's also easy! =) Being a good person is the right way to go, bro. Don't question that. That is the only option you have. Anything else is giving up. You just have to go!
-------------------- Smoking my hobbit leaf... Please keep in mind that I am just a human being. Please read my posts carefully and interpret their meaning for yourself.
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freddurgan
Techgnostic


Registered: 01/11/04
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Last seen: 11 years, 8 months
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I don't know about you guys but I'm trying anti-depressants right now. I've been going through depression for a while now as it also runs in my family. My dad and two of his brothers, and me. It's too early to tell if they are working but I'm going to give them a shot. I don't see a need to shun them. Sure it's technology and people didn't have them a long time ago, but they didn't have morphine or MRIs either. Is that a reason to not use those?
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browndustin
dustybuddy

Registered: 10/03/03
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Re: depression [Re: jacker77]
#5863203 - 07/15/06 09:52 PM (17 years, 6 months ago) |
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You can't supplement drugs for a quick fix. There is no quick fix, it's all you, man! 
Seriously, like everyone said you should get your diet in check, get some physical activities and just let yourself enjoy the small things in life. Don't force it. I don't know how or why this happened, but I had a HUUUUUGE epiphany at 18/19. Things just clicked, I stopped taking my antidepressants and I felt a hell of a lot better. I even tripped a few times and gained lots more insight. Life is definitely beautiful and you should appreciate things a lot more. You can't know happiness unless you've been dragged through the trenches.
Yeah, everyone in my family has a history of depression too. My dad, getting himself into deeper and deeper shit just met a girl who's ex killed himself (over some drama involving all of them), just cried his eyes out to me quite recently and I had to console him. Made me feel weird... I went through that shit too, I'm past it now. It's amazing. I wish I could help everyone get past it, but it's all up to you. It's ultimately upon you to start enjoying life, appreciating what you do have and not giving up on yourself. You're giving up on others as well. I hope you can find the strength to stand up and not let depression own your life.
The big question is why feel shitty when you can feel excellent? I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to feel positive when it's possible and exploit my opportunities. Ain't no reason to feel shitty
-------------------- When the stress burns my brain it's like acid raindrops maryjane is the only thing that makes the pain stop
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Jackattack
Stranger

Registered: 01/16/06
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"The big question is why feel shitty when you can feel excellent? I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to feel positive when it's possible and exploit my opportunities. Ain't no reason to feel shitty"
I wish it was all a matter of thought but the truth of the matter is that it is not. It is a problem with the chemical composition of your brain. I have been suffering from depression/anxiety for about 5 years now. I have tried all kinds of meds to try to fix it and found them all to be useless. I would recommend anti-depressants if they worked but they don't so I advise you to avoid to save yourself some money and time. The best thing swim has tried for depression would be marijuana.
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The_Hobbit
Bilbo Baggins


Registered: 04/06/04
Posts: 1,382
Loc: The Shire
Last seen: 16 years, 10 months
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Quote:
Jackattack said:I wish it was all a matter of thought but the truth of the matter is that it is not. It is a problem with the chemical composition of your brain.
Thoughts effect the chemical composition of your brain.
There have been lots of sports studies that showed the benefits of visualization in specific activities. It showed that the people who visualized doing something for a week improved more than those who actually did something for a week.
Thoughts can effect every bodily function. They effect the environment around you. It's all connected.
-------------------- Smoking my hobbit leaf... Please keep in mind that I am just a human being. Please read my posts carefully and interpret their meaning for yourself.
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mojika
Jonium


Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 87
Loc: the dark side of the moon
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
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I was severely depressed when i was a teen... at 16 i first ate LSD and my whole perspective changed. I saw how i could see things in a different light... i begun the path to change those things and it took years but i made it. That said it could also make things worse and i wouldnt want to suggest it...
I have just finished my thesis on vitamin supplements and their relation with mood, quality of life, stress etc. I found that normal people (with no mood disorder) were better off on all these scales after 8 weeks of multivitamin supplements. In clinical studies (that is, of people with disorder) supplements have produced great results, and often have helped when other methods such as drugs and therapy have failed. I would recomend a multi as being healthy helps... also do some reading about fatty acids and magnesium - they can really be of help.
-------------------- Three words ...sex acid & psytrance...
amen
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: depression [Re: jacker77]
#5918479 - 07/31/06 12:49 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Go out into nature. Get away from people and society for awhile. Take some psychedelics while your out there.
One of the best things I ever did was to wander away into the desert for most of a summer. You will never be the same.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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michael_lifshitz
Student


Registered: 12/27/05
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Loc: here
Last seen: 16 years, 24 days
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How did you survive Icelander?
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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I have had desert survival training (which you don't need) I am a long term backpacker. I took a 22 rifle. I wanted to be there.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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trunksan
PsyChicken


Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 291
Loc: UK, Hellas
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Quote:
michael_lifshitz said: How did you survive Icelander?
Wow!!! There are deserts in Iceland??
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: depression [Re: trunksan]
#5922787 - 08/01/06 06:45 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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On my planet.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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some1whoisntme
Stranger

Registered: 09/21/05
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It's been said many times but I'll say it again. Antidepressants should be a last resort. I was prescribed lexapro for depression, took it for 6 months, 20 mg daily, tapered down to 2.5mg daily and stopped, and felt withdrawal symptoms for 4 months. The first month was hell. I drank way too much to ease the withdrawal which probably made things worse, but shit, I still don't know if I'm back to normal. For some people they work great but for some they fuck up your head. You never know who you are though, so yeah, last resort IMO
-------------------- "Ignore the distortion you're forced to percieve and believe that what supercedes is love, but who agrees?"
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