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Yes, it can be, and that is something I know all too well, especially when trying to talk them out of self-harm.

verilon wrote:Depressed: NOT FUN. You know you're depressed when you are sad moreso than normal, you are suicidal and/or have urges to self-mutilate, etc. etc.. Right now is a full-swing depressive episode for me.

Nice. With all due respect, that's fucked up. I respect your ability to keep going.
I've luckily never had the urge to kill or hurt myself. I am also only sad when I have a reason to be sad, which isn't very often.
Usually when something sad happens, I get a brief feeling that's similar to when I'm stressed because I've got a lot of stuff going on, and then I rationalize what happened.
When I was younger, I used to cry all the time...whenever school or whatever would get really heavy, I'd go to my parents and talk to them about whatever was going on, and I'd cry. They'd talk to me about what was going on, and I'd feel better about it.
Now, I've simply developed an inner monologue to replace my parents, so I can feel better about what gets me down without having to express myself. Not that there's anything wrong with expressing yourself.

Sometimes it is a much better thing to express yourself. Furthermore, I don't cry much anymore.

Well I tend to get depressed during the New Moon/Winter and Manic during the Full Moon & Summer. Also due to some really nasty early childhood shit there are some crimes that I just get really violent reaction if I witness.

To make a long story short, I once witnessed an attempted Rape, during the Springtime, on the Week of a full moon. I left very deep bruisies in the guy's neck, and broke his knee cap. The College "Strongly" asked me (I would have been kicked out if I didn't) to see a psychiatrist for anger management & treatment. After 10 minutes he decieded that I was not a 5150, after two hours he told me I was coping just fine.

Do you find that depression is generally related to stress?
Also, what do you do when you're depressed? Zaia mentioned that you lose interest in things you used to like...is there one thing that you don't lose interest in, and you do that when you're depressed?

That is, if you don't mind talking about it. I wouldn't want to be opening any wounds. I'm just curious because I hear people say they're depressed all the time, but I have little idea of what that entails.

It can be related to stress, but is not always. Sometimes it is onset simply by a word. Sometimes it just happens. When I am brooding, mostly. But like I said, bipolar, so anything can happen.

Robert Treder wrote:Do you find that depression is generally related to stress?
Also, what do you do when you're depressed? Zaia mentioned that you lose interest in things you used to like...is there one thing that you don't lose interest in, and you do that when you're depressed?

That is, if you don't mind talking about it. I wouldn't want to be opening any wounds. I'm just curious because I hear people say they're depressed all the time, but I have little idea of what that entails.

Yes, there is a pretty big correlation between stress and depression. Stress can really knock the sh*t out your serotonin levels. People who are depressed sometimes also shows sign of increased ache, tiredness, irritability, etc etc.

If you were never depressed before, that is a GOOD thing.

Robert Treder wrote:Also, what do you do when you're depressed? Zaia mentioned that you lose interest in things you used to like...is there one thing that you don't lose interest in, and you do that when you're depressed?

Depends on the person. Some people find one thing to cling to and turn it into an obsession, making every waking moment somehow involve that one activity. Sometimes they can turn that one thing into a way to release their turbulent emotions; other times, the activity becomes a destructive need which ends up causing more problems than the depression itself.

Other people go through the motions of regular life and feel like they're in some kind of haze, never letting on to others around them that all the flavour of life has drained away for them. They still do what they've always done, but they sort of become an echo of who they used to be. Depends on who you are, how you deal with things, what's causing you to be depressed, and (for some), whether you want to get out of it or not. Not everyone does.

Robert Treder wrote:In fact, I've always been sort of curious about depression. I know a lot of people complain about being depressed, and I'm sure a lot of it is hypochondria, though much of it must be legitimate.

Although there is a great difference between 'feeling down' and clinical depression, I suffer from chronic clinical depression (having been diagnosed as such on several different occaisions), and I assure you, it is legitimate.

Depression is a result of an imbalance in one's neuro-chemistry, specifically serotonin levels in the synapses between nerve endings in the brain. Imbalances in dopamine and norepinephrine levels can also create 'depressive' brain chemistry. For more info, see this article.

Robert Treder wrote:What's it like to be depressed? How do you know you're depressed?

These are from a depression checklist:

1. Sadness: Have you been feeling sad or down in the dumps?
2. Discouragement: Does the future look hopeless?
3. Low self-esteem: Do you feel worthless or think of yourself as a failure?
4. Inferiority: Do you feel inadequate or inferior to others?
5. Guilt: Do you get self-critical and blame yourself for everything?
6. Indecisiveness: Do you have trouble making up your mind about things?
7. Irritability and frustration: Have you been feeling resentful and angry a good deal of the time?
8. Loss of interest in life: Have you lost interest in your career, your hobbies, your family, or your friends?
9. Loss of motivation: Do you feel overwhelmed and have to push yourself hard to do things?
10. Poor self-image: Do you think you're looking old or unattractive?
11. Appetite changes: Have you lost your appetite? Or do you overeat or binge compulsively?
12. Sleep changes: Do you suffer from insomnia and find it hard to get a good night's sleep? Or are you excessively tired and sleeping too much?
13. Loss of libido: Have you lost your interest in sex?
14. Hypochondriasis: Do you worry a great deal about your health?
15. Suicidal impulses: Do you have thoughts that life is not worth living or think that you might be better off dead?

In a deep depressive state, I would answer "yes" or "strongly agree" with most of those questions.

I would give a more personal response, but it is late, and I am rather sleepy. More later is this thread is still going tomorrow...

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for being open, you guys.

Robert Treder wrote:Fascinating stuff. Thanks for being open, you guys.

Anytime. Although.. right now, the depression I'm having is not suitable for board picking yet.

Zaia wrote:

verilon wrote:Depressed: NOT FUN. You know you're depressed when you are sad moreso than normal, you are suicidal and/or have urges to self-mutilate, etc. etc.. Right now is a full-swing depressive episode for me.

You also tend to lose interest in things you used to enjoy doing, you tend to see many situations as hopeless even when there's a clear answer staring you in the face, you feel like no one can possibly help you or understand how you feel, and you're afraid to try to change things because you're scared...

It's a very helpless feeling, and even more so for anyone trying to help you out of your depression. That's worse than actually being depressed; being the one to try to help someone out of depression.

I've managed to bring out a lot of person from these depths...
It takes a lot of time and patience.

But nothing can beat the feeling if you see your friend laugh again!!!

Ps: Don't worry Zaia, people like us are badly needed for this screwed up world!
If you feel it's abit much for you, take a couple days off and travel to somewhere.

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..........sigh

Extrem empathpic abilty some days I look at a person and I can feel what they are feeling then this the lingering hate that I have had to deal with for a long time of my life some times I can be very cold hearted as I try to shut out my empathic sences that also cuase me some major depresstion, feeling that there is no hope for the human race but I still keep trying to keep a stiff upper lip, so now you know a bit about why I am the way I am.

verilon wrote:

Robert Treder wrote:Fascinating stuff. Thanks for being open, you guys.

Anytime. Although.. right now, the depression I'm having is not suitable for board picking yet.

Seem to be a lot of depressed folks around. I've not been depressed since my early 20's, and even then I was only a little depressed for short periods of time. I can't guess why so many are depressed. Perhaps my eternal focus is what helps me keep an even keel. For example, by my beliefs I own nothing -- God owns it all -- I'm just a steward. So if I lose everything I own, then since it was never mine to begin with, there is no sense of loss. I look at those I love the same way -- they too belong to God, and His timetable is not necessarily in sync with mine...

Boba Fett wrote:I've managed to bring out a lot of person from these depths...
It takes a lot of time and patience.

I've done the same for many people; the worst was a few years ago when two of my best friend and my brother were all going through it and I was their one person that they turned to. It's incredible how much it drains you.

But nothing can beat the feeling if you see your friend laugh again!!!

True.

Ps: Don't worry Zaia, people like us are badly needed for this screwed up world!
If you feel it's abit much for you, take a couple days off and travel to somewhere.

*hugs Boba Fett* Aren't you a sweetheart. Thanks, it's good to hear that you're needed and appreciated. You certainly don't get that from people when they're wallowing in their own misery. Thank you.

Zaia wrote:...Thanks, it's good to hear that you're needed and appreciated. You certainly don't get that from people when they're wallowing in their own misery. Thank you.

See #8 in my post above.

Drewcifer wrote:

Zaia wrote:...Thanks, it's good to hear that you're needed and appreciated. You certainly don't get that from people when they're wallowing in their own misery. Thank you.

See #8 in my post above.

....Right. I understand why that is. Doesn't mean it makes it any easier to put your entire life on hold to make sure those friends/family affected by depression don't kill themselves and you only get the life sucked out of you in return. Obviously I don't help because I'm looking for recognition or a reward of some kind; I'm just trying to keep them alive. I still like to hear I'm needed. Sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

It's just nice to have someone who understands how hard it is and says that people like us are needed in the world.

Zaia wrote:...they sort of become an echo of who they used to be...

That is a great line. I just had to say that.

Mark S wrote:

Zaia wrote:...they sort of become an echo of who they used to be...

That is a great line. I just had to say that.

I, as I've no doubt a few other here too, know the truth of it all too well.

Zaia wrote:

Drewcifer wrote:

Zaia wrote:...Thanks, it's good to hear that you're needed and appreciated. You certainly don't get that from people when they're wallowing in their own misery. Thank you.

See #8 in my post above.

....Right. I understand why that is. Doesn't mean it makes it any easier to put your entire life on hold to make sure those friends/family affected by depression don't kill themselves and you only get the life sucked out of you in return. Obviously I don't help because I'm looking for recognition or a reward of some kind; I'm just trying to keep them alive. I still like to hear I'm needed. Sometimes it doesn't feel that way.

It's just nice to have someone who understands how hard it is and says that people like us are needed in the world.

I misunderstood you and I apologize.

And yes, people like you are needed and greatly appreciated in the world. Without the support of my close friends and family, I would most likely be dead by my own hands by now.

I don't get depressed or down for that matter, I get pissed, and kick stuff.

Mark S wrote:

Zaia wrote:...they sort of become an echo of who they used to be...

That is a great line. I just had to say that.

Thank you.