Depression check-list

[ChamberNut]

Thanks everyone for your comments, thoughts and feedback here! 

I haven't felt this bad or "off" since 6 years ago.  That's when I went to get some therapy and was diagnosed with severe depression.  I have been taking meds ever since, but felt their effect was becoming less and less, and yet I felt OK for the most part, so I just gradually reduced the dosage until I could go completely off of them.  Well, I've been off of them for the last couple of weeks, and I just started to notice the last 3 or 4 days have been increasingly cloudly, and experience a lot of the same symptoms as 6 years ago.

I was supposed to have a doctor's appointment at the end of May, but I am bumping it up ASAP.  I would like to try a different medication, and see if it will be more effective than the one I was on before.

PS. - Synpyrr.  You made my day with your "take the pig nose off" comment!      LMAO!!  It will come off soon.  0:)

[ChamberNut]

Is anyone on this board mentally healthy or are all classical music fans off-center?

This makes me think of the lyrics in the song 'Asylum', by Supertramp.

Please don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum, I'm just as sa-a-a-ne as anyone.

[greg]

Speaking of medication, I know someone who was prescribed anti-psychotic medication. It was weird- he was out for two or three days, but this guy is the most chill, cool dude I know (although he does smoke in the morning and red eyes a lot  ). It was weird when he told me that today- really, the last person you'd expect to be prescribed anti-psychotic medication. 
But then again, I can think of a similar case- my dad's cousin (though not literally related) I remember being a really cool dude, but has schizophrenia....

[ChamberNut]

Speaking of medication, I know someone who was prescribed anti-psychotic medication. It was weird- he was out for two or three days, but this guy is the most chill, cool dude I know (although he does smoke in the morning and red eyes a lot  ). It was weird when he told me that today- really, the last person you'd expect to be prescribed anti-psychotic medication. 

Greg, just to clarify - there is a HUGE, HUGE different between depression and psychosis.  Not to mention medication.  Yes, I do have depression, a mental disorder, but I'm not psychotic.

I know you weren't saying I was, but I know a lot of people today still don't understand depression, and think it's a "made up" disorder.

Many people, still today, avoid getting treated for it because of the negative stigma attached to depression.  The workplace still has a VERY long way to go in this regard.

[greg]

Yeah, that's dumb, some people even think Autism is a made up disorder. 
That should change over time, hopefully, as it has been....
I was just wondering today, though, why the dude needed anti-psychotic medication (just the label itself sounds intense  ).... but yeah, you probably wouldn't know since that's something different.

[Bulldog]

Is this a serious question, Don? 

If it is, I take public transit to and from work.  It takes the same amount of time as driving, saves me a lot of stress from driving in downtown rush hour traffic, and I don't have to pay exorbitant downtown traffic fees.

Not really a serious question.  When I was a youngster, I had to often take the bus and hated it; the subway was a blast though.  Anyways, I was thinking that frequently riding a bus could well trigger for me a depression.

[Daverz]

Not really a serious question.  When I was a youngster, I had to often take the bus and hated it; the subway was a blast though.  Anyways, I was thinking that frequently riding a bus could well trigger for me a depression.

Trains are definitely more fun than buses.  But part of the drag of buses in most parts of the US is that, being very much a car culture, if you have to take the bus it's wrapped up with class and social status.  It's seen as transportation for the poor, disabled, old, and pre-driving age teenagers.  I don't mind taking the bus when I know I can drive if I really want to, and I do wish that there was a bus run for Sunday Symphony matinees, for example, as down town parking is a drag.

As for the original topic, can't say I've had all those symptoms at once.  Those sound like something more specific than "depression".

[snyprrr]

Would this be a good time to recommend some Pettersson?

You know, for a bunch of guys all into Shosty, Pettersson, Mahler, Hartmann, et al, none of us should be complaining about being depressed!!!

I'm sure our problem is that we're not buying enough cds! Take two Francaix and call me in the morning!

[Holden]

I went through a depressive phase 4 years ago which took me completely by surprise as I was (and am now) a sunny outgoing and positive person. The symptoms snuck up on me allowing me to justify them without addressing the real problem, my ego wouldn't allow it! The symptoms included:

bouts of unexplained anger, melancholy and severe self doubt which I found hard to predict.

A feeling of lassitude, immobility that I couldn't shake off

A need to get up earlier and earlier to try and get to work earlier to get things done

increasing my workload to justify the earlier hours

A wish to be alone and left alone

a gradual realisation that I was falling further into a negative frame of mind compounded by the fact that I had to present myself each day as a positive individual. I am a teacher.

This was  becoming a downward spiral when a minor miracle happened.

A girl in my pastoral care class who I had guided through the maze of similar symptoms and who had successfully passed through took me aside after class one day and rocked me to the core with

"Mr C, can I ask you something? Are you OK at the moment?" I pondered the statement and quietly asked why she'd asked it, did she think that I wasn't. This  16 year old took the bull by the horns and stated quite bluntly that she thought I was suffering from depression. The courage required to ask this of a much older person and the obvious concern she felt for me lead to me admitting that maybe I wasn't that good though I didn't go into details. I thought I had hidden this from everyone but she picked it up.

A visit to a good doctor confirmed that I had severe clinical depression and he offered me anti-depressive medication. I refused! Now that I'd 'fessed up to myself it was up to me to beat this my own way and I succeeded though it took me 18 months (but that's another story).

I now know where this girl came from. If you've been through it then spotting someone who is depressed is quite easy - I was an open book and so are most depressives to those who've suffered it themselves.

[Frumaster]

A wish to be alone and left alone

I have always taken issue with this one.  For some reason the modern world can't accept that some people WANT to be left alone, and that it is actually healthy for introverted personalities so that they can 'recharge'.  Some of the greatest figures in human history enjoyed prolonged periods of solitude to read, write, more fully develop their ideas, sulk, whatever.  I don't like others projecting pity on me out of fear that I'm depressed or something. 

[Diletante]

You know you are depressed if you are experiencing all of the following:

Zero sex drive

I'm definitely not depressed!  0:)

[Fëanor]

I have always taken issue with this one.  For some reason the modern world can't accept that some people WANT to be left alone, and that it is actually healthy for introverted personalities so that they can 'recharge'.  Some of the greatest figures in human history enjoyed prolonged periods of solitude to read, write, more fully develop their ideas, sulk, whatever.  I don't like others projecting pity on me out of fear that I'm depressed or something. 

Yes, it seems like the world is run by extroverts and that they establish the norms, at least as we see them in the media.

I've heard is said that extroverts are stressed without the continual stimulus of human interaction.  Introverts, on the other hand, are quickly stressed by continual interaction and need to get away from it frequently.  But they aren't necessarily unhappy, nor is unhappiness the cause of their introversion.

Also, it's invalid to believe introverts are typically misanthoropic.  They are often kind, generous, thoughtful, and they do need and want some regular human interaction to avoid adverse symptoms like depression.  It is equally invalid to believe all extroverts are philanthropic, invariably kind, thoughtful, supportive, etc.; on the contrary many are downright sociopathic -- it's just they like having people to abuse and exploit.

As for chambernut's symptom list, I feel the following on a regular basis:

Increase in tension
Cannot concentrate
Very itchy eyes, even though you have zero known allergies
Zero low sex drive
Severe increase in irritability
Each little noise completely distracts you and affects your focus
Cannot stand any many human beings
Fatigue

I've never been diagnosible, but I do pretty frequently experience moderate depression as well as non-specific anxiety.

[zamyrabyrd]

Interesting reading. I think that sensitive people have higher highs and lower lows. GABA, an amino acid, something I stumbled on via the internet, was actually a life saver during a particularly low period. This proves for me that body chemistry is at the core of emotional states.

Now if I can just figure out WHY the itchy, gritty feeling in and around the eyes and finally get rid of it. I have a suspicion though that filler from the umteen supplements, medications, vitamins in order to improve my mood have not yet been metabolized. So I am happy I can now stay off pills and hope all that residue gradually leaves my system.

ZB

[Undutchable]

Is anyone on this board mentally healthy or are all classical music fans off-center?

Listening to too much Mahler doesn't help
----------------
Listening to: Wagner, Richard - A3S1 Dritter Aufzug Wache, Wala! Wala! Erwach!

[Herman]

I hate to say it but it is essential, if you're prone to melancholia &c to get out on a daily basis and just have an hour of movement. Just doing some errands and having superficial but kind exchanges with people on your route can help. Also keep those curtains open and let the daylight in!

[ChamberNut]

I hate to say it but it is essential, if you're prone to melancholia &c to get out on a daily basis and just have an hour of movement. Just doing some errands and having superficial but kind exchanges with people on your route can help. Also keep those curtains open and let the daylight in!

Very good advice, Herman! 

Sunlight is very important.  Your body and mind needs that precious Vitamin D.

I usually walk the dogs, but I definitely could be more active. 

[Josquin des Prez]

Does anybody know if those sunlight lamps actually do anything? I live near Chicago and we usually get little sun through out much of the year. I wanted to see if those things helped but they are bloody expensive.

[ChamberNut]

Does anybody know if those sunlight lamps actually do anything? I live near Chicago and we usually get little sun through out much of the year. I wanted to see if those things helped but they are bloody expensive.

Yes, they do!  My wife had one and we used it every morning.  However, one of our cats broke it. 
Ours looked like a regular standard office florescent light.  I'm not sure myself how expensive they are, as my wife had it before we were together.  I'll ask her tonight what kind it was/price, etc.

[Herman]

Still I suspect the combination of moving out in the street or whatever and sunlight is much better than sitting before a lamp.

Apparently one reason old people get so slow and, well, senile, is because they tend to sit in a chair all day without any new and unexpected impressions hitting them. That what going out is good for.

[karlhenning]

I hate to say it but it is essential, if you're prone to melancholia &c to get out on a daily basis and just have an hour of movement. Just doing some errands and having superficial but kind exchanges with people on your route can help. Also keep those curtains open and let the daylight in!

Of course, that's good for anyone;  it's good, from time to time, to state outright what may seem obvious.

(Crossed.)

Still I suspect the combination of moving out in the street or whatever and sunlight is much better than sitting before a lamp.

Apparently one reason old people get so slow and, well, senile, is because they tend to sit in a chair all day without any new and unexpected impressions hitting them. That what going out is good for.

Yes, again.