Posted by IsoM on January 15, 2002, at 13:48:08
In reply to How does this happen? It sneaks up!, posted by cmcdougall on January 15, 2002, at 10:31:28
This is why I think depression has been around all the time thoughout history. We just have the luxury to call it what it really is now.
On my ex-husband's side, I found an old, old photo that was the spitting image of my ex. Everyone who saw it was blown away with the *exact* resemblance. That man died in an insane ayslum. The story was after his house burned down & he lost some family, he went insane & was locked away.
My Mom says as a child, she remembers her mother sitting in a dark corner with her head in her hands for hours at a time. My father had "something". Never could put a name to it, but he was very strange & at times, very depressed. Tried to commit suicide once. Another time, when no one was home, he tried to burn down the house that he built from scratch with his own hands. I have a strange brother who's terrified of letting people know what's inside him. He seems to be a pathological liar. If you say it's white, he'll say it's black. Time & again, he can be caught in his lies. Why? It confounds us.
A mother-in-law who had strong Asperger traits (she's passed on), a brother- and sister-in-law with depression, three sons with depression, the list could go on & on.
Sometimes I think we're unconsciously drawn to marry others similar to us with problems, accentuating it for the next generations.
> There is a history of depression and bi-polar in my family going back several generations. I know because I started asking the "old folks" at a recent family reunion. They just didn't call it mental illness. They called is eccentricity, laziness, irresponsibility, or insanity. I was amazed at the stories I heard about my great-grandmother, great-uncle, etc. My mother and brother also both have depression.
>
> My depression sneaks up on me and I don't realize it until I truly crash. This most recent crash started last year when DH sued his ex-wife over visitation issues having to do w/ his children. I became obsessed w/ family law and father's rights issues. I slowly quit taking care of my business, paying bills, etc. I hid all this from my husband because I didn't want him to think I was lazy (or whatever). For some reason, the idea that my AD (EffexorXr 150mg/2xday) was pooping out never entered my head. The fact that I tried to hide all the symptoms kept friends and family from noticing anything until it was too late. I recall my DH and friends questioning if I felt OK, and I kept assuring them I was fine.
>
> The downhill slide progressed until I was:
>
> * going to bed at 7:30 each night
> * waking up at 3AM only to fall back asleep at 4:30AM and sleep till 10AM
> * napping several hours each day
> * staying home from work
> * not bathing, getting dressed or putting on makeup
> * eating all day
> * not answering the phone
> * not paying ANY bills or filing important state and federal reports
> * not doing any household tasks
> * ending up in psych ward after suicide threat
>
> I could go on, but most of you can fill in the blanks...
>
> Since November I've been on a med combo of desipramine, celexa, adderal and trazodone. This seems to be doing the trick for me right now. I pray it lasts...
>
> Carly
poster:IsoM
thread:90162
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020110/msgs/90305.html