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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jukesy on February 4, 2004, at 6:42:18
Im 16, been through depression myself and feel i have never been happier. I would very much like to know if there is anyone who has had depression, however severe, and has now come through to find a happier life for any reason whatsoever that is very significant to yourself.
Basically i would like to know how you are happier after depression and what is the cause for it.
Many thanks, please reply.
Chris
Posted by KathrynLex on February 4, 2004, at 13:32:14
In reply to Life after depression., posted by Jukesy on February 4, 2004, at 6:42:18
Hi Chris,
You'll find that most people on this message board are happier because of meds. (Only because meds is the main topic of discussion here.)
When I was 15 I started taking Prozac. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. It really helped me get through my depression during that time. After taking it I wanted to get out of bed, go to classes and go out with friends. (Before Prozac I did none of those things.)
Now, after several years I'm on lexapro. Hoping for similar benefits to what I had on Prozac.
It's nice to see someone who has come out of their depression. I wish you continued success.
K.
Posted by Jukesy on February 4, 2004, at 15:36:29
In reply to Re: Life after depression., posted by KathrynLex on February 4, 2004, at 13:32:14
K,
I am very sorry to hear that and if you will let i would very much like to help you and guide you through the depression in the way that i made it through, without meds. You have described all the symptoms of which i had and i believe that i can help you if you are willing to trust me.
Chris
Posted by sexylexy on February 6, 2004, at 19:54:51
In reply to Life after depression., posted by Jukesy on February 4, 2004, at 6:42:18
Chris,
Though this board is about medication I thought I would respond. I am a 24 year old female. For all my life I have been "the strong one" had 4 major events in my life which could have easily brought on depression, no one in my family has depression.
I moved away last year to go to graduate school in a state 9 hours away from my home friends and family. I was in school full time and working a 20 hour internship in a critical care unit with paitents dying on a daily basis. The year went off without a hitch, I adapted great.
This year I came back to school again leaving friends, family, boyfriend ect. I had also started taking the birth control pill the month before I left. Before I came back to school I started feeling very irritable and sad. When I moved back to school I became extremely emotional, terrible mood swings, crying all the time ( I am NOT a cryer). I did not want to hang out with my friends or do anything. I had a hard time getting out of bed in the morning.
I kept saying that I was homesick and missing my boyfriend (who is in law school which makes the long distance thing even harder). I finally booked a flight home and thought everything would get better.
When I returned home for a weeks stay, things got much worse because they did not get better. I came very close to breaking up with my boyfriend for no reason. I was crying non stop, sobbing uncontrolably. I could not understand why there were two "voices" in my head, one which I recognized as my normal thought processes and a new one which was extremely negitiave (which I call the depressive voice) these two began a constant battle and the depressive voice seemed to becoming stronger and stronger.
Finally my father suggested asked me about all the medication I was on , at the time it was the birth control pill and vitamins. He looked up the birth control I was on and one of the possible side effects was severe depression.
That day I stopped taking the birth control. Within 24 hours I was a new person, the depressive voice was gone and my head felt clear and happy. I went back to school feeling happy and free. I was fine for about 10 days when a friend of mine un-expectedly died. It was like at the first sign of sadness my body was terrified to become depressed. I was so anxious I could hardly stand, I booked another flight home for the weekend so I could go see a psychiatrist to see what was going on. The Dr. said that I had a phobia of depression and needed to get on medication to "forget" how to be depressed. She gave me Zoloft. I stayed at home for a long weekend and began feeling much better so I stayed off the medication.
Again I went back to school and for 21 days I was fine, then my boyfriend and I got into a huge fight (we NEVER fight and I could not believe he would be so un kind). Anyway, again the fear of sadness came back this time was MUCH worse. I could not pull out of it, I began taking the Zoloft and took it for close to a month. It was absolute hell for me, then I went to an internal medicine Dr. who took my blood ect and decided that again, my body needed to forget depression. So now I am on week 6 1/2 of 10 mg of lexapro. I am begining to feel better but am waiting to feel like me again.
So sorry to be so long winded but I would love help if you are able to help!
Thanks,
Lexy
Posted by JohnFromCalifornia on February 6, 2004, at 23:31:40
In reply to Life after depression., posted by Jukesy on February 4, 2004, at 6:42:18
> Basically i would like to know how you are happier after depression and what is the cause for it.
As you already know, depression goes in cycles, and you automatically feel happier when the depression lifts because you are not depressed anymore! ; )
But for most of us it will return. I don't know if its are causes chemical, genetic or life experience, but I've concluded (I'm 54) that some people just have a tendency toward depression and it is something they have to battle, or sometimes just put up with.
Your best bet for managing bouts of depression is good communication with your family and a good doctor who doesn't just push pills at you. Meds are great when used at the right time but they are not a cure-all and should be used in combination with other things like counseling and "behavioral" methods: exercise and activities with other people.
Many of the most talented people in history have had problems with depression. It often accompanies creativity and intelligence. While it will make your life miserable sometimes, my experience has been that if you work at overcoming depression, your happy days will outnumber the sad ones.
Good luck!
Posted by noa on February 7, 2004, at 13:55:50
In reply to Re: Life after depression., posted by sexylexy on February 6, 2004, at 19:54:51
Jukesy, I think there are many different experiences reflected on this board.
First, remember that some of the people who were depressed and are happier now don't post regularly on the boards anymore.
For me, it's not been a straight line. When I was younger, I saw depression as something I would overcome forever. And I did get better, but I have a chronic form of the illness, so there have been recurrences. But after a very bad period of time, I did start getting better again. It was hard to find the right combination of medicines for me, and then after the major depression was in remission, I had to start essentially rebuilding my life again.
I'm doing much better now. I still struggle sometimes with milder depression (dysthymia), which I've concluded is going to be part of my life always, but I have learned, and am continuing to learn, how to cope with it, how to not let it set off worse depressions or the kind of major anxiety about being depressed that had developed over the course of years of getting better and worse and better and worse and not feeling I could predict things. Now, I am better at not getting bent out of shape by a low mood or bad day or even a few bad days.
Breaking some of the lifestyle habits developed during years of bad depression continues to be a work in progress for me.
But you are young. My advice is that you build up the kinds of support systems and healthy preventive strategies that will help sustain your well being, and make these a regular part of your life. And don't be too bummed if a depressed mood comes along once in a while. It doesn't have to mean a recurrence. Hopefully you don't have the recurrent type of illness, too. But if you keep in mind that you have the vulnerability, you can embrace a lifestyle that maximizes prevention.
The idea of happiness, too, is worth examining. The founders of the US talked about the right to the *pursuit* of happiness, which I think is wise. I think even the happiest people are not happy 100% of the time--it is something that has to be constantly worked on and maintained and sought after. I used to look at non-depressed people and it looked so easy for them to be happy--kind of like watching ballet--with the grace that the dancers show, it can look like it is so easy for them to do, but in reality, we know that they have worked, and are working very hard to create that illusion.
I think happiness is a process. And it requires enjoying the little moments and valuing them. I used to think that I had to get to some achievement, some particular state or goal, in order to be happy--or that some goal would make me happy. Now I see it as a collection of smaller moments of happiness, and of working toward a life where the balance tips in favor of those happy moments, but to feel happy, one has to achieve enough self-acceptance and not expect those external success markers to be responsible for one's happiness.
The absence of depression isn't equivalent to happiness, but successful treatment of depression sure helps to eliminate that major barrier to one's pursuit of happiness.
Posted by sb417 on February 8, 2004, at 2:32:30
In reply to Re: Life after depression. » sexylexy, posted by noa on February 7, 2004, at 13:55:50
Posted by Pfinstegg on February 8, 2004, at 10:55:12
In reply to Re: Life after depression. » sexylexy, posted by noa on February 7, 2004, at 13:55:50
Thank you, Noa! A wonderful post, and one to print out and keep.
Pfinstegg
Posted by Jukesy on February 8, 2004, at 12:34:53
In reply to Re: Life after depression., posted by JohnFromCalifornia on February 6, 2004, at 23:31:40
> > Basically i would like to know how you are happier after depression and what is the cause for it.
>
> As you already know, depression goes in cycles, and you automatically feel happier when the depression lifts because you are not depressed anymore! ; )
>
> But for most of us it will return. I don't know if its are causes chemical, genetic or life experience, but I've concluded (I'm 54) that some people just have a tendency toward depression and it is something they have to battle, or sometimes just put up with.
>
> Your best bet for managing bouts of depression is good communication with your family and a good doctor who doesn't just push pills at you. Meds are great when used at the right time but they are not a cure-all and should be used in combination with other things like counseling and "behavioral" methods: exercise and activities with other people.
>
> Many of the most talented people in history have had problems with depression. It often accompanies creativity and intelligence. While it will make your life miserable sometimes, my experience has been that if you work at overcoming depression, your happy days will outnumber the sad ones.
>
> Good luck!
Who are the talented people in history who have battled depression to do great things?Chris
Posted by Pfinstegg on February 8, 2004, at 13:28:50
In reply to Re: Life after depression., posted by Jukesy on February 8, 2004, at 12:34:53
Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill..
Posted by SFgirl on February 8, 2004, at 17:47:21
In reply to Life after depression., posted by Jukesy on February 4, 2004, at 6:42:18
Thanks alot for this thread...
It's really nice to see that there can be a light at the end of this tunnel...I am trying to come off Effexor and am very scared, but I am hoping that once it is out of my system I can work on things with a milder AD...one I can get off of without going through hell first...Reading these stories has really brightened my day.Thank you
Posted by noa on February 13, 2004, at 20:08:39
In reply to Life after depression., posted by Jukesy on February 4, 2004, at 6:42:18
"Finding Flow: The Psychology of Engagement With Everyday Life" (Masterminds Series) by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
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