I suffer depression... but what does this mean to you?

For me, personally, it means that most of the time, I am sad. I will think about bad things that havwe happened in my life, and dwell on them. I have trouble sleeping, always worrying about things, past present, and future. I truly feel doomed. I am unhappy with my home life, my job, and most of the choices that I have made. I cry so much, and it is embarassing, because at times, I cry at work. I am so depressed most of the time, that I never want to go anywhere, or do anything that is considered fun. I always just want to be at home, surrounded by my pets. I feel they are the only (people) in my life, that truly love me sometimes. Basically, depression just means that I am a very unhappy person. I try to keep it to myself most of the time, and put on a smiley face, so that people won't know how truly miserable that I feel. Most people have no idea, just how unhappy I am, because I don't like making other people unhappy, by showing it.

As a therapist I would say that each of us need to recognise life is roller-coaster and all ups and downs are just part of the ride. I like this analogy because I can see that if I try to slow the momentum of the car when it is going down, it weakens its abilities to get up the other side. In my opinion, too many therapists these days are trying to get people to conform to what they think is "normal". We all experience lows and highs and those who claim not to are either fully transcended "masters" or in some form of denial. I have many people suffering health problems who say they are otherwise very happy. My theory is here that the body is acting as a shock-absorber for the natural function of emotional lows and highs. Surely if we experience lows and highs, would we not be better off going with the flow than trying to artificially stop it happening? Like winter following summer, night following day. This energy needs to flow.. Why do the "experts" find a label for such phenomenon and then try and eradicate it is as something unnatural? Everything needs an opposite. Happiness is no exception. Regardless of what we try to do to make things better, we are human and find something to be depressed about! My philosophy is to get on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride. Stop clogging up the tracks with labels and opinions as to why it shouldn't be there :-)

I have, as you know, a very intimate relationship with depression and have for yrs not just within myself but also with the ones I love like my son, my husband, family members etc...for us its not periodic depression though..For example, with me, I've suffered from depression since I was very young and it really IS debilitating and can in fact be life destroying...I have no idea what it means to NOT live with depression..I understand what it is to be on an even keel so to speak but not what its like to live depression free..... depression on any level is so misunderstood IMO in all honesty I wish more ppl would learn what depression is really all about

If I am feeling depressed, I know there is a grey sky outside !For some reason the weather seems to affect me greatly and I feel most miserable when it is dark and cold out there! Too many years of living in warm countries, where the sun shines often, I guess!

I actually suffer from bipolar. So I get bouts of mania and depression. Just before I went on my holiday I had a severe bout of depression. I couldn't concentrate. I cried alot. Everything bothered me and I couldn't sleep properly. To top everything off my doctor was on holiday. My family was going to have me admitted to the hosipital but I started to come out of it. I was in it for about 5 to 6 weeks. I think people who suffer from depression without the mania go for longer periods of time. Sometimes I will have longer bouts of depression and have to go on antidepressants along with my mood stablizers. I think depression is a deep, dark and sad place.

Depression to me is like a bosom enemy whom I would like to avoid if I can. Unfortunately when it has me in its grip, it takes time and effort to wrench myself away from it and get on with life as best I can. I've suffered from chronic depression since I was a child and it manifested itself in my overdosing, cutting, abnormal behavior and getting into alot of trouble. It took me years of counselling and brainwashing(renewing of the mindset) to get out of it and get on with my life. Even now when I am much better, I can still feel it's hovering presence when life gets difficult especially where relationships and job is concerned. However I hope I will never go back to those days of hurting myself and others when it strikes. I am not going to let it waste more of my life away than it already has. Bless you.

I do to EsKaren and have done for many years but for the last years I have had to be on Anti Depressants to keep me calm as I get very irritated I cry I with draw in myself I just do not want to know and all I want is to be left alone in my own little world to cry and cry I feel like I do not want to be here I feel heavy inside useless not wanted I tell myself there are People worse of then me but at that time I just can't believe in anything Mine has built up over many years and the Illness added but being bullied out of job just done it and my Councoller said that I saw a few times that my Body and mind took more then enough and that is why I am the way I am now I have been through a bad way today all afternoon I have sat here crying A year ago I tried coming of the Tablets I managed 3 months but in that 3 months I had a few bad breathing attacks due to bad depressions my Doctor put me back on them she said if they don't calm me I can kill myself as my Lungs are not strong enough to take it and neither is my body anymore So Sweetie I know what you are going through, the thing is it just attacks and there is nothing you can do to stop it Big Hugs to you and I really hope that you are feeling better now

I went through it alot.I think Imust have suffered post natal depression too and didn't realise it. I could hardly move sometimes from the bed when i was depressed..Couldn't see a way out..Felt no confidence in myself, was also too afraid to do anything new with my life. Now I tread fearlessly into the night and I do what I have to do to try to make every day better..Every person happier..Every happy thought I can think I do it..and if half of those thoughts turn into reality concrete then it is a bonus..You can always talk to me if you need cheering up.I know what it is like and want to be there..whenever I can..

Having to carry the weight of what you are feeling is a depression for me. But i don't want to feel it again, i don't want to be depressed by a problem. I want to be a strong person, eventhough sometimes its hard to be strong. I am trying.

For me Depression is a temporary thing which comes & go.At that period nothing seems to be god for me.I am basically drawn to myself & don't talk much.But i have never been very seriously depressed & it has also not gone very far .

Hello!m It's 05:00 and I am awake, needing coffee, and following my friend's discussions! (I need to get a life! :-) heh heh) Of course eskarena you knew I would have something to say about this one! I guess what it means to me is; you are now where I used to be. So... I know exactly what you are feeling. It IS debilitating!! I haven't posted much the last couple of days, working on other things etc., but if you haven't already, check out sibananda's blog at healthdebasis.blogspot.com there are good links there, and I am setting up a forum at dnkdn.phpbb3now.com PLEASE JOIN THE FORUM EVERYBODY!! This way we depression sufferers will have a placr to help each other and exchange ideas that work. All my best to you--- David

Hello!m It's 05:00 and I am awake, needing coffee, and following my friend's discussions! (I need to get a life! :-) heh heh) Of course eskarena you knew I would have something to say about this one! I guess what it means to me is; you are now where I used to be. So... I know exactly what you are feeling. It IS debilitating!! I haven't posted much the last couple of days, working on other things etc., but if you haven't already, check out sibanada's blog at healthdebasis.blogspot.com there are good links there, and I am setting up a forum at dnkdn.phpbb3now.com PLEASE JOIN THE FORUM EVERYBODY!! This way we depression sufferers will have a placr to help each other and exchange ideas that work. All my best to you--- David

Depression?We can talk about it. I often feel depressed and no one knows because i always make people happy giving them suggestions and making them up but afterall i still have my depression inside that no one helps it to sort out. That's something that i heal hearing music when i am in the car, or eating or once watching charmed and now watching heroes. Films in my opinion help you creating a world you wish to live in; of course when they finish everything comes back to reality..... People if i was born with a brother nothing of that would happen.I feel alone, that's all and i feel excited helping people, that's the truth

Well, sometimes its unavoidable that we feel depressed for the day..but for the health its not a good side, i believe in Meditation which will balance our mind and helps to be normal at situations.