Fighting Depression [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

Bren

29th April 2009, 18:47

Edbear

29th April 2009, 18:49

Depression has been extensively discussed on this forum, have a look for it, there's a lot of good info there.

Owl

29th April 2009, 18:52

Not mint Bren!:no: Don't stay on those pills too long, as they're not a cure!

Bren

29th April 2009, 18:55

Depression has been extensively discussed on this forum, have a look for it, there's a lot of good info there.

did those threads discuss me? I thought not! So please excuse me whilst I put my own spin on it...and as a note yes I have read through some of them too

I am having my own rant here and you come to me and say it has been "extensively discussed" Well, so have a lot of other things too but does that stop new threads on those same subjects?

tigertim20

29th April 2009, 19:03

Well, it's been confirmed. I am suffering from Depression.

I have been finding it bloody hard of late after moving up from the south island. I miss my mates and my kids, but I made the move to support my wife, and to tell you the truth its not so much that I don't like Kapiti, it is more that I miss Christchurch. Added to that is the fact that my job sucks, and my bike is still in bits, and the fact of dealing with in-laws constantly and you have my very own recipe for depression.

I am guessing the winter blues have set in and a crisis in the family re my mums heart attack have not helped.

Anyway, I went to the doctor today and he was as helpful as tits on a bull, in fact all he seemed to care about is ejecting me out of his clinic and seeing the next patient. Maybe I should be glad that he is so dedicated to his job that he wants to see as many patients as possible...But I felt shortchanged....

Things seem to suck at the moment, but I got me some happy pills(are they really happy), and a list of counselors (that all seem to charge $75 P.H)...

Just my rant

Sorry to hear you are suffering.
They do say that moving house is one of the top three most stressful things a person goes through in life. And being away from your kids must fucking suck, and adding other personal and family issues to the mix, tis no wonder you are down.
Try and keep as much contact with your kids as you can, Im sure getting a handwritten letter back from them will cheer you up for a week!! Hang in there, as you find a couple friends, and the bike comes back together, You will probably cheer up. Find the positives. new town, new roads to learn to love!!!
Hang in there man, things will look up soon. Hope you find some positives to the new town soon.
P.S. Tell ya missus, she just might understand and be more accommodating. Godd luck mate :2thumbsup

Boob Johnson

29th April 2009, 19:08

chanceyy

29th April 2009, 19:16

can totally get where your coming from Bren .. hmmm guess we might have to do a bike mission soon & come take you for a blat huh :blip: ..

u know where I live & have my contact details if you need them .:hug:

Vern

29th April 2009, 19:19

Things seem to suck at the moment, but I got me some happy pills(are they really happy), and a list of counselors (that all seem to charge $75 P.H)...

Hi Bren. I am in the same boat as you are mate except i was in a job for 5 years with to much pressure and I should have left the job earlier before I got sick but a understanding wife and very very good friends help so hang in there mate I know how you feel. Vern:niceone:

MyGSXF

29th April 2009, 19:33

Be gentle on yourself Bren.. you've been through a hell of a lot of change of late, & all changes like that bring grief into the mix

You are doing better than you feel you are at the mo though hun.. you have already taken steps by recognising you need some support at the moment.. & that's the first step! :yes: It takes courage & balls to ask for help!! so you're doing great!!!!

Happy pills do their job. Get some good counselling. Maybe get a new Doctor too! :bash: do a Google search of grief/loss/depression.. there is some good info out there!

As Boob said: exercise (a walk on the beach does wonders!), eat a healthy balanced diet, get a good nights sleep (ie: don't stay up late) & don't eat junk food. Drink some Chamomile tea.. avoid too much coffee! & alcohol

Keep talking with your wife, don't bottle things up!

Give yourself some time Bren. Have trust & faith that things will get better. I've been there. I hit rock bottom. It's a long dark tunnel sometimes.. but there IS a light at the end.. trust me!!

Big :hug: for you xx

boman

29th April 2009, 19:44

Well, it's been confirmed. I am suffering from Depression.

I have been finding it bloody hard of late after moving up from the south island. I miss my mates and my kids, but I made the move to support my wife, and to tell you the truth its not so much that I don't like Kapiti, it is more that I miss Christchurch. Added to that is the fact that my job sucks, and my bike is still in bits, and the fact of dealing with in-laws constantly and you have my very own recipe for depression.

I am guessing the winter blues have set in and a crisis in the family re my mums heart attack have not helped.

Anyway, I went to the doctor today and he was as helpful as tits on a bull, in fact all he seemed to care about is ejecting me out of his clinic and seeing the next patient. Maybe I should be glad that he is so dedicated to his job that he wants to see as many patients as possible...But I felt shortchanged....

Things seem to suck at the moment, but I got me some happy pills(are they really happy), and a list of counselors (that all seem to charge $75 P.H)...

Just my rant

Hey , my 10 cents, Try a natural remedy called St Johns Wort. They work well for depression, And are non addictive. I used them for a 3 month cycle and combined with 3 or 4 sesions with a councellor I found it worthwile. Hope this is of some assistance.

Mom

29th April 2009, 19:50

...Just my rant

Ah but see...

You have also to consider the stress of your Mom being so sick and the trip up to see her, and the travelling time involved, and the fact that you live so far away from her so cant be really suppoertive as you wish and on and on and on.

You have had a few of the big life changes recently that create stress that can lead to depression. Take a bit of time to breathe and smell the roses.

Sorry to hear that everything has piled up to the extent that you feel submerged. One day at a time mate, that is all you have to get through.

kevfromcoro

29th April 2009, 19:52

Isnt KB great...... there allways seems to be a bit of help along the way

besides riding .everyone seems to help through the troubles of life..

i just put a post in here about heights...and i got a lot of support,,,,
sort of helps...
so good luck to you Bren iam sure you will get a lot of help here..

a lot of good advice has been given allreardy
those happy pills arent arrowpax are they?
strange stuff that..............................................

ttnz

29th April 2009, 19:56

Bren well done mate it takes allot of courage to take the first and most important step towards recovery.... talking about it.

check out this website and the links page.

http://www.julesandpete.co.nz/Project_matauranga/Welcome.html

shafty

29th April 2009, 19:56

Hang in there Bren, seems like your not getting any quality "me time" - I guess its hard in the circumstances, but steal an hour or 2 for for yourself, you sure deserve it, Cheers

Shafty

Bren

29th April 2009, 20:00

Don't stay on those pills too long, as they're not a cure!
I dont plan to mate...just to get over this rut...never needed them before...

They do say that moving house is one of the top three most stressful things a person goes through in life. And being away from your kids must fucking suck, and adding other personal and family issues to the mix, tis no wonder you are down.

Hang in there man, things will look up soon. Hope you find some positives to the new town soon.
P.S. Tell ya missus, she just might understand and be more accommodating. Godd luck mate :2thumbsup

Tell me about it...Stress city....Jane is very supportive, and she has had it rough too putting up with a prick like me

Known things to help fight depression....

...don't eat junk food at night plus lashings of motor cycling :clap:

So how do ya put the bike on the ice cream?

can totally get where your coming from Bren .. hmmm guess we might have to do a bike mission soon & come take you for a blat huh :blip: ..

Sounds good....sunny arvo round Vinager Hill sounds good

..... so hang in there mate I know how you feel. Vern:niceone:
Cheers Vern

...Big :hug: for you xx
will hold a Rain check till 4th Sth Island Rally (can ya believe its #4?)

Hey , my 10 cents, Try a natural remedy called St Johns Wort. They work well for depression, And are non addictive. I used them for a 3 month cycle and combined with 3 or 4 sesions with a councellor I found it worthwile. Hope this is of some assistance.

Cheers man ;)

Bren

29th April 2009, 20:04

Isnt KB great......
those happy pills arent arrowpax are they?
strange stuff that..............................................

just looked at the tabs...they are Arrow Citalopram...and why strange

chanceyy

29th April 2009, 20:09

Sounds good....sunny arvo round Vinager Hill sounds good

that can be arranged :yes: .. tied up for the next 3 weekends .. after that your on :)

MyGSXF

29th April 2009, 20:14

just looked at the tabs...they are Arrow Citalopram

taken from website:

ARROW - CITALOPRAM is used to treat depression and helps prevent potential recurrence of the symptoms of depression.

It belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are thought to work by their actions on brain chemicals called amines, which are involved in controlling mood.

Depression is longer lasting or more severe than the "low moods" everyone has from time to time due to the stress of everyday life. It is thought to be caused by chemical imbalance in some parts of the brain. This imbalance affects your whole body and can cause emotional and physical symptoms, such as feeling low in spirit, loss of interest in activities, being unable to enjoy life, poor appetite or over-eating, disturbed sleep, often waking up early, loss of sex drive, lack of energy and feeling guilty over nothing.

ARROW - CITALOPRAM corrects this chemical imbalance and may help relieve the symptoms of depression.

will hold a Rain check till 4th Sth Island Rally (can ya believe its #4?)

Fer sure!!! :hug:

Bren

29th April 2009, 20:21

Citalopram and other SSRIs have been shown to cause a preoccupation with sexual content in some patients, both males and females.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template">[clarification needed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-pmid16430968_13-0" class="reference">[14] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citalopram#cite_note-pmid16430968-13)</sup>

Woohoo...I can get away with watching porn on the PC

sels1

29th April 2009, 20:23

Mate - 4 words - "THIS TOO SHALL PASS". (like every else in life, good or bad) Hang in there. Oh, and get the bike fixed - that will help no end!

DMNTD

29th April 2009, 20:24

The most powerful 'tool' for dealing with any sort of depression is KNOWING that there are always people far worse off than ourselves.
Be grateful for the good things that you do have

Winston001

29th April 2009, 20:34

did those threads discuss me? I thought not! So please excuse me whilst I put my own spin on it...and as a note yes I have read through some of them too

I am having my own rant here and you come to me and say it has been "extensively discussed" Well, so have a lot of other things too but does that stop new threads on those same subjects?

I can understand your reaction but Ed was meaning there is really useful thread here which you'd find helpful. You are not alone, lots of decent people here who know what you are feeling.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=43250&highlight=depression

Maha

29th April 2009, 20:36

There was time Bren, about 9-10 years ago, everything in my world had changed dramatically, I was all of a sudden, alone. Marriage gone, business gone, my daughters gone, house gone. It all caught up with me one day at work, I was back on wages, went to a job and couldn't for the life of me think of how I was going to do my job. I had been doing it for almost 20 years at that stage, it was a crazy feeling, I sat in the back of the van, had a smoke, all the while gazing at the ground shaking my head (yes I remember every detail about that day) I just didn't know where to start, what to do, nothing! So I pack up my tools and drove back to town, which was about a 20 min drive, crying all the way. I was not in controll of anything that day. Got back to the shop, went into the office (my father worked there) and fell to my knees, still crying, and said ''I need help''.

He got me to the doctors, got me some pills. I didnt think I was a nutcase, just couldn't do it by myself, that I knew.

I made the choice to 'Work through it' the very next day...
One thing at a time.
Get controll back, make the changes that needed changing.
Its tough, but I got through it....you can to Mate.

Mark

Winston001

29th April 2009, 20:41

The most powerful 'tool' for dealing with any sort of depression is KNOWING that there are always people far worse off than ourselves.
Be grateful for the good things that you do have

Ah......sound advice for mild or situational depression. Not for anyone who experiences deep depression. This illness means a person cannot empathise with others because their own sense of self-worth is close to nil. They simply cannot see outside the black which fills their mind.

kevfromcoro

29th April 2009, 20:45

Go and get a nice girl for the night.....
makes you feel lke a new man.......
take it easy mate....

been down that road many times.................

DMNTD

29th April 2009, 20:46

Ah......sound advice for mild or situational depression. Not for anyone who experiences deep depression. This illness means a person cannot empathise with others because their own sense of self-worth is close to nil. They simply cannot see outside the black which fills their mind.

Understood 100%...however, with the 'encouragement' of a loved one they can or at least could be guided to a situation that shows that their/his situation isn't as bad as someone else.

Definitely not trying to say that the OP is not in a genuine negative space though. I'm just of the(educated) opinion that being as proactive as possible, even with guidance of another, is the better way to tackle things. :yes:

Maha

29th April 2009, 20:54

Understood 100%...however, with the 'encouragement' of a loved one they can or at least could be guided to a situation that shows that their/his situation isn't as bad as someone else.

Definitely not trying to say that the OP is not in a genuine negative space though. I'm just of the(educated) opinion that being as proactive as possible, even with guidance of another, is the better way to tackle things. :yes:

On the money there Chris
I am no expert on such matters but, reaching out is the first step in dealing with any level of depression. Thinking that you can push the wall over by yourself is a very tough ask.

chanceyy

29th April 2009, 21:00

Oh, and get the bike fixed - that will help no end!

just been thinking about that part .............

Bren wot exactly needs sorting on the bike mate ... can we organise a spanner day to get stuff sorted on it ??

I am no mechanic but make a mean choccy cake :blip: and I can pass tools .......

Bren

29th April 2009, 21:10

just been thinking about that part .............

Bren wot exactly needs sorting on the bike mate ... can we organise a spanner day to get stuff sorted on it ??

I am no mechanic but make a mean choccy cake :blip: and I can pass tools .......

Basically I have a problem with starting it...it has fuel and spark, and pretty sure air as well, but its not firing...the odd time it has a bit of a backfire but it wont go...I dunno wots up with it...I have tried engine start down the airbox but that dont help either....was going b4 I replaced the seals...im stumped...

Then it needs a new tyre..not a prob, then revin....I am thinking of buying an old bike thats reg'd, but thats money i dont have at the moment...everything has been so tight since we moved up here...

rosie631

29th April 2009, 21:13

Sorry to hear you are suffering from this. I have been there too. Had severe postnatal depresssion after my last baby. Couldn't even get out of bed some days. But it did pass. I know it feels like a pit that you can't dig yourself out of. But just hang on to the thought that it will get better. Medication didn't really work for me but it can get you over the first hurdle to getting better. Take care, Rosie

CookMySock

29th April 2009, 21:18

Owch, thats not the best, bud. I'd say get that bike on the road pronto - just do what it takes and get riding the bugger. It's tempting to recommend all sorts of after-school fun, but I won't because they can backfire real badly, but I will say that you and your mrs should be able to fun something really distracting to do together, I am sure. Well, just a j together and a funny movie can help a lot, but dont smoke lots and lots of it. Also try dropping a few kilograms is a very encouraging thing to do, and join a gym and push some iron around three or four nights a week.

i was in a job for 5 years with to much pressure and I should have left the job earlier before I got sickYou did well getting out of there after only 5 years. Mine took 15 years and now I'm completely fucked. Stupid ay.

Steve

tigertim20

29th April 2009, 21:26

Basically I have a problem with starting it...it has fuel and spark, and pretty sure air as well, but its not firing...the odd time it has a bit of a backfire but it wont go...I dunno wots up with it...I have tried engine start down the airbox but that dont help either....was going b4 I replaced the seals...im stumped...

Then it needs a new tyre..not a prob, then revin....I am thinking of buying an old bike thats reg'd, but thats money i dont have at the moment...everything has been so tight since we moved up here...

A spanner day would be a fuckin great idea mate, get some local bikers around, out a few bangers on the barby, make a bunch of new friends, work on bikes, that would be a positive in more ways than one, and for many people, us bikers love a bloody good excuse to get social! Ya should organise a day and post a date in here for local bikers. A meet and greet maybe? Just a thought.

I think its fuckin awesome that this site provides so much support for fellow riders, outside the norm of riding. Youg uys all fuckin rock!!! :2thumbsup

vifferman

29th April 2009, 21:33

Things seem to suck at the moment, but I got me some happy pills(are they really happy), and a list of counselors (that all seem to charge $75 P.H)...

Sounds like it's largely circumstantial, Bren. But regardless of whether things do get better, you will get better.

You did well on the counsellors - I was seeing specialists that were $250/hour, and weren't even $25 worth, for all the help they were. I would've been better spending the money on bike parts or toys for myself.

1 Free Man

29th April 2009, 21:54

Well, it's been confirmed. I am suffering from Depression.

I have been finding it bloody hard of late after moving up from the south island. I miss my mates and my kids, but I made the move to support my wife, and to tell you the truth its not so much that I don't like Kapiti, it is more that I miss Christchurch. Added to that is the fact that my job sucks, and my bike is still in bits, and the fact of dealing with in-laws constantly and you have my very own recipe for depression.

I am guessing the winter blues have set in and a crisis in the family re my mums heart attack have not helped.

Anyway, I went to the doctor today and he was as helpful as tits on a bull, in fact all he seemed to care about is ejecting me out of his clinic and seeing the next patient. Maybe I should be glad that he is so dedicated to his job that he wants to see as many patients as possible...But I felt shortchanged....

Things seem to suck at the moment, but I got me some happy pills(are they really happy), and a list of counselors (that all seem to charge $75 P.H)...

Just my rant
Geezz man I tried to warn you off Otaki but you wouldn't listen. You poor bugger sorry to hear that Otaki got to you so soon after moving there. You went to the Otaki medical centre didn't you. Another mistake!!! it's all about the money for those dudes. They don't want to fix you they just want to lighten up your wallet so it won't give you a back strain. You wait until the "black cold days" come along in the middle of the winter. You get chilled to the bone and just don't warm up all day. Worst part is these days can go on for a week at a time.
Go up to the Railway Hotel and get shit faced that's a good counselor it used to work for me.

chanceyy

29th April 2009, 21:55

Basically I have a problem with starting it...it has fuel and spark, and pretty sure air as well, but its not firing...the odd time it has a bit of a backfire but it wont go...I dunno wots up with it...I have tried engine start down the airbox but that dont help either....was going b4 I replaced the seals...im stumped...

Then it needs a new tyre..not a prob, then revin....I am thinking of buying an old bike thats reg'd, but thats money i dont have at the moment...everything has been so tight since we moved up here...

k got an idea or two .. let me think on it for a few days :yes:

A spanner day would be a fuckin great idea mate, get some local bikers around, out a few bangers on the barby, make a bunch of new friends, work on bikes, that would be a positive in more ways than one, and for many people, us bikers love a bloody good excuse to get social! Ya should organise a day and post a date in here for local bikers. A meet and greet maybe? Just a thought.

I think its fuckin awesome that this site provides so much support for fellow riders, outside the norm of riding. Youg uys all fuckin rock!!! :2thumbsup

We have already had a few get togethers and they are always good .. at the end of the day its always bikers helping bikers ...

have a few ideas for a loop "or three" as well Bren :laugh:

Maha

29th April 2009, 21:57

...

have a few ideas for a loop "or three" as well Bren :laugh:

Oh no.......not knitting as well?....

fire eyes

29th April 2009, 21:58

Hey Bren .. awesome advice folks on here have given :hug:

I guess all I wanted to touch on at how important the grieving process is .. loss is loss in whichever capacity it comes in and we are often so involved in moving forward that we don't give ourselves the time to grieve for what once was. We are constantly in transition .. I guess that is what life is all about .. but often we leave parts of ourselves in the past and find it hard to cope with the present and then suddenly situations and dramas seem to bombard you from every angle you end up feeling scattered, lost & confused.

I agree with take one day at a time .. I also suggest to spend sometime relishing in the memories, whatever they maybe and accepting them for what they were .. lifes experiences.

Take care dude :hug:

chanceyy

29th April 2009, 22:01

Oh no.......not knitting as well?....

darlin you must have me confused with another man bitch ... I am not a knitter .. more of a stirrer :bleh: ....

Bren

29th April 2009, 22:07

Geezz man I tried to warn you off Otaki but you wouldn't listen. You poor bugger sorry to hear that Otaki got to you so soon after moving there. You went to the Otaki medical centre didn't you. Another mistake!!! it's all about the money for those dudes. They don't want to fix you they just want to lighten up your wallet so it won't give you a back strain. You wait until the "black cold days" come along in the middle of the winter. You get chilled to the bone and just don't warm up all day. Worst part is these days can go on for a week at a time.
Go up to the Railway Hotel and get shit faced that's a good counselor it used to work for me.

Family Hotel is 2 doors down, they are good buggers there...I think it is more of the point of leaving CHCH than moving to Otaki...this place is okay and the beach is just down the road....I went to Team Medical in P'ram...

ynot slow

29th April 2009, 22:08

At least ya haven't listened to people saying HTFU.Each day at a time,talk,talk to the best mate(wife),not much we can say,except don't jump on the bike if ya don't want to.

Bren

29th April 2009, 22:30

at least some good shit....My bike has got over the burping and farting....after 15 min of trying and going through half a can of "start ya bastard" I have got her to run...neighbours cant be too happy cos I have fucked up in putting the cans back on, and instead of the putt putt putt of a 250 its sounding more of a brrp brrp brrp....sounds way too cool, but mr plod would not like it...

least it's a start...i might be able to take her for a blast on the back roads this weekend

The Pastor

29th April 2009, 23:04

Most people dont suffer depression for ever, there is an end to it, just takes time.

WolfCollared

29th April 2009, 23:12

There is no hope
My mind is all over the place
I dont know what to do
No one listens
No one understands me
Why me
why is everyone so happy
dont want to be sociable
cant be bothered
this is the end im going to do it

Harden up...the lows are lows, they take over unexpectedly. Make the most of when you are happy and on top of the world. A passing phase of a low will happen from time to time. Work out the patterns, triggers and what bounces you back.

I've got it - stuck with it for life, it dont stop me enjoying life. I make the most of when I am happy....although those lows are the end of the world :whistle: but it passes.

peasea

29th April 2009, 23:35

Known things to help fight depression....

First & foremost, knowing you are & understanding its why you are feeling the way you presently do, then excepting that. Then, exercise, a healthy balanced diet, good sleeping patterns (ie don't stay up late) & don't eat junk food at night plus lashings of motor cycling :clap:

True story :msn-wink:

Part right and good on ya for the positive post. My sister (who should be a nurse and gave it away for dumb paperwork reasons) reckoned I was clinically depressed a while back.

I got through it thanks to a good diet as part of it; I truly beileve that good (not expensive) food has a lot to do with mindset.

However.

People are the lifeline.

Friends, family, workmates, even strangers can make the difference. I am fortunate to have some very good mates, family and workmates. I list them in order of how they helped me.

If you have more mates than fingers on one hand, you're extremely lucky. Only one is all you need, any more is a bonus.

Family will be there when you need them, sometimes the ambulance at the bottom of the hill, but they'll be there.

Workmates often help you through the day.

If I'd had an email friend when my shit hit the fan I think I'd have opened up more because I could have let loose with no repercussions. As it was I had to tough it out, so I extend an experienced hand..............in the annonimity of cyberspace.

No problem is insurmountable when you have a mate.

DarkLord

29th April 2009, 23:47

I've found journaling really helps. It just gets it out of your system. Sometimes I sit at my computer for hours, just bashing away on the keyboard about however I am feeling at the time.

I've often found circumstances are just a trigger for what is really going on inside. Although things are shit at the moment, this can be a real time of growth for you - if you let it. I can say that as well - I've been made redundant recently and am currently on the benefit, through no fault of my own. When you've got no job, your mind wanders, and not necessarily to good places.

I've had days where I've had to look up to see the bottom (get your mind out of the gutter - lol) but as I've just gotten really honest with myself and dug real deep, as well as connected with some trusted friends about things, I feel I've made progress.

I'm sorry to hear things are hard for you. However I really encourage you to at least try and put some of the things me and others on here have said into practice. I believe it can make a difference for you.

PM me if I can be of any further help to you.

Cheers

DarkLord

boomer

29th April 2009, 23:52

Katman

30th April 2009, 00:15

Ronin

30th April 2009, 00:26

Don't mix St Johns Wort with Citalapram. One or the other. Never both. DAMHIK :Oops:

Bren

30th April 2009, 07:06

Hey, strangely enough, I'm with Boomer on this one.

The best person to get you through times of despair is yourself.

I've suffered periods of extreme depression in the past and what got me through it was saying "stop your fucking snivelling and harden the fuck up".

All the "poor you" and "here's a bosom to cry on" counts for nothing.

There's countless people out there with far more cause for grief than you.

thats fair enough, and its your opinion. Sometimes it is good to just talk, and I am sure you would agree there. A forum is just another means of talking and getting things off yer chest. HTFU? Yup, I been doing that too, but it seems those issues are still there and I just built myself a wall....We all go through life in different ways and what works for you may not work for me...

kiwifruit

30th April 2009, 07:48

Well, it's been confirmed. I am suffering from Depression.

What do you eat, on a normal day?
How much exercise do you get?

discotex

30th April 2009, 07:56

IMO unless you are suicidal you should avoid SSRI's. Their level of effectiveness is barely over the placebo effect unless you're on the right one and the side effects can be nasty. They also take a long time to do anything. It takes 4-6 weeks.

A good psychologist (hard to find) is probably your best bet as they can work to the cause of your depression. That said you have to be willing to let it go which is easier said than done.

Just remember it will eventually pass if you refuse to let it win.

Good luck :)

yungatart

30th April 2009, 08:03

One day at a time Bren...thats all you (any of us) can do.
Know that there are people around you who care. Do something nice for yourself each day. Do something nice for someone else each day.
Come and visit for a weekend...and bring your riding gear!

Burtha

30th April 2009, 09:49

hope your feeling better today than yesterday from when you first posted :)

One day at a time, come to love rain - its soothing and overcast days can been relaxing so don't let winter get you down.

Guess what I'm saying is actively look for the upside to everything, it helps.
YOU CAN DO EET!

86GSXR

30th April 2009, 10:33

Hey Bren, sorry to hear you're going through this rough period. Otaki is a massive change from CH no doubting that. Come up here and take the Daytona for a spin! :yes: There will undoubtably be a chance in the next week or two.

Anarkist

30th April 2009, 14:52

Hey , my 10 cents, Try a natural remedy called St Johns Wort. They work well for depression

Do NOT take this advice. Saint Johns Wart in combination with anti-depressants is potentially a fatal combination as it can cause Serotonin syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John%27s_Wort#Pharmacodynamic_interactions)

Anarkist

30th April 2009, 15:09

IMO unless you are suicidal you should avoid SSRI's. Their level of effectiveness is barely over the placebo effect unless you're on the right one and the side effects can be nasty. They also take a long time to do anything. It takes 4-6 weeks.

This isn't true either. If you're going to give this type of advice to people, you need to quote and verify your sources. Do your research, then build your opinion.

SSRI's are an effective treatment as many double blinded studies of a large groups of patients have proved.

The reason doctors prescribe these types of drug is because people suffering from clinical depression have a chemical inbalance in the brain, and unless you're a qualified doctor or a psychopharmacologist you don't really have a place to say otherwise.

discotex

30th April 2009, 15:42

This isn't true either. If you're going to give this type of advice to people, you need to quote and verify your sources. Do your research, then build your opinion.

SSRI's are an effective treatment as many double blinded studies of a large groups of patients have proved.

Ummm yeah which studies were those? Don't go telling me I need to quote sources and then not do it yourself. :wacko:

How about you start by reading this:
http://www.mcmanweb.com/clinical_trials.html

and this:
http://zakstar.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/antidepressants-as-effective-as-placebo-big-pharma-on-the-defensive/

Then go read this:
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045

Then they showed that there was virtually no difference in the improvement scores for drug and placebo in patients with moderate depression and only a small and clinically insignificant difference among patients with very severe depression.

In a nutshell unless you are being managed by a psychiatrist your results are likely to be similar to placebo but you will still get the horrible side effects.

The reason doctors prescribe these types of drug is because people suffering from clinical depression have a chemical inbalance in the brain, and unless you're a qualified doctor or a psychopharmacologist you don't really have a place to say otherwise.

And which of those two options are you that gives you any right to say? :wacko:

SSRI's are indicated for a clinical diagnosis of depression. GP's are not qualified to make that diagnosis. Fact.

Doctors prescribe SSRI's because drug companies give them kickbacks not because they know what they're doing.

If the OP went to a psychiatrist and was prescribed SSRIs then that would be a different story.

Now get back in your hole unless you've got something helpful to say.

Hans

1st May 2009, 02:46

Yep. I'm in for a spanner day or somesuch. I'm up the coast so shouldn't be a problem. Meaningful activity is also a good one if you're depp'ed. PM me to organise something.

Genestho

1st May 2009, 07:16

What do you eat, on a normal day?
How much exercise do you get?

This is a good question...

Bren, sorry to hear you're in the pit.

Just in reference to Kiwifruits question...

I do suggest lots of excercise, and push yourself hard, get your heart pumping....the natural endorphins are good for you, even if you can't be bothered, try to think of the outcome, instantly gratifying, a boost, the natural high.

Food, If I don't eat enough good nutrients, I go downhill....

It's quite easy to not eat much at all, but if your diet has some fresh food, and good nutrients, that will assist positivity.

Do alot of things that make YOU happy, treat yourself to "me" time...

Although - no-one can tell you how to fix yourself, you just have to work out a plan, follow it through, and don't isolate yourself from the world for too long. (That's a big one)

EDIT: HTFU - is just a state of mind, anyone that's posted here knows that depression is the brains inability to produce the right chemicals (Or whatever I'm a layman, not a doctor).

HOWEVER, there is nothing wrong with setting yourself a HTFU Benchmark (if you like..)

Myself....I have two benchmarks, one was on 60 minutes last night...a good bugger I used to know was killed last year on his bike in Palmy.
That morning - his lady Steph found a lump in her breast, after work he was killed on his bike.
Without going too much into it, she now faces the possibility of Terminal Cancer - not long to live, and leaving her kids behind.
My second HTFU Benchmark, is a widow friend with 3 littlies under 5 at 33, her man having died from a massive heart attack in front of her at 34.

So, In my situation, I found benchmarks that make my life seem not so bad....maybe that idea can help you?
Also just know, that sometimes tomorrow will be better, quite often it is...

Goodluck!!! :hug:

vifferman

1st May 2009, 09:24

SSRI's are indicated for a clinical diagnosis of depression. GP's are not qualified to make that diagnosis. Fact.

Doctors prescribe SSRI's because drug companies give them kickbacks not because they know what they're doing.
I don't agree.
When I first went to my GP, he decided I was clinically depressed, as in the serotonin and whatnot in my brain was fucked up, and he was right (as confirmed later by a specialist psychiatrist). However, even though the SSRI he prescribed made a HUGE difference (as in, "WOW! I didn't realise how bad I was - now I feel.... normal!") I believe that even with the huge amount of research drug companies, neurologists, psychiatrists, pyschologists, et alia have done, they are only at the very tip of the iceberg as far as understanding how the human brain works, and that the drugs they are using are too crude and sledgehammer-like in operation.
I wish I'd done my own research (had to do a shitload of it anyway, along the way, to find out about side-effects and whatnot), and taken it very gently, carefully, and investigated ALL options.
Yes, I went to psychiatrists, all of whom were USELESS (and VERY expensive), and wanted to try me on even weirder and more dangerous drugs. One even decided (because he was an 'expert' on bipolar disorders, and even though my symptoms and answers to a detailed questionnaire said I wasn't bipolar, that I WAS, and then prescribed me epilepsy drugs. (I'm very grateful for that, because it finally got me to kick drugs entirely, and try to sort it out on my own).

SSRIs can help give someone to get through a sever bout of depression, especially if it's mainly circumstantial (and partly neurochemical) in origin. But they're over-prescribed, not because GPs get kickbacks, but because they're seen as being effective, almost a panacea for all ills.

It's a pity in some ways, that the "old fashioned" 'feel-good' drugs were addictive and abused so widely in the old days. I think for many people, a little bit of Dr Feelgood is all they probably need to get them on their feet again. For others, at the moment, scraping by from day-to-day is the best we can hope for.

If this is rambling and seems nonsensical, I blame the drugs. I used to make more sense, and be sharper and more lucid. Now I kinda know what I want to say, but can't find the exact words.

Badcat

1st May 2009, 09:41

If this is rambling and seems nonsensical, I blame the drugs. I used to make more sense, and be sharper and more lucid. Now I kinda know what I want to say, but can't find the exact words.

no vifferman, you make good sense.
i appreciate your candor.
i'm just emerging from a very dark 4 months, and it's good to hear i'm not alone, and smart and capable people struggle like i have done.

thanks

ken

R1madness

1st May 2009, 09:42

Hi Bren, Depression is not something you can "harden the fuck up" about, in fact that is one of the major causes of it. Talk with your wife about how you feel, i mean really tell her about the bad things on your mind, ring your best mate and talk to him too. Tell everyone you are struggling including your new boss (oddly he will want to help).
You can get thru it mate, i know, i have truely been there. Get help and you will come right.
Cry when you need to, laugh when you can.

vifferman

1st May 2009, 10:00

Hi Bren, Depression is not something you can "harden the fuck up" about.
From the point of view of the infamous John Kirwan ads, "HTFU" is unhelpful, in that those who don't understand and think you're just feeling sorry for yourself, and need to "snap out of it" are making things worse.
But, in another sense, "HTFU" is something you need to do. You need to learn to not let being sad become a habit, and to try to develop a positive mind set, and some 'coping strategies' to deal with it. It's not hard to look for external solutions rather than take charge of the malady and deal with it yourself. However (but), it's a very insidious thing: we live in our heads, so anything that affects our thinking means it's VERY hard to be objective and sensible, and not let our thinking be coloured by how we feel.
My son (who also suffers from depression, and often at the same time, due to our 'biorhythms' being in sync) started saying "harden up, you pussy!" just because of the ads, whenever he heard me showing evidence of feeling sorry for myself. Strangely, it helped.

Talk with your wife about how you feel, i mean really tell her about the bad things on your mind, ring your best mate and talk to him too. Tell everyone you are struggling including your new boss (oddly he will want to help).
Good advice. :niceone:
From personal experience, I'd be careful about how you tackle your employers about it though.
When I was first having a real struggle with it, I told my boss. He was a real sporty type (ironman competitor), as was our HR person, and I suspect they despised my 'weakness', and couldn't relate to it at all, and conspired to manage me out of the job, in a very cunning and careful way, by using the employment law against me. They made me agree to set goals, to document stuff and sign it, then were going to use this to 'legally' terminate my employment. Luckily, when I was very distraught, I told my 'coffee buddy' about it, and fortuitously, he became my boss during my probationary period, and the jerk who'd been my boss left the company.
Having a boss who knew everything, and who I could talk honestly and openly with, helped HEAPS.
Before I started my current job, I told them everything, and they have been very accepting and supportive. It makes it very easy, saying, "Look - I haven't done this piece of work, because I feel crap this week, and I'm struggling."

You can get thru it mate, i know, i have truely been there. Get help and you will come right.
Cry when you need to, laugh when you can.
Yes, that's all true, and good helpful advice, especially about laughing. Make sure you laugh as much as you can, including at yourself.

discotex

1st May 2009, 11:43

SSRIs can help give someone to get through a sever bout of depression, especially if it's mainly circumstantial (and partly neurochemical) in origin. But they're over-prescribed, not because GPs get kickbacks, but because they're seen as being effective, almost a panacea for all ills.

I think that's a valid point. It's possibly a mix of the two.

It's pretty obvious that SSRI's are not the panacea that the medical profession believes them to be.

Your other comments echo much of my own experience with a decade of severe depression that thankfully I'm out the other side of.

allycatz

1st May 2009, 12:41

Hey if the Dr has referred you to councellors ask him to refer you thru the Kapiti PHO services and you can get the councellors free if you meet their criteria...I am working and was accepted. There is an excellent guy in Waikanae who has helped me get over 5 years of panic attacks and other crap including depression...hes a retired psychotherapist...message me if youd like his name. Re the happy pills - they may make for feel worse before they get better, go with the side affects for two or three weeks and you WILL notice an improvement....ps Family Hotel in Otaki far more fun than railway ha ha!

Genestho

1st May 2009, 13:09

Sorry, I hope my HTFU comment was not misconstrued....

Let me be clear that I do not believe HTFU helps, and to be told that, DOES NOT help either.

My personal technique, is not about HTFU, but looking externally from the outside of the situation, realising that you are not alone.

It's bad enough to be isolated inside your head, without convincing yourself that you are alone.
Because you're not.
Surround yourself with friends that understand...non judgemental, and ignore the ones that don't. Don't take it onboard as to why they don't understand either.

Citizens advice Bureau has a list of free councellers.
Don't think Happy Pills alone will fix you...you need to bring about change within yourself,and work on the cause.
Of course my experience is based on grief which is a lot different from full blown depression, so maybe my suggestions are not much help here at all, just my 2 cents...

What I do know is that JK ad is true, enjoy the simple things;)

alanzs

1st May 2009, 16:52

Just knowing you have depression is a big part of getting well. Hang in there, that light at the end of the tunnel is NOT a train! :woohoo:

boman

1st May 2009, 17:01

Do NOT take this advice. Saint Johns Wart in combination with anti-depressants is potentially a fatal combination as it can cause Serotonin syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John%27s_Wort#Pharmacodynamic_interactions)

My apologies I should have been more specific. I ment take St Johns Wort instead of the Prescription drugs as I was told they are less Addictive.

doc

1st May 2009, 17:43

Here are some happy pics.

Cheshire Cat

1st May 2009, 18:40

Here are some happy pics.

that second photo is disgusting!!!!:argh:

doc

1st May 2009, 19:41

:Oops: I will delete it if you want ? Just got to find out how.

Cheshire Cat

1st May 2009, 19:58

:hug: heh heh na, its all good.

vifferman

1st May 2009, 20:25

My apologies I should have been more specific. I ment take St Johns Wort instead of the Prescription drugs as I was told they are less Addictive.
The "old style" antidepressants were addictive, because they stimulated the brain's pleasure centre, but I doubt whether any modern SSRIs (or MAOIs, or tri-cyclics) are addictive.
But they *do* all have side effects, as does St Johns Wort (which in fact is also a type of SSRI); it's just milder, so the side-effects are too.

Been there, done that. :wacko:
St Johns Wort, Griffonia simplicifolia, lithium, paroxetine, fluoxetine, citalopram, clomipramine, nortriptyline, moclobemide, venlafaxine, epilim... either individually or in combination.
But after being wrongly prescribed a toxic dose of venlafaxine, and then getting really sick on epilim, I decided enough was enough.
Some of these droooogz are fookn expensive - I had to get a special dispensation for the venlafaxine, which cost the taxpayer several thousand dollars apparently...
Pity it didn't work (except to almost cure me of looking for a cure for my fookt brain).

Result!

Of sorts....

Goblin

1st May 2009, 22:13

Here are some happy pics.

that second photo is disgusting!!!!:argh:

I will delete it if you want ? Just got to find out how.

:hug: heh heh na, its all good.The only thing disgusting about that pic is the time it took to cook the blardy thing with everybody opening the lid to see how delicious it looked and smelt!:Oops: Thank fark for the chicken kebabs!
Lesson learnt tho...padlock the fucker shut next time!:yes::devil2:

As for the poor wee pony...who didn't have a thrash on it?:ride:

Blackshear

2nd May 2009, 00:22

The only thing disgusting about that pic is the time it took to cook the blardy thing with everybody opening the lid to see how delicious it looked and smelt!:Oops: Thank fark for the chicken kebabs!
Lesson learnt tho...padlock the fucker shut next time!:yes::devil2:

As for the poor wee pony...who didn't have a thrash on it?:ride:

Better have been a shitload of honey, garlic, rosemary and other such spices on that piggy after the photo was taken!!!

Goblin

3rd May 2009, 10:18

Better have been a shitload of honey, garlic, rosemary and other such spices on that piggy after the photo was taken!!!Dunno but I was far too pissed by the time it was cooked.:drinknsin

How you doing Bren?

Winston001

5th May 2009, 11:48

SSRI's are an effective treatment as many double blinded studies of a large groups of patients have proved.

The reason doctors prescribe these types of drug is because people suffering from clinical depression have a chemical inbalance in the brain, and unless you're a qualified doctor or a psycho pharmacologist you don't really have a place to say otherwise.

Agreed.

Just for clarification - in the field of psychology there is a war going on between the believers in pharmaceutical treatment and the Freudians. One side says that drugs such as SSRIs are valid and useful tools to control illnesses. The Freudians on the other hand say the chemicals do not address deep underlying causes of illness.

So - you will find plenty of websites and learned articles rubbishing SSRIs just as you will find a mountain of research supporting their effectiveness. There is no simple answer.

The pills do work. Not always, not for everyone, but for millions of people who have restored brain chemistry and good health, they are a godsend.

Deep deep down in all of our psyches there are things which shape our personalties. In that sense the Freudians are right.

discotex

5th May 2009, 23:01

The pills do work. Not always, not for everyone, but for millions of people who have restored brain chemistry and good health, they are a godsend.

Some of the pills work some of the time when prescribed correctly. Many millions more get horrible side effects for no benefit greater than a sugar pill.

The fast growing mountain of evidence proves that and the British national prescribing guidelines recommend against SSRIs except for moderate to severe depression for exactly that reason.

Read this article for example http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7263494.stm

Not to mention the increased risk of suicide and self harm SSRIs in under 30's that prompted most countries to issue warnings to doctors.

Yes there is *some* benefit for people with *serious* depression (which is why I said if someone is suicidal they're worth it) but for *most* people they do more harm than good.

Psychological treatment on the other hand has a very high success rate. Only problem is that takes more time and effort than popping a pill.

Winston001

13th May 2009, 10:51

Some of the pills work some of the time when prescribed correctly. Many millions more get horrible side effects for no benefit greater than a sugar pill.

The fast growing mountain of evidence proves that and the British national prescribing guidelines recommend against SSRIs except for moderate to severe depression for exactly that reason.

Read this article for example http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7263494.stm

Not to mention the increased risk of suicide and self harm SSRIs in under 30's that prompted most countries to issue warnings to doctors.

Yes there is *some* benefit for people with *serious* depression (which is why I said if someone is suicidal they're worth it) but for *most* people they do more harm than good.

Psychological treatment on the other hand has a very high success rate. Only problem is that takes more time and effort than popping a pill.

Fair enough, there isn't one size fits all. Different SSRIs have different effects and the only way for a GP to find out is have the patient try. I disagree with you on "but for *most* people they do more harm than good" but I'm no expert either.

Ideally we'd all have ready and free access to psychologists and psychiatrists. Unfortunately this medical speciality is not attractive and there are few around. In the absence of such help, SSRIs are often the only answer for moderate or severe depression.

Incidentally, GPs don't always start with an SSRI - they often try simple barbituates to calm a person who may be experiencing a temporary condition.

vifferman

13th May 2009, 14:04

Not to mention the increased risk of suicide and self harm SSRIs in under 30's that prompted most countries to issue warnings to doctors.
Interestingly (or perhaps not), when I was talking about this issue, my GP said that it was anecdotal, and there was no evidence that this was the case.
I said, "As a matter of fact, when I was on Aropax, I thought about suicide a lot! Even if I didn't feel like killing myself, the idea was always there." This is what it's about: ideation. It's a small step from there to going through with it.

Incidentally, GPs don't always start with an SSRI - they often try simple barbituates to calm a person who may be experiencing a temporary condition.
I wish my GP had done that. When I decided I was done with medication, he said he would've liked to prescribe "an old-fashioned anti-depressant". The best he could do was one that would've meant I couldn't eat many of the foods I like. I decided the cost wasn't worth it. He said, "Fair enough; I can understand that."