Depression

[sara1998]

Originally Posted by skcin

Bitch, please. You know you're going to sit here on The Ledge all damn day with us. As usual, I attempt humor to lighten up a heavy situation.

I beg your pardon, hooker, but I have written half a paragraph on my paper and am in the middle of cleaning the upstairs bathrooms. I won't be on here ALL damn day....

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by carrie721

has anyone here tried light therapy? y'know, with the light boxes that are supposed to simulate sunlight? just wondering if anyone has had success with one of those.

I haven't but was going to. The boxes start at $200. The aerobic exercise you are already doing is the best defense. It doesn't work for moderate to severe though where meds might be necessary.

My rule of thumb is if you think you "might be" depressed go see your doctor. But I totally get that people don't and when I was I didn't. Until I got the book Feeling Good and took their test that rates your depression. What I thought was mild depression was severe. I'd just had it for so long I'd forgotten what normal was like, my baseline was way off.

[sara1998]

Originally Posted by carrie721

has anyone here tried light therapy? y'know, with the light boxes that are supposed to simulate sunlight? just wondering if anyone has had success with one of those.

Honestly, if it's that bad for me, I go to the tanning bed!

[skcin]

Originally Posted by sara1998

I beg your pardon, hooker, but I have written half a paragraph on my paper and am in the middle of cleaning the upstairs bathrooms. I won't be on here ALL damn day....

If you say so. I'll be watching you....

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

Anyone dealing with it right now? Because… I am! (she says enthusiastically )

Just curious. It’s been hitting me hard lately; there’s something about October and November that just ****s me right up. Everything affects me more than usual, even the stupidest and most insignificant of things. I get easily jealous, and that’s the worst part. I'm a terrible person. Blahblahblah. I’m not even sure why I’m telling everyone this. Mostly to get it off my chest, I guess.

So, am I as alone as I think I am?

Front and center right here. I have beenj battling it for most of my adult life, only last year finally starting to take meds for it. It's a terrible thing. OPNe of my personal side affects is that I eat when I get depressed, and it certainly hasnt helped my waistline. Also, I made terribly foolish decisions with regards to money. WHat would happen is that I'd have mood swings, and when I was really up I'd go out and spend money like it was nothing. For these decisions I have wound up approximately $17,000 in the hole. Please get help if any of the things I mentioned apply to you.

[DrummerDeanna]

^^
Retail therapy? I'm totally guilty of that too. And it is a terrible affliction - but I don't do it when I'm up - usually if I'm down I go shopping - spend money (that I sometimes don't have) and then I feel slightly better - you know until I have to pay my bills...

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

^^
Retail therapy? I'm totally guilty of that too. And it is a terrible affliction - but I don't do it when I'm up - usually if I'm down I go shopping - spend money (that I sometimes don't have) and then I feel slightly better - you know until I have to pay my bills...

The only bright side to that for me is that quite a bit of the money I've used over the last 4 years to partake in the Fleetwood Mac/Stevie/Lindsey tours. Yes, foolish practically, but the way I look at it is that at least I have a momrey of what I spent.

[mikeschmike]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

The only bright side to that for me is that quite a bit of the money I've used over the last 4 years to partake in the Fleetwood Mac/Stevie/Lindsey tours. Yes, foolish practically, but the way I look at it is that at least I have a momrey of what I spent.

It's all about the momrey's.

I'm not that afflicted by the lure of retail. I must be too cheap for it. I do have my up and down days though, that's for sure.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

The only bright side to that for me is that quite a bit of the money I've used over the last 4 years to partake in the Fleetwood Mac/Stevie/Lindsey tours. Yes, foolish practically, but the way I look at it is that at least I have a momrey of what I spent.

That is good - at least you have good memories etc.

Unfortunately I had a pretty good handle on my credit card - until I moved across the country and had a month where I got no paycheck...

Blah. But with Suze Orman's help and my pay raise - I am heading back in the right direction!

[estranged4life]

Weird, I am at my happiest this time of year considering how many family deaths I had to endure during Oct.-Nov. of years past (ie-Losing both my Father & Grandfather in a 3 week stretch).

When the weather gets cold, grey & dreary I am super-chipper, but when the weather is warm, sunny w/blue skies I am depressed (Plus, being allergic to sunlight doesnt help matters-I am limited to only about 2.5 hours of direct sunlight a day before I become ill) so maybe my mind is wired different.

[estranged4life]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

^^
Retail therapy? I'm totally guilty of that too. And it is a terrible affliction - but I don't do it when I'm up - usually if I'm down I go shopping - spend money (that I sometimes don't have) and then I feel slightly better - you know until I have to pay my bills...

but when Deb ended up in the hospital from Dec.2003-March 2004 I quit worrying about the bills & worried about more important things.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Front and center right here. I have beenj battling it for most of my adult life, only last year finally starting to take meds for it. It's a terrible thing. OPNe of my personal side affects is that I eat when I get depressed, and it certainly hasnt helped my waistline. Also, I made terribly foolish decisions with regards to money. WHat would happen is that I'd have mood swings, and when I was really up I'd go out and spend money like it was nothing. For these decisions I have wound up approximately $17,000 in the hole. Please get help if any of the things I mentioned apply to you.

Holy sh*t dude. $17,000? Your symptoms sounds like more than depression to me. Glad you've gotten help since then, hope you're doing better.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

Anyone dealing with it right now? Because… I am! (she says enthusiastically )

Just curious. It’s been hitting me hard lately; there’s something about October and November that just ****s me right up. Everything affects me more than usual, even the stupidest and most insignificant of things. I get easily jealous, and that’s the worst part. I'm a terrible person. Blahblahblah. I’m not even sure why I’m telling everyone this. Mostly to get it off my chest, I guess.

So, am I as alone as I think I am?

No. I am going through the same thing right now. In fact once I finish my lunch, I'm going to go lay down, take a nap and then go out and participate in some retail therapy. I do take meds for depression but sometimes life and my workload test the limits of that. As my late mother used to say, this too shall pass.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by sara1998

I usually go through a seasonal depression in fall, and as a result of it, I took today off work, so I can sit and do something for me today.

Amen sister. I turned the ringer off on my phone about 20 minutes ago. That's all for today. If it can't wait 'til later or tomorrow, then oh well.

[goldustsongbird]

Hey guys. Actually - you're all right. I am clinically depressed, and have told my therapist about it. We've discussed medication a few times, but at the moment, I'm hesitant. Don't get me wrong, I've considered it, but I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with some of the side effects... Especially not the possibility of weight gain. I'm trying to *lose* weight! That sounds a little vain, I guess, but a lot of it also has to do with the history of my family. I'm a little leery depending on any kind of drug. }

SAD isn't something I've been diagnosed with, but I've probably got it. In any case, this weather doesn't help matters.

Originally Posted by carrie721

of course you're not alone, hon. you know what i've been through, and several others here have shared their experiences. it'll get better as long as you take care of yourself. unfortunately, that can be hard to do when you feel like ****, right? i agree with ryan in that what you described does sound more severe than seasonal stuff - have you told your doc? email me plz! sorry i couldn't talk last night ... i didn't get home from work until almost midnight and was pretty much comatose . hopefully we can talk tonight.

I know, it just seems like other people seem to get over whatever they're going through quickly, no matter how hard, and I'm the one left behind to struggle.

Eclipse - I usually get dressed and made-up, even if I'm not going anywhere, but sometimes that depresses me even more. It's the whole 'all dressed up and no place to go' thing. Everyone else has something to do with someone somewhere... and I'm here online, or watching TV, or just... doin' nothing.

Irish - I have a pet. My budgie, Nelly is usually good company. And you can bet she keeps me company. She's a demanding little bitch.

Deanna - the jealousy thing is ridiculous! It happens over the smallest things; things I know I probably shouldn't get mad over, but I can't help it. Especially now. I hate feeling left out of things. Because it has to do with my actual depression, it occurs whenever, it's just that the change in seasons heightens and magnifies everything. Funny, it doesn't seem to magnify the good.