Depression

[dave50]

I always thought you only suffered depression if you are constantly worried about things in your life. Why do people suffer from depression who have nothing to worry about? Some are healthy, no money worries, a loving family, nothing in fact that gives a reason to be depressed, so what's it all about? What triggers it?

[Mamyalynne]

It can be for no reason and is often attributed to a chemical imbalance.

[sandyRoe]

It could be triggered by a chemical imbalance. A talk with the GP could be the first step on the road to recovery.

[sandyRoe]

snap, Mamya

[grasscarp]

It is hard to say one cause. I once had post natal depression and that is brought on by the depletion of the certain hormones after giving birth - so a chemical thing. For me this was very severe indeed.

[Sqad]

\\\\Some are healthy, no money worries, a loving family, nothing in fact that gives a reason to be depressed, so what's it all about? What triggers it?\\\

what a very good question.

I don't know.....but will watch this thread with interest.

[bednobs]

depression can be linked to lack of serotonin (which is why a lot of anti-depressants are ssri)

[shoota]

Weeks and weeks of dull grey weather with unrelenting doom and gloom in the news works quite well.

[BlueToffee]

I come into the category of 'shouldn't have anything to worry about'.

My wealth comes only from a loving family around me and sufficient income to be comfortable, then why should I suffer a deep depression over a 15 month period?

I thank my family for helping me through it, my GP for recognising it as an illness and the medication available at the time.

Thankfully, now fully recovered and able to help others who are suffering.

[gness]

And some people are ill, broke and have no family yet remain cheerful and upbeat.
Are depression and worry not two different things?

[bednobs]

when i lost my son, i looked at it the other way from you - the GP wanted to put me on anti-depressants (SSRI) but my point was, why would i have a lack of serotonin from a horrible event happening

[andy-hughes]

The problem is, the name for the condition, and the confusion it cases.

Being 'depressed' is part of the human condition, the downs to go with the ups that make live balanced.

Having Depression is to suffer a serious debilitating and life-threatening mental illness which should have a different name - a name that rings with seriousness like the word 'cancer' does.

As advised, Depression can strike anyone, even the most materially fortunate because extrernal conditions have absolutely no bearing on the condition at all - so the notion that some people 'shouldn't' suffer is a false as saying that rich people shouldn;t get cancer - they do because medical conditions are no respecters of circomstances.

So please spread the word - being depressed is normal and part of life - like sprainng your ankle. Depression is like having your leg cut off without anesthetic - that's how far apart they are.

[gness]

In a nutshell Andy. Well put. x

[EvianBaby]

Please don't confuse being down in the dumps cos the weather is naff with depression.

[evedawn]

I fall into the category of having a wonderful life yet... Recently fell prey to awful depression. No known reason barring some work stress but then again lots of people havd that and dont get depressed. but trust me ... It is a real illness. Never imagined I'd be one of those who could not simply "snap our of it"it has been a long long long road to get
Somewhere nearing normal and am on medication and under a psychiatrist (refered by Gp) my psychiatrist says ots a chemical imbalance caused possibly by genetics, my mother said (just today) that she wonders if my formative years caused it as she suffered from awful depression when I was a child. Whatever the reason .... Depression is not choosy... Nor does it wait for an invite ... In my case is just attacked me for no reason.

[Sqad]

To make sense of this, let us all sing from the same hymn sheet.

Clinical Depression is where your symptoms interfere with your life.....can't sleep, can't concentrate, can't get out of bed and do not want to carry on with life. As andy says...everyone gets fed up, depressed but can still perform the aforementioned functions.....this is normal.

In my rudimentary knowledge of clinical depression, I was taught that it was divided into 2..a)reactive depression b) endogenous depression, the former due to an obvious cause e,g death of near one, financial worries and the latter "out of the blue"(no obvious cause)

I think that i am right in saying that dave in his OP is referring to endogenous depression which is now divided into Unipolar and Bipolar.

So if i am correct, let us concentrate on endogenous depression and no other......if i am wrong about dave's intention...then......well...just then.

[Sqad]

evedawn and i are basically saying the same.

[Captin Kirk]

Definately agree with Shoota in my case.

[Captin Kirk]

I think there is a case for some people being more prone to depression whether it being caused by hereditary conditions or chemical imbalances where one person may be able to naturally ride it out whereas others are brought down by it.

[VHG]

I think there are different levels of depression.

I am 63 years old, worked for an IT company for 30 years, now retired on a good pension, loving wife, wife and I healthy, 4 healthy children, owe my own house (mortgage paid off) and a relative died a year ago and left me £200,000 (which is sitting in the bank).

Plenty to be happy about eh !

But I have been "depressed" for much of my adult life. I dont mean clinically depressed but constantly feeling life is not worth it and feelings of suicide.

I dont enjoy life, I dont enjoy being with other people, I feel no happiness when I achieve anythng (so have given up doing things), holidays are more trouble than they are worth and so on.

I worry about EVERYTHING (I cant enjoy anything for what it is, I have to worry about it).

When I worked in IT I constantly worried if I was going a good job, if what I was doing was the right thing. I got plenty of awards and promotions, but still worried all the time if what I did was good. Everything I created at work had to be PEREFCT and if it was not I got very upset and depressed.

Last year, when I got the money from the relative, I took 5 family members on a holiday to Mexico for a week. In the weeks leading up to it I worried like mad if I had bought all the right stuff to take, how the holiday was going to go, what could go wrong, I worried about losing my pasport at the airport, losing our luggage. Once got there I could not wait to get home.

When life is like that it is HARD WORK and you just want to get away from it.

I am constantly "planning" my suicide in my head. In this recent snowy weather I thought about driving up to a remote part of Scotland, getting out my car and just walking till I collapsed in the snow where no one could find me and die on the spot

But I bet most people who met me, or those that know me, would have no idea I am so depressed inside. All the external signs are that I am OK.

I spoke to my eldest son (35) a few weeks ago about feeling down and he was totally surprised and had no idea so it does not show.

Of course when he and his wife and 2 young children come to visit we put on a nice meal and we all have a great time. What he does not realise is the worry I go through leading up to it, choosing the food to buy, getting the house tidy and so on, everyting has to be RIGHT.

Then ALL the time they are here I worry if they are enjoying themselves and if I am saying the right things, if I am playing with the grand children enough and so on. After they have been here a few hours I cant wait for them to go so I can crash out on the bed from the mental exhaustion of having them (or anyone else) here.

That is what life is like for me. I just dont enjoy it and cant wait for it to end.

[Sqad]

VHG

\\\ I dont mean clinically depressed but constantly feeling life is not worth it and feelings of suicide. \\\

But you have described in the above statement and your excellent post............clinical depression.

Have you sought psychiatric care at any time?