Clinical Depression...a few questions...

[Dave Pavet]

Labeling in the field of psychotherapy has become rather passe over the last decade . It does in fact, in many cases exacerbate a small problem by turning it into a unnecessary, mis-diagnosed , chronic condition. The one-size fits all Freudian model (labeling) Does not fit all. Labeling in most cases becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and a crutch for the therapist rather then an effective aid in helping a client. I would be cautious of a doctor or therapist who is quick to label. For God sake even when they dispense mental meds, they are dispensed in a hit and miss shotgun fashion rather then with the precision aim of a sharp-shooter. Even doctors can not ignore studies that show placebos having the same effect on a patient as the actual meds. You have to find what works for you. Therapy, happy meds, religion, yoga, music, exercise, cooking, whatever. It's about you! Not the ego of the therapist or the so-called treatment.

 

[Tidas]

If labeling is such a large scale problem, which I doubt that it is, then how would anyone be diagnosed with anything? The project of Medicinal Psychology would have been for naught. The problem is not with labeling, as you assert, it is with irresponsible diagnoses and prescriptions. There are some (few) cases in which placebo is as effective as medicine, but telling a sociopath that yoga will make him better is ridiculous. Depression is a medical condition, just as antisocial personality disorder is. (Which is what sociopaths have) Misdiagnosis may occur, but that is always a risk. Your argument here is invalid in that you are arguing against the whole due to the exceptions.

 

[Lacey Feathers]

I am sure that different people react in their own way. I have been diagnosed with it and the only way I can describe it is like a huge black hole that I am in, and I dont feel like I can get out.

Exactly. I have used this exact analogy to describe it... but let me add to it.

Some of us suffer from deep depressions. Not only does it feel as if you are in a deep dark hole, but it feels as if every bit of happiness has been sucked from you. But then, my depressions stem from another mental illness.

In my case, meds help but I still get bouts of depression that the pills don't seem to touch and that seems to be the times that the depression is coming from a source outside rather than inside. But at those times, the depression is just exacerbated beyond what the pills can do.

I think the worst part about chronic or clinical depression is that sometimes you just have no idea why you are so down, so blue and so sad. If I were to know WHY I was sad, I could set about to fix it.

Good luck to your friend. Not so sure I'd want to have my depression broadcasted out there for everyone to see, but you're doing it out of love for a friend and shows that shows you are worried and honestly and sincerely care. You'd be a great addition to anyone's support system and your friend is lucky to have you.

 

[Tidas]

Exactly. I have used this exact analogy to describe it... but let me add to it.

Some of us suffer from deep depressions. Not only does it feel as if you are in a deep dark hole, but it feels as if every bit of happiness has been sucked from you. But then, my depressions stem from another mental illness.

In my case, meds help but I still get bouts of depression that the pills don't seem to touch and that seems to be the times that the depression is coming from a source outside rather than inside. But at those times, the depression is just exacerbated beyond what the pills can do.

I think the worst part about chronic or clinical depression is that sometimes you just have no idea why you are so down, so blue and so sad. If I were to know WHY I was sad, I could set about to fix it.

Good luck to your friend. Not so sure I'd want to have my depression broadcasted out there for everyone to see, but you're doing it out of love for a friend and shows that shows you are worried and honestly and sincerely care. You'd be a great addition to anyone's support system and your friend is lucky to have you.

QFT.

 

[Dave Pavet]

I recently graduated with a B.S. in psychology and labeling is pretty much shunned nowadays. I as of yet may go on to graduate school but I currently prefer to study "Out of the Box". I am curretly reading again, Tolle's "A New Earth", Proust, and a collection of philosophy by will Durant. I think most of these arguments should be settled with stocks, a rack and some creative tickle torture ...To Each their own! I guess you never heard the one about the shrink that charged his patients $1 for the first visit, $2 for the second visit, $4 for the third visit. In fact doubling the price for each visit. Usually by the seventh or eight visit the patent was cured!

 

[jm157]

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this post. I really appreciate Marquis de Sade's desire to find out more about depression because of his contacts with me. There is some fascinating reading here about depression.

As for myself, I am gradually getting back to a certain normalcy in my life. I have been off medications for the last year and a half. I still have some darker moments, but not as long nor dark as I was experiencing when this thread started back in 2008. I have found a job in the last two weeks and I am learning new skills in something that I hope will keep me out of the unemployment lines until I retire!

To anyone who is feeling any of the symptoms descibed here: Please seek professional help before the walls begin closing in on you completely. I truly don't mind that my depression is put out here for all to see if it helps anyone to avoid suffering some of the pain that I have had in the last several years! Get help! It scares me to think of some of the thoughts that have passed through my mind during the dark times. I was lucky! I got help before I hurt myself or someone else!

Once again, thanks to all who have posted here. Thanks to you who sent me messages of support. Your messages were beacons of light in a very dark night!

I ended up on the psych ward for a couple of days, and it took that for me to see that I was not the only person in the world who felt the darkness and hopelessness! That was a realization that helped me a lot!

 

[Bugman]

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this post. I really appreciate Marquis de Sade's desire to find out more about depression because of his contacts with me. There is some fascinating reading here about depression.

As for myself, I am gradually getting back to a certain normalcy in my life. I have been off medications for the last year and a half. I still have some darker moments, but not as long nor dark as I was experiencing when this thread started back in 2008. I have found a job in the last two weeks and I am learning new skills in something that I hope will keep me out of the unemployment lines until I retire!

To anyone who is feeling any of the symptoms described here: Please seek professional help before the walls begin closing in on you completely. I truly don't mind that my depression is put out here for all to see if it helps anyone to avoid suffering some of the pain that I have had in the last several years! Get help! It scares me to think of some of the thoughts that have passed through my mind during the dark times. I was lucky! I got help before I hurt myself or someone else!

Once again, thanks to all who have posted here. Thanks to you who sent me messages of support. Your messages were beacons of light in a very dark night!

I ended up on the psych ward for a couple of days, and it took that for me to see that I was not the only person in the world who felt the darkness and hopelessness! That was a realization that helped me a lot!

I was not aware of this thread until today. As someone who has fought the demon of depression most of my life, I applaud you for stepping up and getting the help you needed. It's not an easy thing to do. All the best to you in the future, and feel free to hit me up with a pm if you ever need someone to talk to, or just someome to listen. It really can help. 🙂

 

[mass1926]

I definately recommend excercise on a daily basis. It boosts adrenaline and produces "good" hormones in the body. I haven't been diagnosed with depression, likely because I've never bothered to see anyone in regards to my ups and downs mood swings. However, when I start exercising daily it really helps regulate my mood better.

 

[obama666]

Even though I disagree with many posts in this segment. It is important to get help if you can't figure it out, without a doubt. I look at at Psychiatrists and Psychologists as "Life Coaches" and would never give them "Omnipotent Status". I would prefer a therapist that empowered me and left me with a cure of self-management. Try something, don't work, get rid of it, try something again and again and eventually something will work. Most fixes are only temporary fixes anyway. Many people seek a permanent fix and utopia does not exist. Life will always be a series of both poor and good judgement.

 

[Tidas]

Life will always be a series of both poor and good judgments.

This is something I can agree with you on 100%.

 

[obama666]

Overall, even though there were some disagreements in this segment. It was important to help others and ourselves with our opinions. I remember there was at one time such a stigma attached to therapy many that suffered from depression would not seek help.