Most people don't know anything about real depression...

• manasou wrote on 2011-02-13 06:35
  Depression is depression. Many people overlook it and also think it's like an illness that can be cured. I myself have been suffering from depression. I lost a lot of weight because I simply didn't have the will to eat sometimes. It doesn't mean I've given up completely though. I TRY to get by like any other person, but the troubling feeling or anxiety is still there and it's still lingering. That's what depression is to me at least. It's like drowning and all you can really do is try to reach for the surface. The only way to get rid of it is to make things better. There is a difference between sadness and depression; depression being long term and sadness short term.
• Cynic wrote on 2011-02-13 07:16

  Quote from Lan;333270:

  Does medication prescribed for mental illness actually work? I've heard somewhere that they have no real proof that they'll significantly help, but since I have no experience on the subject I have no idea.

  
  
  I am pretty sure it does, though it really depends on the actual problem you have. The only reason my anti-depressants work is because they are meant to treat the chemical imbalance in my brain. I have taken other medications for a similar case, though they did little to nothing.
• Mama wrote on 2011-02-13 18:39

  Quote from Lan;333270:

  Does medication prescribed for mental illness actually work? I've heard somewhere that they have no real proof that they'll significantly help, but since I have no experience on the subject I have no idea.

  
  
  it varies person to person, but it depends greatly on the kind of illness you have. for example if someone seems depressed and you give them anti-depressants and it doesn't work at all, you either try a different kind of antidepressant or consider exploring a diagnosis of bipolar disorder which is treated exclusively with lithium. Hell, the person might only need therapy, or therapy AND a certain type of drug to get better. people are extremely fickle.
  
  there are lots of anti-depressents including SSRI's, MAO inhibitors, tricyclics. . . they all have their separate risks so a physician might give you only one type because it has the least serious side effects. depression is largely misdiagnosed and overdiagnosed so they don't want to prescribe a serious drug unless they're certain their patient isn't faking it, otherwise they might get sued and/or get their licence revoked.
  
  I know someone with major depressive disorder, and he told us that none of the medications worked until his physician gave him some really new drug, where he suddenly felt normal.
  
  @naked why are you letting yourself be seen by 'crazy doctors'? there are professionals who take advantage of people in absolutely every professional field imaginable.
  
  i've heard of high morbidity in mental illnessess but your case is just ridiculous. how did it get that bad?
• Taycat wrote on 2011-02-13 20:43

  Quote from Lan;333270:

  Does medication prescribed for mental illness actually work? I've heard somewhere that they have no real proof that they'll significantly help, but since I have no experience on the subject I have no idea.

  
  
  I took a pill that was supposed to help my anger management.
  
  It really helped until I couldn't afford it anymore/my insurance couldn't afford it.
  
  I don't remember which it was.....
• Cynic wrote on 2011-02-13 20:47
  lolHanna.
  
  Mental disorders are indeed legit. Although I have to agree that they label some things that honestly aren't even a 'disorder', but.. I can assure they are indeed real. The world may be a greedy, sick place, but that doesn't mean they're greedy enough to make up every disorder.
  Some things are legit, other things people do indeed just label unnecessarily.
• Taycat wrote on 2011-02-13 21:00

  Quote from Cynic;334571:

  lolHanna.
  
  Mental disorders are indeed legit. Although I have to agree that they label some things that honestly aren't even a 'disorder', but.. I can assure they are indeed real. The world may be a greedy, sick place, but that doesn't mean they're greedy enough to make up every disorder.
  Some things are legit, other things people do indeed just label unnecessarily.

  
  
  Like ADHD?
  
  Always will be mislabeled by parents....
• Adelynn wrote on 2011-02-13 23:48
  The symptoms sound like something I have, but I think It's more likely that I have G.A.D.
  
  Too bad I don't have insurance, so for now, sucking it up and dealing with it. I would like to check it out, and if I do have it, then oh well, time to work on it, and if I don't, well then I don't, and that's great, right?
  Still, I've had those "moments" where I'm just one big "blah". It's probably something. I just don't know what.
  Mom has an anxiety disorder and hyperthyroidism, I believe?
• Taycat wrote on 2011-02-14 03:11
  What's GAD?
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-02-14 08:16

  Quote from kNocturn;335286:

  What's GAD?

  
  
  Generalized anxiety disorder
  Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common condition. Genes may play a role. Stressful life situations or learned behavior may also contribute to the development of GAD.
  
  The disorder may start at any time in life, including childhood. Most people with the disorder report that they have been anxious for as long as they can remember. GAD occurs somewhat more often in women than in men.
  Symptoms
  
  The main symptom is the almost constant presence of worry or tension, even when there is little or no cause. Worries seem to float from one problem to another, such as family or relationship problems, work issues, money, health, and other problems.
  
  Even when aware that their worries or fears are stronger than needed, a person with GAD still has difficulty controlling them.
  
  Other symptoms include:
  
  *
  
  Difficulty concentrating
  *
  
  Fatigue
  *
  
  Irritability
  *
  
  Problems falling or staying asleep, and sleep that is often restless and unsatisfying
  *
  
  Restlessness or feeling keyed up or "on the edge," often becoming startled very easily
  
  Along with the worries and anxieties, a number of physical symptoms may also be present, including muscle tension (shakiness, headaches).
  
  Depression and substance abuse may occur with an anxiety disorder.
  
  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001915
  
  It's not as potent as other disorders
• Adelynn wrote on 2011-02-14 17:21

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;335715:

  Generalized anxiety disorder
  Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common condition. Genes may play a role. Stressful life situations or learned behavior may also contribute to the development of GAD.
  
  The disorder may start at any time in life, including childhood. Most people with the disorder report that they have been anxious for as long as they can remember. GAD occurs somewhat more often in women than in men.
  Symptoms
  
  The main symptom is the almost constant presence of worry or tension, even when there is little or no cause. Worries seem to float from one problem to another, such as family or relationship problems, work issues, money, health, and other problems.
  
  Even when aware that their worries or fears are stronger than needed, a person with GAD still has difficulty controlling them.
  
  Other symptoms include:
  
  *
  
  Difficulty concentrating
  *
  
  Fatigue
  *
  
  Irritability
  *
  
  Problems falling or staying asleep, and sleep that is often restless and unsatisfying
  *
  
  Restlessness or feeling keyed up or "on the edge," often becoming startled very easily
  
  Along with the worries and anxieties, a number of physical symptoms may also be present, including muscle tension (shakiness, headaches).
  
  Depression and substance abuse may occur with an anxiety disorder.
  
  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001915
  
  It's not as potent as other disorders

  
  
  This sounds more along the lines of what I go through. It might be partially learned, partially genetic for me.
  
  There's a reason I don't like going anywhere with my parents. It seems like every adult they know (themselves included, and especially mom) always talk about people that died, people that are sick, how easy it is to get sick, how stress gets you sick, and of course, that only agitates me more. Gah. Can they talk about something good? It's always the same conversation. *_*