Weekly Prompt #22: Depression Questions & Answers
Welcome back, group! I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
Last week we discussed: Are you feeling the weight of seasonal depression during the holidays? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you
This week's prompt: Depression-related Questions & Answers
I invite all of us to participate and ask any questions related to depression or any thoughts you may have. Please know all thoughts and questions are valid so no matter how small or big it seems, do share with us and we will discuss our thoughts on it together.
Join us in the 24/7 Depression Support Group Chat!
@ASilentObserver mentally I've been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, emotionally unstable and ptsd. So I definetly know I'm depressed, highs and lows all the time. But I'm quite a positive person, how?
@Tinywhisper11 you have been through a lot. Feeling depressed, anxious, and experiencing mood swings can definitely take a toll on one's life. Being able to recognize these challenges and seek support is important. And I think those steps help you feel somewhat positive because it allows you to get out there, share your experiences and get support. Reaching out and accepting own challenges are helpful. How has seeking support helped you cope with these struggles?
@ASilentObserver it's given me the confidence to be me ❤
@ASilentObserver is it common to have like periodic clinical depression episodes?
Do people ever stop having them? Or am I gonna have to learn to live with it? Because I'm preparing for the second option, I'm somehow learning to live with it happening. The episode comes, I patiently wait till it's over and then live my life again for some while. And over and over. Should I get my hopes up or just forget it will ever be better than this? Because it's better not to get disappointed.
The positive point in this is that I know they'll always end sooner or later so I just have to wait it up. Sleep out of it. Recover, move on and try to be productive again for a few days.
@mish3l I am not an expert mish3l but what I can tell you is depression is like a whole spectrum and can vary for one to another depending upon lot of factors. It sounds like you are experiencing recurring bouts of depression, and it can feel challenging to cope with the uncertainty of when the next episode may arise. It is understandable to wonder if you will ever be free from these episodes, but there is hope for improvement. Many people learn to manage their depression through therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
@ASilentObserver you always reply, thanks I am grateful for that ♥️ Yes you're right, the uncertainty is very challenging.
I do the therapy but I don't want to take medication, from my information they have more side effects than advantages 😅
Thanks for giving me hope ♥️ Take care ❤️
@mish3l periodical episodes or seasonal depression is common. It's like a pattern in our brains. I'm not sure the best advice to give, but I believe in option 2, learning to live along side it. Then when we've learnt that, who knows it might get better ❤goodluck with everything ❤ gives you a giant festive tiny hug
Can you ever truly recover from depression? I feel like even in the moments I felt somewhat better, it was a waiting game until I got back depressed again.
@SleepyPersonForever I think it's not trying to get over it, but to learn to live alongside side it. But sweetie don't play the waiting game. Enjoy every bit of happiness you can. Life can be great if we want it to be ❤
@SleepyPersonForever depression has been a difficult experience for you, coming and going. It is understandable to feel frustrated wondering when it might return. What matters most are the moments you find strength and peace within yourself, however brief they may be. Depression can be challenging and it can pop-up from time to time depending on the situation you are in, you know but know your effots help you manage them better as you progress
@SleepyPersonForever
I think so. Cures, remissions and full spontaneous healings are happening pretty consistently, even in super hopeless cases. There's a saying that goes 'the night is darkest before the dawn'. Maybe hard times bring the sweetest sunrises. Hope that makes sense.
@SleepyPersonForever I remember reading that beating mental illness is actually the norm, not the exception. Mental illness is less of a stable trait and more of a bad thing that people experience for awhile. It's also important to remember that life circumstances and your mental state are strongly intertwined. While you can have good experiences and still be depressed, it's also true that improving life circumstances can lessen or eliminate mental illnesses. In the very least, better life conditions can make dealing with depression easier. Don't resign yourself to the idea that you're going to be like this forever.
Dealing with conditions can actually get easier as you age. Typically you're most mentally at risk in your twenties and then you are more likely to improve in your 30s and beyond. I remember reading how symptoms of anxiety can lessen/be eliminated completely around age 50 (not to mention that having low magnesium levels can lead to anxiety so simply taking magnesium/vitamin D supplements can help as well, please talk to a health professional first though). Even if you have a condition with low rates of remission, it's very possible to get to the point where managing your condition becomes secondary nature. If you seek treatment and do your best to manage things, you have every reason to believe that you'll make huge improvements.
I read in a mental health news article decades ago, saying that people with depression end up with higher risks of heart attack or a shortened lifespan. Is that true? I remember when I read this article, I was at one of my climax moments of depression, and back then, I always imagined myself passing at a young age or that there isn't really a future where I can reach milestones, because I won't be around by then.
Nowadays, my depression is not the center of attention and it only affects me occasionally, I'm having a little bit more hope for the good things to happen in the future. There is some hope there, but during those depressive episodes, it all comes crashing down. It's like, the hope keeps getting shattered for every depressive episode, then when it finally begins to take form, another episode hits. There is no hope that is for the long-term or that stands firm, it's always a wall that is broken down.
@Jaeteuk Thank you for opening up and sharing with us, Jae It sounds like those depressive episodes have weighed heavily on you for a long time, constantly shattering any hope for a stable future. I am glad to hear you're experiencing less depression now and having more hope, even if it's not yet long-term or firm. How have you managed to continue building some hope between episodes when it feels so fleeting?
Well, in the back of my mind, I know I want to be happy or feel less depressed. Nowadays, my depressive episodes are mostly from work and during my birthdays. Work, you might have heard me talk about it everywhere in 7Cups. I get influenced easily with colleagues who give me attitude or complaints or misunderstanding my intentions. Which unfortunately always happen at the beginning of my shift, then I'll be depressed for the day.
I try to keep my mind open for the possibility of achieving my dream career. Since Covid, I have been making progress to make it happen. It was on hold for about a year and a half because of a sudden financial crisis. Now, I'm slowly getting back on track. With the possible changes from work in the near future, I try to stay motivated and determined to making more steps to achieving that dream career. I'll still let those depressive episodes come and go as it pleases, then keep learning each time how I could better cope with it. I know depression will never leave my life completely, because in a way, my mind still turns towards negative thoughts automatically, but it's just over the years, having been through so many traumas, major depressive episodes, I've continuously grew more skills to deal with it, developing more and new insights to my own problems. Even when hope seems far, I still want to keep a thread attached.
@Jaeteuk It looks like working with unsupportive colleagues and facing misunderstandings has made achieving your dream career feel challenging at times. I get it how developing new coping skills over the years has helped you better handle negative thoughts, even when hope seems distant. And yes your determination to continue growing in insight shows real strength of character.
My current career, I had once felt it could be a dream career. But colleagues/teammates, have made things so difficult that I don't know if I'll be able to stay to retirement. Also, with the lack of hours worked, I don't stand a chance getting a permanent position either. So, no paid vacation or medical insurance.. that's not the way to go either for long-term.
So, I'm working on my primary dream career. Been working on a Cover Letter and making the Resumé tailored to the company I will apply for next year. I have 2 options in mind for next year. Need to continue to chasing my dreams, had never forgotten about it. Only had it on hold because of a financial problem, but it seems, that the next 2 years will be the best time to at least try to apply to those jobs. No regrets even if they don't hire me, at least I had tried.
@Jaeteuk It sounds like you have been dealing with a difficult work situation that's left you feeling unsure about your long-term career path. Pursuing your dreams can be challenging but also rewarding.
Obs, since the last few months.. it has been hard, because of misunderstandings and having my intentions interpreted negatively, the atmosphere around myself and that specific colleague had became really bad.. right now, even knowing we'll be working overlapping hours makes me feel depressed. I'm basically just upset that the person never helps with shared tasks, and things that look logical to help with is never done by them.
How can one person be so different? Before that person joined our team/department, I always passed by where they worked.. We'd have good conversations and even helped me with some problems regarding our Manager (back then, we worked in the same department but just different areas). I was thankful back then, that they gave me the know-hows in how to deal with the Manager. Now that we're on the same team, working together.. everything I've said or informed about, was all given back to be with responses that are negative. Basically all the initial response was that I'm telling them information they already know and that I'm making myself sound arrogant. Rather than responding with, "Thank you for the reminder, but I already know about this", it's responded with "You don't need to tell me this, I already knew about it".. the order of how people speak makes a difference in a positive vs negative comment. It's depressing to hear the negative comment everytime I try to inform out of kindness, even if they already know about it, take it as a reminder, don't have to be offensive about it.
So now, there are zero interaction between us.. and I try to avoid being in the same area as them.. I cannot put my own mental health on the line when being in their presence makes me feel depressed.
I'm excited in pursuing my dream career. Slowly making some progress. I can't wait until I send out that Cover Letter and Resumé next year.
@Jaeteuk It is wonderful to hear your excitement as you work towards your dream career. Pursuing our passions can be very fulfilling. I am glad you feel you're making progress - small steps over time can lead to big things. The situation with your colleague has become quite difficult and upsetting. Feeling depressed about having to work with someone where the atmosphere has deteriorated is understandable. Receiving negative responses feels discouraging when you aim to be helpful. While you value providing reminders out of kindness. I understand feeling depressed in another's presence can negatively impact your well-being. Reflecting on distance and avoiding interaction seem steps toward prioritizing your mental health.
I've been trying to be more aware of my mental health ever since I came off medications 8 years ago. Trying to figure out what influences me and brings my mood down, then either end up avoiding it, or have more productive coping strategies.
Yesterday, that colleague suddenly spoke to me.. but in a very annoyed tone. But it was relaying a message.. we had a machine broken down for a few weeks, she came to me saying it's fixed now, but she has been too busy to run tests. Basically telling me to do it. But her tone when she said all that seemed annoyed. Then, after running the tests, she came back from her lunch break, there was an item that's really hot, she goes on telling me she called for a little table for me to put the thing on.. I was hit by surprise yesterday.. she spoke to me twice, and once was actually being helpful.
But on another note, my day started off with others talking bad things about me in front of me.. long story short, I left a note with a comment about our recycling of plastic bottles.. although I had my earphones on and listening to music in the lunch room.. they spoke loud enough for me to hear.. Luckily none of them knew that note was written by me, so they didn't know they were bad-mouthing me as they talked about how stupid the note was and used some profanity. Apparently one of the nurses left a reply on it, I didn't read it.. but the person talking about it read my note out loud, then the other nurse's reply out loud. Both of us were I the room along with at least 8 others.. felt myself either embarrassed or angry as I felt my face feeling hot. So I turned up my music slightly louder. Throughout the day though, the nurse that wrote the response kept spreading my comment around.. asking all her buddies if they saw the note.. so, all through my shift, I continuously heard others talking badly of the note I left.. like I said though, luckily no one knew that it was I who wrote it.. I used the type of writing that I haven't often used at work.. so, no one recognized my writing. During work, it's not like I could listen to my own music with earphones.. so, I kept telling myself to calm down.. took some deep breaths, thought about the joy in preparing the Cover Letter and Resumé for my dream job, and think of my favorite songs.. yesterday was definitely a roller coaster of emotions..
First, feeling joy and happiness as I worked on my Cover Letter, then feeling embarrassed/angry that there were some people talking badly of my note, then having that colleague speak to me twice and even helped me with getting that table, then continuously hearing that one nurse spread around what my note read.. making the wave of emotions go up and down, until she left at 5:30pm.. they tossed the note in the garbage in the morning.. but even seeing the bin of bottles now, reminds me of how they were talking about me.. which still gets me a bit angry.. I guess all of them are too rich to think that my comment makes sense and don't agree to it. Not agreeing is one thing, using profanity and saying how stupid my comment was is another thing.
Telling you about this now, Obs, early in the morning, well before my shift, upsets me. So, I'll go sit in the cafeteria shortly, listen to my music, and work on my Resumé, so that it can bring my mood up again in time for my shift.
@Jaeteuk It seems like you had a difficult day at work with various negative interactions and mixed signals from a colleague. You are experiencing a range of emotions, from feeling happy while working on your cover letter to feeling embarrassed and angry due to the negative comments. Feeling embarrassed and angry can be difficult emotions to navigate, especially when others are involved. While focusing on positive tasks like working on your resume can help improve your mood before your shift. Please know it is okay to feel these emotions, and taking deep breaths can help you manage them. I am glad you are taking your small steps and you have been on quite a journey of self-discovery and awareness regarding your mental health.
@ASilentObserver
Is it okay to take medication? I've heard all these terrible things about depression medication but I am not sure if it's true. I was recently told that I have moderately severe depression. If I'm told by a professional that I should take them, then I will, because I also agree that therapy alone has not helped me enough to recover, but these rumours have somewhat scared me.
@ItsReganingRain It is understandable to feel scared by rumours, especially about something as personal as your health and treatment. Your concerns about finding the right path forward are very valid. However, I think it also depends on your diagnosis and what your therapist think about. You can always ask your therapist if it is really needed to take meds. It will allow you to hear their insights and thoughts that may help you make your decisions.
@ItsReganingRain
Maybe there's a way for you to get in touch with the answers within you. I hear there are many ways to do this, from reflecting on one's dreams, to vision quests to simply spending time in nature! Is that something that resonates with you?
Yes, there are iatrogenic illness that does occur due to medication, and hundreds of thousands are misdiagnosed every year and either die or end up with decreased quality of life, while the practitioner ends up with nothing but a slap on the wrist. It is a drug, after all, and the system and people are flawed.
It sometimes sucks that all these grey areas and uncertainties exists. We want and need an answer and one is never forthcoming, just more fog in the darkness. Makes one want to go full Voldemort. But in the end we are all left alone in this great adventure called life with our own choices and responsibilities to make.
What areas of your life do you feel confident and capable in? How can they help you more? What can you control and influence, and what can you let go? Are there alternative methods you're willing to explore, such as Chinese medicine, or diet and exercise? How's your relationships? I hear before we do something as important as going on meds, we need to look around see if we aren't just surrounded by ***. Pardon my french.
I got mild depression because of breakup, It's been 6 months, I'm worry with my life, my career. I feel stuck and paralyzed.
@oylic You are Love You are Light You are Life.
@oylic Thank you for opening up and sharing with us Oylic. It sounds like you have been struggling with feelings of sadness and worry since the breakup. Those emotions can be really difficult to work through. You mentioned feeling stuck - is there anything in particular that makes you feel that way?
I was in denial about being depressed because I am so busy with doing for others trying to be the perfect friend sister wife co worker mother.. Hold up what about me that was the problem. My cup was empty when it came to me. Dating myself at 50+
Not only seasonal i am in huge depression i feel so useless and unworthy everyday i dont know how to cope with it its getting harder everyday
@Mekuland3050 I am so sorry to hear you've been feeling useless and unworthy. Feeling that way everyday sounds incredibly difficult to cope with. What matters most right now is that you are here and sharing with us. Every step counts. Please know we are all here with you to listen to and to support.
@ASilentObserver
I was recently diagnosed with MDD and PSTD .I have been struggling to cope with it the new diagnosises have triggered my BPD , bipolar and bulimia .I go through phrases of being really happy then the next really depressed
@Georginahowe Thank you for sharing about your recent diagnoses and struggles, Georgina. It sounds like a difficult time dealing with many emotional challenges. You mentioned triggers - is there anything in particular that seems to make one mood state more likely? I am glad you reached out and sharing your experiences with us. very important step
I think I had beaten the seasonal blues. But it's november. Gotta see how december comes.
