What is the thing that depression effects the most in your life?
I don't have the energy to do anything. I just lay around. And then I stress out work because I don't think I am doing enough.
@sensibleVase9730 Ugh! I just hate the lack of energy. It's exhausting to make yourself do anything. This week I've learned that body, mind, and actions are all intricately connected in depression. It's kind of like the fire triangle we used to learn about in school. In order for fire to exist you have to have air, heat, and fuel. As long as all three of those exist, you have fire. If you take one away...no fire. So now I'm working on practicing mindfulness, tracking my moods and triggers, self-care, and reframing negative self-talk. Slowly but surely some of my energy is returning. I hope you're able to find that energy again because I know how terrible it feels to lack it.
@BridgetAileen Thanks for the encouragement!
What a great thread! Thanks for creating it, @JK17 - reading all of post in here makes me realize once again how universal are feelings of depression.
This is that kind of disorder which affects lots of daily aspects, but I think the one which worries me the most is the way it strips me from my own personality. Suddenly I become something I hate, something which hides in the darkness, under the bed sheets and cannot face the reality. There is no energy left in me to battle the ocean of self-hate - only the pitiful creature who desperately holds onto last threads of hope to survive another day.
The feeling of being cornered in your own mind, inabilty to imagine something else than this hopelessness, not recognizing yourself anymore, is terrifying. And this absolute disappearance of one's self makes it excruciating difficult to reach out and seek help.
Yeah, I'm not a big fan of depression ^^;
@Celaeno Everything you've said it spot on! It's so dibilitating, and often it's impossible to explain it to others who've never experienced it. That's one thing I keep telling my mom, sisters, and friends, "This isn't me. I'm not really like this. I used to be so different!"
I'm learning so much more about depression than I already knew. I had a good basic understanding, but I've been scouring YouTube and TED for videos about depression. I've been working to form new habits...the magical 21 days for a new habit...so that I don't automatically react from a depressed standpoint. Last Thursday, the clouds began to part. I don't expect the depression to be lifted or gone forever, but I do know that I will be better equipped to fight back in the future.
I'm always happy to share anything I've learned or done if it could help lighten the darkness of depression for anyone else. But I also don't want to appear like those who don't "get" depression and give "Pollyanna" advice. I had to come to some realizations about how I thought about, felt about, and used my depression before I began to feel better. But if you ever want to hear more about what I have done this time around, I'm always happy to share.
Lots of hugs to you, my sweet friend!
Depression definitely affected the relationships between me and my family the most. They just don't take the issue seriously and tell me to stop being over dramatic and be happy again. If it were that easy, I would have done it by now. I'm afraid I can't fix the relationships if my family doesn't understand the severity of the situation and therefore doesn't support me.
@rosesandknives, Here's a video I watched this past week that explains depression very well. It also goes into the science of brain imaging to show what's physically happening in a depressed person's brain. Maybe that will help your family members understand better.
That link didn't work correctly. Let me try again
The Truth About Depression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVLAjowFkY4
@BridgetAileen Thank you very much for the video. It's very insightful and I hope it'll make a difference in my family's minds. I truly appreciate the help (:
I just lost the fun from my activities, I don't play video games anymore, I don't sing anymore, I don't freak around to see others smile cause they laughed about it, I don't read, I don't play the guitar anymore, I just lay in my bed and I am stucked in my thoughts.
@Vecarna I understand that all too well. It's such a vicious cycle and isn't easy to break out of. And though it often doesn't feel like it, there is hope. Big hugs!
I just don't want to do anything.. Anymore.. I practically sleep the day away. I don't want to watch the new episodes of my fave shows, I don't even want to leave the house. I barely want to text or be on the phone.. I don't even want to read and I'm a bookworm.. And to constantly hear that I'm doing nothing with my life from my family.. Like I don't already know this
@Rising265 I'm so sorry that your familyisn't being supportive or helpful at a time you really need their support. Many people just don't understand how depression operates and can't even begin to imagine or understand what it's like. Perhaps if they could read or watch some videos about depression and how it effects depressives both mentally physically, your family could provide the support you need. Huge hugs.
@BridgetAileen Thank u, and my family should understand especially when we have a history of mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia.. And others like paranoia and addiction..
@Rising265 Indeed they should!
My relationships with people i push everyone away...i also dont have the drive to get my house stuff done...
My depression affects my relationships with everybody. It is hard to make them feel like I am worth it when I can't make them feel worth it.
Motivation. I don't want to do my work, I don't want to get out of bed or do chores but I NEED to. Then there's that little voice that just keeps saying "why?"
Work.
My moods are unstable and it affects my work life more than anything. It can make it difficult to want to work, to make it through the day. I work in a hospital so I have to be mentally present at all times and when my moods start to drop it can be nigh impossible to remain focused on what I need to stay focused on.
It affects everyting on me, all the things I used doing before that makes me happy, I never did it again. It's just like I don't have any energy to do it. I've been socially awkward now, I don't even know how to deal w/ people or even start a simple and short conversation to anyone. It also affected my mood, I was so bipolar, I easily get angry to simple things. It takes over me, even my life.
