Stigma Of Depression

[anthro-nerd]

I suffer with depression and I'm not ashamed... it's an illness like any other and I'm on medication and I have to manage my thought process on a daily basis - often downplaying it to others.

I've recently had what I call a 'dip', and I'm sick of people saying 'you're just having a bad day' or 'come on, cheer up'. I realise it's difficult to understand, but if I could just 'cheer up' I would! It's so much more than that, because people can't 'see' it, they think I'm just being dramatic.

How do other people deal with this stimga? It's so difficult to shrug it off sometimes.

[Khandro]

anthro; I see. It seems that even though you have two dogs you feel as if you are not doing enough for them when you say, "it makes me more anxious feeling like a bad dog owner", I can guarantee that isn't what the dogs think :0)
You sound as though at the moment, your self-esteem is rather low.

[anthro-nerd]

Khandro you're not the first person to say that about my self esteem.

[Guilbert53]

People do treat physical illness different to mental illness.

My sister had cancer a few years ago and I (along with others in the family) all sent her a Get Well Soon card.

But I have had depression on and off over the years, and some quite bad attacks, and even though my family knew I have NEVER had a Get Well Soon card from anyone.

[ummmm]

I think though Guilbert that depression is not something that can be cured. It can be helped, but not cured.

[Khandro]

anthro; Mind has a web page on this, accepting that this might be at the root of your feelings, could be the first step to self-help.

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-esteem/#.WoVju6jwa70

[ladybirder]

Here's a YouTube video about Black Dog.

[DarceyK123]

Anthro, do you work? How do your employers make you you feel, guilty I bet.

[anthro-nerd]

Darcey, very very lucky to have employers that want to understand and help wherever possible. I know I'm very lucky in that respect.

[DarceyK123]

Oh that's good, I'm glad to hear that,

where I work they are not that good at dealing with illness of any kind, they always end up making the person feel guilty, rushing them back to work before they are ready.

[Islay]

I think there is a certain amount of 'pull yourself together' needed thought!
Before I am shot down!! Yes I have suffered with depression have been on medication and off long term and have been sucicidal! But it got to the point where hiding under the duvet and in the house was not helping me! There was only one person that could help me and that was me!
So I dragged my *** back to work and got on with it - it took time but I got there!

[emmie]

i don't mix with a lot of people now, i try but no one knows what i have gone through, 2 major breakdowns in the last few years left me feeling all was lost, but things have got a bit better, though now most of my ills are physical which is such a downer.
I wish you well and know what you are going through, cheer up isn't what you want to hear, i know..

[anthro-nerd]

Thanks Emmie.

And Islay, I do understand what you're saying - there is a huge degree of you need to help yourself 100%, and for that reason I'm in work today. Sometimes I need time and sleep, other times I need to get my butt out the front door. It's all about understanding your individual illness, and what works for someone might not work for someone else. :-)

[Mamyalynne]

I won't repeat all the great advice that's been given already, hard though it is try to understand that others don't mean to be hurtful - they just don't know the right things to say and do.

You have some great support around you and that's excellent.

I hope as Spring is around the corner you may experience some lighter days ahead too.

[dave50]

I have never suffered from depression so no I dont understand it either. I have always wondered however if it is always people who are pessimists that suffer from depression because I cant see that an optimist would? Am I correct or that too simplistic?

[anthro-nerd]

Dave, its a chemical imbalance of serotonin in your brain that causes depression, much like chemical imbalances with insulin that causes diabetes. I take medication which helps me.

It's got nothing to do with optimism or pessimism. :-)

[beso]

Have you tried physical exercise? It releases endorphines which will help combat the serotonin problems.

Even a brisk walk is good. I ride unicycles. It combines physicality with what is essentially a meditation because it requires quite substantial focus.

[anthro-nerd]

Beso, yes I run 3 times a week and it really does help :-)

[jordyboy14]

Hello anthro sorry to hear about your problem can’t give any advice as I have never personally had anything like that,sure I have been fed up or sad but nothing so serious as you have,strange thing though in the early or late 1940s I remember my mother,neighbors and my aunts would sometimes take to thier beds and stay for about a week at a time thinking back that must have been a form of depression in those days