'Being Depressed' and Depression

[zipadeedodah]

I understand that these are different things, but what is the difference? Is depression seen as a longer-term illness, rather than a short-term thing?

How do you know if you are depressed?

Thanks x

[RATTER15]

Same thing!! if you are depressed, you are suffering a bout of depression.

[prinnyhep]

well alot of ppl used the term 'depressed' a bit loosely. ppl say they feel 'depressed' when they just feel a bit down.
i have had depression in the past and it was ALOT more than just bein a bit upset
cxx

[gingersticks]

My friend has been saying she is depressed for the last 3 months. And just recently, she has been self-harming. She went to the hospital yesterday and has now been submitted to a phsychiatrist (if thats how you spell it). I don't think i could class that as depression, as i don't actually see her down, she jus tells me. Is self-harming a form of depression?

[welshfox]

People will say they're depressed when really they're stressed or just feeling a bit down - my understanding is that you have to be diagnosed with depression by a medical practitioner if you were to use that illness as a reason for not going to work or something. It sounds bad when I say it like that - I hope you know what I mean.

A lot of people will have a few bad days and blame it on depression when its not, but a lot of people dont know they are depressed until they are diagnosed with it, and sometimes it occurs as an overlap of some other physical or mental illness.

Theres a huge stigma with depression because a lot of people still believe its a load of rubbish and a lot of people just use it as an excuse to get off work, get benefits etc etc when theres nothing wrong with them which is apalling. For the people who really suffer from it, its horrific. I would say depression is a long term thing personally, but not doubt there'll be someone who disagrees.

Hope it helps x

[andy-hughes]

I suffer from depression, I had a complete breakdown seventeen years ago, I was hospitlised for three months, and off work for nearly a year, so I know the difference!

I have a problem with the condition being called 'depression', simply because it confuses people - thinking that 'depression' and being 'depressed' are one and the same - as RATTER15 does. Put it this way - if being depressed is a sprained ankle, then depression is having your leg cut off with a rusty tin lid - honestly, the different is that wide.

Being depressed is part of the human condition. We all have times, maybe a day or two, when we feel a little bit fed up, but it passes. Everyone has it, it's natural.

Depression is a severe mental illness where the sufferer looses all sense of self and purpose. Simple tasks like making tea, crossing a road, bathing, and so on become beyond him. His mind races constantly, going over and over issues that distress and upset him, with no apparent rest or solution. This takes huge amounts of energy, so he will be lethargic when awake, and sleep for very long periods. The condition can be so hard to bear that death becomes an attractive alternative, hence the suicides of a lot of sufferers.

Treatment involves diagonisng particular type of depression - 'clinical' depression is the mind's response to a lack of certain chemicals produced in the brain - this can be balanced by replacing the chemicals artifically by means of medication. 'Reactive' depression is caused by a serious mental trauma, when the brain defends itself by shutting down and refusing to deal with anything evern remotely taxing. This is usually treated by professional counselling.

A person suffering from depression can often be the last to know, because it's part of the illness to loose the ability to think about yourself, and others, rationally, so the symptoms are usually notivced by fridns and family first.

23:17 Sat 13th Jan 2007

[andy-hughes]

..... If you feel fed up, you are probably depressed, if you seriously think there is no point to anything at all - even getting out of bed - then you may have depression.

Hope that helps.

[andy-hughes]

I have cross-posed with gingersticks and welshfox.

Welshfox thinks as I do - and obviously knows the deeper aspects of this condition. There is still a stigma attatched to mental illness, it is little understood, and therefore feared, but modern treatments and counselling do help many peopoe, sadly not all.

Gingersticks - your friend does have depression - part of the condition is a serious level of self-hatred, which can manifest itself inwardly, as self-harming, or outwardly, byt a determined campaign of agression and hurt towards loved ones as the sufferer tries to ensure that other people hate him the way he hates himself.

Being 'down' is not always a symptom of depression - some sufferers can hide their feelings well, some are bi-polar - the modern term for 'manic depression' which consists of extreme mood swings, from euphoria to tears - they all contribute to the same nightmare.

[gingersticks]

Thanks andy. I just don't know what to say around her or what to do.

[andy-hughes]

Hi gingersticks,

the best thing you can do is 'be there' for her. Don't give here any guff about 'worse things happen at sea ...' or 'you'll get over it ...' which simply will not help!

Try and encourage your friend to talk to you, and try not to interupt when she gets going. She is not just telling you what she feels, she is sorting out her feelings by verbalising them to you, and herself, which does help.

The golden rule is, if you can't say something that is right, or feels good to you, then don't say anything at all. Silence is fine - it's not a tea party (!) - just let your friend talk as much or as little as she wants, and you will be doing the best thing you can for her. Support at these times is priceless.

[Eve]

Fantastic post from Andy. I have clinical depression where I suffer from chemical imbalances which cause me to crash to horribly low levels which have in the past gone so far as self harm and suicidal thoughts.

It can be horribly confusing and hard for other people to understand as the reaction can be completely "abnormal" in the circumstances. I've had points when i can't face certain normal things I usually have no problem with and enjoy, where my mind seems to be having such a battle with itself the only way I can get some peace is just to give in as it's too much to fight. Breaking down especially when others are around is also a horrendous thing as so many people just don't understand and it can be incredibly hard to explain.

For example something mild which leaves you crying uncontrollably and unable to stop for no significant reason especially when you compare it to when really awful things happen and the reaction is not nearly so severe.

I'm on medication to help me and have been told I will probably be on it for life.

As said above it can take a long time to realise the problems and get the appropriate help and treatment espcially due to the nature of the illness.

[gingersticks]

Thanks again andy, thats good advice.

[andy-hughes]

Thank you for your kind words gingersticks and Jenna 1978.

Jenna, like you I am on medication for life - but I regard it as being the same as insulin - it's a chemical I need to function properly - no problem to me. Hope you see it the same way.

[Cetti]

Believe me ( and Andy, and Jenna) there is a difference. It's already been spelled out above so I don't need to add to it - but I can give you an example:

If you are feeling depressed and it's a sunny day with clear blue sky you will still see it clearly. If you're suffering from clinical depression you see neither the sun nor the blue sky - every day is black.

[Eve]

Yes, to me it is all illness which needs medication to keep it under control and after a bit of trial and error have found one that seems to suit me and has helped a lot bar a few blips.

I've had a few problems with getting out of taking them properly and suffering the consequences but now I am far more informed about things and understand things a lot more I find it easier to rationalise things and keep to a treatment programme especially as I'm on my own and it's only me who can get me to a doctor or make sure I take my medicine correctly.

I was lucky enough to come across a fantastic GP who really made a difference and helped me get to the place I am now despite only seeing him a couple of times. His training and understanding made a huge difference to the way I saw things.

[curlylfim]

i've always wondered about this, if you have depression
why cant you have the opposite.........
i have always been happy, no matter what happens in my life, i'm not bothered and remain happy, so i wonder if its, something like the opposite of depression

[zipadeedodah]

Thanks very much for all your answers. I don't have depression myself, but I have a couple of friends a little older than me who have done, and although they've spoken to me about it, I've never come close to understanding what it's been like.

I've heard alot of people using the term 'depressed' quite loosely, it got me thinking a couple of days ago when a friend said they thought I was. The last 2-3 months I've felt pretty down, there are alot of things I don't feel happy about in my life, most of all just myself. I havn't considered myself to be depressed though, more just not happy, it that makes sense.

Thanks again for your answers explaining things from personal points of view, has helped me to understand the conditions much better x

[Robinia]

I can't add anything other than...

depression is when the light has gone out at the end of the tunnel...

[RATTER15]

Andy, sorry if you thought I was making light of depression, I would not do that, I was being factual in what I said, I have known depression at first hand and know how it completely destroys lives and relationships. I didn't elaborate on exactly what depression is as so many people have a far better understanding than me.

There are a lot of theories about what depression is and I'm sure lots of people on here will have their own idea on the subject.

I can see why you see the two as being different, because the word "depressed" does get over used and depression sounds more serious but in fact they are both the same, it is just a different interpretation of the word, sorry if I offended anyone by my over simplification of that comment