[Tom White]

I`m a recovering Irish Catholic Alcoholic there isn`t anything i can`t tell you about "depression".

Really now?  We have a depression expert in our midsts; wow.  What the heck are you doing cleaning windows when you could be out saving people from a life threatening illness, and earning a fortune while you're at it.

Incidentally there is no such thing as Addiction and Alcoholism is not a disease.

No such thing as addiction?  Me and the mainstream medical profession would disagree.  I agree with alcoholism not being a disease though; it's an illness, a mental illness; and you're obviously still mental.

Ditch the pills,they`ll make you come funny !

Plus you are almost certainly not depressed enough for medication,don`t let anyone get you into "patient" mode,they will get more out of it than you unless you are devilishly cunning.

Anyway your on here spouting so your fixed,

Erm, this is a window cleaning forum, not somewhere where we give medical advice of this nature.  Stupid advice - just like this - has killed people in the past.

Added later:

Apologies for the sarcastic tone of my post; your intentions were honourable, though the advice you gave was really misguided.  Medical advice of this nature HAS to be left to those qualified to deal with it.  No 'ifs', no 'buts'.  

Anymore of this type of advice and the harsh fonts will be coming out the bag.  Are we clear?

[SunShineCleaning]

Hope you get things sorted long term, been there, missed 6 months of my life!!

Whatever you are on I wish I had had them as a 10 day turn around sounds awesome, took me months.

[richardlingard]

lol Tosh, your quality mate :-)

[Tom White]

lol Tosh, your quality mate :-)

Thanks, I know! 

But I would say that there are complimentary approaches towards depression that people can take; they're safe - and those suffering should still take any prescribed medication.  Have a google for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, it's pretty mainstream these days; I've a friend who is a mental health worker who teaches this to people suffering with depression.

There's also some helpful books such as:

The Mindful Way Through Depression:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286

Full Catastrophe Living - Mindfulness Meditation
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Full-Catastrophe-Living-mindfulness-meditation/dp/0749915854/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337691422&sr=1-1

I recommend both the above.  But to even start such an approach, medical help is sometimes required to get on an even keel.

[Paul Coleman]

finally had enough couple of weeks ago constantly not being bothered with work and that just couldnt for life of me want to get up for work after last year everything chipping away at me i knew it wasnt just me being lazy and not bothering coz i do care about my business ive probably felt like this for going on a year and some have mentioned id prob have a sort of breakdown but iv been on anti depressant now for ten days and got the motivation back and my heads a lot clearer now i dont feel like im hitting brick walls all the time,

been leaflet dropping about 3000 a week and canvassing and we picked up 50 odd new customers last week soon have second van back out!! i cant wait to get out everyday now

Glad to hear that you're sorting yourself out Richy.
Please remember though that the ADs are giving you an artificial sense of security so please please please go easy on yourself.
My own life has not been problem free either.  I did try a few ways of helping myself cope with life and all its complications.  It took me a long time but I eventually realised that I was tackling it from the wrong direction.  Instead of finding ways to cope with life's complications, I should have been simplifying my life.  Going the latter route was ego deflating at first but as a good friend of mine used to say, you can't save your face and your a*se at the same time. .  That one simple sentence saved my bacon and has reverberated in my mind down the years.

[g.brookes]

glad to hear youre on the mend.  my girlfriend suffers from depression so i know a bit about it.  being depressed is no different from having cancer or some other disease.  its simply a chemical imbalance in your head, its not your fault.  its essential that you take the medication because it is only that that can balance the chemicals in your brain.  no amount of fresh air, or good attitude can solve depression.  obviously it helps but first find the right anti depression pills, then get to work on improving all aspects of your life

[Ian101]

*popcorn .................. get your popcorn here* 

??

dont get that one ?

[H S and Son]

*ROLL-UP ROLL-UP*

ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR   

[Ian101]

aahhh I see now ... duh !

[mikecam]

Added later:

Apologies for the sarcastic tone of my post; your intentions were honourable, though the advice you gave was really misguided.  Medical advice of this nature HAS to be left to those qualified to deal with it.  No 'ifs', no 'buts'.  

Anymore of this type of advice and the harsh fonts will be coming out the bag.  Are we clear?

Ha ha ha !!!!!   

[Harry Robins]

Glad you have turned things around

[G Griffin]

finally had enough couple of weeks ago constantly not being bothered with work and that just couldnt for life of me want to get up for work after last year everything chipping away at me i knew it wasnt just me being lazy and not bothering coz i do care about my business ive probably felt like this for going on a year and some have mentioned id prob have a sort of breakdown but iv been on anti depressant now for ten days and got the motivation back and my heads a lot clearer now i dont feel like im hitting brick walls all the time,

been leaflet dropping about 3000 a week and canvassing and we picked up 50 odd new customers last week soon have second van back out!! i cant wait to get out everyday now

Glad to hear that you're sorting yourself out Richy.
Please remember though that the ADs are giving you an artificial sense of security so please please please go easy on yourself.My own life has not been problem free either.  I did try a few ways of helping myself cope with life and all its complications.  It took me a long time but I eventually realised that I was tackling it from the wrong direction.  Instead of finding ways to cope with life's complications, I should have been simplifying my life.  Going the latter route was ego deflating at first but as a good friend of mine used to say, you can't save your face and your a*se at the same time. .  That one simple sentence saved my bacon and has reverberated in my mind down the years.

Well said, Paul; especially the bit in red.
It may be something you have to live with all your life, Richy; so don't expect too much too soon.
And don't be too hard on yourself if it resurfaces. Maybe there are triggers for it; watch for them and realise you got through it before and can do again.
Most importantly, remember it's not your fault .

[Tom White]

Most importantly, remember it's not your fault .

Maybe it's semantics, but when I'm feeling low or negative, I think it's always my fault; and that's a good thing.  If it's my fault, then I have some power to change the situation.  If it's not my fault then I'm at the mercy of external factors.

I prefer the 'thinking' that my mental health and emotional well-being is 100% my responsibility to take care of.  I spend a lot of time keeping fit 'n' physically healthy, I spend a lot of time in meditation, and I spend a lot of time helping others.  And if it meant I had to go to the docs and take medication, then I'd do that too.

If you look on the first page of the Depression for Dummies Book, it says that if you're able, to go and help someone.  When we're down/depressed, helping others is the antidote.  I could bore you with the reason why, but won't.

Here's the book if anyone is interested:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Depression-Dummies-Edition-Laura-Smith/dp/0764539000/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337716604&sr=8-2

But if you believe that our mental health - our happiness - is something we have no control over, then that thought will come true.

I prefer to think that my mental health is something that I am responsible for; it's kinda 'manning up' and taking control of it, rather than being controlled by it.  I also try not to let other people or situations control my happiness; my happiness is my responsibility - it's unfair on others to think otherwise.

Just my thoughts.

[G Griffin]

Tosh, there's a difference between a fault and having no control over something.
You could regularly service your van but it could still go wrong. It might be something simple, you 'man up' and sort it. But it could be something major, so you need professional help to get it fixed.
If you feel depressed and you can't fix yourself, you could feel even more inadequate and then it snowballs.
I know what you mean, though. Sometimes we can snap ourselves out of the 'blues' but if someone has depression, then they need help to fix something that they might not be able to. 

[Tom White]

Tosh, there's a difference between a fault and having no control over something.
You could regularly service your van but it could still go wrong. It might be something simple, you 'man up' and sort it. But it could be something major, so you need professional help to get it fixed.
If you feel depressed and you can't fix yourself, you could feel even more inadequate and then it snowballs.
I know what you mean, though. Sometimes we can snap ourselves out of the 'blues' but if someone has depression, then they need help to fix something that they might not be able to. 

Read my post, I did say if it meant I had to see the GP, then I would.  But then I'd have to do more than just that though; there are many many things we can do to help ourselves in this area.

[G Griffin]

Tosh, there's a difference between a fault and having no control over something.
You could regularly service your van but it could still go wrong. It might be something simple, you 'man up' and sort it. But it could be something major, so you need professional help to get it fixed.
If you feel depressed and you can't fix yourself, you could feel even more inadequate and then it snowballs.
I know what you mean, though. Sometimes we can snap ourselves out of the 'blues' but if someone has depression, then they need help to fix something that they might not be able to. 

Read my post, I did say if it meant I had to see the GP, then I would.  But then I'd have to do more than just that though; there are many many things we can do to help ourselves in this area.

But if you were depressed you might not think so rationally.
People with depression often don't think well of themselves, so blaming themselves could worsen it.
Recognising something and blaming something or someone are different.

[Nameless Drudge]

Tosh, there's a difference between a fault and having no control over something.
You could regularly service your van but it could still go wrong. It might be something simple, you 'man up' and sort it. But it could be something major, so you need professional help to get it fixed.
If you feel depressed and you can't fix yourself, you could feel even more inadequate and then it snowballs.
I know what you mean, though. Sometimes we can snap ourselves out of the 'blues' but if someone has depression, then they need help to fix something that they might not be able to. 

Read my post, I did say if it meant I had to see the GP, then I would.  But then I'd have to do more than just that though; there are many many things we can do to help ourselves in this area.

But if you were depressed you might not think so rationally.
People with depression often don't think well of themselves, so blaming themselves could worsen it.
Recognising something and blaming something or someone are different.

This is exactly the type of namby pamby talk that created the psycho babbling industry that purports to treat and cure depression,an industry continually barking up the wrong tree and which continually invents  newer and better treatment methods basically because the previous ones don`t work. It creates patients.

[colin purewater]

Tosh, there's a difference between a fault and having no control over something.
You could regularly service your van but it could still go wrong. It might be something simple, you 'man up' and sort it. But it could be something major, so you need professional help to get it fixed.
If you feel depressed and you can't fix yourself, you could feel even more inadequate and then it snowballs.
I know what you mean, though. Sometimes we can snap ourselves out of the 'blues' but if someone has depression, then they need help to fix something that they might not be able to. 

Read my post, I did say if it meant I had to see the GP, then I would.  But then I'd have to do more than just that though; there are many many things we can do to help ourselves in this area.

But if you were depressed you might not think so rationally.
People with depression often don't think well of themselves, so blaming themselves could worsen it.
Recognising something and blaming something or someone are different.

This is exactly the type of namby pamby talk that created the psycho babbling industry that purports to treat and cure depression,an industry continually barking up the wrong tree and which continually invents  newer and better treatment methods basically because the previous ones don`t work. It creates patients.

You are a dick...

[Johnny B]

Depression is a terrible illness because it cannot be physically seen, but its effects are felt by the sufferer and are potentially devastating.

A very good friend of mine suffered with this for a number of years, and two years ago he took his own life. No one, even his wife, did not realize just how ill he was. I, among others tried to help as far as we could, but he always minimized his suffering, and just said, with a smile on his face, that we were kind for caring about him, but that he would be OK.

Sufferers need help, beit from a professional or someone who excels in counselling of some kind, who understands the illness and how they are really feeling, so the right kind of treatment can be given to help them cope with the illness, as I don't believe that depression is completely curable at the moment.

John      

  

[Paul Coleman]

Tosh, there's a difference between a fault and having no control over something.
You could regularly service your van but it could still go wrong. It might be something simple, you 'man up' and sort it. But it could be something major, so you need professional help to get it fixed.
If you feel depressed and you can't fix yourself, you could feel even more inadequate and then it snowballs.
I know what you mean, though. Sometimes we can snap ourselves out of the 'blues' but if someone has depression, then they need help to fix something that they might not be able to. 

Read my post, I did say if it meant I had to see the GP, then I would.  But then I'd have to do more than just that though; there are many many things we can do to help ourselves in this area.

But if you were depressed you might not think so rationally.
People with depression often don't think well of themselves, so blaming themselves could worsen it.
Recognising something and blaming something or someone are different.

This is exactly the type of namby pamby talk that created the psycho babbling industry that purports to treat and cure depression,an industry continually barking up the wrong tree and which continually invents  newer and better treatment methods basically because the previous ones don`t work. It creates patients.

I do agree that the industry appears to have gone too far in some areas but until you have been through a psychiatric issue and out the other side, it can be difficult to grasp.  As a working class manual worker, I'm too knackered to have neuroses much of the time.  However, I do know that many years ago I was a very sick young man and may not have survived it without mental health assistance.  Bear in mind that most psychiatric issues are temporary and treatable - and the majority of those need not be medicated.  However, some psychiatric issues such as some types of depression (yes, there is more than one type) do need medicines to get the body balanced before the mind can follow.  I'm happy for you that you don't seem to get this because it probably means that you have never had such issues.
Most things can be resolved by talking therapy IME. However, that's not always so.