Comments on: Overcoming depression

By: M

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:32:39 +0000

Cant get myself out of this one.
Just going down and down.
Turned down a job that I really wanted (long story) and cant forgive myself for being such an idot. Cant move on and everything seems hopeless.

Isolating and drinking every night.

By: MJ

MJ — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:18:25 +0000

First I just want to say that I think your article would be more credible if you did a quick spell/grammar check. Second, suggesting to people that they should not take medication when they are depressed can have some serious consequences. For example, if someone thought that your ideas will work and their medication won’t, and stopped the meds without tapering, then they could get suicidal or much more depressed.

I understand you have some very good ideas of positive thinking, but you speak as though you have some authority in the field as if you are an expert. This may cause some people with clinical depression, or Bipolar depression, to feel as though if your solution won’t work, then nothing will.

Bipolar depression is biochemical and needs to be managed with medication. I think you should add some more at the end of the article urging others to be careful when they make decisions and speak to their doctors first about their illness. Depression is an illness, and just so you know, I hate being labeled. I wish I could never tell anyone what was wrong, and I wish I was able to feel better as easily as you say I can. That is why I isolate when I am depressed, because I don’t want people to know.

~MJ

By: Gerald

Gerald — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:27:06 +0000

I’ve been going through a cycle of depressive & negative thoughts for around one and a half months. I am an auditor. It began with too much work at he office. Then I had study leave but couldn’t go because I had to work for half of it. By the time I got to leave the office I was feeling so depressed & hopeless.
I felt like the work was not worth it in the long run. Then I felt like I will always be stuck in my job since I’m yet to finish my professional exams.
I began to loose alot of sleep. Sometimes I’d go a whole night without any sleep. The following day I’d be too tired to read. So the sleeplessness also became a worry.
I am a committed Christian, a Church leader & I get angry at God and myself because sometimes I feel like my religion has been powerless to help me.
I have a dear loving wife (who is studying COunselling Psychology). She has been really understanding and helpful.
What has help me alot is journalling and speaking & thinking positively. The depression comes in waves & there are times when I get extremely negative thoughts of death & suicide. There are also moments when I’ve felt hopeful & happy.
Visualisation also helps. One night I watched our wedding DVD and felt so good & slept well.
I am still fighting this depression.
I do not want to die. I feel like my life has stagnated & I want ot move on.
I should find a good doctor and begin regular therapy sessions.

By: Bradford dentist

Bradford dentist — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:06:09 +0000

Correct overcoming depression really need great help and this ideas are presented greatly with nice concept and presentation.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:33:54 +0000

There is no better authority on depression than those who have experienced it. People with depression are stumbling around in the dark trying to find a way out, while academics are stumbling around in the dark trying to find an explanation.
The easiest answer that anyone has ever come across is MEDICATION.
But the easiest way is not always the best way.
I was on medication for depression and the very best that it offered was: I wasn’t entirely thinking of topping myself for the whole time.
Treating depression shouldn’t be about finding an acceptable level of misery.
Yeah yeah, we have all heard the science; endorphins, serotonin etc blah blah blah…knowing that doesn’t help the situation.
I’t easy to criticise Steven and say “I think your understanding of this disease is lacking”, but the simple truth is, EVERYONE’S understanding of this CONDITION is lacking.
Steven has been accused of being “Simplistic”. I personally believe that being simplistic is the route to solving a problem.
If we over analyse and over-complicate matters, we don’t have a hope of finding a solution.
But, whether you agree or not, there are those people out there who use thier depression as a tool.
“I can’t interact with people – I’m depressed!” “I can’t get a job – I’m depressed!” “I’m artistic – I’m depressed!”
Some people believe there is a degree of kudos with the condition. “Oh, I’m more depressed than you…..high-five!”
These people invariably mistake angst for depression. I know without fear of contradiction that depression is a will-sapping level of unbearable emptiness and desperation. And medication IS NOT the answer when it comes to ridding yourself of it, but it does alleviate the symptoms.
The usage of medication should always only ever be a very short term solution and not become a crutch.
In the past, I have been prescribed Seroxat, Venlafaxine, Respirodone, plus many more that I can not remember. And the best that I can say about them is: Two of them made me want to jump from a very tall building.
Today, I am free of medication. I have ups and downs, but I don’t need that one before bed and one in the morning anymore.
Thankfully, I have a GP who understands the power of our own mind and he agrees that medication should only be a short term solution.
We all possess the ability to fight with passion those things that attempt to invade, and we must treat our minds with that same level of security. Be your own bodyguard, pills aren’t strong enough to defend you against yourself!
I’ll share with you what helped me: It started with a half-hour walk in the sunshine – then I ran – and then I ran some more, and I began to meet people and I began to absolutely love the world around me, and I still do. And all those unpleasant things that try to overpower me, they are not strong enough.
So, either take Steven’s advice or don’t. Ultimately, there is only ONE solitary person on this planet that can help you!

By: CJL

CJL — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:05:36 +0000

I cannot believe some of the ignorant responses people have posted.
First off, no where in the article did the author say not to take medication. He simply stated he wouldn’t advise it and I would agree. Anti-depressants merely mask the symptoms of depression. They fix nothing and often lead to dependency in favor of lapsing into further depression. The underlying cause is not altered/cured/fixed.
I also agree that labeling yourself as a depressive is a crutch. In the sense that telling yourself you have a disease that you have no control over abdicates you of any responsibility to fix it. It’s not your fault, just take some pills and it will go away. You will only begin to get better when you realize your fixation on negative thinking patterns has gotten you here and adopting a predominantly pessimistic outlook has got you stuck in a perpetual state of depression.
Lastly, I would agree that recalling happy memories and visualization are good tools to help overcome depression, as long as they are not over-used. If you linger to long in the fantasy world of the past or the future (whether it is negative or positive) you will miss out on the reality and joy of the present. Which I have found is the real key (for myself anyway) to overcoming depression. Staying in the here and now and not projecting worries from the past on fears from the future. Neither of which can hurt us. All we have is this moment, nothing more, nothing less. And there in lies the meaning of life.

For anyone dealing with depression I strongly suggest you read “The Wisdom of Insecurity” By Alan W. Watts. It has helped me greatly.

By: e cigarettes

e cigarettes — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:02:51 +0000

I’ve suffered from chronic depression for years. If I get off my medication I immediately feel lethargic, tearful and sad. Nothing in my life has changed just chemistry.

By: Health Care

Health Care — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:05:41 +0000

Great article. I hope I could be that good as you are when writing like this article. That’s the reason why we are depressed! Now I could go no longer anymore in the depression state!

By: C.C.

C.C. — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:42:10 +0000

Sometimes depressed people do not know HOW to think about happy times or recognize that they are in a hole until it seems almost impossible to get out. Any depressed person that is searching the ‘net to find out how to overcome it, may possibly find this page useful. I’m currently overcoming it, but it has been hard and I had to face alot of truths, throw them over the fence and remember what it is I am truly thankful for. I’m not a religious nut, but did start going to church about 4 months ago and I believe this has helped. The power of prayer is amazing. I never would have thought I would be on my way back to normalcy and off my meds!

By: ben

ben — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:16:38 +0000

im 20 and have just had an awful few weeks, resulting in today, one of the worst days of my life so far. out of all the websites i have visited for help this one calmed me down the most and really made me think rationally about whatever it is thats affecting me.. whether that be depression or not. thanks alot steven, you have really helped me through a dark time in my life.
all those on this site that have criticized steven should feel guilty, im sure there are many young people feeling similar to me who have read this post and been helped by it.
cheers again.