For depressed people only: Do you often encounter people like Tom Cruise?

Question

Recently, I had a bout of severe depression, and I'm now taking meds for it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who don't seem to understand my situation. One of them, a coworker, suggested that I ditch the meds and take up vitamins and exercise. When I told my therapist about that, she laughed and said that it sounded like my coworker had been listening to Tom Cruise. Have any of you encountered similar situations?

Answer 1

Some people don't realize that depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. They believe that depression is just a mood like you're feeling kinda blue one day and it can be fixed simply by "eating right, getting enough sleep and exercising."

Depression effects so much more than that. With depression people lose the motivation to do almost everything, that includes the things they once used to love to do. If these people lack the energy to do beloved hobbies how can they all the sudden start exercising?

Before I started on the anti-depressants I didn't want to do anything. I slept all the time, didn't want to get out of bed, didn't want to leave the house or see friends. I was sad all the time, didn't care any more what happened to me. I took my emotions out on family. At this point I was getting more than enough sleep and eating right/exercise just wasn't going to cut it.

Chemical imbalances can only be fixed with meds. Sure, vitamins and eating right will assist in the treatment but what kind of food contains enough of these chemicals that will help depression all on its own? How much of it a day will you need to eat? You could spend all day eating this food in order to get the correct daily intake. Also, depression just doesn't go away after awhile. I have been on anti-depressants for over 7 years and still need them. It's not that I'm dependant on them to "feel good" it's just that depression is really incurable. The meds balance the imbalance, it doesn't cure it.

Until you experience depression first hand you really just don't know.

Answer 2

Your co-worker is spot on .. a healthy diet, lots of exercise, maybe some vitamins, maybe some alternative therapies. Your therapist doesn't want to lose your custom. That's very sad that she should have this attitude. I used to suffer from serious bouts of depression and anxiety attacks. The meds didn't help me either. I discovered that the only thing that could help was me. Change your thoughts and you change your world.

Had to add to this: OMG! ... don't talk to anyone, just take the mind numbing drugs and go on a downward spiral!! Depression is not a disease, it is a state of mind.

People in the US have been brought up to think that meds and docs are the only answer, whereas docs in the UK will recommend alternatives because they are not reliant on the huge profits from drug companies.

I had a doctor in the UK one time tell me that exercise is the best cure. He told me about how he worked in a psychiatric ward in a hospital with patients suffering from depression. He and another doctor would try to encourage the patients to go to the gym every morning. The ones who agreed and went along with them, were out of the hospital and off the meds much faster than those who refused. He said the reason behind this was that when you exercise, you produce endorphines which make you happier and more energetic. This is a scientific fact.

The same doctor also told me that St John's Wort was the herbal equivalent of a well-known anti-depressant. Drugs are not always the answer people, no matter what you've been taught to believe.


http://www.freewebs.com/spiritualhealing

Answer 3

Too bad you've encountered a bunch of "tom cruise impersonaters" who think they are experts on psychoanalysis.

Apparently, some of the other folks here who answered you question have a similar anti-medicine mentality..

Depression is a DISEASE, you can't cure it by 'cheering up' or going to the gym or eating health food - you need treatment, and you got it.

You don't have to ask anybody's permission to get the proper course of treatment for your illness as recommended by your therapist - if she thinks you need meds, then it's her call

BTW I hope you are also getting regular "talk therapy" at least twice a week - that helps a lot.

As for the folks who don't believe in anti-depressants IGNORE THEM, or ask them "what medical school did you go to?"

Answer 4

Yes. I try to let it roll off me and laugh at their ignorance. If they could only see themselves as we do, they would be ashamed. Unfortunately, their hurtful and uncompassionate attitude will come back and bite them. I don't wish depression on anyone. It's the most painful illness I have ever encountered. People like TC need our sympathy and prayers. Hating them is not productive for us for it causes our depression to worsen having those negative feelings. I wouldn't listen to your coworker. If you have a 'chemical depression' or a disease process i.e., bipolar disorder, you need medication to be able to live a somewhat normal life. Vitamins and exercise are always beneficial, but won't cure depression. I look at it this way; I see myself as an educator whose job is to inform the public. Encourage people to talk about depression in a way that others will understand what we go through just as any disease, like cancer for example. Depression and mental illness needs to come out of the closet so people won't be so afraid to talk about it and eventually someone will take enough interest to research and find a solution/cure for it.

Answer 5

There is a big difference between depression and "the blues." You can come out of "the blues," BUT you need help for depression. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain and most times medications are needed to help that imbalance.

The sad thing is that there are many ignorant people in the world.

Answer 6

Just don't talk to people about your situation. Why would you want to anyway? Do try all options, but sometimes time is all it takes to come out of a depression. Good Luck.

Answer 7

No, but have you tried eating healthy, getting lots of exercise and getting enough sleep FIRST. Because you should really try all these before you try the meds. I think people turn to meds before they want to change their bad habits which could be a contributing factor to their depression. It's just easier to pop a pill.

Answer 8

Not really, I took all kinds of anti-depressants for 2 years and they never helped me, I kind of feel like Tom Cruise myself. I don't need them because they don't work for me. I'm not downing anyone else for taking them, if they help you, great.

Answer 9

I have not encountered Mr. Cruise, or anyone like him. If I had I would suffer from depression and homicidal rage.

Answer 10

Stay on your meds and good luck to you !