How many of you?

Question

How many of you have had clinical depression for more than 4 years? Do you worry that you will never be rid of it?

I've had clinical depression in various degrees for 10 years and honestly, most of my life has been not happy. I wouldn't say UNhappy because there have been many times where I wasn't unhappy, just discontent. I don't want a life of perpetual discontent or unhappiness and I also don't want to spend the rest of my life needing medication off and on, but that seems to be what I'm looking at.

Can anyone relate?

Please, no comments about mind over matter, etc., because I know that the cause of my depression is not my mindset (for the most part). It is a medical issue.

Answer 1

.
empower your self learn a martial art, learn to ski , rock climb,white water kayaking, go on a white water rafting tour.
most medications make you fat and stupid and doctors important.
educate your self , study psychology, philosophy, theology, history and read science fiction .
you must grow and never stop learning.
you most likely suffer because you are a beautiful spirit that has been used badly.
we are forced to suffer a world of stupid selfish hippie TV baby's who are the victims or an over commercialised openly manipulated world were dollars are god and people are dirt to grow more dollars.
but we are capable of so much but most chose to sleep and live a life that is but a dream.
you are depressed because you are better than that and you need to be all that you can be so just do it.
don't worry about the approval of others seek the higher self it is all ready with in you.
every atom in your body was once part of a star and one day will be part of another star.
respect your self.

Answer 2

I was diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder and took medication for about 4 years. I can really relate to you cos i've been depressed pretty much my whole life. Just as you said, sometimes i'm not unhappy but just discontent. I don't think i've ever felt like life was worthwhile. I never took medication for it until about 4 and half years ago when my life spiraled and i was totally out of control. I was doing all sorts of weird things and attempted suicide a number of times. I guess the medication helped calm me down but at the end of the day i'm the only one who can change myself. While on medication i kinda felt like a was a little worse, like i was just another mental case and that freaked me out. I think the label was what freaked me out more and i would get so angry sometimes. At the beginning of this year i had figured out that the medication was not helping me and was not making my life more stable. I stopped taking it. Just went cold turkey. The first few months were HELL. My body reacted really badly, but my head was the worst. It was like there were too many thoughts going on and the slightest thing would completely freak me out. But now i seem to be more stable. I am still not happy but i believe in the possibility of happiness. I got my own place now and am managing. I started seeing a therapist as well. I don't want to have to rely on medication to give me a normal life, i want control of my life and if i'm taking medication then i'm not in control. I can completely relate to what you are saying but to be honest i don't know what to say to you. Its NOT wise to stop medication and i don't know you history so that is NOT what i'm saying. Its definately NOT a question of mind over matter either. If it was no one would ever be depressed. Your day WILL come when you feel in control and start to feel better. I would suggest finding a therapist. (this was really hard for me to do as i don't have a medical aid our government psychologists really really suck, i tried a couple). I'm seeing a church counsellor at the moment so will see how that works out as i have only been there once so far. Just hang in there!

Answer 3

I can relate. I don't have depression, but I'm bipolar and almost never go up, and when I do it's a mixed episode. Until I got stable on medication last year it felt like I hadn't had any period of normalcy since I started thinking about college five years ago. Now I know I'm mere pills away from being a complete mess again, and that will never change. I absolutely hate that I'll be dependent on meds the rest of my life.

Answer 4

You need to stay on your meds. They will keep you balanced. If you are clinically depressed, you are not producing the "happy" chemicals. Just because you feel better after being on the meds for a while doesnt mean you suddenly are producing these chemicals again. It means the meds are working. If you were a diabetic and not producing insulin, would you feel bad for continuing to take the insulin for the rest of your life? Clinical depression is very much like this. You are sick. Your body is not producing what it needs so you have to take meds to replace it. There is nothing wrong with that.

Answer 5

Apparently I have had depression since I was about 5 years old. I had an extremely traumatic childhood. I finnally just accepted it and I am 26 years old now. I have accepted that I will never be rid of it, and that I will more than likely have to be madicated for the rest of my life. My therapist told me that. I tried meds, and then getting off. I was okay for like 3 to 6 months, and then my depression would return and it would be worse. I have founsd a great med for me, and I am okay with it now. As long as i dont have to live in the 3rd person anymoreI am happy.

Answer 6

Bear with me--I'll be as succinct as I can.

I'm over 35, and have counted my blessings.
I empathize, because I've been in the black depths,
thinking for those few years there certainly was
to be no escape.

Yet indescribably, I knew within me there was
hope, that a way out would happen. I was 23
and didn't know how--and KNEW I didn't know
how.

My point is that I've managed to endure living
through several separate and unrelated episodes
not only of near-catatonic (still-as-stone) fear
and depression, but of circumstances I was
sure would lead to the worst.

SOMEHOW, I emerged, and always grateful
and intrinsically wiser.

< I've answered (please, check my profile!)
a number of times here and in Psychology,
and in Books&Authors with the inclusion
that I'm not here for BestAnswer, but rather
to offer a smattering of optimism by suggesting
Andrew Solomon's nonfiction work,
"The Noonday Demon," which when I
discovered it, helped me through a
particularly bleak time. [Please: Don't let the
title throw you--it's legit and a most remarkable
book. Honestly!]

Remember too, try always to be true to yourself.

Answer 7

I'm bi-polar. It started very early. I can't remember a time when I didn't react to its symptoms.
Clinical depression is a result of hormone levels in the brain - there is no such thing as "mind over matter" for a person with any such disorder.
I can relate: and I hope that you find a very good therapist - they make all the difference in the world.
In answer to "How Many...": here's one.

Answer 8

That sounds terrible. I truly think though that things won't always be that way. I hate when people give that mind over matter bs too, like I say, you can't place someone in prison and expect them to be happy, it's where you are in life too. Medication may be the way to go for you, I'd also suggest taking action into feeling good about your body, relationships, work, and home. Good luck with everything, and never give up.

Answer 9

approximately 4. i will no longer be able to bypass returned to sleep after some thing wakes me up. And guess what? I grew to become on a life-time action picture. i grew to become into all into it. They decrease it a million/2 way during the action picture for paid programming! i grew to become into so no longer happy. BQ: with any luck a minimum of 6. i'm no longer turning on the television this night. :(