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hence..... alcohol, past, low esteem, drugs, sex, etc? is this just a cover up that some one can fake?

Not everyone in the world is truthfull so is this a mask they are hiding behind?

2007-12-24 09:44:02 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health Mental Health

35 answers

it is a part of life

2007-12-24 09:47:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1 4

Yes, it can be a cover for some lies, yet being very real, terminal.

I knew a man depressed by his job, he said, until the truth came into light. His initial girl-lover had shushed him. And he was indeed very depressed, not faking at all. Just the excuse was a fake one. So, there was no truth, indeed, but still real depressed, he was.
When I heard the whole story, I got depressed myself without knowing. It's like you have been died - a moving corpse through the surroundings. You don't have any need, any will. How could you want to die when you are already dead !?! The difference is in your foundation probably, for help yourself through this depression, or let everything/some around you to kill you ??? And much worse can be a re-falling into depression, after a better, a promising period. This can really KILL you. There is no joke in here. Talk to someone for help. Don't keep it inside !!!
As usually, knowing the reason I had some treatment by myself, involuntarily (spiritual one, this case worked for me, motivating myself, sports, etc.). Chemicals aren't the way. Look first for the reason and do everything for get read of those reasons. Else, everything is in vain.

2007-12-25 10:28:52 · answer #2 · answered by :)(: 5 · 0 0

This is sort of a loaded question because it assumes a very either/or position. Are there, perhaps, people who use "depression" as an excuse for things? Of course but this does not mean that all people with reports of depression are making things up. In fact, I would say that the vast majority of people are not "faking it" as you would say. Its like your taxes...are there some people who totally defraud the IRS? Sure, but they are a relatively small proportion of people and it would be terribly unfair to audit everyone because of a few bad eggs. Perhaps a bad analogy, I know.

People have a lot of misperceptions about depression. Some think its all " a brain chemistry problem". Others think its just "stress" of some kind. Theres no right answer. Depression is incredibly complex. Heres some reality though for you...everytime you have a thought the chemistry in your brain changes. This is because the brain propogates electrical signals in part through the work of something called a neurotransmitter. These are chemicals in the brain the effect its function, i.e. contribute to which nerves fire, when, how frequently, etc.. This then becomes a chicken or the egg type of thing...did you start off with the abnormal chemistry that changed your thoughts of did you have negative thoughts, in reaction to stressors, which ultimately changed the chemistry? We just don't have those answers at this time. What we do know is that depression, commonly known as MDD (major depressive disorder) is very real. It is estimated that it effects 20% of the population at some time in their lives. That rate is even higher amongest female psychiatrists such as myself. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that untreated depression has a number of serious consequences including suicide as well as exacerbation of medical problems such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. I read a recent study that suggested that with all things being equal and accounted for, if you take people with a recent heart attack, those with comorbid depression are 6x more likely to die in the 6months following the heart attack than their nondepressed peers. Furthermore, the WHO (world health organization) has speculated that depression will be the second leading contributer to GLOBAL disease burden by 2020. Its already #4 for DALYs and#1 for YLDs-probably because it effects some 121 million people world wide. It is more often than not misdiagnosed and about 75% of the time undertreated even when it is recognized.

Depression is very real. That having been said, people who are depressed can have issues in their lives (alcohol, tragedy, low self esteem) that can complicate the treatment or resolution of depressive symptoms. I do not see this is an excuse. It would be more akin to having someone with a broken foot. They shouldn't walk on the foot while its healing but they may have social circumstances where they don't have someone to help them get around or they can't afford health care. So, they walk on the foot despite the pain. Not getting the fracture properly treated makes it much more difficult for the foot to heal in the long run and may make the foot more susceptible to a future injury. The same applies to depression. Ideally, we encourage patients to learn new coping styles in order to be able to deal with stressors more effectively. In the case of drugs/alcohol, we encourage them to stop and direct them towards treatment. People with problems with alcohol tend to be depressed (alcohol is actually a neurodepressant) but people with depression sometimes turn to alcohol in an ill advised attempt to self medicate.

The short answer to your question is no, clinical depression is not an "excuse" for life. Life stressors can contribute to its development. That having been said, there will always be the small few ( and I assure you they are few) that exaggerate symptoms in order to garner sympathy or to get something out of it. Thats not depression-theres another word for that and its called malingering.

Best bet, leave the clinical diagnosis up to the clinicians. The best thing that you can do in either case is just to be a friend.

2007-12-24 10:25:12 · answer #3 · answered by ens_imp 4 · 1 0

Depression is not an excuse for life because you are not meant to be depressed to live life happily. I go through times where I get depressed yet I don't make it worse by doing things to my body which is only a temporary fix- if you can call it that. My friend has a terrible problem, which I myself am getting depressed about. I have no clue how to help her; she drinks everyday because she is depressed. I have told her time and time again that it won't solve anything yet she doesn't listen. I think it has gotten to the point where she is physically and mentally addicted to alcohol. So no, depression is not an excuse for life. Are you trying to say that you have to be depressed to take drugs, drink etc? because people do these things for a number of reasons, not just because they are depressed. I myself, just dwell and get get myself into an emotional state if I am depressed, but I pick myself up again, because there is no point in dwelling longer than you should, and there is certainly no point in making your misery worse through drugs or drink, I just hope hope and pray my friend can overcome her problem soon.

2007-12-24 10:10:42 · answer #4 · answered by Leavesonthelawn 2 · 1 0

There are a lot of answers here and none really tells the story of depression as a chronic illness. It is due to chemical imbalance in the brain and not mental illness as some believe. True depression can be treated with drugs yes, but even then it cannot always "make it right".

Depression as with most of the psychologically founded illnesses is used by many lay people who do not suffer from it and have no idea of the devastation that it can cause a life.

Until you know what you are talking about I suggest you shush. Go and read a few medical journals and then come back with your apology and no I do not suffer from this debilitating illness but know a few people who do and others who have.

2007-12-24 10:00:45 · answer #5 · answered by Caleb F 4 · 2 1

The brain is part of the body, but the last part tor science to have the tools to explore. Huge strides are being made that prove that mental health and mental illness are real health issues that deserve to have equal treatment.
Depression is caused by a brain chemistry imbalance., seratonin and other neurotransmitters, not hormones...and that same imbalance makes people like to drink alcohol because it effects the brain chemistry the same way that medication can, however, they have to suffer the extra side effect of becoming drunk with alcohol to get the same boost to "normal" .
It used to be that people thought if you "bucked up" you could tough out your depression and not do "stupid" things like drink, drugs, etc....but within the past decade, science is showing that people behave that way because they are trying to self medicate the chemical imbalance.
I learned this from a psychiatrist who taught me a lot about my son's behaviors and how that is related to my father's alcoholism...and I have become a firm believer in "better living through chemistry" by using prescription medications.

Further evidence: since Prozac was introduced about 15 years ago, the suicide rate has declined significantly. Depression can be treated!! And once people aren't depressed, they don't need to drink or do drugs to feel better.

Stigma is rather evil: it makes people ashamed as if somehow its their fault that they have a brain chemistry imbalance....you wouldn't do that to someone with diabetes so why do it with a mental health problem?

2007-12-24 09:52:10 · answer #6 · answered by wawawebis 6 · 1 1

Depression is real.

Most all people have bouts of depression w/in their lifetime (any number of reasons: losing a job, a break-up, a bad day or two, etc....but we always snap out of it) but clinical depression (long term depression) is REAL, its an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain.

I wouldn't call a person whoses an alcoholic a depressed person, they may blame their drinking on depression, but really blaming it on depression is just a MEANS to an END for them. They don't want to admit they might have a drinking problem because then it would be an END to a MEANS.

2007-12-24 09:54:13 · answer #7 · answered by camdfw 3 · 1 0

There will be those that fake depression but for many of us its very real and a horrible thing to suffer from.

I am bi-polar and my depression hits out of the blue when I am enjoying life. So for me I don't need circumstances to cause depression. It's a chemical thing that de-rails me and keeps me down for weeks and even months.

But it seems that these days mental health labels appear to be getting used too liberally and they get branded around by all sorts of people that often don't even understand their true meaning. So often I hear someone say that they have good days and bad days and therefore must be bi-polar. They are mistaking normal mood swings of life for the serious mood swings that bi-polar people have.

I'm sure with depression there are people that use it as an excuse for life but those that really suffer the real thing, would do anything to be rid of the curse of depression.

Good question. Thanks for asking.

2007-12-24 10:15:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

It can be an excuse for not living life, but most depression can be helped by a doctor. Not getting checked is going to make things worse for a person. All the things you list--alcohol, past, low self esteem, drugs, sex -- can be changed by someone who wants to start changes in their life to make things better. Small changes start bigger ones happening, and a person can come out of a bad space by taking control of what they CAN change in their lives.

2007-12-24 09:47:20 · answer #9 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 1 1

your question is a little confused. Life is for living. Depression disable people emotionally. Its to do with life itself. It's not something that can be cured easily. Its an illness of the mind. There are bad days and good days but the emotions felt are sometimes irrational, inexplainable and unbalanced. People with depression need support and love at this time. The worst thing would be is to be going through it alone.

2007-12-24 10:16:29 · answer #10 · answered by "*♥*Nafisa*♥*" 4 · 1 1

I suffer from depression, and I say that depression is not an excuse, it is a condition. Depression cannot be faked, it can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional.
However, there are some warning signs that you can look out for: Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Loss of appetite and/or weight loss, or conversely overeating and weight gain
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Restlessness or irritability
Feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt, helplessness
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down" or sluggish
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

If you, or anyone you know, experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about it as soon as you can.

2007-12-24 09:53:30 · answer #11 · answered by cyberjar88 3 · 3 2

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