My introduction
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- ButterflyKisses
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:21 pm
- Location: South Bend Indiana
My introduction
Hello everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself to you all. I have suffered Depression most of my life. Brought on by tramatic events dating back to my childhood. I've never been officially diagnosed by a Doctor, but severe depression runs in my family. I try to put positive spins on things, "things happen for a reason", silver lining etc, to try to get me out of my funk's. Finding this website I'm sure will help me also. GLad to meet all of you.
- Warmsoul/Jeanie13
- Posts: 29195
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:46 pm
- Contact:
Hello ButterflyKisses, welcome to the forums.
Do understand about depression and memories of the past. Lived through a lot as well. Staying positive is something I do myself, but there are times that depression, life events pull us down. Hopefully you will find this a place to vent, receive support and just share with us.
There is a lot offered at this site, please feel free to read, post and reply.
Welcome again.
Warmie
Do understand about depression and memories of the past. Lived through a lot as well. Staying positive is something I do myself, but there are times that depression, life events pull us down. Hopefully you will find this a place to vent, receive support and just share with us.
There is a lot offered at this site, please feel free to read, post and reply.
Welcome again.
Warmie
- Stephen
- Senior Moderator
- Posts: 4726
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:33 pm
- Location: UK - South West England
- Contact:
Hi ButterflyKisses,
It's nice to meet you, and welcome to the depression forums (and the rest of the website).
I will also reply to your other post in the "Profile" section, but I was wondering in response to this post, why you've never been formally diagnosed: is it something you fear, or something that you don't think would have any benefit to you?
I too have had depression (and anxiety), for many years due to events in my childhood that I seem to be unable to shake off despite therapy and medications.
Anyway, great to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you better.
Stephen
It's nice to meet you, and welcome to the depression forums (and the rest of the website).
I will also reply to your other post in the "Profile" section, but I was wondering in response to this post, why you've never been formally diagnosed: is it something you fear, or something that you don't think would have any benefit to you?
I too have had depression (and anxiety), for many years due to events in my childhood that I seem to be unable to shake off despite therapy and medications.
Anyway, great to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you better.
Stephen
- ButterflyKisses
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:21 pm
- Location: South Bend Indiana
In answer to your question Stephen, The therapist that I saw for almost a year, told me I suffer from depression/anxiety/Post Tramatic Stress Disorder. It was my choice, with her help to not seek out meds. Addictive personalities run in my family (alcohol/prescription meds), so it was my choice to NOT have medication, due to the fear of I didn't want to become addicted to anything. I'm not saying meds don't help people. I'm just saying I didn't want to go down that Avenue, without trying other methods to help me.
- Stephen
- Senior Moderator
- Posts: 4726
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:33 pm
- Location: UK - South West England
- Contact:
Okay, I understand a bit more clearly now. It seems you did a very responsible thing by avoiding medications.
My take on medications is mixed: I know that antidepressants do help a lot of people, but I really don't think they help in my case (I'm qualified to talk about this, as I'm taking two different ones at the moment). As for things like tranquilisers, I have to confess that they definitely help me, but like you, I do fear becoming addicted to them. Therefore, I only mainly take them at night to help me sleep. As you already know I'm an insomniac.
If you put aside your fear of becoming addicted to medications, do you consider your recovery has been more difficult as you have not been able to go down the "pill taking avenue"?
Stephen
My take on medications is mixed: I know that antidepressants do help a lot of people, but I really don't think they help in my case (I'm qualified to talk about this, as I'm taking two different ones at the moment). As for things like tranquilisers, I have to confess that they definitely help me, but like you, I do fear becoming addicted to them. Therefore, I only mainly take them at night to help me sleep. As you already know I'm an insomniac.
If you put aside your fear of becoming addicted to medications, do you consider your recovery has been more difficult as you have not been able to go down the "pill taking avenue"?
Stephen
- ButterflyKisses
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:21 pm
- Location: South Bend Indiana
Do I think it has been more difficult? Hmmm, thats a very good question. It is also difficult to answer, because I don't know what its like to recover WITH medication. The only thing I can say is, my Mom has been on antidepressents for most of my adult life. I see her taking her meds, but she never deals with the problems that got her depressed. She dopes (she takes more then she should at times) herself up so that she doesn't have to feel, even the good things in life. She stays in the "dark place" with her meds as the buffer from her feelings.
I'm afraid with the colorful events of my past, that I too would easily stay in the "dark place" with meds masking my feelings. I think that you do have to FEEL pain, sorrow, anxiety...(but not to extreme) you have to feel these things to get through them. I can say that I've been through the wringer and back, several times....and I'm still here. Don't get me wrong, depression sucks! Dulling my pain wouldn't make it go away, I think it would only make it worse in my case. Hope this makes sense.
I'm afraid with the colorful events of my past, that I too would easily stay in the "dark place" with meds masking my feelings. I think that you do have to FEEL pain, sorrow, anxiety...(but not to extreme) you have to feel these things to get through them. I can say that I've been through the wringer and back, several times....and I'm still here. Don't get me wrong, depression sucks! Dulling my pain wouldn't make it go away, I think it would only make it worse in my case. Hope this makes sense.
- Stephen
- Senior Moderator
- Posts: 4726
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:33 pm
- Location: UK - South West England
- Contact:
Yes, I thought I'd sneak in that almost impossible question!
As you say, there's no way you can really know how it would be to experience depression/anxiety/PTSD with "chemical assistance". I was really just wondering more, what your response would be -- sort of like a hypothetical.
I also do feel, that pain has to be "owned" and faced to address real issues to comprehensively understand all that these "moods disturbances" are about, and to move things forward. My understanding of antidepressants is that they are there to open the metaphorical door by say 5% in order that people can confront what they are going through. As said though, from my own personal experiences they do very little -- but that's just me.
"Dulling my pain wouldn't make it go away." So very true, and I think your approach is a much healthier approach to life compared to how your mum appears to dull her emotions into a void.
All that you said makes sense to me!
Stephen
As you say, there's no way you can really know how it would be to experience depression/anxiety/PTSD with "chemical assistance". I was really just wondering more, what your response would be -- sort of like a hypothetical.
I also do feel, that pain has to be "owned" and faced to address real issues to comprehensively understand all that these "moods disturbances" are about, and to move things forward. My understanding of antidepressants is that they are there to open the metaphorical door by say 5% in order that people can confront what they are going through. As said though, from my own personal experiences they do very little -- but that's just me.
"Dulling my pain wouldn't make it go away." So very true, and I think your approach is a much healthier approach to life compared to how your mum appears to dull her emotions into a void.
All that you said makes sense to me!
Stephen
- Warmsoul/Jeanie13
- Posts: 29195
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:46 pm
- Contact:
- ButterflyKisses
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:21 pm
- Location: South Bend Indiana
- Warmsoul/Jeanie13
- Posts: 29195
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:46 pm
- Contact:
Jen,
You aren't alone. In life you have your sons, that has to be a blessing. Yes we share and hopefully it will continue. Know I am willing to help and listen.
Stepehn, Yes we have share lots of talks, support, just don't know about the understanding part, LOL. for a long time. Thank you for that.
Warmie
You aren't alone. In life you have your sons, that has to be a blessing. Yes we share and hopefully it will continue. Know I am willing to help and listen.
Stepehn, Yes we have share lots of talks, support, just don't know about the understanding part, LOL. for a long time. Thank you for that.
Warmie
- ButterflyKisses
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:21 pm
- Location: South Bend Indiana
Yes Warmie, my sons are a blessing! When I was going through my divorce 7 years ago, they were the only thing that saved me. I knew that I had to be functionable every day...because I had to take care of their needs. I couldn't let myself get so low (which a lot of days would have been very easy!) that they couldn't didn't get taken care of. I thank god everyday they are here.
- Warmsoul/Jeanie13
- Posts: 29195
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:46 pm
- Contact:
- Warmsoul/Jeanie13
- Posts: 29195
- Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:46 pm
- Contact:
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