I might be way off the mark here – but people despair for all sorts of reasons.  It might be a broken heart, loneliness, the feeling that we haven’t the ability to cope with every day occurrences, bills, workplace uncertainty – or other reasons like alcohol or drug addictions, which exacerbate our usual problems.  The fact is we feel hopeless and unwanted and take life and people too seriously.

It’s easy to get depressed – and these feelings should never have been tagged with such a word.  We blame the 21st century usually – but our parents and grandparents would have gone through worse, because they didn’t have the time or resources to indulge themselves or anyone to talk their problems through with.

No matter how bad we feel – we have to always look for some hope – no matter how little.  It can be in appreciating our parents, children, pets or a partner – but if none of them are available – seek some sort of contact – even if it’s with a local shopkeeper or the angry looking security guard at your workplace.  Say hello – it’s a start.  It moves quickly from there and you start to feel a bit better.

Depression Test

http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/screens/depres.html

mantra wrote on Oct 15^th, 2008 at 11:39am:

... Depression Test http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/screens/depres.html

this test is too simplistic and easy to cheat, which makes me depressed and sleepy.

hahah tallow - lack of sleep is a strong precursor to depression.

I find exercise is the best remedy for depression.

Quote:

this test is too simplistic and easy to cheat, which makes me depressed and sleepy.

I should have looked at the content before I posted the link.  The title sounded relevant.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Oct 15^th, 2008 at 12:51pm:

hahah tallow - lack of sleep is a strong precursor to depression. I find exercise is the best remedy for depression.

Sleeping more then twenty hours a day won't live you time for depression either.

The best remedies for depression IMO are:

1) Meeting new people and forcing yourself into new situations.
2) Exercising.

Does this forum alleviate depression or aggravates it?

tallow - i think that by discussing depression and offering solutions to it, the effects of depression may well be abated here.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Oct 19^th, 2008 at 2:31pm:

tallow - i think that by discussing depression and offering solutions to it, the effects of depression may well be abated here.

It would be interesting to make a poll about this if Mantra agree of course.

ex-member DonaldTrump wrote on Oct 17^th, 2008 at 7:01pm:

The best remedies for depression IMO are: 1) Meeting new people and forcing yourself into new situations. 2) Exercising.

1 = Way to much stress
2 = Good

Kytro - I think donalds ways would work.

Meeting new people takes peoples thoughts off their own situations.
Often people do not really have a reason for depression. Sometimes they do.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Oct 20^th, 2008 at 3:40pm:

Kytro - I think donalds ways would work. Meeting new people takes peoples thoughts off their own situations. Often people do not really have a reason for depression. Sometimes they do.

Quite possibly for many people.  I'm just not one of them, mainly because I am an introvert (I do like to socialise, but I find it to be an effort).

I do not believe I am currently depressed, but in the past I may have been (not happy with pretty much everything society does in one way or another).

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Quite possibly for many people.  I'm just not one of them, mainly because I am an introvert (I do like to socialise, but I find it to be an effort). I do not believe I am currently depressed, but in the past I may have been (not happy with pretty much everything society does in one way or another).

I think half the planet probably feels like that a lot of the time Kytro.  It's supposed to be healthy to enjoy socialising - but many of us feel uncomfortable in crowds.


Quote:

It would be interesting to make a poll about this if Mantra agree of course.

How would you do that Tallowood?  It would be hard to word it in a way that doesn't make us all look like manic depressives?

It's a good idea though.

Kytro wrote on Oct 20^th, 2008 at 3:36pm:

ex-member DonaldTrump wrote on Oct 17th, 2008 at 7:01pm: The best remedies for depression IMO are: 1) Meeting new people and forcing yourself into new situations. 2) Exercising. 1 = Way to much stress 2 = Good

Kyrto, thing is, one of the number one causes of depression is lonliness. Another one is continuity and consistency.

These are actually quite normal things people go through, but people with depression don't realise this and are usually caught up too much in feeling sorry for themselves to realise the best remedy for this.

Exercise is okay in the short run, but to be truly happy, you really need to go out and put your balls on the line in public situations. Have the guts to embarrass yourself. It may cause stress, but people with depression should do this. Or at least put yourself in a new situation. For example, save up money and travel to Vladivostok or something like that. I GUARANTEE instant results from these experiences. Nothing like constant travel to clear your mind. It takes their mind out of their mind.

The trick to getting over depression is somehow getting out of your own mind. Believe me, there's nothing worse than being trapped in your own head. It's worse than actual pain.

Depression is a little like a tennis match. You may spend the entire game on the base line and you're getting your @ss handed to you. You decide to change your game and volley it instead. You will find it becomes a more interesting and competitive match afterwards. What I'm trying to say, if it doesn't work... change it.


A philosophy of my own which I've come up with if I'm ever feeling depressed, is to ask myself, what I want to do before I die. Or, tell myself, there's a billion things I need to do before shooting myself in the head, for example, go to Antartica, jump out of a plane, bunjee jumping, kayaking.

Life is too short to worry about being depressed. PEople who take the defeatist attitude (Such as people who don't like immigration and multiculturalism. But they have a fatalistic attitude about it and think there's nothing they can do about it. And that they should learn to 'live with it.') are going to live a long, and sad life. Life is there to be taken and strangled in my opinion.

Kytro wrote on Oct 20^th, 2008 at 3:59pm:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Oct 20th, 2008 at 3:40pm: Kytro - I think donalds ways would work. Meeting new people takes peoples thoughts off their own situations. Often people do not really have a reason for depression. Sometimes they do. Quite possibly for many people.  I'm just not one of them, mainly because I am an introvert (I do like to socialise, but I find it to be an effort). I do not believe I am currently depressed, but in the past I may have been (not happy with pretty much everything society does in one way or another).

If you're not depressed and happy with sitting around by yourself, that's fine.

I know a lot of people who are perfectly happy being alone. Although I have a sneaking suspicion you're lying to yourself and just making excuses for yourself not to go out, I think you can do whatever the hell pleases you.

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If you're not depressed and happy with sitting around by yourself, that's fine. I know a lot of people who are perfectly happy being alone. Although I have a sneaking suspicion you're lying to yourself and just making excuses for yourself not to go out, I think you can do whatever the hell pleases you.

Many people do enjoy their own company DT - but they aren't necessarily lying to themselves - although those who love them might believe that.

Sometimes people are just very selfish and love their own space - although I do believe we have to be needed to survive.  When being needed stops - that's when we have to look outside of ourselves and find some more demands on our time.  

Meanwhile if we can fulfill our obligations yet make enough space for ourselves - we should be able to revel in our peace and quiet without feeling guilty.

mantra wrote on Oct 26^th, 2008 at 3:13pm:

Quote: If you're not depressed and happy with sitting around by yourself, that's fine. I know a lot of people who are perfectly happy being alone. Although I have a sneaking suspicion you're lying to yourself and just making excuses for yourself not to go out, I think you can do whatever the hell pleases you. Many people do enjoy their own company DT - but they aren't necessarily lying to themselves - although those who love them might believe that. Sometimes people are just very selfish and love their own space - although I do believe we have to be needed to survive.  When being needed stops - that's when we have to look outside of ourselves and find some more demands on our time.   Meanwhile if we can fulfill our obligations yet make enough space for ourselves - we should be able to revel in our peace and quiet without feeling guilty.

So you believe the lack of the feeling of 'being needed' is what leads to depression, Mantra?

I am a strong believer in overcoming this feeling.

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So you believe the lack of the feeling of 'being needed' is what leads to depression, Mantra?

A major factor from my point of view.  

yes, I'ld agree "feeling needed/valued" does avert depression.

Productive work can be beneficial for that