Another way of looking at depression

[The Valkyrie]

Talking to family or friends can be a big help.

Might help sometimes, but not in my experience. My brother is totally immune to understanding any of it. We're close, always were, but I gave up on trying to make him understand my condition.

Oh, agreed.

My Catholic mother is always, "Pray!"

My father's the one who understands.

Hence I said can help.  But you need to find the right person.

[abaris]

Hence I said can help.  But you need to find the right person.

Apart from doctors the only person understanding is a collegue at work. Because he's sufering from it too. My mother suffered from a life long depression. I'm not sure if a disposition towards it can be inherited, but she certainly didn't make it easier on me. Especially in her late years.

[Faith No More]

I'm not sure if a disposition towards it can be inherited, but she certainly didn't make it easier on me. Especially in her late years.

Parents pass on genetic tendencies towards depression to their kids, but then the formative years in those kids' lives may or may not trigger those tendencies. So how the kid is raised and what things he/she has to go through in these formative years determine whether or not these tendencies will be triggered into full blown depression.

[Edwardo Piet]

Apart from doctors it's you guys, the lovely people of AF, that help me the most.

Family? Not so much.... they mean well but they're exhausting and they stress me out.

[robvalue]

I'm not sure if a disposition towards it can be inherited, but she certainly didn't make it easier on me. Especially in her late years.

Parents pass on genetic tendencies towards depression to their kids, but then the formative years in those kids' lives may or may not trigger those tendencies.  So how the kid is raised and what things he/she has to go through in these formative years determine whether or not these tendencies will be triggered into full blown depression.

I'm definitely genetically vulnerable to depression. It's all over my father's side of the family tree like the plague. It didn't fully trigger, the first time, until the psychological abuse from my parents ground me down to nothing. It took several years, a lot of therapy and distancing myself from them to get over it.

I did become well again, for several years. Then I got M.E. out of nowhere, and the depression was back not long after. And since the M.E. may never go away, I might well be depressed for life.

[Jackalope]

OK, question for those suffering.

How many times have you been told, or by how many people, to just suck it up? Your problem is imaginary. You are a malingerer. You are using this as manipulation. You could make yourself better if you'd just try.

Although I don't suffer, and don't believe a stitch of what I typed, I've heard these things said many times. It shows how misunderstood depression (actually all mental illness) really is.

Thoughts?

My ex-wife had that attitude until we split. She didn't come to the realization that it was a real thing until after we split, and by then it was too late to matter. (Strictly speaking, my issue is not depression though, is bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress, but "just getting over it" is equally ludicrous.)

[Jackalope]

Talking to family or friends can be a big help.

Might help sometimes, but not in my experience. My brother is totally immune to understanding any of it. We're close, always were, but I gave up on trying to make him understand my condition.

My brother is the same way. He wants to be sympathetic but he simply lacks the ability to comprehend it. I'm fortunate to have an excellent therapist.

[Excited Penguin]

I suffer from depression, so this isn't coming from someone who doesn't get it, so fuck anyone who questions my authenticity.

Just get over it, pretty much covers what one should do about depression. It's a great advice. It's simple and straight to the point. It's the only way I deal with it and it works.

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm glad it works for you, EP

[Excited Penguin]

I'm glad it works for you, EP

Yeah, I'm glad it works for me too. No need for the italic editing, I'm not retarded, thanks.