I'm not really sure if this is the place for it but I too had an episode of depression when I was 25. It lasted what seemed like forever but was probably a couple of years. I never was treated, didn't take any medications but eventually got past it.
My mother was bipolar so there may have been a 'nature' component to it but I suffered enough life shocks in rapid succession to make 'environment' equally suspect. Over a couple months my first wife divorced me, I was in a car crash that killed my brother and busted me up pretty good, and then my dog got run over while walking at night because of my being distracted.
To be honest I think I was experiencing manic states through marijuana use leading up to the depression. I had never really been so much as blue until after I was no longer able to get high by getting high. The highs were flattening out before the car crash or the loss of my dog, but not until after the divorce.
Before the highs and low, I was interested in many things and enjoyed lots of activities including artwork, conversations with friends, dancing and everything to do with nature. When I was depressed interest and enjoyment felt impossible. Social situations felt overwhelming. I could no longer make small talk and this made me feel very self conscious which lead to withdrawing more and more.
Getting over it wasn't the same thing as getting back to what I had been like before. It felt like that person simply went away and I built back from scratch. If I knew then what I know now I would have wanted definitely sought out medical help. No way I would have gone through that if I had known there was an alternative. I've never had another depressive episode, nor have I experienced the highs I had with drugs and I don't really miss either. I like where I am now better than before. I guess it's true what they say that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I think I get people -including me- better now.
My mother was bipolar so there may have been a 'nature' component to it but I suffered enough life shocks in rapid succession to make 'environment' equally suspect. Over a couple months my first wife divorced me, I was in a car crash that killed my brother and busted me up pretty good, and then my dog got run over while walking at night because of my being distracted.
To be honest I think I was experiencing manic states through marijuana use leading up to the depression. I had never really been so much as blue until after I was no longer able to get high by getting high. The highs were flattening out before the car crash or the loss of my dog, but not until after the divorce.
Before the highs and low, I was interested in many things and enjoyed lots of activities including artwork, conversations with friends, dancing and everything to do with nature. When I was depressed interest and enjoyment felt impossible. Social situations felt overwhelming. I could no longer make small talk and this made me feel very self conscious which lead to withdrawing more and more.
Getting over it wasn't the same thing as getting back to what I had been like before. It felt like that person simply went away and I built back from scratch. If I knew then what I know now I would have wanted definitely sought out medical help. No way I would have gone through that if I had known there was an alternative. I've never had another depressive episode, nor have I experienced the highs I had with drugs and I don't really miss either. I like where I am now better than before. I guess it's true what they say that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I think I get people -including me- better now.
