I just can't control my depression.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by paiktis22
SAD is bullocks indeed as Laz characterized. At least to me.

I have lived years abroad on FAR less sunny countries than Greece where I grew up and it never did anything to me.

Bloody bastard!

There are people who never brush their teeth in their whole lives and never get a cavity.

[Bereta_Eder]

Well I did get a cavity

For a year I was very close to what PH is going through. In the second year of the university.
Then I kind of "woken up" (dont know how else to describe it) and started putting order in my life.

In 3 months after that I had a part time job a girlfriend and was passing all the exams with top grades.

Thats all after I met my (then) girlfriend.

That time of my life taught a great deal of things.


thats why im reluctant with all that medication things.

but each case IS different and i'll be ****ed if i give any advice that can be false/misleading on this issue.

[DaShi]

There's your answer. Get a girlfriend.

[Bereta_Eder]

well it certaintly did wonders for me.

but now that i think about it the "process" of putting things in order had started a few months before. Just like that.

And then when I also met my girlfirend it kind of "exploded" to very nice living and personal order.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by DaShi
There's your answer. Get a girlfriend.

[pg]

i've read about sad before but i just dismissed it. maybe i have that who knows... my depression only really started getting bad after i moved to around seattle though(from ky).

[Ted Striker]

Laz,

I don't know what they sell in UK but here they have 5-HTP and also SAM-e that are supposed to help with mood. I haven't tried these personally, and I have read that you should cycle the 5-HTP on and off. They are both over the counter supplements.

I'd have to respectfully disagree with the girlfriend thing.

[Provost Harrison]

5-HTP? Is that 5-HT which is 5-hydroxytryptamine which is serotonin which is what antidepressants boost the level of anyway...well, whatever I suppose...

[Asher]

How are things these days, Rich?

[Lancer]

"My mind just doesn't work like that"

-Believe me, I understand, niether does mine... but here I am, thank God.

Offer # 238,759...Well, there's always the Philippine trip in a couple of years...there's nothing like a subsistance community for teaching hope and happiness when there is no reason for it. Save your schillings, or whatever you use over there...lira...

[Provost Harrison]

We're still on the pound at the moment Lancer, although probably Euro's very soon.

I am managing Asher, just waiting for that doctors appointment. Not much to report really, just waiting...I applied for information off two jobs, but when your faith is that low you don't generally see much point in bothering as they'll just throw it back in your face anyway...

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
5-HTP? Is that 5-HT which is 5-hydroxytryptamine which is serotonin which is what antidepressants boost the level of anyway...well, whatever I suppose...

It's not serotonin but it works in conjunction with seratonin. Many people have used it as a replacement of their anti-depressant. It also will help you sleep and can help curb appetite.

5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan. It is the direct precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin.

5-HTP differs from tryptophan in that it slightly increases the activity of an energizing neurotransmitter, norepinephrine, as well as the calming one, serotonin.1 In some clinical trials, 5-HTP outperformed tryptophan in treating mood disorders.(2) The greater the agitation associated with depression, the more likely the response to 5-HTP.

http://www.mineralconnection.com/5htp2.htm

[Provost Harrison]

That is quite interesting actually, I know that there needs to be some control of the noradrenergic systems too. There is a newer type of antidepressant (SSNI) which boosts both noradrenalin and serotonin levels directly, although an SSRI has this effect anyway.

[Graag]

Rich, I think I remember having a similar discussion with you a good few years ago, when I was at uni and very depressed. i.e. spending all day every day drinking and smoking pot, and usually sleeping in the day to avoid people.

I now feel different. Not very different, and I am still prone to bouts of severe depression. Rather than constantly being down, I now tend to be a lot more schizo/bipolar in my depression, mood swinging like a monkey on speed... but nevertheless I am clearly 'better' than before, I no longer reside in a seemingly inescapable pit of darkness (all the time ).

Personally, the three greatest things which have ever happened to me are:

1. Getting a girlfriend.
2. Travelling
3. Getting into Taoism

Ok so this is me. I cannot say anything is a magical 'cure'. In fact I don't believe in a cure - if you don't get depressed you ain't human.
But connecting on the deepest level with another human has enormous effects on your self-esteem, though I admit this is only one aspect of depression.
Travelling is amazing. Go somewhere, on your own. If you think you can't learn anything new, you can, and the way to do it is travelling. When travelling you have no obligation to anyone. You can be anyone you like and most people you meet will not expect you to be anyone.
Taoism is truth, as much as truth is possible. I found huge solace in the words of the Tao Te Ching when I broke up with the aformentioned girlfriend. I also buggered off to Vietnam on my own (see travelling). Taoism does not preach. Taoism does nothing. It is the truth of nothingness. All very existentialist.

Anyway, I am really not a fan of anti-depressents in any form. I've never used them, but I've known a few people who have, one who was seriously suicidal. Most of them had little effect, and none of them considered them helpful in retrospect. The most common reports were of hightened confusion and paranoia, habitual compulsive addiction to the use of anti-depressants or simply no effect.

Depression, IMHO, is not chemical, or at least only partly chemical. Messing with your brain chemistry ain't gonna help in the long run. This may sound wacky, but have you tried smoking pot? I admit I am a big druggy, but this is a very serious suggestion, I'm not saying this for kicks. If you really feel the need to f*ck with your brain, use something passive, natural and with thousands of years of medicinal use behind, not the latest money-making gimmic from the big pharmacuticals.
Pot is not the answer, particularly long term, but it's better than chemicals.

[Mercator]

I can't believe I hadn't seen this thread earlier. I've been in a similar position for the last year or two I think, although far milder, by the looks of it.

I've been trying to graduate for months now, but I just can't seem to get into it, and it's really time to make some decisions, but all I do is hang around watching TV and browsing through 'Poly, basically. And I have an extremely irregular sleeping pattern too, not to mention an utter lack of friends (or much social contact whatsoever)...

But I am attending a weekly group for those trying to graduate, and I'm by far the youngest, all the others are in their 8th or later year and should really get done by now, while I'm really not that far behind on schedule.
The only incentive I had earlier was getting to Japan, but that isn't going to happen this year either since I got rejected for the scholarship about 6 moths ago (I'm still following a course in Japanese though, which I enjoy, but as with the rest don't actually do much for, except for going to the weekly lesson).

I really have the idea I know exactly what I'm supposed to be doing to get out of this, but I just can't seem to start. I want to go swimming (at least once a week), and the pool's right across the street so I have no excuses there, I want to get a temp job (me working on my thesis usually ends up being just one or two unproductive days per week, so I could just as well start doing something more to get myself going again, some more social interaction, more work and more exercise should give me better spirit the rest of the time to work on my thesis)...

But that's all talk... whenever I end up having to go do something I escape to PC, TV or a book, or I go grovel in self-pity and decide I'm going to have to do something...

What does your week look like PH? Do you work 5 days a week, 9 to 5? And you say you're regularly visiting friends, do you talk to them about this, or do you just go there to have fun?

If you're planning to go do some sports, maybe we could plan together... Pick a date and time for when to look into the details, get things sorted and start training!

In any case, good luck! You can do it (and I can too), I'm sure of it! Everybody loves you!