My ex wife suffered from depression and maybe some other problems and I guess she is doing OK now, but it is a problem that can be very difficult to treat. A lot of good advice has already been given so I will just warn you about one thing. She was taking Wellbutrin and stopped taking it "cold turkey" and didn't know that you were supposed to taper off slowly. This caused her some really terrible problems like "feeling electrical shocking in her brain", and a few other bad things that took over a year to go away.
Depression
- Thread starter pluspea
- Start date
DeathGrip
US Veteran
A little something about prayers.Since I joined the forum I've said alot of them.All of my prayers have been sincere and asking for Gods hand for others.Man,I've never prayed so much in my life.But one thing's for sure,I haven't prayed for myself but to say thanks.But somehow I feel like a better man now.Belive me I'm not in good shape right now and I really need a break.But I'm gonna be OK.And you will be to.Please get some help if it's getting you down that bad.
I'll be asking a prayer or two for you.
D.G.
I'll be asking a prayer or two for you.
D.G.
Yeah, I've been there from time to time. So far it has always passed, sometimes with a little effort on my part, and sometimes without my knowing why. It came, it left. Never understood why. But it was sure awful while it was around.
Look up a book called The Depression Cure by Stephen Ilardi. I don't subscribe to everything he says, but there is some merit in a fair amount of it. I was particularly interested to find that there is statistical evidence that for a large portion of the population, simply increasing consumption of fish oil on a daily basis is beneficial. Sounds like nonsense, but read the chapter. The evidence is pretty good.
In addition, do NOT underestimate the power of novelty and exercise to lift spirits.
But don't expect miracles from any form of therapy. Don't set your hopes so high that they are bound to be disappointed, or you will just reinforce the prevailing downer. Recovering from depression does not mean attainment of constant happiness; it involves climbing out of the pits and returning to a mix of occasional satisfaction and episodes of more conventional misery. You can't escape the pain that simply living imposes upon you; but there are things you can do to keep it in balance.
Look up a book called The Depression Cure by Stephen Ilardi. I don't subscribe to everything he says, but there is some merit in a fair amount of it. I was particularly interested to find that there is statistical evidence that for a large portion of the population, simply increasing consumption of fish oil on a daily basis is beneficial. Sounds like nonsense, but read the chapter. The evidence is pretty good.
In addition, do NOT underestimate the power of novelty and exercise to lift spirits.
But don't expect miracles from any form of therapy. Don't set your hopes so high that they are bound to be disappointed, or you will just reinforce the prevailing downer. Recovering from depression does not mean attainment of constant happiness; it involves climbing out of the pits and returning to a mix of occasional satisfaction and episodes of more conventional misery. You can't escape the pain that simply living imposes upon you; but there are things you can do to keep it in balance.
Old Corp
Member
pluspea - after a nasty divorce, I learned about the real ugly side of depression up close and personal. It's kinda like fracturing your arm or leg. It is almost impossible to get better without some skilled help. My department psychologist was a world of help to me. Also, there is an almost endless list of available anti-depressant meds out there. What works or doesn't for some one else may be completely different for you.
I still get visited by the monster every once in awhile, but am 1000's of times better than a few years ago. I also believe I'm stronger and better for it. God is The Great Physician, he can do a great work in healing you, just let Him.
I still get visited by the monster every once in awhile, but am 1000's of times better than a few years ago. I also believe I'm stronger and better for it. God is The Great Physician, he can do a great work in healing you, just let Him.
snowman
Member
I wrote the book on it. I remember sitting in my room at around age 20 dreaming of freezing myself to death in my car in the middle of the night(winters were actually cold here then); "tapes" playing in my head repeatedly with messages like, "Why live?", "What's the point?", "No hope!", yada, yada, yada. Always a sense of foreboding, feeling like 'nothing will ever work out right'.
When I was in grade school I was walking down the school hallway one day and a high school student with a camera took my picture; they put it on a page of candid shots in the yearbook with the caption, "What's wrong, Andy?" The look on my face was telling.
My early 20's were the worst; terrible pain. It was a miracle that I got through college and grad school.
Now I'm nearly 52, and haven't had any serious bouts with it for over 20 years.
Yes, pluspea, I know of what you speak. I'm available, by PM or email. If you're interested, I'll tell you how the black clouds in my mind broke up.
Andy
OP
pluspea
Member
thanks for all the great support. I didn't exactly reveal the root of my depression, it's my job, the thing torments me every waking moment. I wake up at night with it haunting me. I am almost sixty years old, and the work am asked to do is that a much younger man would have trouble preforming, sometimes on little sleep. I took this job because I was desperate, being out of work for almost six months. I have to keep moving without a break for eight hours, with one the most hateful arrogant bosses that you could imagine.I hold my breath and walk on eggs the entire workday. They have a window they watch you from, you have to not be seen standing still, or the big boss lets you have it. I have been somewhat depressed since I have been there, but it came to a head a couple of months ago, they had me almost by myself, unload a fifty three foot trailer of heavy cabinets, many over my head, sometimes in extreme heat, when that is done, keep moving, there is more than enough left to do. When your order is pulled, he checks it for errors, I cringe when he calls my name. He is always complaining about how long I am taking to do a task. My coworker is in his thirty's, and I can't stay with him. I injured my back a couple of months ago lifting an eighty pound reel of wire, and was off for two weeks. Last week I stepped off a forklift and slipped in a gob of grease that had fallen from the same, I hit my head and injured my back again. I was loaded onto an electric cart and taken to a coworkers pickup then taken to the ER, (why not an ambulance due to head neck injury)I am now on workman's comp and have to see one of their doctors this week. It was their fault I was injured, but the fact that I have to live on less through the insurance co. just doesn't seem fair. My wife says that there are many people my age that do the kind of work I do, she doesn't know what it's like.
I realize that jobs are hard to find, but this one is going to put me six feet down. I know you have your own problems, I just wanted to share what was depressing me. Thanks for listening.
I realize that jobs are hard to find, but this one is going to put me six feet down. I know you have your own problems, I just wanted to share what was depressing me. Thanks for listening.
BarbC
Member
Go to a labor lawyer for a consultation. They've broken many labor laws.
Crazy K38
Member
you know I suffered from depression myself and I was bad with it, the drugs and therapists didn't help, but what helped me sounds impossible and crazy as hell, but I FORCED myself to think 150% positively, I FORCED myself to at least fake happy, then it became a bit of a thought pattern and a habit and I slowly but surely healed, but it is one hell of a road to get out of, and it won't be easy but just remember this always, 'Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change' if you need help, or just someone who can relate pm me and I will give you my phone #, you arn't the only one, it just feels like it, and you will make it through it if you want to
depression is nothing to play with. I applaud ya getting help/talking of it.
Trouble is in a work situation they gave you a break hiring an old guy to to the young guys job. If you can't keep up sometimes ya do have to admit ya can't and quit. You see them as the enemy where as they likely felt for ya to hire you to begin with. Ya are quick to point blame on the accident etc on them.
Sounds like ya need a different job and that's OK... trouble I have with it is you seem to be of the opinion that less than standard work/ due to your age.condition is an acceptable excuse. You are a new hire and not a guy who has 15 years of great service with them,
I am sorry but sometimes with depression we have too quit blaming others for our issues.
The economy stinks and none of us here likely caused it but most of us are feeling it.
Age discrimination is not that if you can not keep up. As far as a labor lawyer-because they bark your next assignment and expect you to keep moving? Some of ya are the reason jobs keep leavin.
Trouble is in a work situation they gave you a break hiring an old guy to to the young guys job. If you can't keep up sometimes ya do have to admit ya can't and quit. You see them as the enemy where as they likely felt for ya to hire you to begin with. Ya are quick to point blame on the accident etc on them.
Sounds like ya need a different job and that's OK... trouble I have with it is you seem to be of the opinion that less than standard work/ due to your age.condition is an acceptable excuse. You are a new hire and not a guy who has 15 years of great service with them,
I am sorry but sometimes with depression we have too quit blaming others for our issues.
The economy stinks and none of us here likely caused it but most of us are feeling it.
Age discrimination is not that if you can not keep up. As far as a labor lawyer-because they bark your next assignment and expect you to keep moving? Some of ya are the reason jobs keep leavin.
JcMack
Member
I haven't worked on the dock like you since I was 18. Trailers were a max 40' and it was tough then. Yours is not so much depression as it's work related stress. I found myself in a similar position last year and because of it took SS at 62. That really shot a hole in my standard of living. However my frame of mind and personal safety have much improved. You need some legal advice. You also need to consider your health and the possibility of a life altering injury. A friend of mine retired to Tennessee, close to Knoxville. He found a part time job after looking for almost a year. His stories of working conditions would curl your hair. Your wife have a job?
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gunlovingirl
Member
+1.................
Right a list of all the things you are thankful for. You have a job, you are 61 but healthy enough to do hard labor unloading semi trailers, you have a wife,.....etc,etc,etc. Be glad that you have a job and every evening you can spend looking and applying on the internet for a better job, and look forward to the fact that social security is right around the corner
Bassamatic
US Veteran
Seems to me you just answered your own question. Sounds like a laborer's job in a factory or warehouse. That's hard work, not for someone in their late 50's.
I'm almost 63 and can tell you without a doubt that it takes MUCH longer to do a job now than it did 20 years ago. I still do the work but accept the fact that I am slower and not as strong...and that's OK.
When I was younger, I worked my way through college in a lot of factories and warehouses, driving a fork truck or whatever. Accidents happen, people slip or fall all the time. Maybe your accident was their fault, who knows, but then again just maybe a good part of it was due to your inattention due to the problems you are facing. Face it, factory work is tough work and hard enough for someone in their 30's, let alone someone close to 60.
There are easier jobs out there. Give it a thought.
Oh, someone here mentioned sitting down and talking to the good Lord about your problem...that might be a thought as well.
Here's 2 pieces of advice - Worth way more than they're going to cost you!
1. Put ALL of your guns with someone you trust! Do it TODAY!!
2. Go to a church (any one will do right off) and talk to the Minister or Priest. If you don't like what you're hearing from that person, go to another church and try again. Repeat if necessary.
3. You don't want to know why I know this - It was December 13, 1977 -- And I still miss her...
AGAIN - Eliminate your access to guns (just for now) - Talk to a pro.
1. Put ALL of your guns with someone you trust! Do it TODAY!!
2. Go to a church (any one will do right off) and talk to the Minister or Priest. If you don't like what you're hearing from that person, go to another church and try again. Repeat if necessary.
3. You don't want to know why I know this - It was December 13, 1977 -- And I still miss her...
AGAIN - Eliminate your access to guns (just for now) - Talk to a pro.
Jim Shugart
Member
I agree.
Being depressed because your dog died or you lost you job (reactive depression) is one thing. What the OP is probably talking about is another (endogenous depression).
Endogenous depression is caused by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain and is a REAL disease -- like diabetes or epilepsy. There's several different types.
The treatment is to take a drug which restores that balance. Prozac is one and there's may more that affect different neurotransmitters. They don't make you stoned and they aren't addictive. It takes about a month or so for most of them to start working.
Talk therapy or "keeping a stiff upper lip" would be about as effective for this as they would be for a broken leg or high cholesterol.
Women are much more likely to get their depression treated than men. Macho jerks that we are, we just continue to be miserable and drink too much.
Get it evaluated. It most likely can effectively treated.
JMHO.
venomballistics
Member
meds are only part of the solution and honestly a crutch till you heal the broken bones in your head.
you have to retrain your brain to process without hopelessness.
creative activities help.
git you a guitar son.
or better yet ... take up some wood craft and build yourself a guitar
you have to retrain your brain to process without hopelessness.
creative activities help.
git you a guitar son.
or better yet ... take up some wood craft and build yourself a guitar
Joni_Lynn
US Veteran
Lots of good advice has been given.
I won't really add much to it except that what you eat and drink can help or hurt this situation as well.
I read awhile back that a glass of milk in the morning helps with one of the chemicals in the brain, (seratonin?) maybe consulting a really good dietician would be helpful.
I won't really add much to it except that what you eat and drink can help or hurt this situation as well.
I read awhile back that a glass of milk in the morning helps with one of the chemicals in the brain, (seratonin?) maybe consulting a really good dietician would be helpful.
Frizzman
US Veteran
There are two forms of depression. One is situational. That is related to negative events and situations such a divorce or death of a loved one or loss of a job. This form of depression is best dealt with by identifying the cause of the sadness and working on dealing with it. Talk therapy or just talking with someone who is willing to listen can help. Changing the situation may be required. Medication can also be used for a brief time.
The second type of depression is biological. That is depression that ranges from moderate to very severe and is not related to negative events or situations. Episodes of severe depression can occur when things are going well. The cause is believed to be due to an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters such a Serotonin. There are three types of medication used to treat major depression. The most commonly used medications are in the SSRI category. Despite the many stories of side effects and other problems, they are safe and effective for many people. This form of depression is a real, biological illness. You can no more get rid of it by doing hobbies and watching cheery movies than you can get rid of diabetes by thinking about eating salads and thinking happy thoughts. This requires professional help. Many family physicians are not qualified to treat major depression.
Men often experience depression as anger and rage. That can lead to dangerous behaviors such a suicide and hurting others. Taking the guns out of the picture right now would be prudent. Being able to easily act on anger/rage feelings is not a good thing.
I dealt with bouts of severe depression that got very bad after I had a stroke in 2002. I was treated with antidepressants and talk therapy for a good many years without much success. I finally, saw a psychiatrist who tried me on a medication developed to treat seizures that is also used to treat bipolar disorder and that made a world of difference. I take the medication as prescribed and go to sessions of talk therapy with a psychologist. I am not happy all the time but those peaks and the horrible valleys have been evened out.
In your case, your depression seems to be very much situational. Your choices are to stay as you are and feel lousy. Or, you can learn some new ways to cope with the job stress or you can change the situation. I have had a couple of toxic jobs but I also was taught that a "real man" sticks it out and doesn't quit. I was fired only once in my working life and was very unhappy and felt like it was the end of the world. Well, it turned out that I didn't realize how miserable the job was until I got out of it and it actually turned out well for me. Sometimes we have to examine our old beliefs and change them to those that work better...No job is worth your health...physical or mental...Good Luck!
The second type of depression is biological. That is depression that ranges from moderate to very severe and is not related to negative events or situations. Episodes of severe depression can occur when things are going well. The cause is believed to be due to an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters such a Serotonin. There are three types of medication used to treat major depression. The most commonly used medications are in the SSRI category. Despite the many stories of side effects and other problems, they are safe and effective for many people. This form of depression is a real, biological illness. You can no more get rid of it by doing hobbies and watching cheery movies than you can get rid of diabetes by thinking about eating salads and thinking happy thoughts. This requires professional help. Many family physicians are not qualified to treat major depression.
Men often experience depression as anger and rage. That can lead to dangerous behaviors such a suicide and hurting others. Taking the guns out of the picture right now would be prudent. Being able to easily act on anger/rage feelings is not a good thing.
I dealt with bouts of severe depression that got very bad after I had a stroke in 2002. I was treated with antidepressants and talk therapy for a good many years without much success. I finally, saw a psychiatrist who tried me on a medication developed to treat seizures that is also used to treat bipolar disorder and that made a world of difference. I take the medication as prescribed and go to sessions of talk therapy with a psychologist. I am not happy all the time but those peaks and the horrible valleys have been evened out.
In your case, your depression seems to be very much situational. Your choices are to stay as you are and feel lousy. Or, you can learn some new ways to cope with the job stress or you can change the situation. I have had a couple of toxic jobs but I also was taught that a "real man" sticks it out and doesn't quit. I was fired only once in my working life and was very unhappy and felt like it was the end of the world. Well, it turned out that I didn't realize how miserable the job was until I got out of it and it actually turned out well for me. Sometimes we have to examine our old beliefs and change them to those that work better...No job is worth your health...physical or mental...Good Luck!
ArcticFox
US Veteran
...when you visit the Dr. ask for a blood test to check your Vit D level. Sometimes it takes a number of different adjustments to turn things around...
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