Depression

[JcMack]

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?

 

[gunlovingirl]

Go to a labor lawyer for a consultation. They've broken many labor laws.

+1.................

 

[Farmer17]

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]

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.

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.

 

[DeadAye]

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.

 

[Jim Shugart]

Meaning no offense, but that is about the same thing as saying don't take antibiotics for an infection. There may be some people who can "heal themselves" but for many, many more, this is a real medical condition that will not improve without medication and therapy.

You don't have to be drug dependent for life to be normal, but even if you do, isn't it worth it to have a normal life? I am sure that diabetics who need insulin to function normally would agree... and depression is just as real.

Again, I mean no offense...but after watching my beloved wife suffer and struggle for years, I do have strong feelings about the subject.

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]

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

 

[Joni_Lynn]

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.

 

[Frizzman]

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!

 

[ArcticFox]

...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...

 

[50 target]

PLUSPEA, you called it right when you called it a demon. Suffered from it for years and my primary care doctor prescribed Wellbutrin and then Prozac. After a while it was worse not better. Went through the range of emotions that you described. Finally my doctor referred me to a urologist as I hadn't been to one and the diabetes I suffer from was agood reason to go. He did the blood work and found some of my hormones low and I started taking shots. He told me the world would look a lot better in 30 days. WOW, what a difference. Now I'm not saying that will work for you but handling stress effectively depends in large part to how you feel. Have a good physical and hormone levels checked. If all is well there, then my next suggestion is not to elicit any comments from others but we are spiritual creatures as well as physical. We are hard wired with a hole that is only filled with the presence of a loving God. HE is there, we have to want that relationship . Have I been where I have suffered. Yes, my faith was all that carried me before the doctor found the reason for the imbalance. I have found HIS presence reassuring, HIS love unconditional, and HIS blessings beyond compare. Now to let you know that I have a track record I've lost a job through merger, I'm 63 so not much I can do to keep up with the younger crowd, but we have what they don't, real life experience, knowledge, but HE has taken care of me and never missed a meal or a bill. I am diabetic, had foot surgery 3 times and each time my surgeon says "this is bad" and each time he just shakes his head at my recovery. Been in 4 car wrecks from low sugar and each time someone who was uniquely qualified to take care of me was present. What I am trying to say is that there is someone bigger than all of our problems. HE is known as the great I AM, but HE is also the great I WILL, and the great I WANT TO. if you have a friend or family member who attends church, reach out to them and attend. The very best to you and yours.
Bob
P.S. Read Isaiah 41:10, 1Peter 5:7, Jeremiah 32:27, and Jeremiah 29:11-13, they have been a lot fo comfort to me.
I think you will find comfort in those.

 

[woftrax]

50 Target is right on about male hormone levels..after age 60 testosterone plunges(decreasing by 1%/yr after age 30)..My gerontologist put me on injections 5 years ago at age 69..His nurse trained me to administer the shots myself and medicare pays for most of the serum ..
The low safe level is 300ng/ml of blood..a shot every 3 weeks will help a lot if you are low...depression is a symptom of low levels in men..

 

[Newfyman]

You have my prayers and as others have said, Jesus IS the Great Physician and He specializes in depression. I can tell you from personal experience the He can and will heal. One of the most important things that anyone ever told me was that sleep is a natural results of being tired. If I'm tired, laying in bed and cannot go to sleep then God is performing a maricle to keep me awake and it is because He wants to talk to me. Therefore any time that I can't sleep I start praying and ask the Lord what HE wants to talk about. Unually it is something that I don't want to talk about with Him but I need to. If I give in and deal with what He wants then I find myself praising Him for how much He loves me and how He wants what is best for me. I go to sleep praising Him and the depression is gone! As I say, I speak from personal experience that this works and I recommend it to everyone who knows the Lord. May you hear the Lord as He speaks and respond to Him. He will bless and heal you!

 

[GatorFarmer]

Prozac dosages have to be adjusted/tweaked and some people need to take something else with it. A mental health professional such as a psychiatrist would be a better treatment provider than a generic MD. Some pain meds at various doses could be part of the problem, either too much or not enough. Background chronic pain sometimes causes all sorts of problems.

Walmart and McDonalds are both usually hiring. Both aren't always providers of great jobs, but the former at least has certain standards and the latter gives you free meals.

Nearby hospitals may have extensive out patient therapy programs. Most states, and Federal law, only impact your right to have guns if you've been adjudicated mentally ill and not had your sanity restored. A few such as MI don't allow permits for carry if someone has an active diagnosis of mental illness, but in general, someone in the United States can be as depressed, odd, or even howling at the moon crazy as they want and still stack guns to the ceiling.

If you are, or become, suicidal, dial 911 or go to your nearest ER.

 

[zercool]

Good luck, I think that's the best support I can give. Advice is here from lots of sources.

I've struggled with (admittedly, self-diagnosed) seasonal depression since junior high school. Didn't recognize it for what it was until this past year when my bride laid it all out for me. I haven't gone the medication route yet, but it's not off the table. I try to do things that keep me happy instead.

 

[Hotcoley]

I'm so sorry that you are having a rough go of things. It seems like we always get kicked when we are down.Sounds like your job is the culprit. My only advice to you is to sit down with your wife, evaluate where things are right now, and see if it would be possible to quit that awful job, and start getting yourself healthy again. I know what it is like to have a high stress job, where your body just kills you every day and you dread going to work. That is no way to live your one and only life that you have. Your health is the most important thing. I will pray for you, please try and stay positive.

 

[50 target]

NEWFYMAN,

You are right on with your statements. HE deals it straight and when we get straight, things get better. As tough as HE is , no doubt in my mind anyway that HE loves me.

Take care.