Depression Symptoms And Me
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So many people are unaware of what it is like to be depressed, clinically depressed that is. They cannot understand or even try to, as they have not experienced themselves. But yet they try to cheer you up, they try to get you out doing things, they come by for coffee and try to make you smile but no matter how hard they try nothing seems to work. I am sure to these people it is very frustrating to see your friend or loved one going through this.
If you know someone you think needs help, encourage him or her to go and talk to a professional health care provider. Many people do not realize that they are in a state of depression. They just think they are having a bad day, but then that bad day turns into a week and then two weeks. With the help of medication and or therapy a depressed person will be able to return to their old selves.
What I have written below is a recollection of how I felt as I can remember it while being clinically depressed. I am writing this today in hopes that it may help someone that does not understand the feelings that many people have while they are depressed or for those that think that something is just not right with themselves. Medication and therapy along with hospital stays is the only way in which I could come out of my depressions.
Do not say to me be happy
As I cannot feel anything but gloom
Do not tell me to enjoy the sun
As I am in a cloud of darkness
This will pass in its own time
Don’t be surprised it may take weeks
And weeks
But the numbness will dissipate
I will return to my old self
I know this as I’ve been here before
There is a light at the end of the tunnel
The darkness will turn to light
The sun will shine again for me
But please oh please just trust me
And let me be
When you see
That I do not
Want to listen
When I am like this
Just let me be
Let the mood pass
On its own
Without interruption
Do not try to cheer me up
When I am so sad and distraught
Do not say snap out of it
As you do not understand
What I am in
As you have never once
Visited this place in your own mind
You cannot begin to comprehend
So do not tell me you understand
As you really cannot
Some Signs of Depression
- Wanting to sleep all the time
- Not being able to sleep at all
- Lack of appetite and weight loss
- Overeating and weight gain
- Wanting to be by your self with no social interaction
- Loss of interest in just about everything
- No interest in sex
- Feeling like you are tired all the time
- Having a hard time concentrating
- Feeling like you are worthless
- You start thinking about suicide
- You never want to do anything at all
- You cry all the time at nothing or you cannot cry at all
- You are sad and unhappy
There are many, many great articles within the HubPage community on depression.
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nightbear, Thanks so much for commenting. It has been quite a few years now since having to deal with depression and I keep my fingers crossed as it is something I hope I never ever have to go through again. This part of the year right now is my most fearful as every time I have gone into a depression it has been this time of year.
Yes, unfortunately this time of year is notorious for causing people's depression to kick in. But you are ahead of the game because you are already aware. So many have no idea. Some things that might help you ward it off is Keep a lot of lights on in the house, nice and bright, and put some simmering water on the stove with orange peel, cloves and cinnamon in it to fill your house with wonderful scents. Take bubble baths with great fragrances that make you smile. Make a list of things you really enjoy doing and do some of them. These things can only be thought about and planned for while you are NOT depressed. As you know, once the depression sets in you can't plan and fight so easily. We are all with you Susan, You are not alone.
Thanks so much nightbear (Hugs)
right back atcha :)
My best friend battles with bouts of depression, but he's also in AA, so he has lots of people who understand and help him cope.
Great article Suba, I'm sure it will help others who are experiencing depression. I've been depressed several times, but it never lasts very long. It would be horrible to be trapped in that state of mind week after week.
Wonderful poem too! :)
Will that's great that he has a support team.
Chris thanks. It was pretty horrible and glad you liked poem.
Exercise is an important component for coming out of depression along with medication and therapy (as needed depending on the person and severity).
Google the words "exercise depression", and it may help some people come out of depression and/or help reduce chance of falling into depression.
Thanks for your comments BillfulWriter. When I am in a "clinical depression" the last thing I think about is exercise. But yes exercise does help improve symptoms and may improve your mood.
Just ask Susan, This is a very good hub here , those of us who have suffered true depression are lucky to have found some key, I am told that medication alone isn't enough . Who knows, for now it works , just not having the anxiety to go with it would be great. One seems to go with the other . I only wish that I'd done this years ago, I am somewhat annoyed at the stigma attached to treatment though. I wouldn't trade the cure for anything though , What a huge load off my shoulders. Who would ever have guessed that a chemicle immbalance could destroy so much! Be well Susan.
Hi ahorseback nice to see you. You would think by now that stigma would have disappeared. Who know's hopefully someday it will. Thanks so much and for your great input!
Dear Susan,
I have been diagnosed with clinical depression and learned that it never really goes away. It is always there on the horizon.
I have had therapy, which sometimes helped and sometimes did not. Still a necessary tool for those diagnosed with CD.
For myself, I find that, staying on my medication, which is much less today than even a year ago, keeping busy when I am NOT depressed and staying social during this time will often reap less bouts of depression than I used to experience in the past.
We are each so individual that there is not a pat answer for any of us. No magic formula.
I have a friend who has known me for years and when she knows I am sliding down, she does not discuss it, she simply pops up and gets me busy. She knows if and when I am ready to talk about it, I will.
Just "Let me be me." is awesome advice. I concur 100%.
Thank you for sharing. I am sure your hub will help many.
I wish you well. Voted up and beautiful
Pixienot
Thank you so much for your wonderful contribution here.
I have not been on any medication for years now but the fear of the darkness coming back is always in the back of my mind. My husband has been a great support for me and better than any therapist I have seen in the past. Always have said to him that he went into the wrong profession.
Yes everyone is different and I hope that my hub will help as well as the great comments people make.
Take care and thank you again.
Thank you Susan, for this hub. People do not understand the depression is not something with which you can just turn on a switch somewhere in your mind to make it all go away. Excellent hub.
Genna Exactly! Thank you :)
Really appreciated this! One of my daughters, a princess, battles depression. Like a sponge drawing life from a vessel. Very helpful. thank you.
Dear Susan,
You are a kind person with much fellow feeling , empathy and good will..and intention to make better the lives of those who suffer...this is a personality trait which I highly admire and appreciate in anyone and everyone...You are doing a good job..yet the point about depression that I ever got to realize was...to overcome depression...or to at least mitigate the gloom and apathy ...one has to get a hold on one's own self first and foremost..depression usually happen to people with advertent or inadvertent loss of control over situations and aspects in one's life.To lose control over anything which involves an individual personally is woeful to know...and even more woeful to experience over a period of time which lets the person feel listless, agonized and uninspired as the situation is beyond control...
There are several ways to overcome that morbid state ..however the solutions applicable is particular to any particular situation...
When a person suffers depression..the funny part is..depression is not at all about what is wrong with the person or what he or she failed to achieve or fulfill...but always about what is wrong about the person's circumstance ..environment and other people in the person's life...some of whom must have invariably failed the person..
Thanks Susan - I totally understand what you mean and how it feels, I have visited depression more than once, luckily I was able to shake it before I completely caved in but it is a very dark place that many people do not understand! Bravo for the great information you have provided and personal experience you have shared.
Arb glad that you found this helpful. People that have not gone through this themselves have a very hard time understanding what it is like.
Debarshi Thank you for your input. You do make a lot of sense in what you have said. I was told that I had a chemical imbalance and was put onto medication which then brought me out of the depression. But the funny thing is...I cut out a person that had been in my life every time that I went into a depression and have not had a relapse since then. Interesting.
Chatkath I came very close one time to completely caving in myself. Thanks and may we never visit this dark place again.
Just ask Susan, a very welcome hub. As you say so many people fear this subject, it is taboo to have any form of mental illness that people do not understand. Having been there myself a couple of times I can feel for you. You are so correct to say that no one can help really apart from yourself. I found all the company and pull yourself together irritating and unnecessary. I still take the happy pills and they do help but often I still have black days too.
Thanks bluestar for reading and your comments. I made the decision to go off my "Happy Pills" against my doctors wishes and it has been at least eight years now. So far so good but one just never knows.
Theres a song by Jimmy Buffett "Changes In Latitudes" "If we weren't all crazy we would go insane" Has to be my favorite line.
Great hub, and very courageous of you to share. I have never been diagnosed, because I have no medical coverage, so cannot afford a doctor. Yet, I know I am depressed, and nothing much is "snapping me out of it." As you say, it's not that easy.
However, I try to at least maintain some level of interaction, and as I am fairly well read, I can pretty well self-diagnose. The problem is, my depression is caused by the current state of the economy (not the time of year) and its resulting effect on our personal finances.
No amount of exercise, pills, bubble baths, or anything else along those lines is going to fix the economy. So, I guess I'm "S.O.L" until the economy improves...if it ever does.
DzyMsLizzy
Hopefully the economy improves soon although it is looking pretty bleak. I am fortunate to live in Canada where we have a pretty good Health Plan. Thanks for coming by to read this, I always welcome your input. Hope you feel better soon.
I read all the signs of depression. I have all but the weight gain, and thinking of suicide. I take a medication for depression it helps with the crying, but nothing else. My depression is from a loss of a daughter from a illness. I like the article you wrote and your right no one can know unless you have went through this their self.
reliablesourse,
I can only imagine what you are going through and wish you all the best. Thanks so much for reading my hub.
My son struggles with depression. What is little known about depression is that when one family member struggles with it, it affects everyoe else in the family as well. In my heart of hearts, I know that this is a chemical imbalance and not my fault, but as his mother, I think "How could I have done things differently?"
DIY sorry to hear that your son struggles with depression and yes the whole family is affected. Thanks so much for reading and for your comments.
Thanks for this info it has really enlightened my knowledge.thanks for sharing.
Hi Susan! Real honest of you to share this sensitive experience. I had my own bouts of depression. It's kinda crazy when one doesn't even realize the quagmire he's in and doesn't even know that he can call for help. Prayers do help a lot. Thanks!
Thank you so much for writing this article, you're right in every way. People need to learn to know what to say, there is an abundance of material readily available to learn what to say in many occasions. Thank you for bringing this to light.
crystolite thanks for reading.
gmmurgirl The sad thing many times is that you just figure you are going to feel better and do not ask for help.
nikkidog Thanks for reading and for your comments.
I'm glad you re-posted this, Susan. I was looking for it on your profile but couldn't find it. Something that a lot of people don't understand is that much of clinical depression is NOT situational. It's a chemical imbalance that has nothing to do with what is going on in one's life or what has happened in the past. (although those factors do impact it) Depression (unless it's situational and temporary) is something that the truly depressed person must also fight. The hub I wrote compares it to such things as high blood pressure. It's not just something you can will your mind to cure. More people need to understand that. Thanks for sharing this. The explanation and poem are both great.
Hi Susan, One more great hub and one with wonderful information and symptoms of depression. This will help many that may not even know that they are depressed and like you said they may just thing they are having a bad day or days. Thanks for sharing. Voted Up and Useful
Mark
Depression is insidious. It's a parasite that drains your life away. I think family and friends who want to help feel helpless, and so that do what they can to assuage their feelings of helplessness. Kids are especially afraid, and do everything they can think of to help.
I'm glad to hear that you did what you could do to manage your condition. Thank you so much for sharing.
Susan, I have to agree with most all of what you say. "Let me be" is good advice in most situations but I do encourage the friends and loved ones of the affected person to keep their eyes open. Stay alert for the signs of depression that you mention. Sometimes an intervention is necessary when the pit has become too deep and too dark to climb out of on their own. Thanks for sharing your experience and writing a hub full of info everyone should read.
what an article, thanks for sharing this. hope no one here get Depression at all. voted up
How did I miss this hub. You know that I too suffered depression. You described it so well, even the little poem in there. I hope you aren't feeling depressed again.
Victoria, I re-posted it as I thought you might have a hard time finding it :) Thanks so much for coming by to read it. Thank you for your comments, I really appreciate them.
Mark, Thank you for your comments, they are always appreciated.
A.A. , Poetic Fool & icciev, Thank you all for reading and for your comments.
Cardisa, No have not had a bout of depression for many years now, knock on wood, but will always remember how it felt.
nightbear Level 1 Commenter 14 months ago
It is very difficult for loved ones, but that doesn't compare to what the sufferer is going through. I am sorry you have to deal with this on a personal level.