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mindseye
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A Yankee living in Shanghai
Apr 1999
time: 13:24
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Not a fan of medications. They mask/suppress, not cure. |
Wow, that's really, really wrong.
Many depression sufferers are dealing with a biochemical problem involving their brain. Medication is exactly what they need. Telling such a person top "snap out of it" or "cheer up" is about as useful as giving that advice to someone with a failing kidney.
PH, if your family has a history of chronic depression, get your a$$ to the doctor and tell him. But you must first get over yout aversion to meds and open yourself to the possibility that you, like millions of others (including members of your family) have a medical problem. I you really don't have one, the meds won't hurt. They DO NOT make you artificially happy, they just remove whatever (if anything) is keeping you artificially dismal.
You sound like a textbook case of someone suffering from chronic depression. Not only do you have to deal with problems in your life, but the crippling depression is multiplying everything for the worse. Get yoru doctor's advice, and try meds if he suggests them (I'm certain he will given your family history).
quote:
Come teach English with me. |
Great advice! I left my comfortable IT career for a new one in education, and my life is vastly improved! If you have any interest in Asia (or other parts of the world where English is in demand), please consider it. If you are interested in Chinr, let me know. I know lots of intelligent, fascinating people from all sorts of backgrounds who are leading wonderful new lives here in this dazzling city! But: you must solve the depression problem first, then you will be ready to strike out in some new direction.
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Another thing, which a Brit would understand but an American might not, is that hobbies, collecting things, eccentricity, whatever, are bliss. |
So true! So many Americans sit on the couch watching tv when they could be cultivating a wonderful, fufilling, eccentric hobby! For me, it's die-cast vintage trucks and buses, along with computer art, and music. That little world AH mentioned escaping into is such a rejuvenating place!
GOOD LUCK, PH!
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ColdWizard
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quote:
Originally posted by Seeker
If you're still interested in really changing your life, go to the thread I just made. It has what you need to know to be a FLT (foreign teacher). |
Seeker's Thread
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MattHiggs
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Teaching Primary School kids would be fun, so would college students. But High School... ack no way.
Sorry to hear about your problems Rich. Hope things will get better for you soon.
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S. Kroeze
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the Hague, the Netherlands, Old Europe
Dec 1999
time: 05:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Provost Harrison
I have been a sufferer of depression for quite some time now, but recently things just seem worse, especially since leaving my PhD (which I thought would be a break for the better). The countless rejections, the complete inability to get recognised or taken at all seriously. I can't get through a first round interview, let alone get a damn job, and it's almost a year since I quit my PhD. Also my present job is undemanding with no prospects and I could be laid off at any time. My anxiety and depression are just spiralling out of control. I have panic attacks, can either feel extreme anger, or just a complete blackness that nothing I think about can break. And most of all, even suicide. I just can't retain control of my life, and all I see is misery, no glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, just hopelessness and feel nothing but pain and misery. Sometimes I can smile and put on a grin but underneath nothing seems worthwhile, everything seems hopeless and a lost cause. I have had counselling on numerous occassions previously but the techniques they are teaching me are just failing to gain any control over my emotions and it never seems to get any better. I am trying to get to see a doctor but it seems to be impossible to get an appointment quickly. What should I do? |
Dear Sir/Provost Harrison,
I have not read this thread completely but on the basis of your first post alone I am quite sure you're in serious trouble, unfortunately.
You should visit a psychiatrist -and not a psychologist- as soon as possible, IMMEDIATELY! And don't try to relativize your condition when speaking with a doctor!
Don't be afraid to swallow antidepressants! We should be grateful that drugs exist.
I have some experience with this sort of problems. I have brought my own mother several times to a mental clinic.
Do not expect that there is an easy way out!
In my opinion you have received many valuable advice already. Perhaps you should describe your average day.
Do you do anything at all? Or do you just sleep and sit on the couch, apathetically?
I think it is important to try to live as regularly as possible: rising, eating and going to bed at the same time each day. Do you still eat sufficiently? Do you prepare your own meals?
And physical exercise would definitely help. What you do (jogging, weight lifting, yoga, dancing, aerobics)doesn't matter, you should chose an activity you like (or don't dislike). Start with only 15 minutes every day, but do it every day! When you have some friend who truly cares about you, you could ask him/her to exercise together.
Do you still do your own shopping? You should try to do as much of the daily chores yourself; perhaps you can do them with your mother together.
I wouldn't travel in your present condition. I do not believe that life in a new place would be any easier for you. Writing in a diary might help to set your thoughts and emotions in order.
Do not worry about the future; we humans NEVER know what next day will bring and our only certainty is death.
I am sure you will finish your PhD when you are cured.
Best wishes/Good luck!
S.Kroeze
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MattHiggs
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quote:
Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Hey Higgsy, long time no see. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I just want to improve the situation and then get a start on getting on with the rest of my life. |
I've met you on a few occasions, you may be a little shy when it comes to women but you're a nice guy. Soon you'll be in a job you like, or at least get good pay. That will hopefully bring you some confidence and from then on life'll be great. We all have really bad patches in our lives, we've just go to pull through them. I hope it doesn't come down to you taking any forms of medication as I don't believe that's the answer but if it's the last resort and it's what the doctor's tell you then who am I to argue.
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Provost Harrison
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The farce is strong with this one.
Feb 2000
time: 05:24
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quote:
Originally posted by S. Kroeze
Dear Sir/Provost Harrison,
I have not read this thread completely but on the basis of your first post alone I am quite sure you're in serious trouble, unfortunately.
You should visit a psychiatrist -and not a psychologist- as soon as possible, IMMEDIATELY! And don't try to relativize your condition when speaking with a doctor!
Don't be afraid to swallow antidepressants! We should be grateful that drugs exist.
I have some experience with this sort of problems. I have brought my own mother several times to a mental clinic.
Do not expect that there is an easy way out!
In my opinion you have received many valuable advice already. Perhaps you should describe your average day.
Do you do anything at all? Or do you just sleep and sit on the couch, apathetically? |
I know there are no easy options. I have tried to work my way out of this by changing the situation I am in, but it just keeps getting worse and worse. I have nothing other than time, I have no choice if I want to get out of this. And I have a full time job (temp) so I am busy all day long, not a very exciting job but it keeps me occupied. The nights can be a bit boring but I don't know many people around here and I try to relax anyway. I often spend a lot of my weekends out of the area visiting friends.
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I think it is important to try to live as regularly as possible: rising, eating and going to bed at the same time each day. Do you still eat sufficiently? Do you prepare your own meals? |
Depends, sometimes I prepare meals but I live at home with my mother. I do eat plenty (perhaps too much) and I have a quite uniform sleeping pattern. I have manage to keep those things normal.
quote:
And physical exercise would definitely help. What you do (jogging, weight lifting, yoga, dancing, aerobics)doesn't matter, you should chose an activity you like (or don't dislike). Start with only 15 minutes every day, but do it every day! When you have some friend who truly cares about you, you could ask him/her to exercise together. |
Yeah, it would be good if I could get a pact with someone to go swimming, but the problem is, lack of people I know around here. I have never been a big fan of sport, so I usually do something like swimming or walking, but with time constraints and how hard it is to motivate yourself to do it, it doesn't happen very often.
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Do you still do your own shopping? You should try to do as much of the daily chores yourself; perhaps you can do them with your mother together. |
I rarely shop, but it's not something that has ever bothered me anyway. You just buy stuff. Although non-grocery shopping makes me very anxious (clothes for example)
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I wouldn't travel in your present condition. I do not believe that life in a new place would be any easier for you. Writing in a diary might help to set your thoughts and emotions in order.
Do not worry about the future; we humans NEVER know what next day will bring and our only certainty is death. |
Well I would obviously like to pick up my life a bit further, but I think it is worse staying where I am than moving. Although I want to get started with some sort of recovery first.
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I am sure you will finish your PhD when you are cured.
Best wishes/Good luck!
S.Kroeze |
Well the PhD is something I have left behind, and I don't think the department would want me to return, although if I feel a bit more perky I could be a bit more forceful and bring the university into the matter.
Thanks for the thought and the advice 
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Ted Striker
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United States of America
Jan 1970
time: 21:24
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Provost,
Sorry to dig up an old thread but since I haven't been here in a while I have been looking back at old threads to see what's going on.
Anyway, I was going to say, that you are that guy that everybody looks at and says, this guy has a vibrant personality that everyone likes, thuggish good looks, and an insane amount of talent -- so why is he down on himself all the time?
Now, not being happy with where you are going in life could be one thing -- but I'd say biology is partly to blame here.
Let me ask you, do you get more depressed in winter months than not? I don't know if this has been mentioned in this thread, but there is SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) that affects people in the upper latitudes, of which the UK is smack right in the middle of.
Basically what happens is, your body is extremely sensitive to sunlight, and during the winter, when it's cloudy outside, you don't get your daily dose of sunlight and so your body basically begins to shut down and you get really depressed. No some people are not sensitive to this but I'd say alot of them are. With all those overcast skies, no wonder you guys drink so much tea to stay awake!
It is of NO coincidence that the highest concentration of SAD occur in Scandinavia, Canada, UK, and upper US.
I would HIGHLY recommend that you check this out and see if your symptoms match the SAD. Often times it can be treated very rapidly with special lights that send all the right signals back to your brain to wake the **** back up.
Any chance you could head to Australia where the weather is alot sunnier? Despite AH living there, I have NEVER heard anyone who has gone to Australia say anything bad about it.
Just curious, if you were to resume your PHD, would you have to do it from scratch, or would you have to pick up where you left off?
Anyway I hope you are feeling better.
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19-12-2002 06:27
even if your doctor thinks it's a good idea. been there, done that, still recovering. and i thought i was ****ed up before, i think my brain is fired now.
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