Many Years: The Story of Depression

March 10, 2008 by
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For many, many years I suffered with depression. It is like a vicious cycle, that's really hard to break out of. It can leave you feeling drained, unloved - even when you have many people who love you around. I always felt like no one in the world understood. I was lucky enough that I
 have been blessed with an amazing family who not only put up with me when I was scattered and lost, treating people badly, but continue to love me with the same strength they always have.

Just recently, I suddenly realised that I was happy. When I thought about it, I realised that I had actually turned things around and was loving life, and it made me wonder what I had done to make such an amazing change. Also, how was it that I didn't notice anything was different, besides how I was feeling? So, mainly because I know how dark and lonely depression is, I thought that if I could help one person by figuring things out and writing about it, then it would be my gift. Starting to think about what was happening, I wrote down the things I do now, that are different from the days when I didn't want to get out of bed (I still like to sleep in though).

I hope that even people who are not depressed may get something out of my "10 commandments". I get a bit jaded when I look at how society is at the moment. People with attitudes that someone has to pay because I got hurt (who can I sue...) without taking responsibility or realising that sometime bad things just happen. People want the best but don't want to work for it, the instant gratification without the hard yards. Others think they are allowed to look down on people who do things differently, or have different values. I wish we could all just be a little move loving, accepting and happy with our lives as they are, without always wanting more. Maybe you will read this, and be that one person it helps; I know it has helped me writing it.

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Thank you for writing this! It's so bang-on, I almost feel as though you've been inside my head on both the best days and the worst. Definitely bookmarking.
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Posted on 08/26/2008 at 10:08:39 PM

I was depressed as you were, since 12 to 20 years old. I took psychiatric drugs that only made feel worst. It's difficult (almost impossible) to see when you are down, that little things can make you feel sad or happy. Sometimes it's something you've heard all your life, but you can't really understand it to put in practice. This is the first time in my life, i have felt happy... i was not sure why. But when i read your article, i knew that unconsciously, i took many of those steps. So maybe some people may think your article it's so obvious, but people who had been depressed will appreciate it... people like me.
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Posted on 05/27/2008 at 11:05:05 PM

At the risk of repeating myself, I wrote the article to fully understand what changes I had made in life which have helped me. I don't have all the answers, but posted it hoping it may be of some help to others. If you don't think it will help you for any reason, thats okay, everyone is different.
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Posted on 04/19/2008 at 6:04:21 PM

Interesting article and as someone who suffered from clinical depression for almost three years and have tried several of the things you speak of, I would have to conclude that if you are truly severely depressed those things only serve as as band-aid or buffer...they are what I liked to call my "therapy on the go". Of the things I tried (thinking of someone worse off, surrounding yourself with positive people, looking at self first and head talk are all good for a little while but the positive effects, at least for me were only short lived. Surrounding myself with positive people was good for the moment I was with those people during which time I had to "pretend" to be "happy" . But once I left the presence of those people...the reality set in and yes when I thought about my situation, I often thought of people who were worse off than myself, again once I left those thoughts behind the reality set in, looking at self was the toughest for me considering the fact that I had neglected
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Posted on 04/19/2008 at 11:04:32 AM

alot of excellent points here, I cant say that there were any that I would consider to be ineffective, but the unfortunate reality of depression is that it hits each person differently, depending on what their life situation is, as well as the various chemical imbalances, along with problem solving skills, While doing all these various things listed "may" help, they may also not help, I dont know if I have the secret, or solution, but in my own situation, what I have found "helpful" is to try to make an effort every day, Ive had plenty of people who would tell me, oh, you "just" have to do this, or you "just" have to do that, as simple as those "justs" may be as the person quoted them off, they might as well have been telling me that in order to solve my my troubles, I just need to walk cross country barefoot on broken glass, there are days that gettingout of bed, or getting dressed, or tackling something on the list is as difficult as the example, depression isnt something that goes
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Posted on 04/14/2008 at 5:04:57 PM

I don't mind the negative comments. If they bothered me I could delete them, it's a symptom of depression actually. The negative attitude that these people display is what I am trying to help people with, Do you think these people tried my method and then wrote the comment??? I'd say they wrote it off within minutes of reading it, with their comments that only drugs can help them. Yes medication can help smooth the ride, but it's this negative attitude which is the real problem that people need to fight, with everything they have!
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Posted on 04/12/2008 at 4:04:11 AM

This is great advice for a lot of people, depressed or not. I'm sorry some people saw fit to make insulting comments rather than simply state that they did not feel these tips would or could work for them due to the severity of their conditions.
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Posted on 04/11/2008 at 10:04:17 PM

I think your article is great. I suffer from depression and have for many years. I'm taking medication and go to counseling, which only helps to some extent. The bottom line is that as difficult as it is, you are right, much of improving falls to the individual to make positive changes in lifestyle, including changing negative thought patterns. It's not easy and a real struggle for me some days. But I find the negative thought patterns can continue on for long periods unless I do constructive to change my focus. Regardless if anyone disagrees with you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with offering practical suggestions on how to improve quality of life and sharing your success to offer encouragement. Congratulations on finding your way out. Thank you for taking time to write this article.
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Posted on 04/11/2008 at 3:04:48 PM

And that is what I was told too. That I had a chemical imbalance and that only drugs would fix it, but they didn't. It makes me sad to read the comment that I was a little bit sad. When I think back I am amazed I am still alive to tell the story. When I was running away, throwing away 4 years at uni, and quitting my job because I couldn't get out of bed I was so "sad". It is a story I can tell, because I started taking responsibility for myself. I would never say to stop taking medication, and that it doesn't help, but there is more that depressed people, sad people, grumpy people and others need to remember. I am responsible for how I feel, I can make it better. You cannot fix it, and I still have bad days, but I remember that it is only a bad day, not a bad life.
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Posted on 04/03/2008 at 1:04:04 AM

Nice article, but this is better direction those dealing with fleeting depression that the clinically depressed. Clinically depressed individuals have a chemical imbalance that a positive attitude cannot fix. Sort of like telling an anorexic to go eat a hamburger.
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Posted on 04/02/2008 at 8:04:49 PM

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