This blog triggered my thoughts on the subject.
I've suffered from a condition most of my life for which I always refused to acknowledge was a condition until I accepted the option of medication and have never looked back.
It's very hard thing to do, that is, to accept that your behaviour is a medical condition and not just bad attitude, or bad temperament, irritability or whatever.
The illness that goes under the term of depression has many symptoms that make it difficult to diagnose until you consider all the symptoms together.
1.I've heard of anxiety disorder for example which is a symptom of the condition of depression. I suffered from anxiety and panic attacks on a daily basis.
2.Then there is uncontrollable anger for which sufferers are referred to anger management courses. My explosive anger was what finally caused me to seek help as I had become an insufferable companion to my wife.
3. I would have constant raging arguments inside my head, there was no peace for a second during waking or sleeping.
4. Irritability with every obstacle imagined or not would constantly frustrate me and anger me.
The medication that treats this is known a SSRI Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
8 comments:
How is it working? Are there any side effects?
Hammer, it's works well for me and my only regret is not starting the medication much earlier. As for side effects, there aren't any for me. It's in fact unusual for any medication to not have any side effect.
Blame evolution.
It's very hard thing to do, that is, to accept that your behaviour is a medical condition
The illness that goes under the term of depression has many symptoms that make it difficult to diagnose until you consider all the symptoms together.
Very true. I spent 8 years working with adults with chronic, severe, debilitating (as caused cognitive impairment) mental illness, and I have seen what you're describing. It's hard to watch, even.
The other problem with diagnosis is that, at least in small moderation, all of the symptoms of depression are also normal thoughts and behavior. They become "clinical depression" when they cannot be controlled.
I'm glad you've found medication that works for you. Stay well.
Michael, I'm glad you understand and I hope my article will help somebody else who reads it.
I think there are 2 types of depression...situational depression and clinical depression. The latter is the one that requires prescription medicine to fix an imbalance. Situational depression is just depression brought on by uncomfortable surroundings. I'm generally a very happy person, but many bad situation at work and at home cause me to be severely depressed. As soon as the situation changes, then the depression went away. But I think situational depression can eventually become clinical in much the same way that a broken heart can eventually kill a person.
I've been depressed for so long I have come to kind of relish the feeling. I do take some crap for it, but the stuff makes me really tired. I sometimes think that is how it works - you are still depressed, but too tired to care. The interesting thing is the number of people, particularly men that are suffering from depression. You can tell it has become an epidemic because the pharmaceutical companies are hawking their crap to alleviate it on TV
Lexcen, as I think you know I wrote a series on depression in a work place context. Here I found Paul's distinction between situational and clinical depression useful, including his recognition that one can lead to the other.
I find it reassuring that people who do suffer can come back, if sometimes with medical support, to make a contribution. Like entertaining their friends with their blog!
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