Depression, the secret we share: A TED talk

But there are 2 types of depression, "situational" and chemical, the first is triggered by events as he said, events as one poster mentioned your wife cheats on you and gets pregnant by another man, and leaves you to be with him.

The other is there is no reasons, great wife, kids, house, job, car everything is going good, but you are hiding that very sad feeling from everybody and don't know why, there is no logical reason to be unhappy with your life.

I had a friend tell me that a co-worker that he knew very well killed themselves because they were depressed and they had everything, nobody could figure out why he did it.

Depression is like a mental and emotional jail a person puts themselves into, the result is physically you can put yourself in jail by never leaving a room all day because of that condition, and that is no way to live.

a reply to: Blue_Jay33

An excellent post, until you said this:

Depression is like a mental and emotional jail a person puts themselves into, the result is physically you can put yourself in jail by never leaving a room all day because of that condition, and that is no way to live.

NO. Depression is NOT SELF-INFLICTED. It is a reaction, or a chemical imbalance. Perhaps you are confusing "depression" with "moping" and "ruminating". Very different things.

Also - clinical "depression" does not include lots of tears and self-pity. It is a destroyer of motivation, relationships, ability to cope with frustration. Symptoms can range from sleep disorders to appetite (none or excessive, either way), from irritability to withdrawal from society - as chels said earlier: anhedonia - the lack of any feelings at all - can also be a sign of clinical depression.

It's more about not caring than it is about feeling "sad."

Watch the video for more info. Please do not ever say that depression is "self-imposed." If you have never suffered from it, or are confusing it with adjustment disorder (crying after a breakup, for example) or grief (transitory devastation from the loss of a loved one), then you would do well to learn more about it.

Thanks for participating, though, Jay!

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Please do not ever say that depression is "self-imposed."

You misunderstand me, let me rephrase, depression is like mental and emotional cancer, and we don't self-impose physical cancer on ourselves. Although it is possible to contribute to some types, for example smoking and lung cancer, but ultimately I agree we don't have a choice, if it is severe, but perhaps we might if it is dysthymia, but every person is different, so those might not either, this is a complex subject and we have much to learn on this topic.

Also in some cases diet could contribute to some types of depression, for example a diet devoid of the B complex of vitamins and certain oils.
But that is only in some people.

a reply to: Blue_Jay33

Okey dokey....cool.
Thanks for clarifying.

Yes, there is much work and research to be done around brain/mind functioning. And every person is different. That's why some meds work for some people, and make other people "loco." It's very much an "art form" doing talk therapy, too.

But there is nothing wrong or sinister about the psychology field. Maybe some crumb-bum wackos, but what profession doesn't have those? Most people in psychology (as opposed to MD Psychiatrists) are very interested in behavioral health, the human condition, and the unique ways in which each of us respond to our environments and circumstances. This is why "family systems" must be understood to truly help a person who is overwhelmed by life and has limited coping skills. It is just as important as a person's overall sensitivity (or lack thereof), positivity vs negativity, active vs passive tendencies, general temperament, etc. As one of my favorite poets wrote: some of us have an "unruly disposition". Others are more sanguine.


"Nature vs nurture", they say. Well, it's actually "Nature PLUS Nurture" that forms us as unique individuals. This is never more apparent than in people whose subjective quality of life is problematic for them (or for others), and conversely, where resilience is found even while a person is enduring the worst possible circumstances. I have two kids. Very different in temperament, similar in intelligence. Different in interests, similar in intensity. And so on.

a reply to: liveandlearn

CBT is not necessarily a treatment for Depression. It's more geared at changing one's counter-productive skills into productive ones. It's about building habits and thought patterns that support one another in positive (rather than negative) ways.

Anyone who is profoundly depressed is doing well just to function (get up, take a shower, go to work, follow up on chores, etc.).

a reply to: Starcrossd

Haven't even looked at the link yet, but "Doctor Emoto"?

Classic. Perfect name. Is it real? Or is it more like "Professor Science McSciencey" ??

Anyway, thanks for the link.

a reply to: Richsac89
The voice (mind chatter) takes the attention away from what is actually happening - so when it is noticed, just notice the space in which the voice is appearing.
Here is a nice little video:

Here is another video about thought (mind speak).

I would just like to say

Thankyou for this Thread

Depression at any age,stage of life,is not given the attention or the awareness that is deserves and requires / needs

Riouz

a reply to: Itisnowagain

I watched the 2nd video, it was quite helpful. Thanks!

I think this thread has become very helpful to a lot of us. I hope this kind of positivity continues. As much as I love it here, I have a hard time sometimes, because it can get very dark. Not just with subject matter, but just in general, with bickering and such. But this thread and the participants have been a light!

a reply to: chelsdh

You are welcome - I am glad you liked it - Unmani is has some very helpful videos on youtube.
Have you read or seen anything of Eckhart Tolle? I highly recommend this video;

a reply to: Itisnowagain
This is right out of the 'Michael James' (Bhagavan Sri Ramana) playbook ''Happiness and the Art of Being" (a good philosophy). Tolle should give credit to the original author of these ideas instead of blatantly plagiarizing them as his own.

originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: Komodo

I hope you find that your new therapist is a good fit. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and if you feel uncomfortable, you can always look around for a more suitable relationship.
You really should feel safe, and able to share without judgment - good for you! I personally always enjoyed going to therapy. It helped me so much - through so many difficult things.

I think everyone can benefit from therapy - from Pope Francis to Donald Trump, to you and me. We ALL can benefit from introspection and review of what troubles us....and learn coping techniques to ease discomfort, as well as new ideas and perspectives.

All the best to you!! Don't be self-conscious when you go - just be you. Be as authentic as you can be.

Thx you-! I think it went ok...? Didn't feel judged at all, so... Yeah, felt like I want to keep talking but it was only about 45mims?

Not sure what a good fit means, she says I need to go into some deep physiotherapy .....if that's what she said but it was something like that...personally, I think my depression is chemical and situational...meh

a reply to: Itisnowagain

Thanks bud, glad to know I wasn't the only one fighting my own negative thoughts.

I learned afew things from the videos ane quick google searches. Don't give those insignificant negative thoughts any landing zones, let them fly right on by, direct them else where into the vast infinite emptyness of thoughts. Imagine in your head a blackboard and as thoughts draw in with chalk, you erase them or you can use a spray paint, white out what ever helps with erasing.

originally posted by: vethumanbeing
a reply to: Itisnowagain
This is right out of the 'Michael James' (Bhagavan Sri Ramana) playbook ''Happiness and the Art of Being" (a good philosophy). Tolle should give credit to the original author of these ideas instead of blatantly plagiarizing them as his own.

'Who' is the original author of any idea???

originally posted by: Itisnowagain

originally posted by: vethumanbeing
a reply to: Itisnowagain
This is right out of the 'Michael James' (Bhagavan Sri Ramana) playbook ''Happiness and the Art of Being" (a good philosophy). Tolle should give credit to the original author of these ideas instead of blatantly plagiarizing them as his own.

'Who' is the original author of any idea???

Give the credit earned is all to the original author (where is the problem) quote it (make it real) don't steal ideas from others positing them as ones OWN.

a reply to: vethumanbeing

This 'idea' is even in the bible! And Advaita but again 'WHO' is authoring anything??

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
a reply to: vethumanbeing

This 'idea' is even in the bible! And Advaita but again 'WHO' is authoring anything??

NO; I will argue this; lifted word for word paragraphs spoken. The text is fine; just not given any credit to the actual author 'Michael James'; (Tolle) lifted from James book "Happiness and the Art Of Being" word for word. This is not Biblical quoting (another antithesis) of Psalms. Come on.

My problem with depression is convincing doctors that i am not depressed.

I have fibromyalgia/small fiber polyneuropathy.

Some of the medications they use to treat fibromyalgia/small fiber polyneuropathy pain are antidepressants.
in my case they did not work but i found a medication called Gabapentin that works great.

I have a number of VA doctors that keep trying to put me back on antidepressants even though they do not work and a couple have even told me that even though they do not work for the pain they would still help with my depression.

At that point i tell the doctor that i am not depressed and have never been.

A group of doctors lead by Simon Wessely in the UK years ago did a group of bogus studies claiming fibromyalgia was caused by depression.
These doctors were working for the insurance industry and trying to save the insurance industry money by claiming people with fibromyalgia were mentally ill. and not sick with a medical disorder.


How many people DXed with depression are really depressed and how many believe they are depressed because a doctor told them they were.
There is no lab test or any other test to prove someone is depressed or not depressed.

a reply to: ANNED

how many believe they are depressed because a doctor told them they were.

I have never had any of my doctors initiate the diagnosis of depression. It's always been me going in and saying "I'm having a hard time..... "

I'd also say it's a safe bet that most people come to the conclusion themselves, because they feel it.

Anyone else want to tell us if they self diagnosed prior to seeing a professional or did your doctor tell you that you suffer from depression?

originally posted by: vethumanbeing

originally posted by: Itisnowagain
a reply to: vethumanbeing

This 'idea' is even in the bible! And Advaita but again 'WHO' is authoring anything??

NO; I will argue this; lifted word for word paragraphs spoken. The text is fine; just not given any credit to the actual author 'Michael James'; (Tolle) lifted from James book "Happiness and the Art Of Being" word for word. This is not Biblical quoting (another antithesis) of Psalms. Come on.

That's strange because Michael James book ''Happiness and the Art of Being" was first published October 30th 2007 and Eckhart Tolles book 'The Power of Now' was published in the 1990s.

Happiness and the Art of Being: An Introduction to the Philosophy and Practice of the Spiritual Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana
by Michael James
published 2007

www.goodreads.com...

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment is a book by Eckhart Tolle. The book is intended to be a self-help guide for day-to-day living and stresses the importance of living in the present moment and avoiding thoughts of the past or future.

Published in the late 1990s.

en.wikipedia.org...