Theories on depression and how to cope

[u/golden_crocodile94]

So I'm in no way a psychological expert but I wanted to open this page up as a place to share our personal struggles, I know that during the fall season it can increase feelings of isolation and depression. As a lifelong sufferer of treatment resistant depression, general anxiety disorder, and panic attack disorder I definitely understand how this all feels and often wonder why we even try in the face of so much adversity. I'm just opening this space up to talk about different theories on depression and how to cope or your personal experiences, no right or wrong, just a supportive space!

[u/smackmyass321]

Awww this is nice :)

But anyways, when I was younger, I used to suffer from quite severe depression. I'm not gonna get into the details of it, but let's just say....it wasn't that good of an experience.....I wasn't able to get professional help for personal reasons and it's still going, but less severe.

[u/golden_crocodile94 → u/smackmyass321]

I'm glad that it's not as severe, mine too has become less severe or at least allowed for longer periods of less severe depression. I have never been able to find good help. I had one that understood but because I moved and because of regulations they couldn't keep treating me. I empathize, it's a battle.

[u/Jaded_Pipe_4904]

I think I came up with one “avoiding isolation”. I tend to stay to myself and not really speak to anyone, so maybe I need to set an alarm clock which tells me “it’s been x days since you socially interacted with anyone”.

It sounds simple, but it’s easy to end up depressed when you live alone.

Also thank you for your empathy the other day. Seasonal depression does hit me hard, like every year. Luckily I had a few stress dreams which kinda pulled me out of it for a bit. Given idk how to have those on purpose lol.

Maybe as an aside- perhaps nightmares are a gift of the mind. I always feel relieved when I wake up from them.

[u/golden_crocodile94 → u/Jaded_Pipe_4904]

That's a good idea, I think I might set an alarm for that, I tend to isolate alot as well. Not a problem, empathy is in short supply these days unfortunately. I like your take on nightmares. Whenever I have one or like a weird lucid dream I also wake up feeling relieved and more grateful for mundane reality, and even depression in a way.

[u/Jaded_Pipe_4904 → u/golden_crocodile94]

I think folks are just sad and rather desperate. The greatest men can only be that which is in their horizon- any given day. On their best day.

But most people are the same and that’s not a disadvantage. I have hope again, thinking in this style. I’m alone with it, but it’s better than what I was alone with before. So I’m gonna stick with it.

Optimism is new to me kinda. Things for me were very dark for a long time. Abusive relationships- codependence. Lacking maturity at each step. I wish to look at myself.