How many of you have experienced depression in your life?

[slick]

I copied the test into a Word document and will take it in due time.

mahayana: I don't want to take this thread into a different direction but I was wondering if you have had any experience with meditation?? Years ago when I was seeking counselling I found that meditation helped me to focus on what was important, that being my own welfare.

[catland]

Originally posted by G.P.girl
the last few years i've gotten really depressed around november/december. i haven't told anybody although it got really bad last year. i can feel it coming back already, but maybe not as bad as last year, because i'm in a different imviorment where i don't feel like such a failure. but i guess i'll just have to wait and see how bad it gets.

GP - you might have seasonal affectiveness disorder or SAD. Very common for people who live in grey dreary winter places like Seattle and Portland. You become starved for sunlight.

We've put in sunlight balanced florencent lighting at home. You can also do a search on the internet to learn more.

[mahayana]

Slick- you guessed it!

Meditation is like that Christian phrase "the peace that passeth all understanding".

And it's really easy to learn to do.

I go to the secret, silent place all the time, "the kingdom of heaven is within you", and yes...

it is helpful.

[tikeyas_mom]

I was told I was just acting like a teeager for the longest tiome, but I got analized by a psyhcologist and he said I have severe anxiety disorder, so yeah now I tyake meds for it and I am all better

[micki76]

Originally posted by lovemyshiba
I scored a 5--seems like I'm doing well!!
The combination of medication and therapy seemed to have worked well for me--I couldn't get out of it myself.

5!!! What are you taking and where can I get some???? I seriously scored extremely high. Maybe I should see someone...

[lovemyshiba]

Micki you mentioned earlier that you are still coping with the loss of your father--I'm sure that has a lot, if not everything, to do with your high number.

I was impressed by mine too, and I did take the test honestly. I am quite proud of myself too, because I know a couple of years ago my score would have been ten times that.
The combination of marrying my best friend, working out a lot of family issues, finding a job I love and want to go to every day, having four wonderful dogs, and just being content with my life are all factors--I'm very lucky right now.

[tikeyas_mom]

I took the test and I got

17-20 Borderline clinical depression

[binka_nugget]

I got 24. I guess it's alot better than before.

[Fox-Gal]

Before I took the test I thought I was fine, according to the test I'm not though. That's depressing on it's own.

It's a good idea to take the test on another day, also to see if the mood from one day to another changes your answers. It's a great test, but to really get an idea it should be taken several times. Everyone has good days and bad, that's how life works, but if you consistently get a high score then I'd take it more seriously. I only say this for those that might worry that their score was high, I wouldn't want them to panic just yet.

For a few years I worked with rape victims and one of the things we did was have them answer questions similar to these over a period of time. Not only was it a way to tell if they where improving but to tell if they where suffer from another form of depression as well.

For a few years I suffered from depression from my own rape and beating but it was never clinical, but according to the test today I do have clinical depression. I honestly belive thats not true, I'm just having a bad day today and that effects my answers. Feeling a little lonly and left out today efffects my answers as hard as I tried not to let it, I'm sure it did. In all the counseling I've had and help with we never went by one test.

I just felt that this needed to be said if it hasn't already, for those here who might read to much into one test. The only way to truly know is to see a Dr.. If anyone has worries that they might be suffering from depression please see a Dr. And know matter what type of depression you suffer from counseling is important, with or without medication. Even those with a chemical imbalance can be helped with counseling.

My 2 cents on things.


BTW: my keyboard is sticking so forgive any mistakes in this post.

[Cataholic]

This thread has been very interesting, and as is typical, I find myself in agreement with 2kitties and Soledad.

Too often, people say, "I'm depressed", when they mean, "I am sad" or "I am having a bad day".

Too often, people say, "I am fine", or "That's okay" , when truely they aren't, and it is not.

Medications for depression, treatment for all forms of mental health, the public's awareness, are all coming to the fore, finally.

I don't see it as "everyone is on meds..." so much as I see it "meds are now finally available to everyone, not just those slashing thier wrists...".

Our society asks alot of us, especially the younger people...do well in school, get along with your completely torn apart family, ignore the media messages, help support the family, etc.

For those of you that spend your life in a happy place, I am glad for you. May you never know depression. For the rest of us, though, life is truly a struggle sometimes, even when seemingly, we have it 'all'.

Every one of us is close to someone suffering from depression. We might not know it, but, it is there.

[2kitties]

Does anyone think it is strange that there is apparently a high concentration of "depressed" people on Pet Talk????

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by Fox-Gal
Even those with a chemical imbalance can be helped with counseling.

I respectfully disagree with that statment. A chemical imbalance is a chemical imbalance. Counseling does not change that, anymore than it would change a thyroid condition, epilepsy, etc. You can't just talk away a chemical imbalance.

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by 2kitties
Does anyone think it is strange that there is apparently a high concentration of "depressed" people on Pet Talk????

No. I think alot of the population is struggling with 'depression', or some form of sadness (for example, saying you are depressed cause you can't get over XYZ leaving you, isn't really 'depressed'). PT is a microcosm of the world, IMO.

[2kitties]

So are you saying that happy, or relatively non-depressed people are the minority in the world? Or is PT a microism of a world consisting of a high percentage of teenagers.
I consider myself a happy and well-adjusted woman who knows mostly happy and well-adjusted people. (and for the record I would've never called myself sad or depressed as a teen either.) I never would've considered myself a member of a contented minority.

And, as a note: I DO NOT consider it depression if you're sad because XYZ left you. That's life, get over it and move on.

Again, ya learn something new every day.

[Cataholic]

I think PT is a microcism (sic) of the real world, slightly skewed, of course, since it is a pet site. I think there are alot of troubled people in the world, in general.

As to your comment re: being content, and around contented people....I would be willing to wager there are people in your immediate circle of friends that struggle/have struggled with depression. It isn't really the type of thing people say, "Hi, I am so and so, and I am depressed". You know? Of course, I could be wrong, but, I don't think so...