Depression (Who is dealing with it right now?)

[GingerSnaps]

What should we do about election depression? I have never missed a day in my life and today I thought that it was Monday.

What the hell happened to me :shrug: I was on Ativans for the depression for a few days after the election but I ran out. I have not been able to sleep since I stopped taking them. I ran out of the pills a few days ago and that is when i started feeling more depressed.

I wanted to die the night of the election but I am not suicidal. I have always been a happy person and the depression is hard to shake.

My College is strictly an Arts College and we have a special area for depression and students with problems.

During orientation we were told that we were more sensitive then other people who are not artistic and they provide counseling for their students.

Have you ever missed a day and thought that it was a different day?

[marylanddem]

1. Hi, Gingersnaps

I like your name - depression is a very real and mean disease; someone in my family is bi-polar so I know whereof I speak. And God knows this election is very distressing & depressing. I've heard that some psychiatrists are getting more calls for help since the election. I hope that if you continue to feel depressed, you will seek help from your school's clinic - that's what it's there for.
best wishes & keep expressing yourself

[GingerSnaps]

6. I have another appointment on Thursday

I have never forgotten what day of the week it was in my life.

[marylanddem]

9. Forgetting what day it is

- is not that big a deal - not that unusual for lots of folks. I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it bugs you, you can talk to your counselor when you see him or her Thursday. And I like all the suggestions OldLeftyLawyer made about doing positive stuff for yourself.

[Modem Butterfly]

12. Aw shit, there are plenty of times I forget what day it is...

The week before Labor Day I was having a truly shitty afternoon. The capper (crapper?) was when the copier spewed toner all over a khaki colored silk suit I was wearing. There were about ten employees standing nearby. Someone went to get me some papertowels and I said, "Well, at least tomorrow's the start of a three day weekend," Everyone in the copy room got very quiet and started looking around. Someone finally said, "Um, Modem? Tomorrow's Thursday,"

D'oh!

Seriously, get whatever help you need, but don't be too hard on yourself for forgetting the day. If that's the most important thing you forget forthe rest of the year, consider yourself lucky!

[knowbody0]

2. it is not just the election

it's the fog of war
a coma would be nice

[Sabriel]

3. I'm considering seeing a therapist

Believe me, I come from a family that thinks therapy is tantamount to drug addiction. It's not easy to make an appointment--I still haven't--but I've been so depressed about Iraq and particularly Fallujah that it's affecting my work, my relationships, and my family. F*cker ***ush!

[OldLeftieLawyer]

19. Screw 'em

They're not seeing the therapist - you are. Don't tell them. Or, if you have to tell them, dig in and be strong and don't let yourself be taken down by people who don't know yourself as well as you do.

It's going to a doctor. That's all.

Read what I wrote to Ginger - it's true for everyone who took a hit over the election. But, don't let the Republicans have you - the best revenge is living well.

[jukes]

4. i refuse

to deal w/it. just leave it to whimper in the dark...

[OldLeftieLawyer]

5. First, Ativan's a bitch of a drug.....

..... so it's better you're not taking it.

But, stopping it, even after a short while, can screw you up.

The depression is really wide-spread, if that's any help to you, and the trick is to get out from under it before it becomes a habit.

Getting yourself over to where the counsellors are is a good idea, but, if you can do it, the best therapy in the world is to get back into your regular life, and embrace your world with all your heart and be the happy person you are. Don't let the Republican thugs take that away from you.

You're just exhausted. You put your heart and soul into the election, and watched it being stolen. That's enough to bum anyone out.

But, you're fine. Your post sounds like it comes from a solid, happy, talented person. Yes, artists are, I believe, more sensitive to things around them, but, in the long run, we're also tougher, because we seeing more allows us to know more. (I'm a published novelist, and I know what you're talking about.)

Just get yourself a good dinner. Eat lots of ice cream. Be with your friends. Be happy that you can be with your friends. Do the things you love to do. Make a lot of noise about what pigs Republicans are. Stay with the world, and make sure the world gets all the gifts you have to offer. Sleep when you're tired, and find someone you can talk to about all of this.

Exercise. Swim, run, just walk, but make movement a part of your life. It's very important.

Don't let them take away your joy, sweetie. You're the hope of the future, and we need you.

[GingerSnaps]

11. Thanks

We have all been fighting against the thugs for 4 years now and we were all looking forward to booting * out of office but you know what. Deep down I felt that this was going to happen and it hit me hard.

I kept begging for people to help us get a group of people to rally against the media but I couldn't find anyone to help get it off of the ground and I am not good at organizing.

I keep kicking myself for not getting something together sooner. I wanted to organize a cancellation day of cable, newspapers, magazines, etc.

Thanks for allowing me to rant.

What kind of books do you write?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

16. I write what are called.........

.........literary novels. The kind you find in the front part of the bookstore. The kind with lots of swearing, but always in an appropriate and tasteful way.

Don't kick yourself for anything. Just go be kind to yourself. You deserve it.

You're fine. You're very fine, kid.

[trof]

13. I like the way you think.

And your advice.
Especially the ice cream part.
Especially if it's chocolate ice cream.
Especially if you melt some peanut butter in the micro and pour over.
Be right back.
;-)

[Biased Liberal Media]

7. I deal with bouts here and there

my anxiety is killer though, and insomnia?? What a bitch.

It's tough...still looking into getting therapy.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

17. Start with the sleep

If you don't get your sleep, nothing works.

Get your internist to prescribe some Xanax - .025 mg. I've taken one every night for years, and it saves my life daily.

[SmokingJacket]

8. Go see your doctor.

Seriously. Ativan is not a depression medication; it's an anti-anxiety one, that is, a tranquilizer, and HIGHLY addictive.

If you're really depressed you should be be treated for that.

[GingerSnaps]

18. My Doctor will not give me anymore pills

He only gave them to me because he is going through the same thing. They helped!

He said that he was disappointed in what happened on 11/2 and that he knows about the insurance industry and medical care would become obsolete to the middle class.

I am a very sensitive person and I care more about the world then I do myself.

I am worried about the Veterans because they are the ones that are homeless. I am also worried about out guys that are going to come home and either be very dangerous or hurt so bad that they will not be able to function.

They are shutting VA hospitals down and I believe that right now that we all should fight to keep them open. There is one thing that we will need in the future and that is VA hospitals.

I have a bottle of wine that I was keeping until Thanksgiving and I am thinking about opening it up because of my stress level right now.

:grouphug:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

21. Put the cork back into the bottle

Alcohol's a depressant. Do you really need THAT right now?

Listen, you cannot worry about the returning veterans. You have to worry about yourself. If, as you say, you care more about the world than I do about yourself, you're going to end up going in all directions at once, and you'll be terribly frustrated.

Start with yourself. If you can't take good care of yourself, you can't take good care of anyone else. Start with yourself, because you're the most important part of this matter. Start with yourself, and give yourself all the tender loving care you would to the world. Do that; make it a priority; make it THE priority.

After that, you'll be surprised to see how simple other things are. For now, your role is to study and to learn and to be creative and to figure out how your gifts will enhance the world when it's your time to give. For now, you don't need to worry about middle-class health insurance (it's been fucked for a long time now), or VA hospitals, or anything like that.

You need to be concerned about how your hair looks. You need to be sure to wear some really wonderful shoes that make you happy when you wear them. You need to get out into the fresh air and be thankful for each breath that fills your healthy young lungs. You need to be out from under the worries of the world. Leave that to us old folks who have less to prove at this stage of the game.

You need to move around and make your presence felt on this earth.

Got that?

Good.

Ice cream's far more promising in situations like this than wine. Trust me on this one.......

[SmokingJacket]

24. I'm glad they helped and I'm glad you're not taking them anymore.

But if you're facing a depression that you can't shake, please go see a therapist. Sometimes an outside event can trigger a kind of domino effect and people can really spiral down.

I worry about Vets too. Of all people to get cheap with! Veterans!

:hug:

Please take care.

[saracat]

10. Yup! I do that everyone in a while and it may not be depression

Sometimes you are either do absorbed in what you are doing or you attempt to do or think too many things at once and your brain gets overloaded! I still have my depressed moments but I seem to have replaced depression with anger, and nausea when I glimpse Bush. I an trying to hold on to a hope of Dec.13 that the Ohio recount will provide enough of a catalyst not to seat the electors!
All I can say is, stay away from the news, and I mean almost totally . I am reading trash novels, playing with my pets and trying to keep it together to work within the Dem Party. Good Luck GingerSnaps! You will be fine! Remember ,you have all of us here and most of us feel the same way! And BTW . I am in the theatre and we artistic types do take this a bit harder. That is because we can more easily envision the evil that dwells in the WH!.

[jdots]

14. in art school hey ? then it's easy (kind of)

do poltical art stuff to ease the pain,just smash a pencil into a drawing of your least favorite repuke.I started again in 2000 the day they selected bushkins because i would have iced myself it i couldn't channel the pain. Now if thats not an option listen to the happiest dopey music you can find,never watch t.v unless you promise to stay away from news,read dorky humor books and stay super busy.If we all don't, the pain comes back. My house is full of people super depressed about the state of our country and world,it is my job to do anything to make them laugh........look i am putting a booger in my ear laugh damn it ! it's going to get better.......

[marylanddem]

15. Now that made me laugh out loud!

Thanx!

[GingerSnaps]

22. Now that's talent

Pure talent :loveya:

[the Princess]

20. You're not alone

I have dealt with depression for years now. I am on medication - it helps a lot but this time of year I just have to expect to be depressed. It's just the way it is for me. But - at least I can get out of bed these days. Better living through chemistry! :)

[jus_the_facts]

23. I'm not depressed over this election....it was exactly as I expected....

.....hope it gets better for you and everyone else...after my breakdown in early 2001 I knew better than to put any expectations into this election's results...sigh! x(

here's a thread I started in GD Politics today about my election prediction back in August...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1362027