Depression. It's a silent killer.

I'm so glad to see folks talking about depression! I almost died from depression when I was a child. It didn't help that my parents and my pediatric psychiatrist were abusing me. I'm on antidepressants that work for me (thank goodness) now. I still sometimes need to do light therapy and/or take Xanax (mostly for my C-PTSD), especially in the late winter.
Glad you’re here. Thank you.
 
I enjoy playing golf. The best outings for me are when there are very few other players on the course and I have it to myself, so to speak. To stand on a green and look back down the uncrowded fairway; all green with blue sky and puffy white clouds above, light breeze. The peace of this is very healing to me.
 
Morning all. I’m feeling a bit low and I can feel my demons dancing nearby. It’s not as bad as it sounds though. I can deal with them and I know at least part of this is because of the change in the weather and not sleeping well. I have control over one of those things as well as the choice to not listen to my mind when it starts being hurtful. I know that’s not me talking only a looped recording of thoughts that other people have given me.
Stay safe out there. Love you.
 
@Wetkitty09 music lovely. Throughout all my struggles music has been the one constant in my life. I've been playing drums for 37 years in bands and if I'm not doing that I'm at concerts or festivals. And if I'm not doing that I have headphones on. There's music to sort every mood and it's nearly always therapeutic. I listen to music more than watching TV or anything else.

Hope you feel better soon.
 
@Wetkitty09 music lovely. Throughout all my struggles music has been the one constant in my life. I've been playing drums for 37 years in bands and if I'm not doing that I'm at concerts or festivals. And if I'm not doing that I have headphones on. There's music to sort every mood and it's nearly always therapeutic. I listen to music more than watching TV or anything else.

Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you.
 
Not a quick fix to the problem, but mental health is directly tied to our overall health and hugely with what we eat. I've found I was able to overcome depression by eating right (i.e. no processed junk, lots of fresh veg and fruit, meat without chemicals pumped into it). I know I feel worse on days where I eat like crap.
Fact!
Touching grass always helps me; not a cure, but views, the sounds of birdsong or water, bring a different perspective.
I think this is like grounding...taking ones shoes off and walking/touching the ground. Also, seeing the rising morning sun (first light) I have heard is key.
 
I think that's why you find a lot of people on Lit and that they suffer from some sort of depression or mental health issue. The shot if dopamine we get from the taboo nature of this site helps us make it through the day, or the hour, even the minute.

It would be an interesting study to see the correlation of those with depression and a higher/more varied sex drive. If that even makes sense.

And I count myself amongst those who suffer from depression.
 
I think that's why you find a lot of people on Lit and that they suffer from some sort of depression or mental health issue. The shot if dopamine we get from the taboo nature of this site helps us make it through the day, or the hour, even the minute.

It would be an interesting study to see the correlation of those with depression and a higher/more varied sex drive. If that even makes sense.

And I count myself amongst those who suffer from depression.
Depression often kills the sex drive, actually. I mean, I am sure everyone's experience is different, but one of the symptoms of it is often decreased sex drive. That doesn't mean that someone may not try to search for small, fleeting feelings or whatever.

I can attest that, for me, when I am super duper depressed, the last thing I can think of is wanting to engage in any sexual activity--granted, I have to be really, really depressed for that. I am also bipolar, so that can go entirely the other way. With unipolar depression, or being in a long depressive state, for a lot of people sex is just not going to happen. Like, having been sucked into a terrible depression the past year/this year, I went six months without even masturbating. Nothing. I also didn't visit here.

Like, I can see both. For me, when I come here when I am depressed, I am mostly looking for human interaction so I can take my mind off of things. Since I've been coming to this site for 20 years, it's sort of a weird coping skill for me. I admit I am, I am sure, in the minority here, but I don't always come here with a sexual intent. Obviously I will be engaging with some kind of sexual content, but I often don't find myself aroused, or if I do, I can't maintain that arousal for more than a small span of time. So, taking an interest in sex or sexual things is one thing. Having a high sex drive is not the same thing, I think.
 
I cannot remember a time since my teens when I was free of depression, now 65. I had long major clinical depression episodes, too many to mention.

Permanently on mirtazapine. Diagnosed with ADD at age 39.

Between those major episodes it has been constant chronic depression. De-motivated, lacking interest. And this kept me off Lit Feb-Aug this year.

A good listener, something absorbing to absorb myself in, and volunteering have helped me. I am still here because of writing and voluntary conservation work - butterflies and moths. And also because my soul is infinitely stronger than the rest of me.

Childhood and teens were beyond the capacity of my psyche to cope with, hence lifelong depression.
 
I battle with this crap myself, especially since I turned 40 this summer. I have been regretting things I should and shouldn't have done, my abysmal attempts at dating, I could go on.

Writing has been helping. I don't get a ton of views but I do have an audience. My chapters get good ratings and I gain followers every week. Yesterday, I got private feedback from someone who told me they love my series. That meant a lot to me, it really made my day. Not only did it encourage me, but it let me know that my work has brought joy to someone, some light into this dark world of ours. It fills a void in my heart.
 
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I battle with this crap myself, especially since I turned 40 this summer. I have been regretting things I should and shouldn't have done, my abysmal attempts at dating, I could go on.

Writing has been helping. I don't get a ton of views but I do have an audience. My chapters get good ratings and I gain followers every week. Yesterday, I got private feedback from someone who told me they love my series. That meant a lot to me, it really made my day. Not only did it encourage me, but it let me know that my work has brought joy to someone, some light into this dark world of ours. It fills a void in my heart.
You bring joy to people and you are a worthy, wonderful human being. All the love and good vibes to you.
 
I would like to chat about a big problem that not too many people discuss. Sorry to be a downer. But there are too many people out there who are dying because they are depressed. I suffer from depression (not sure why) but I wouldn't think of killing myself. I've always been told that is a perminant solution to a temporary problem. I think it would do a good service to discuss what has worked for you to overcome your depression or what has helped someone you know.
I suffer from depression and lonliness. Spend almost all my time alone. Almost ALL. depression doesnt kill you. I am almost 60. Im not dead.
 
I was diagnosed with PDD with disthymia some 14 months ago following therapy and it's shocking to realise I've been dealing with this for 24 years now.

Having the diagnosis is a major help - along with the ongoing therapy - as for awhile I thought I'd completely lost my mind.

Depression is a bastard - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I know therapy (CBT and IPT) aren't the way for some folks but it worked for me.
almost the same. They call it major depression now. I spend almost all my time alone. No gf, divorced, no friends.
 
I’ve battled depression since a teen. Tried to kill myself at least 3 times legit along with a few cry’s for help. Now I just really don’t interact with people and turn the music up louder. The voices are quieter that way
I cannot have silence, either the TV is on, OR music is on. Dont want to think.
 
That video is totally relatable. The bit that starts around 58 seconds in hits way too close to home. Any time I see a woman I may be remotely interested in, I hear that voice telling me "No woman you have ever asked out has said 'yes', why would this one be any different? You can't compete with any of the men she might be interested in, save yourself the trouble and ignore her. You're 40 and no woman has ever loved you, and you're going to die before one ever does!"

I've been a bit depressed about this for a couple of weeks but it really hit hard at work yesterday. The emotional pain caused me so much physical pain in my chest, neck, shoulders, and back that I could barely move. Today I'm sore all over but thankfully the part of me that wants to fight back has roared to life. Yesterday was a wakeup call, I have got to improve my self-esteem and stop this self-hatred. Not to help me meet women, but to keep this shit from killing me!
 
That video is totally relatable. The bit that starts around 58 seconds in hits way too close to home. Any time I see a woman I may be remotely interested in, I hear that voice telling me "No woman you have ever asked out has said 'yes', why would this one be any different? You can't compete with any of the men she might be interested in, save yourself the trouble and ignore her. You're 40 and no woman has ever loved you, and you're going to die before one ever does!"

I've been a bit depressed about this for a couple of weeks but it really hit hard at work yesterday. The emotional pain caused me so much physical pain in my chest, neck, shoulders, and back that I could barely move. Today I'm sore all over but thankfully the part of me that wants to fight back has roared to life. Yesterday was a wakeup call, I have got to improve my self-esteem and stop this self-hatred. Not to help me meet women, but to keep this shit from killing me!
Maybe seeing someone for therapy might be helpful. There are a ton of different kinds of therapists and if you have EAP, you can usually get 6 sessions for free. I hope things improve for you.
 
Phuq that video was on point.
Still traveling but will be home today. I’m glad to see you here.
Stay safe out there. Love you.
 
I cannot remember a time since my teens when I was free of depression, now 65. I had long major clinical depression episodes, too many to mention.

Permanently on mirtazapine. Diagnosed with ADD at age 39.

Between those major episodes it has been constant chronic depression. De-motivated, lacking interest. And this kept me off Lit Feb-Aug this year.

A good listener, something absorbing to absorb myself in, and volunteering have helped me. I am still here because of writing and voluntary conservation work - butterflies and moths. And also because my soul is infinitely stronger than the rest of me.

Childhood and teens were beyond the capacity of my psyche to cope with, hence lifelong depression.
+1 for Mirtazapine. Has kept me stable for many years & expect to stay on it rest of my life. Not a suggestion for anyone else, all are different. But works for me.
 
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