Depression and mental health

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Depression and mental health

Post by bonehead »

To save the derailing - Now Jedski get moderating and move all the chat from the unknown fact thread :evil:
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Depression and mental health

Post by Albi »

Beyond Blue have done a meta analysis of known literature on depression treatments, and summarised it in this publication....

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx ... d&fid=1406
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by bonehead »

RUOK another great initiative - I make a point of asking someone different evry day.

I used to be a real smart "A" and pick the faults and sore points of my friends and co-workers as comedy targets. This has really changed in the last 9 or 10 months, I still love a good pisstake but I've made a concious decision to be a more caring person.
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Re: Depression and mental health

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Post by bonehead »

I'm now 7 weeks off the medication and just noticed last week I now seem to have zero side effects, loving it.
On the downside my wife diagnosed with sarcoidosis but better than the expected lung cancer diagnosis!
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Depression and mental health

Post by Albi »

Lime Warrior wrote:I'm now 7 weeks off the medication and just noticed last week I now seem to have zero side effects, loving it.
On the downside my wife diagnosed with sarcoidosis but better than the expected lung cancer diagnosis!
Great stuff.. Some anti ds seem to have longer lasting and more severe side effects than others...
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Nick »

strange thread, lot of chatter about blokes doing it tough at times in another less formal thread, yet this thread lays bare. Goes to show us blokes have still got a long way to go in being truly open to discussing the matter
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Post by Albi »

Nick wrote:strange thread, lot of chatter about blokes doing it tough at times in another less formal thread, yet this thread lays bare. Goes to show us blokes have still got a long way to go in being truly open to discussing the matter
Stigma more than likely... News stories like this don't really help either

http://m.smh.com.au/national/health/dep ... 20vja.html
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by bonehead »

Agree Albi

I have taken a lot from what I've gone through in the last 6 - 12 months and I've decided to be 100% open about it - many can't and they don't need to either. Best advice I got was to be good to myself, it sounds simple but I've found making things as simple as possible is working for me at least.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by dubby »

I think many people self medicate their anxieties and problems with booze and drugs. Some do it with work, some with sex.

Our society is so diverse and each person has their own story as complex and involved as the next.

Yet we are so adamant that nothing is wrong. (over simplified post, I'm on a short break at work!)
The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.

If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Shezza »

I'll weigh in on this ...

As I get older I seem to be feeling more and more depressed ... I don't think I am "clinically" depressed or anything, but it feels to me that as you get older, the invincibility and lack of responsibility associated with youth seems to fade.

I'm about to turn 30, recently married and things are generally good ... however recently I am thinking more and more about my own mortality, seeing grandparents pass away, parents getting older and not in excellent health and dealing with stresses of running a business and getting into a bit of a rut working all the time - all seems to be getting me down.

Kids seem to be the next logical step, and I hear that having kids is the greatest and gives you something more in my life ... but I don't want to have kids just to lift my spirits.

I am now starting to understand why people get into religion - I must say it would be nice to believe in something post death ... it would help in taking away some of the fear.

Thanks for listening!
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by bonehead »

I heard something on the radio the other day that psychologists are starting to beat the drum about midlife crisis hitting in early mid 30's - What you may be up to Shezza is the 30's syndrome I think its named.

I'm 34 and have no grandparents left, my parents are early 60's and in good health but i know what you mean - how long until my Dad's limitless energy and strength wane? I started to worry about him a few years back when he dropped his motorbike doing a u-turn twice in 6 months, easy fix he boght a lower lighter bike lol.

As Dubby eluded to there isnt 1 hard and fast rule or fix for the many variations on the broad theme.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Shezza »

I have spoken to a few of my mates who are about the same age and they are all in the same boat ... the whole death thing is really scary. Do you think that it is the biggest cause? Its probably about the age when parents are starting to show their age a bit.
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Post by Albi »

BSB, I haven't heard of this 30's syndrome before and must say I haven't noticed anything profoundly different myself.

As Shezza alludes to, each passing year brings the inevitable closer and for some this can bring about a mild existential crisis. As we age we also 'bank' more experiences, some good some not so good. Because negative thoughts are so insidious, they can build to form core beliefs that are unkind to us; regrets, beliefs about our own competence "you're stupid" "hopeless" "going nowhere in life" are some common ones.

What are your core beliefs? It's a hard question. Another way to frame it is "what's in your rule book?" what are your 'shoulds' and 'musts'? - MUST do this, MUST do that, people MUST behave like this.. These core beliefs are often formed in childhood.. Many are good, many are unhelpful and self-critical.

The fact we're having this conversation is excellent.. I guarantee when I first hooked up the Internet to my house almost 20 years ago, we wouldn't be discussing this on a footy forum :D
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by dubby »

Shezza, I'm 37 and mate I think life gets better as you get older.

I think what you are facing is a new type of maturity. Things that once exhilirated you no longer do (Or not to the point they used to) , its a part of growing up IMO.

Its like a new type of puberty; one day you are 10 and love riding your bike and playing lego, next minute you are 13 and think that stuff is for babies.

One day you are 21 and love getting smashed all the time then one day its like....hey I've got a new perspective on things.

I'm considering a come back on the footy field next year at the ripe old age of 38. Why not? I'm fairly fit, strong and in better condition than most blokes in their 20s because I look after myself.

Being a Christian I am at peace with death. Sure, I want to live as long as I can but I believe there is more to life than what most people do. And that gives me peace and hope.

Life does change as you get older. Suddenly you cop jibes from younger people and you do view things in a different way. But that is not a bad thing. I find a new and fresh perspective on the gift of life through my faith. I am truly sad and dismayed by those who abuse it or dont seem to appreciate it.

Maybe I'm just getting old? :hmmm
The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.

If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Shezza »

I am really envious Dubby that you can be so certain re life after death, and I am sure that it gives you a sense of inner peace or something like that. I grew up in a christian household, and spent every Sunday at church, was a leader of christian youth camps etc, but as I became educated and started hanging out with a university "science" crowd I stopped believing.

I love hearing people tell me they have seen ghosts and spirits and what not - not that I believe or anything, but part of me says, hmmmm, what if??? A little bit of hope that there is something more.

You are right Dubby - priorities and perspectives do change... I feel like I am between two phases - not quite into the fully "grown up" phase and starting to let go of the wild partying days. If I had of seen where I was at at 29 when I was 21 I would have been stoked ... now that I am here it is a bit meh ... I've already had the best days (which for me where uni).

Reading back through my post, part of me now goes what the - man up, things are good and don't be a sook... but I can't shake that hollow feeling.

Thanks for listening - as Albi said, this is excellent. This is the most I've opened up on the topic - to a bunch of random blokes on the internet.
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Post by dubby »

I had to laugh at the "become educated" part :lol:

As if there are no intelligent Christians around, or all atheists or agnostics are intelligent.

Anyway, not wanting to derail the thread I urge you to chill out. Being 30 is great, better than 20s because from my experience its about growth and change. It will probably happen in the 40s as well.

I think we are victim of a media and advertising that glorifies youth and mistakes youth for beauty. We are urged to live all we can now and have it now, and when we do we are faced with that same emptyness and that can give people despair. Hence feelings of getting older can make one fearful or regretful.

Fact is we all age. You cannot escape it. (unless you die and that is not something we all want when faced with it)

Enjoy the ride shezza,
The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.

If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
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Post by Shezza »

Sorry Dubs - in retrospect that came across wrong. My "education" was skewed away from Christianity - the more I learned about things the more skeptical I became about christianity. I know plenty of intellegent Christians however. Again - not trying to put you down mate.
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Post by Stuat »

On age, it's only in the last few years I've begun to think I might get old. I discussed my bipolar in length in the other thread and tbh in the past I've always just felt at some point it will get me and that will be the end of it... I was never really worried about it just resigned to it in a way. Never really thought I'd last much past my 30s... Last couple of years I've actually sought treatment, something I didn't do when I really should have when I was younger. Had the beginnings of an episode 18 months ago, got whacked on huge doses of lithium which straightened me out and came through the whole thing with my "job" (phd), girlfriend and general life relatively in tack. The other epsisodes I've had have ended in complete life upheaval and rebuilding from the ground up once I'm back to "normal". The whole thing has sort of opened up a huge load of possibilities I didn't really think possible... That it's manageable for one, kids, stability and all that as well...

I'm 28 and suddenly there, at least in my mind, is now a whole world of stuff which I can do, which in the past have been things I didn't ever really expect. For me the whole idea of getting old is pretty exciting tbh...
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by bonehead »

Albi wrote:BSB, I haven't heard of this 30's syndrome before and must say I haven't noticed anything profoundly different myself.
I'll find it, was part of the research i did when I realised what I was going through.

20 years ago you probably got the net for porn :lol:
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by dubby »

Shezza wrote:Sorry Dubs - in retrospect that came across wrong. My "education" was skewed away from Christianity - the more I learned about things the more skeptical I became about christianity. I know plenty of intellegent Christians however. Again - not trying to put you down mate.
No offence taken shezza, it just came out funny. :)

Its like those testimonies you hear at church youth: "I used to get drunk, get high and go to parties, now I'm a Christian" :roll:
The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.

If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Shezza »

I went through a bit of a phase when I was 16 and was drinking a bit etc, getting with girls. Then I got into religion. At this weekend, I was a junior leader when I was about 17. They asked me to do a talk on Saturday night, and the topic was the prodigal son. The lights were turned out, the candles lit and I stood in front of a packed hall and poured my heart out about drinking etc and then coming back to the church!

I tell you what, it was a massive hit! Two weeks later I got drunk and went the furtherest I had with a lady :lol:
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Off »

Finally some intelligent conversation comes over the GH, well done boys, I have found life is a bitch, and the way to best embrace it , love the **** out the bitch.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by gangrenous »

dubby wrote:I had to laugh at the "become educated" part :lol:

As if there are no intelligent Christians around, or all atheists or agnostics are intelligent.
That's not even remotely what he said! All he said was that as he personally got his education he lost his faith. That makes no implications about whether others can't keep faith through their education or that all atheists/agnostics are educated. He should be able to say what happened to him without being made to feel guilty for alleged implications that just aren't there. :thumbsdown

Back on the topic this is a really good thread with some brave revelations. The whole death thing scares the crap out of me when I think about it, and mental health issues have certainly impacted my life.

What area's your PhD in Stuat?
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Post by Albi »

I'm at a different stage of life now.. I'm almost 42 now, but at 39 I found myself alone with 2 daughters. I've recovered (to a point). I've been successful in my professional life, but now find myself living in a run down cottage in the middle of a town I don't like. On balance I'm far worse off now than I was 10 years ago.
It would be easy to fall into a huge hole and not doing so is a battle I face all the time, but what are the options? We all carry around a core belief that the world should be fair and become incredulous when we discover that it actually isn't. Throwing ourselves on the ground waiting for someone else to fix it doesn't work; I tried it. It's all down to us I'm afraid, but in a way I find that reassuring
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Post by Stuat »

Genetics gangrenous :)
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by gangrenous »

Cool :) if ever I was going to do something in the biological sciences it'd be something genetics related I reckon. I find it fascinating.
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Post by Stuat »

It's alright- lots and lots of data these days. I've had to learn very basic computer programming skills etc to deal with it all... Interesting though
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Post by RTW »

At the moment I am participating in a medical trial of sorts where I increase my levels of Omega 3 both in my diet and by taking supplements. It is very hard to measure as there are a lot of outside factors but personally I have never felt happier or had more energy. I wouldn't say I was depressed before this but it seems to be going good.
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Re: Depression and mental health

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travelling_ringo wrote:At the moment I am participating in a medical trial of sorts where I increase my levels of Omega 3 both in my diet and by taking supplements. It is very hard to measure as there are a lot of outside factors but personally I have never felt happier or had more energy. I wouldn't say I was depressed before this but it seems to be going good.
How much supplement Ringo? and in what form....
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by RTW »

I initially got an Omega 3 blood count done and I was on 28% compared to Omega 6 I eat a fairly healthy diet and play sport 4 times a week so I was pretty suprised that it was as low ideally it would be above 50%. So at the moment I take 4 tablets daily they contain- 700mg EPA, 200mg DHA, 20mg DPA.

Plus I have starting eating a lot more fish and green leafy vegetables as well as adding flax seed to a lot of stuff.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Shezza »

Interesting ringo - please keep us in the loop.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by dubby »

gangrenous wrote:
dubby wrote:I had to laugh at the "become educated" part :lol:

As if there are no intelligent Christians around, or all atheists or agnostics are intelligent.
That's not even remotely what he said! All he said was that as he personally got his education he lost his faith. That makes no implications about whether others can't keep faith through their education or that all atheists/agnostics are educated. He should be able to say what happened to him without being made to feel guilty for alleged implications that just aren't there. :thumbsdown

Back on the topic this is a really good thread with some brave revelations. The whole death thing scares the crap out of me when I think about it, and mental health issues have certainly impacted my life.

What area's your PhD in Stuat?
Did you read the comments from us that followed this? :doubt:

Take a breath and calm down! :D
The spiral of silence refers to the idea that when people fail to speak, the price of speaking rises. As the price to speak rises, still fewer speak out, which further causes the price to rise, so that fewer people yet will speak out, until a whole culture or nation is silenced. This is what happened in Germany.

If you do not speak, you are not being neutral, but are contributing to the success of the thing you refuse to name and condemn.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Manbush »

Question wrote:Finally some intelligent conversation comes over the GH, well done boys, I have found life is a bitch, and the way to best embrace it , love the **** out the bitch.

Pretty much agree mate, enjoy whatever you're doing in life even the mundane, if you're not then move onto something you do enjoy, also helps learning to accept what life deals you, **** happens move on.

Shezza as an athiest I really have no problem with death, I'm 39 and if I die tomorrow so be it I've enjoyed my life. You say it must be easier for Christians personally I view it the opposite, anyone who has read the bible knows full well they've done enough bad **** in life to go to hell no matter how well they've lived, and eternity with my family no thanks :lol:
I bow down to thee oh great Nickman, the wisest of the wise, your political adroitness is unsurpassed, your sagacity is unmatched, your wisdom shines through on this forum amongst us mere mortals as bright as your scalp under the light of a full moon, never shall I doubt your analytical prowess again. You are my hero, my lord, my savior, may you accept my offerings so you continue to bless us with your genius.
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Re: Depression and mental health

Post by Michael »

This might sound trite, but the last couple of months have easily been the most depressing time I've had in years. Getting back from overseas with no money, moving back in with the parents and job-hunting is a pretty massive let-down. Having said that, I have almost nothing to complain about in the grand scheme of things.
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