Why are we depressed

[angel3077]

Does anyone else get asked this question and feel really bad when
you don't have an answer?

[Zaf]

Prolonged stress makes me depressed, losing my dad has made my mum depressed, there must be a lot of other reasons but I can only tell you about my personal experience

[angel3077]

My point is sometimes you don't have the answer so it's hard to answer someone when they ask that. To other peoples perception you have nothing to be depressed about so how can you answer that question. Sure life events can make you depressed but sometimes you just are without something traumatic happening to you and people don't seem to understand that.

[Zaf]

Clinical depression is an imbalance of chemicals in your brain, although its often triggered by stress or grief it can occur for no obvious reason angel,  in a way its similar to someone who becomes diabetic because their body isnt producing as much insulin as it should, it might be worth reading this:

http://www.familyhealthguide.co.uk/depressive-illness-the-curse-of-the-strong.html

[Depina]

Hi Angel,
How are you ?

I think I became depressed because I had a lot of things to deal with over a period of years and couldn't cope. Some things are solved, some are ongoing and some stress is new. I feel numb and my brain wooly sometimes and I think that is because my mind can't take the stress so I just go round like a zombie !! But sometimes I am angry because I can't cope or I am very on edge and anything can set me off. Sometimes I don't want to get up, even though I do work, sometimes I can hardly make myself do anything and it is such an effort. I take Co codamol for a back problem, now the doctor says my liver isn't quite right so I have to have it checked again in a month. Apparently that can cause liver problems. I am now on 40 Citalopram since last week, was on 30.

After saying all that I can get very down with no trigger at all.
It is all very confusing but I have had very good insight on here, wish I had the answer *()
Nice to hear from others though and to chat on here, it helps a lot.
Take Care XX

[Munchroom]

Hi Angel - its one of those elusive questions with no definitive answer.... I didn't have any traumatic experience or anything that I can pinpoint as the start of my depression, probably a mixture of my personality, my perfectionism and my not wanting to let anyone down - coupled with a few destructive people in my life at the time just caused my mind to 'snap' it literally could not carry on as it was, so it was my bodys way of making me stop - because if nothing drastic happened then I would just carry on...

I can't explain why I still get 'bad day' or bad times.... but I guess if we could then we would have the answer and we could fix it and get on with our lives, couldnt we?

People have no idea how thier questions can be so hurtful? Why are you depressed? I don't know.... why are you so nosy?   (Not you Angel, the person that asks the question!) I went up to see my parents in Cheltenham a couple of months back and a friend of the family was there and she said 'Oh Naomi, lovely to see you - are you better now?' Like it was the flu.... what do you say to a question like that??

[Karian]

mines was just life in general losing my gran at a delicate age (I was a very mature 8yr old)
Coped with a depressed partner and gave birth got PND and everything else after that seemed to have merged into greys
No one particular thing, although the death of an aunt just before xmas 2003 was the final straw and I had a total meltdown then
but not because of losing my aunt just everything previous and then that, it was too much for me to cope with.

I now strongly advise anyone caring for someone with depression always has someone to turn to and vent or just to spill out your emotions,
I never done this and I am most regretful about that as I honestly believe if I had been able to get some sort of support I wouldnt be here now.
Not that I blame my partner, not at all. But just always try and remind people to use the support services available to help take some of the loads from you.

[cornish]

at least i know what caused mine, the part of the brain that controls the chemicals in my brain may possibly be damaged due to a car accident. there is a very small possibility that it isnt damaged though

[Zaf]

Even if its not damaged a car accident is enough to bring on depression and other problems, I do wish I could help more, sometimes I feel quite a fraud being in here as my depression isnt nearly as bad as most of you...

[Alstare1974]

Zaf - you're not a fraud.

[cornish]

yeah i know it is.

you do more than enough for us and the degree of depression means nothing, were all ill and your not a fraud.

[Zaf]

Thanks guys :)

This place is a lifeline for me when I'm really down with everyone's help and encouragement,  its nice to be able to help others when I can too

[Depina]

YES - Thanks Zaf
XX

[angel3077]

Depina - had a better day today thanks hope you have had a good day too. Yes it is confusing and  its confusing for family members etc to understand which causes me more anxiety. But it def helps to talk on here. Wish I had done it the other times I had depression.

Munch - we are coming from the same page! yes I have had that question too and I feel people find it hard to understand when I have a relapse. They look at you like "i thought you were over that. Why has it come back?"

Zaf- I question my depression all the time. I think I am a fraud and when I am too tired to do things I am just lazy. I think its partly due to my parents perception of depression. They are better now, but they used to think that everyone gets depressed and you should just get on with it. I ignored my depression for ages as I said in another post and didn't get it treated.

Thanks for your comments everyone. Love and hugs

[Depina]

Hi Angel
Thats what I used to think =  this can't just be laziness and it isn't, when I have a good day can do all sorts of things, and another day just completely different, my mind is just thinking and thinking etc and I can't shut off. I have to lie down and try and relax, sometimes I feel anxious for no reason and can't concentrate. Doesn't seem to be a reason why one day is better than another.
Look after yourself

Love D XX