Older Male depression, Any ideas how to how not to handle it?

[Levelup]

Hi I am thinking of going to a psychologist or counsellor for depression. 

They might ask 'what brings you here today'. 

This is my query. Is it better to talk of the issue, the real world face, the manifestation, what appears to be a trigger or the depression?

[therising]

Hi Levelup

How to manage life while interacting with others can be incredibly challenging, that's for sure. While I'm not a Buddhist, I can appreciate some of the teachings. Perhaps the greatest lesson of all: You can sit and sit under a bodhi tree all you want and become 'The Enlightened One' but if you're not going to take all your revelations and theories on enlightenment out into the world, you've only covered what works or should work in theory. That's half the story. Putting theory into practice is the other half. It's like I could have all these theories or revelations regarding patience (what is is and how it works) but if I'm not going to find someone or something that tests my patience, all I'm left with are theories. In a nutshell, we need people and challenges to help us test what could or should work in theory. In a way, life is a testing ground. A pretty torturous one on occasion but one nonetheless. 

Randomxx may have had the theory or revelation that certain aspects of nature and adventure are good for the body, mind and soul. Having tested this, while adventuring through nature, the theory has proven to be true. Regular practices can be very therapeutic. Learning from and mastering those practices even more so.

I've found there can definitely be a side to theories and practices that can feel pretty dark. Perhaps the most obvious example: In theory, if I hang around the same degrading, uninspiring and depressing people for long enough, I should become depressed. I don't need to put that one into practice. Based on past experience, I already know it to be more than a theory 😊

[randomxx]

But nah man , l'd never be laughing at what your saying and feeling especially anything people.

l did have to except a long time ago though that people in general will mostly at the end of the day yeah, look after no one first and foremost and depending on your heart , all that alone can certainly bring on, connect to depression.

A bit like what risings saying just there too, we can have all the theories, inner peace, realizations, loves or whatever enlightenment we can feel within ourselves, but like your saying too, me , sadly l find the reality two different things. l expected too much earlier in life but but for me personality , a some kind of peace came when l realized that and began excepting people will be people.

Hey rising . l've always enjoyed nature to the core, even back as a kid. l've always been around nature and have needed it my whole life. Everyone does the worlds and the life it builds these days has lost so much in all that and so now it's all coming out as if one of those brilliant revaluations your talking about orrrr, we need to get back to nature- really , no shyt - well l never ! Yaknow l cannot believe they've needed scientific studies and stats and psychiatrists and all their bs - to only go full circle and arrive back at that brilliance right.

[therising]

Hi randomxx

It also leaves me scratching my head at times when what has been naturally working for centuries suddenly gets the green tick of approval from science. I suppose when what naturally works is officially declared as legit, more people pay attention, more people adopt the way of thinking and more people benefit. I figure at the end of the day, whether it involves the lovers of what's felt as being perfectly natural or the lovers of what is scientifically proven to work, the more the merrier when it comes to people being on board. There will always be people who need proof of why something works or how it works. As you mention, people will be people. You come to expect certain people will work in certain ways. We're a mixed and interesting lot 😁

[randomxx]

How are you traveling levelup ?

You might chuckle at this one but my caravaning has finally had it's time for now and l'm back , well , of sorts anyway.

The tenants moved out of my cabin so l've come back just last wk now and will be staying here for awhile to fix it up and sell.

Feels very very weird to be back here bow, especially after caravaning 5mths. l've never really lived here did stay once for about 8mths one other time but mostly just rented it out. Best and easiest thing right now while reno'ing is to stay here but have nowhere else to stay anyway now as l left my old house.

Anyway let us know how your doing when you feel like it hey.

Hi rising , yeah to me it seems most people need the proof for even the most obvious, even more than ever these days.

Best to all

rx

[Levelup]

randomxx and therising

Hi I have been to the GP and now armed with a mental health care plan am about to begin talk therapy again.

But firstly, randomxx, I have always found a quiet pleasure doing things around the house, I hope it's the same for you. I realised as a young fella that work kept me sane, couldn't be sitting around had to be doing something.

I would like to thank you and therising for your conversation. I have read your posts many times.

I was saying to the GP that me coming to him, going to the gym, connecting with beyond blue is me getting better. 

I have been to psychs before but like now it's always after the fact. (So I understood, randomxx, when you questioned the use of talk therapy).

BUT I am getting old now there has got to be a way of handling this depression. 

Again thankyou. 

[randomxx]

Hi there levelup.

Nice to hear from you mate just here doing my morning check in ha ha. That's great anyway you've spoken to some people and the GP and what have you, really hope it helps you out.

On that one tbh l should say l didn't really mean it'd not be worth a shot as l know first hand it can be well worthwhile ,l've spoken to people myself over the yrs a few times and it's been a God sent. l even called one of the phone services just the other night actually and man he was good, l was so plsd l did it. For me l have always been wary though of the more therapy type things on the other hand as l've often heard them digging everything up doing more harm than good buttttt, anyway. That's just me personally though and ea to their own their own was all l was getting at really.

But ah man yeah l always found work and or property stuff to great therapy myself too. This place is on 1/2  hector on a gentle slope with lots of trees l planted myself , so really nice wondering about. Down side is been a few very

stressful arguments with the ex tenant about mess he's left, stuff he's stolen and the wrecking of the cabin, but l've given up, he's a bs'g bloody alley cat and it's not worth it. But so unfortunately staying at in the town itself atm too while l fix up and fork out on everything he's done to the place, while he'll be bsg to the whole town behind my back now turning everything on to me. And all while he had the place dirt cheap and l've tried to be good to him right through- that's what l get as well as a few mths in rent he's skipped over the yrs.

l've been through this a few times after tenants have left, the last one was even worse. There'll be no more can't do it and l just wanna repair it all do it up and put it on the market now.

Upside is it is at least still bloody beautiful wandering about and working on the place even under these circumstances when l manage to block out the rest.

So l'm hoping by just accepting the situation and just enjoying that wandering doing my work instead the peace will return.

Scuse the rant my friend, no easy way to explain it unfortunately but l'm really glad you've been finding some help anyway and if it helps man there'll always be people around here too when you feel like it.

Take care eh.

rx