Waves

[ALL]

With some people, depression is ongoing and constant. for me, while there is a little bit that is constant, I get it more severly in waves that leave me like unable to do anything. does anyone else have this problem?

[CrashCoyote]

Hi ALL,

Thank you for this post. I suffer P.T.S.D. and depression but do not have the waves you describe, although there are bound to be people on here that do.

How long have you been like this? Do you have professional and family support? How is it for you when you are not affected by the depression? Euphoric? I'd be keen to know more about it.

Kind regards, John.

[geoff]

dear All, well this happened with me as my depressionwas there, let's say in a constant state or continuous line, but this could change after my wife (ex) or anybody else wanted me to do something, and if I didn't do it then a disagreement or even an argument would occur, which in turn made my depression feel as though it had got worse, if that's possible, but this is the bottom of the wave you are talking about.

After awhile this wave would come back up.

It used to happen when I was seeing my psychologist, because there were so many times that I felt so much better when we were discussing issues, so I'd come out feeling better, but after a short time I would then feel terrible, so again this is what happens when the wave occurs. Geoff.

[White_Rose]

Hello All

Welcome to BB. Yes I can relate to your experience of waves. Just when you think life has settled down to a steady ache something pops up and off you go again. I find it is triggered by something, it does come out of nowhere. The problem is of course, is finding out what triggered the wave.

Watching TV is a good way to get swamped. The smallest hint of tragedy will set me off so I limit the programs I watch. Doesn't always work but it helps. Books, conversations, the news. I find myself censoring where I am so much it's a wonder I get out of the house at all.

I refuse to let my emotions dictate my whole life to me. It's very hard at times so I pick and choose what I do. Large crowds bother me, so unless I am feeling quite good I avoid these. I have had some help from my psych in identifying and managing these triggers. Not each one individually. Looking at what upsets me and what past event it is related to. That way I can say it's because of ... and this is not happening now so my reaction can be cut short. Again, it's not foolproof but I have come a long way.

I have a list of quotes pinned up in my kitchen that remind me of where I am going. One of them I read on BB. It says I can't stop the waves, but I can learn how to surf. That is so reassuring.  I can learn and put into practice coping mechanisms and after a while they become almost automatic. The waves smother me at times and I cannot breathe, but I come up for air far more quickly and get my breath back.

So ask your psych, or get one if you don see anyone, and learn these techniques. I know people say why bother with techniques. And yes they are tricks of a sort. The reality is it helps in the short term, but more importantly you will learn why certain events catch you out and swamp you. Once you have this worked out the overwhelming effect starts to abate and become manageable. I am so calmer these days and much happier.

I am interested in your comments about this.

Regards

Mary

[geoff]

dear All, I had also replied to you much earlier, but there must have been something wrong with the site, anyway what I would like to say is that I can relate to these waves.

When we have depression which we all know about we live on a constant level of sadness, but then something may happen that then causes us to hate our situation or the position we are in, so we can then go even deeper into a depressed state, simply because we may get annoyed or frustrated, so down we go.

The other reason could be, like for myself, is that I have a disagreement with my wife (ex) or maybe an argument, such as wanting me to go out somewhere, but I don't want to, so an argument occurs, this will also make me feel worse, and down I go, so this can be called living in a wave of depression, because our mood does go up and it can also go down.

It can happen if you have a relapse, or if you worry about something that has also happen,because we just don't stay in a constant mood, it fluctuates. Geoff.

[ALL]

Hi Crash Coyote,

Thanks for responding, and im sorry this is so late. thankyou for being so interested. most people don't want to hear it.

in terms of anxiety, I have had problems with it for 8 years but only sought help the last year and been formally diagnosed. depression has been slowly developing for the last 2 years and has really hit hard now.

I do have professionaly support, and my family have only just recently started to help me. beforehand they ignored me. they don't acknowledge my depression though, only anxiety. I get called out on being in crap moods, and sometimes they didn't even respond to me. my mum denied my diagnosed depression infront of my DOCTOR!

When I am not affected by depression, axiety is there. there is rarely euphoria. recently, I had a period where I woke up not worried. I was in control! for a few days it was euphoric, but after a while I started to crave it back again. I brought most of the anxiety back and brought on the depression more. I feel so guilty which doesn't help the situation... at the moment depression is horrible. can focus on anything im just in a mood where I cant do anything.  and when im not depressed or anxious im in this mood which is like im laughing for no reason, giggly. like im tipsy or something ( I have never had anything though)

I hope that makes sense. if there is anything else that might help you form an idea let me know

if you have any ideas let me know!

Im here for you if you need me too!

ALL

[ALL]

Hey Geoff- I will reply to both of your posts in one,

that totally makes sense. its always there but flares up sometimes more than others. for me, it flares up just from a seemingly harmful comment, something I don't think I should hve said, a bad mark or a news story.

I guess I always thought it would be constant. but its not.

I think the most frustrating thing is I can often see through it, to a better reasoning and mood but I cant get there, if that makes sense

I hope you are well,

ALL

[ALL]

Hi White Rose,

Yeah that's just it, however my waves are daily and its really bad at the moment. I have become so swamped that im beyond the point of wanting to help myself really.

I fear talking to others, watching tv, or reading a book for what it might bring up. im in a mood where I am not responding t anything. I cant bring myself to do anything at all, not matter how important...

But I really like that quote. I cant wait to learn to ride, because right now not only am I being swamped but im trying to swim again the current.

I do have a psychologist, but cant see her until next year again because of my plan. we never got to depression, because before it was the anxiety that was so bad.

sorry this is only a quick reply

ALL