Depression

[Noggin]

Docca's written some really good info (of course ) - it's taken me nearly 40 years to work out even half of that!! Especially the 'depression is essentially normal' bit.

Just thought of something I find settled my mind really well, making wiring looms for classic bikes, most people hate doing this, I find it very relaxing (but I wouldn't want to do it for a living)

I also enjoy playing with Lego and making model aeroplanes, perhaps the 12 year old me knew something about what relaxes my mind.

I'm similar. If I do things that require complete concentration, I can really feel things being a bit better. Like a meditation, only with wool and a crochet hook or threads and needles!! Yoga isn't necessary!! Even baking helps me!!

Riding a bike has been my go to for years - I treat that like a meditation sort of thing, in that all my concentration is on the road/bike so my mind is focused (similar when I ski tour on the piste too ). But currently, because of the difficulties of riding down the mountain, it can't be my first port of call still. But the craft stuff does help me a lot

[Yorick]

One thing I learned from my doc and CBT is to concentrate on the positives in my life. Think about them to lift your mood a bit. Spread your happiness to get yourself out of that black hole you can't climb out of.
If folk don't like it, that's their problem. I won't stop.

Folk on here and IRL harang me for it sometimes but I won't stop because they have a problem. Sometimes you have to be selfish.

If I was stuck in Bradford I'd be in a real mess. Living here lightens the load. And the mood.

[slowsider]

Potter is the Man from La Mancha, and I claim my soapy tenner.

[Jody]

Best of luck with it Scud, maybe some kind of therapy might help, it's helping me.

[Yorick]

And I have to go to a clinic in PdC early tmrw or Thursday and will have to go on the bike as impossible to park. I'm thinking of keeping going and heading over to Fuertaventura for the day. Not been off the island on the bike this year.

Still smiling Just hope my mood doesn't drop as amazing roads over there.

After the blood tests I was feeling good so headed down to the ferry at PB.
Got there 10:45 to see the ferry leaving. No probs they're every half hour. Bugger. Not today apparently. Next ferry 1:00. Bollox.

So decided to have a tour of our island.
Just having best fish butty on the island at a small fishing port.

Cool

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[Yorick]

Had a cool ride. Called at a pals for a beer. And just had another pal want to meet for a few beers soon.
Today is a good day

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[Count Steer]

'I’ve also taken the decision and removed all social media from my phone, I feel I waste way too much time scrolling through everyone showing off their “perfect” lives'

Probably not the thread to show how wonderful things are?

[Noggin]

'I’ve also taken the decision and removed all social media from my phone, I feel I waste way too much time scrolling through everyone showing off their “perfect” lives'

Probably not the thread to show how wonderful things are?

I thought it was showing what he does to help deal with is issues, not particularly how wonderful things are.

We all have things people look at and think 'aren't they lucky' - those people don't know what goes on in our brains though

[Count Steer]

'I’ve also taken the decision and removed all social media from my phone, I feel I waste way too much time scrolling through everyone showing off their “perfect” lives'

Probably not the thread to show how wonderful things are?

I thought it was showing what he does to help deal with is issues, not particularly how wonderful things are.

We all have things people look at and think 'aren't they lucky' - those people don't know what goes on in our brains though

Pictures of sun, sand and sandwiches are going to be of great solace to the original poster. After all, it was Scud that started the thread and made the comment above^^^ He can't exactly ignore his own thread can he?

[Greenman]

I've always thought that depression is all about the bassline!

There is always a subconscious baseline that your conscious thoughts are influenced by.

There are baselines that are constant in your life and others that come and go and those that you cant control.

Those less constant thoughts/baselines can trigger things in your brain to give you good or bad moods that can lead to elation or depression, it's your choice!

This is where life's complications can be overcome, as the thoughts are in your hands, so you can choose to be happy or sad!

I like to think positive!

[Jody]

I'm genuinely pleased for anyone that has worked smart and ended up in a good place

+1 for that !

A friend of one of my best mate's stated openly while stood at my friends property " I can't stay here too long, I'm jealous " with out an iota of sarcasm/ banter etc he really meant it. I waited until he fucked off then told my mate "I'm not jealous, I'm pleased for you, you've had some rough times in your life and you've still achieved all this". I believe that's why we're besties and his other friend is just another friend!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

A friend of one of my best mate's stated openly while stood at my friends property " I can't stay here too long, I'm jealous " with out an iota of sarcasm/ banter etc he really meant it.

At least he had the decency to admit it, a lot of people don't and then try to put down what someone else has because they're jealous.

[Yorick]

A friend of one of my best mate's stated openly while stood at my friends property " I can't stay here too long, I'm jealous " with out an iota of sarcasm/ banter etc he really meant it.

At least he had the decency to admit it, a lot of people don't and then try to put down what someone else has because they're jealous.

I've lost count of the times folk here and TRC have tried to drag me down when I proclaim to be happy. Sad really.

[Yorick]

At it's core it's an honest emotion like any other, sometimes humans have a tendency to look at other people and feel envy or resentment, it's even in the bible, so it's been going on for a while.

We don't always get to choose which emotions accost us, so sometimes we have to work on managing them.
No one is immune to envy and resentment, but you'll definitely end up happier if you can manage it and view others without it.

I always remember some advice I was given just after I started work at 16.

Don't try to drag folk down to your level.
Try to climb up to their level.

Works for me still.

[Yorick]

A friend of one of my best mate's stated openly while stood at my friends property " I can't stay here too long, I'm jealous " with out an iota of sarcasm/ banter etc he really meant it.

At least he had the decency to admit it, a lot of people don't and then try to put down what someone else has because they're jealous.

I think it's ok to show off a bit and not get shredded for it.

You spend all your life, especially as a child, being told to work hard, get good grades, get good exam passes, get a good job, etc.
Then when you do and occasionally say "Hey I've adhered to everything you espoused and I've now got all the things you told me to strive for" - you get called a wanker for it

Basically, you could be a potless criminal or a billionaire, none of it really matters, someone is going to call you a wanker for it regardless.

Wanker

[tricol]

I empathise a lot with this thread. I've had depression, and in more recent years anxiety, for most of my adult life. It's just now so embedded in me that I feel it's just the way I am now.

[Noggin]

I empathise a lot with this thread. I've had depression, and in more recent years anxiety, for most of my adult life. It's just now so embedded in me that I feel it's just the way I am now.

Often it is embedded in us. But it's how we deal with it or show it that determines if it's a big problem or not, i think.

I can tell when I'm sliding back down again, sometimes not until on the slide, but generally I realise now before I get too low

For me, I just don't want it to 'take over' my life, so I paint on a happy face as much as I can because I learnt that, for me (not everyone) if I make myself smile, I feel better, which helps me be better mentally - usually!!

[Scud]

Im still here and reading all replies and how the thread has moved along is interesting.
I have no problem with people posting up what they do to help them, it’s different to the shite on Facebook, I more deleted that sort of thing as it’s a complete waste of my time scrolling through and not actually taking anything from it that helps brighten my life.
I find jealousy a strange emotion, it only affects the person feeling it and serves no purpose, just get stuck in and make a difference for yourself.
I was listening to chasin the racin podcast yesterday with Alan Carter as their guest. He spoke of his problems and used a great description of his points of mental health, he took a clock face and described noon as his greatest mood, with 6 being his lowest, on Monday I was definately at about 6!
I’m now feeling I’ve passed that and am probably back to around 8, so the hands of my depressive mood are moving back in the right direction, I instantly found thinking about it like that gave me a boost as I know I’m on the route to better times.

[Scud]

Without asking for your darkest secrets, what is it that sends you from 12 to 6 and then back round again?

Basically I think it’s inherited, my father suffers and always has, my grandfather had it really bad to the point of being hospitalised several times during his life.

Posting on here helped me just acknowledge how bad I was feeling and then focused me to have an afternoon thinking what I needed to change/do to get myself past the low point. I did actually do some heavy physical work, it always lifts me plus it got one of the jobs off my list that was also stressing me.
Probably sounds a bit simplistic, but ultimately it is usually something small/simple that pushes me down

[Asian Boss]

I'm very glad to hear you're feeling a bit better now.

As said (repeatedly!) it's good to talk about these things. I did extensively when I had my breakdown or whatever it was in 2017. People here were incredibly helpful and supportive.

I think everyone's experience of mental health issues differs to some degree. People may help you but it's unlikely someone on here will give you advice which will 'cure' the depression. But all help and support is good.

I think talking about these things destigmatises them so that's a really positive thing you're achieving which will help others going forward.