Has Anyone Not Been Depressed?

There is a huge difference between situational depression and clinical depression. When I got counseling for post partum depression that was the first thing she determined. Was it situational or was there more to it? Situational depression can lead to more serious depression. Seven years later, I still have to do a depression screening every time I go to the doctor because I was treated for post partum depression.

I have never been diagnosed with "depression" but I go through this all the time. I have a child with Autism and our life is hard! We cannot do the normal things families do bc my child has severe processing disorder so where we go def plays a roll into everyday life! We cannot go to restaurants bc the number of ppl and the noise level sets her off! I have tried everything! I have tried giving her anxiety medication before we go, doesn't work. I have tried taking an ipad with headphones to distract her, doesn't work. We cannot go to malls bc it is to much for her to soak in and she cannot naturally adjust to the noise and people around her like a neuro typical person can. She cannot fly on a plane because waiting in lines and being confined in her seat for more than one hour becomes so cumbersome! She cannot take long car rides and if we do, we literally have to stop every 30 min.... ends up being a fight with my and DH because the stress becomes to much! My child will never live life on her own. She will mentally never develop past the age of 9. She also has a chromosome abnormality that causes developmental and cognitive delay. I currently take Lexapro and Xanax to keep me from feeling depressed. I am so afraid of falling into a deep depression and not being able to care for my child!

Depression (feeling sad) is one feeling out of many.
I think we usually feel the full range at one time or another.
Puberty/middle school/ transitional times (when we change, are uncertain of ourselves, have to re-invent yourself) are prime times for feeling depressed.
It's when you get stuck in one feeling constantly that's a problem (manically happy all the time isn't great either).
I think it's alright to feel all emotions but we need to find ways to strike a balance between them.
Keep communications open.

I have never been depressed (to the point of needing to see a doctor or get medical help). Although, when my firstborn had severe colic, that was probably as close being depressed as I have ever been. The level of hopelessness I felt at not being able to help my baby was completely new ground for me. However, I knew what was causing the way I was feeling, and I also knew that it would eventually pass. I used to stand in front to the mirror crying and holding my crying infant and chant "It won't last forever. It won't last forever." I say I aged 5 years in 4 mos during that time.
Colic support groups and help from friends and family got me through, and I was able to give myself hope that it was only short term. As soon as his colic subsided, or rather, I learned to adapt, I was back to my normal self.

omg Samantha R - you hang in there!

And for anyone else dealing with any level of depression - ya'll, my heart goes out to you.

Its hard to deal with life as a human being, but as a woman - its like a double whammy!

I've never suffered from depression. Maybe a bit when I gave birth. I remember crying uncontrollably when someone asking what I wanted them to bring over for dinner - chicken or beef? - because I couldn't bring myself to decide. (I don't think they ever brought anything over after that!). But nothing compared what some women go through.

I hate that there are some women in this world who feel alone and helpless. I hate that some (like Robin Williams) feel suicide is the only option. Everyone needs a friend - someone to walk beside them, hold their hand, no matter the emotional cost. But our society isn't designed that way. I try to help where I can. That's why I volunteer at a women's shelter for battered women. Talk about depression! Those woman have major life issues. Sometimes they contemplate suicide. Sometimes they just need someone to talk to. Sometimes they need someone to hold their hand and let them cry.

Prayers and hugs to ya'll.

it's awesome that clinical depression is now recognized, and that there are a variety of treatment options available.
it's depressing (ha!) that depression of all sorts is now so frequently categorized as an 'illness' and even a 'chronic illness' and not as a simple fact of life.
even an ongoing bout of vague, causeless blah is not uncommon in perfectly healthy people. parents are naturally concerned about their kids and it's great to recognize signs of depression when they occur, but i'm a little alarmed at how often the blues are 'diagnosed' and 'treated' as some sort of anomaly.
people need to get help when they need it. they also need to learn to cope with life and its ups and downs.
we don't always have answers. this should not make us sad and fearful, but inquisitive and determined.
khairete
S.

Depression is not a one-size-fits-all condition.
Everyone gets down at times due to unpleasant circumstances.
For some people, extended periods of unpleasant circumstances can lead to extended periods of sadness and frustration that can become depression if they are not addressed. Usually, a temporary course of meds helps them to function until they no longer need them.
For some people, depression is a permanent chemical imbalance in the brain. Their bodies simply don't produce the correct compounds in the correct amounts and proportions to regulate their moods and emotions. For these people, meds are necessary and often life-saving, and going off the meds can be deadly.

I think many people have situational depression. A family member died. A job loss. A breakup. Most people are blue sometimes. But then there is also clinical depression, the disease that can take control of your life. The chemical imbalance that swings you like a pendulum. I have a young relative with clinical depression and I can see how he struggles with it, even though he has sought help. Sometimes even the help isn't good - there are medications that can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts in certain groups of people (so why they prescribe it, I don't know!). And my cousin had PPD. Thankfully she spoke up and got through it. But it can be very hard. I have a friend from college who is bipolar. He's been able to even out more with treatment, but people didn't understand it and made fun of him for it instead of helping him. Depression is hard because it's not like a lost limb. People are not always sympathetic.

Also, some diseases, like Parkinson's, can increase problems with depression. For someone like Williams who already struggled, the Parkinson's was one of the last things he needed. :(

I tend to mild depression myself. So I guess I also had assumed most people deal w it at some point. I also define it as feeling blue and unmotivated for no good reason.

It's acceptable to feel sad after something unfortunate happens. Depression to me is when u have every reason to be happy but arent.

I also want to bring up that many people self medicate w drugs and alcohol. They might not be considered depressed but probably are.

I felt severe depression for one day recently. There was no reason for it, but I was completely and ultimately helpless and hopeless. I felt hollow. I consider that day a gift, since I can understand how depression feels and how it could drive you to do any number of things to get it to stop. I have family members who struggle with it for days on end and I don't know how they do it. It's the worst feeling in the world.

No, not all people get clinically depressed. Everyone gets down from time to time within their own spectrum, but the uncontrollable mental anguish, irrationality, and physical exhaustion of true depression is had by many many people to all different degrees, but not all people. I've even known people who could grieve the loss of a child and maintain daily routines and "bounce back" to "normal" and continue a happy life. Sad of course while grieving, but not debilitated or suicidal. On the other hand I've known depressed people (and I'm prone to it in bouts) who try as they may, they cannot function. And everything in between. I have a friend on medication who I worry about very much. He's got it bad. Many people will never feel that level of medical depression.

No, my grandmother, my mother, and both her bothers suffered from depression all their lives. My brother and I are in our 40’s and we are just fine.

I am sorry you not only have your own depression but also worry about your children inheriting from you. I know that was always an extra weight for my mother as well. She was so relieved when we passed our 30's with no signs of it.

In addition to what other talked about already - a person's diet can greatly affect whether they are depressed or not. One specifically that comes to mind is a gluten intolerance - which has been proven to cause depression. Here is an interesting article about it.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depr...
You may consider eliminating gluten for a while and see how you feel.

I'm an emotion healer. I see humans and animals with emotional issues. If you want some help let me know. I don't do talk therapy, it seems to open up a lot of emotions that are hard to deal with. Instead, I find out what is going on in the body energetically, and remove it. I do it over the phone, or skype. My fees are reasonable and it is a good experience. My email is center4emotional ____@____.com people inherit some of their depression in my experience

I haven't (knock on wood) but a lot of people I love either have ongoing depression or have had bouts in the past, sometimes with an obvious trigger and sometimes out of the clear blue sky. We all have our health issues, mental or emotional or physical. Thankfully I've managed to get through my stressful life situations without have my brain chemistry get out of whack to make things worse, but there's no guarantee that any of us won't have to deal with depression or anxiety or other issues in the future.