Has anyone here beat depression
 

Have you at one time been clinically depressed and the come out of it?
How has it changed you, what did you learn? I could go on this topic forever but I'd rather reply to people.
I'LL GO FIRST
I have

You enjoy talking about being depressed?

Smokin` weed will make your bones grow healthy and strong.

psychology major
I said about BEATING depression

I have beat depression.

I was diagnosed when I was in 8th grade. I have been put on so many different medications and put through a great deal of therapy. It's taken me a great many of years, but I have gotten so much better.

If you're doing research, this probably isn't the best sampling group to ask.

Plus, the responses you're likely to get from some of this lot ... well, they're bound to be downright depressing.

No no the term just started I'm not using anyone here as my research sample. I was just interested if anyone else found that beating something as serious as depression has made them understand the human mind much more than before. But you're right, I was naive

I'm depressed and i can't beat it. Now i'm depressed times two.

Most of these people did not suffer depression, let alone they might actually understand clinical depression. They're just whiny bitches who think the world is cruel if it's not paying attention to them and justify their diva attitudes by claiming illness.

yo lan.whats with those three quotes? are you white who agrees? or a black who explodes to the whole Gnet how cruel whites are?

now now blacks don't be depressed.

I can't say if I've ever been 'clinically' depressed; I've never been diagnosed with anything, as I absolutely detest the medical industry. But I would have to agree that going through severe depression and coming through the other side seems to have its effects on the way one thinks, acts, and relates to the world around them. It seems it can age someone beyond their years in a relatively short amount of time, depending on the person and how they handle it. And that can be good or bad.

I still suffer from depression, so I can't say I've beat it. Though I've come close at times and have managed to bring a good amount of stability back into my life, I still get mood swings and have my down moments. But it's manageable, at least.

And sadly, what Alan said is probably true.

One never beats a clinical depression. Never.

You can suppress it, but it will always be there.

How so? I'm curious.

Why would I even have clinical depression? I'm too awesome and too busy to waste my time with being a lethargic, dejected moron. Granted, I'm not the happiest of people, but being depressed about shit is a waste of time.

Jack - Depression is not a choice, it is a suffering just the same as skitzophrenea and hemorrhoids.
(I just looked up hemorrhoids to be sure about the english spelling and saw a picture on Wikipedia - EW!)

It was a feeble attempt at humor, I'm suffering from insomnia and haven't been asleep since god knows when at the moment I'd even find dead cats funny.

I'm trying to decide which thread is more fucking pointless and arbitrary.

This one, or the one about the origin of fear.

Really? You don't think it's the one about forming a gothic elite group to control the world? OR the one where you name fucking fruit?

I tend to agree.

I'm not sure that clinical depression is something that can be "cured". Managed with proper medication and therapy, yes. "Cured" and "beaten", no.

I need Paxil to get through my life without wanting to rip everyone's head off all the time.

I know I said I beat depression in my previous post, but most of you are right.

I still have to manage my depression and mood swings. Although, I do not take medication anymore, I still attend therapy and still get a lot of support. So, I would agree, I have not "beat" depression, but I am managing it a lot better than I was.

I was diagnosed with major depression and PTSD. I hated the drugs, as they made me a zombie, and I found therapy much more beneficial. The problem was finding a p-doc who didn't automatically jump to put me on meds! My depression was not caused by a chemical imbalance; rather, it was the result of a series of traumatic, early events and my lack of coping skills. The two fed off each other until therapy did give me the skills and insight I needed. I have not had a depressive episode for six years now, and I see no reason I ever should again - if something comes up that threatens that, well, I'll consult with a therapist before I let it get me as far down as I used to be. Depending on the cause, I do believe depression can sometimes be beaten.

What about the countless "I need a friend/I can't get a friend/All my friends hate me" threads or the "I can't get a girlfriend" variations? But for my money, it's "Slitting Wrist..." which screams epic fail for starters because it should have been titled "Slitting Wrists" unless the asshat really didn't mean to complete the job. Plus that thread is just depressing ...

Hey! I know ... people should just go read that thread and then answer this one ...

or you could NOT waste your time. That'd be a choice too.

Runs in my family; I first tried drinking it better- manic high while drunk and total fucking depression all the rest of the time. Plan A aborted.

I find a daily smoke keeps me just the happier side of the line.

Class A's 'll bring depression real fuckin quick tho'.

Hey, at least those were upfront about their own inanity.

I actually was diagnosed with serious depression back in highschool, I was on medication for a while, and then stopped taking it. I thought I'd beaten it but actually, I'd been depressed for so long I didn't remember what it was like not to feel that way. It got worse and worse throughout college, I self-medicated with copious amounts of alcohol and the like. It took it's toll, both on my mind and my body.

I remember the exact day that I beat it. It was about three weeks into my first big section of the Appalachian Trail, and I was walking through this field in Southern Virginia.

It was early morning, and I looked out over the mountains, and...Bam. I wasn't sad for no reason anymore. It felt like I'd been in a fog for the last six or seven years and all of a sudden it had lifted.

Anyway, it hasn't been back since.

Yup
 

Was diagnosed with Clinical Depresion About 10 years ago after being seriously ill for some time with no real idea how to cope with it. I opened my wrist up with a saw bladed kitchen knife, then took a razor blade to the insides of my arm to ensure the job was done.

Fortunatly for me, a friend found me, and i spent a while in hospital, where i was diagnosed.

Copius amounts of counseling, a ton of dugs, and ten years later, i still suffer from bouts when things are not going great for me. Good thing is, i know how to deal with it correctly now though.

I don't think it will ever go away entirely, Somethings just not wired right i think.

I was depressed for a long time. Even saw a psychologist and they totally missed the symptoms for a physical illness because they were working on some stupid book. Anyway, went to a doctor and explained the situation. Turned out I had hypo thyroidism, so now if anyone asks, my first tip is to see a medical doctor and get a complete physical with the full blood panel tests.

After that I deal with ongoing depression related to whatever. Still kindof up and down, but within reasonable emotional balance. It is whatever, but easily coped with. Sometimes even forget to feel depressed. The difficult part is dealing with people who still relate to me the same way they did when medically ill. They are over protective or seem to be waiting for me to die. It is hostile towards my mental well being, instead of, getting sad though I just get angry and have developed some anger issues. It isn't difficult to piss me off, but then I go back; however, became increasingly mistrustful and often keep secrets.

Luckily, I found reaching out to other people and helping them cope with their issues brings me back into line. Otherwise, probably just lose it. Run away from everyone. Drop the ball on my own personal goals just to mess with someone else. Betray friends and in general take a big old Sh*t on the whole planet.

Okay, go hiking or something.

... and fall off a cliff!

OK, so maybe not that, but, take a hike anyway.

Maybe it`s just me but why does it feel like all these ungrateful, depressed(?) little bitches (men/women) seem to end up in the gawf/metal subcunture?

yoga. yoga's the answer.

yeah. yoga.

tastes so good.

yogart! yum

You take a Hike and fall off a cliff You're not even Goth.

I guess maybe I should have specified. That's what I meant, clinical depression that was caused by something other than a chemical imbalance, and like you I don't see why I should ever get that low again as my therapist has taught me how to manage my personality.

I appreciate everyone who took the time to write a serious response. Everyone else, well no comment. :)
I do think it can be beat though, it's just that whole you are in the middle of it, things feel like they CAN'T get better, but what I learned from all this is that you shouldn't ALWAYS trust how you feel.