[bitten]

Wow. i know we all have problems,as we would not be on this site if not. But I hear nobody DOING anything really to make things better. Benn on this site for just a short week or so and I am almost gettting more down. Only got support from a couple peple. Think I may go back to isolation...

[allimsaying]

Hi Bitten

A lot of people are really struggling. Yes, I think some of us have good days, at least I do. Sorry you're getting more down. Want to talk about it?

Hi Yes, I'm sure a lot of us do have good days. The thing about being supportive is that we all have different interpretations of what being supportive means... and each individual's capacity for being supportive waxes and wanes with their current condition.
Hope things pick up for you.

[Pierro]

Hello Bitten, I do have good days, but for everyone having a good day theres somebody having a bad day/week.We are all here for each other. I have bad days I can rant to somebody that is in the same position as me. Depression makes everything negative as I'm sure you know. Why don't you talk to us about your feelings? I find this forum a great way of knowing that you will not be judged for the way you feel.I'm sorry that you are not feeling good. Best wishes.

Not anymore.

[montanan4ever]

People tend to come post on forums when they are in trouble/misery/bad places. It's a way of reaching out for help. I was in a place of sheer torture back in January, but THANK HEAVENS am doing much better now after some med tweaks.

I think it's kind of a characteristic of active depression to not see, or not report clearly, what we are doing to help ourselves. Chances are almost everyone here is doing SOMETHING to help themselves, but it scarcely dawns on them that's what it is....Or it doesn't feel like it's helping because the depression is still so awful.

[beautifulfreak]

Originally Posted by bitten

Wow. i know we all have problems,as we would not be on this site if not. But I hear nobody DOING anything really to make things better. Benn on this site for just a short week or so and I am almost gettting more down. Only got support from a couple peple. Think I may go back to isolation...

Firstly, thanks for sharing your feelings.

Personally, I find it comforting to post on PC and to know I am not alone when I am going through so much pain. That in itself is supportive to me. Even a hug is a gesture of support.

There is no point in me coming on here saying I'm fine if my true feelings are of despair. In the check-in thread, I did say I was trying to not succumb to urges today. Trying to interact and distract…even that is a struggle, nonetheless it is an effort to keep myself safe.

Despite feeling so low, it does not mean I will not read, listen or respond in some kind of way if I can. Even if all I can offer is a hug.

One thing I will not do however is apologise for how I feel, or sugar-coat my feelings to suit others… have done that my entire life and it has gotten me nowhere. So, now that I have begun to share my true feelings (even if that only on PC or in real life) is that not an effort to do something to help myself?

I am sure many people on PC would agree that sharing their feelings, whatever those feelings may be is a support in itself?

I hope you find the support you need and know that we are all here to support one another as best we can.

[happy 2 b here]

I love this post from you -- you have said exactly what I, and, I'm sure, many of us feel.

We are able to give support and receive it, even as we live with depression. I do have some good days, and when I do, I make sure everyone knows, as my good mood is hard to contain. When I'm not doing so great, just take a look at my face -- it says it all

[happy 2 b here]

Hi Beautifulfreak

I was referring to your post re answering "anyone have good days???" It was very well written Wanted to clarify that

I think that in all illnesses you have good days along with bad days. During the illness time, bad times are more frequent than good times.

I've had periods (and lengthy ones at times) when I've felt pretty good. I felt like I didn't have mild or more depression and anxiety. It made me feel on top of the world. When that happens, it makes me feel that the depression will never come back. I had licked it! But, to my surprise, it just creeps back in. And then I feel like I'm entangled for a pretty long time.

It's just so weird that I have depression and dreadful feelings and yet there's nothing going on that should have caused it. It scares me that if something really bad happens, how would I handle it?

[CharactorAssassin]

no I have no good days.

[happy 2 b here]

Yes, I do have good days, some really good days, and, also, days that are not so terrific. Never quite sure what to expect from day to day. I have lived with chronic depression since my teens and I am now in my 60's. I have lived with this a very long time. I take Effexor -- have since 2005, and 6 weeks ago, had to double the dose with doctor's cosent. Without it -- well, I can't imagine -- it really did give me back my life. I have also coped with social anxiety and panic attacks. With this med, I no longer have either. As for the depression, it is tolerable, most days, but not all.

Coping skills are learned along the way, as we go through life. This last January, when I was really unhappy -- for me, also -- no real reason to be so -- I have a good life -- I started going to the gym. I even hired a personal trainer to help me set up a program -- that was a bit intimidating -- but I made myself to it -- and overcame the lack of confidence I felt in myself

So, taking that big step with the trainer, walking into a gym where I knew no one and didn't know anything about weight training was a huge and positive step for me. Now, I go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week -- a yearly pass will cost me $30 a month -- well worth my physical and mental health. So adding the exercise to my life is another coping skill. I am always looking for ways to make my daily life as positive for myself as I can. After years of living with daily stress, panic and anxiety, the body grows weary and begs for rest. I went many years without med, and put my body through so much harm. It was when I had been retired for a few years, that I finally realized that I could no longer do this on my own. The anxiety and panic attacks were growing more exhausting and I was so tired. I tried to live without med, and did, for a long time. But, finally, realized I couldn't fight this on my own any longer. I will say again for me, it was the right thing to do.

[beautifulfreak]

Hi sad senior what a major achievement, it seems you have taken huge steps and turned your life around. Well done, that takes a lot of courage and determination. I know what you mean about the body getting weary from the constant battles/war.

I hope one day I too can turn my life around, things not good and haven't been for a very long time. I feel like my head and body are in some sort of war zone and nothing is winning.

Once again, congrats on everything you have done.

I don't have good days, but I have good moods sometimes. They don't last long. But. That's something.

[bitten]

Thank you all for your responses. I know this is for support but I also think it is important that when we do have good days, that we should share those too. It makes it seem like things aren't always that bad. As I like to say,"life is not such a tragedy." There are good things and just think that people should experince and see what can be out there, and there is hope...just sayin...

[Hellion]

Not lately, I've had some ok days though.

[adam_k]

I do have good days and I feel happy sometimes. Maybe it is the meds or therapy, but it is a constant struggle battling depression. I get stuck in self loathing miserable stints and it is hard to pull yourself out of that. I often have to battle my inner critic and tell my self I am not worthless and I can do thing right. Sometimes I have the strength and others I don't, but for me I do have good days and I have to remind myself that I deserve to feel happy and I have to work for it. I try to eat, and I have to try and be kind to myself. I am often over critical. It is ok if I mess up and it doesn't mean I am an awful person who deserves to be punished for making a mistake. Making mistakes is part of life and we can't do things right all the time. I also have to battle dark thoughts sometimes too. I hate that I think about hurting myself and sometimes I wish I could just purge these thoughts from my head. I have to keep it together and tell myself the feelings won't last forever and I will be happy again one day. Sometimes taking it a day or even a minute at a time is all I can do to cope. I hope things get better for you and you allow yourself to be supported and don't isolate yourself into more depression.

[happy 2 b here]

Originally Posted by beautifulfreak

Hi sad senior what a major achievement, it seems you have taken huge steps and turned your life around. Well done, that takes a lot of courage and determination. I know what you mean about the body getting weary from the constant battles/war.

I hope one day I too can turn my life around, things not good and haven't been for a very long time. I feel like my head and body are in some sort of war zone and nothing is winning.

Once again, congrats on everything you have done.

Thank you so much -- getting older has its advantages -- as in, what are you waiting for -- right. If, in another 20 years, and I am still living. I want to look back with very few regrets

[douglas76]

Originally Posted by bitten

Wow. i know we all have problems,as we would not be on this site if not. But I hear nobody DOING anything really to make things better. Benn on this site for just a short week or so and I am almost gettting more down. Only got support from a couple peple. Think I may go back to isolation...

Define good. I have a job that I can do on a daily basis, which is 70% customer care. I shower, shave when I have to, wear clean clothes everyday, and try to smile for my godchildren who know that something is wrong with me, but don't know what which hurts them. Good is subjective or relative.

[beautifulfreak]

Originally Posted by bitten

Thank you all for your responses. I know this is for support but I also think it is important that when we do have good days, that we should share those too. It makes it seem like things aren't always that bad. As I like to say,"life is not such a tragedy." There are good things and just think that people should experince and see what can be out there, and there is hope...just sayin...

Hi again bitten. Hope you are doing ok? As you can see from all these posts, people are at different places and are sharing and doing the best that they can.

People do share when they have good days. However, for some, good days are scarce, that is how things are for me and possibly for others too. Sometimes I can fight a battle other times the war in my head is winning.

From reading posts, people are sharing good days…even just look at the posts in these threads. People are even on course to turning their lives around.

Plus, most of us here may not just suffer from depression in isolation, a lot of us have a myriad of Mental Health disorders/issues.

I haven't felt good in a long time, but I can pick bits of joy out of a day if I feel bits of joy. All I can say for today thus far as regards tiny bit of joy is…Nutella on a spoon. I didn't actually have it but I mentioned it somewhere else. Wish I had some now!

If only it were as easy as…turn that frown upside down…aghhhhh

[Sadley]

bitten,

No, I do not have good days. I always feel horrible, and with each days' passing even worse. To me, life is a tragedy. I wish I was never born. I hate life and I'm not sure that I will ever know what happiness is. I'm sorry to be such a downer, but this is what it is. I feel like crap. Seems that no one can help me. Sorry.

[allimsaying]

Originally Posted by Sadley

bitten,

No, I do not have good days. I always feel horrible, and with each days' passing even worse. To me, life is a tragedy. I wish I was never born. I hate life and I'm not sure that I will ever know what happiness is. I'm sorry to be such a downer, but this is what it is. I feel like crap. Seems that no one can help me. Sorry.

Fighting depression is one hell of a war.

[bitten]

Even picking out one little thing a day is a start. I have to pretend to put on a smile and it sucks. I love Nutella too. Too funny. See, the small things...

I agree with George H.
Also it seems like you haven't browsed a lot of the
forums on here. You said you've been on this site for
a week.
Remember we have an illness its serious so we have good & bad
days.
This is a site for mental illness so its not a day in Disneyland.
This is a struggle!
I suggest you talk with the moderators & the site veterans for a better
elaboration.
But I would suggest you hang in there this is a great site.
You won't find one that's better, I should know I've tried a few different ones.

[bitten]

Thanks you guys. You are right, I just may have not read enough posts to come to this conclusion. But I have gotten quite a few messages from individuals who thanked me for saying what they feel. I am sorry if I offended or upset anyone. That was not my intent. Please forgive me. I am trying. I have to wonder though, Nobody comments on anything I post unless it is a random question. Just sayin...