Recurrent Brief Depression

Hi all,

After doing some research I have found that I most likely suffer from RBD, with 6-12 depressive episodes a year lasting about 1 week or a bit more.

Obviously during these times I am extremely innactive and unprodictive that is typical of depression. However, when I consider myself 'well' I'm not as active as I really want to be, even though I am in much better health than when going through any episodes.Procrastination of really important chores is a major issue that I feel has an effect on my depressove phases (guilt, more anxiety etc).

Does anyone else experience this when outside of depressive phases? RBD or other types of depression, your experiences are valued!

Also, if you struggle with RBD, what medication are you on? Have you found any medication to not work?
At the moment Im on 20mg escitalopram and it jist doesnt seem to do the trick?

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, and many thanks in advance for responses,

Ed

Hi Ed,

See if this describes what's going on in your head and why you are procrastinating and why it is so closely linked with your depression.

http://egg.bu.edu/~youssef/SNAP_CLUB...0164151576.pdf

Here's what I think is the best overall plan:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/4262681-post105.html

- vital

Ed, I had not heard of recurrent brief depression and had to do a search for it. It sounds like it presents some challenges a little different from longer episodes of depression.

I have been having depressive episodes for years and find that when I am coming out of them that it's a gradual process. It's kind of like getting back in shape after a prolonged time of not exercising, except it's physical and psychological.

Procrastination definitely is a part of the process as well as avoidance of unpleasantness for me. When I'm depressed, I'll procrastinate or make bad decisions to avoid unpleasant feelings because I think "hey, I already feel bad enough, and I just don't think I can deal with doing X".

This leads me to make bad financial decisions, neglect my connections to other people, and well, lots of things.

Do you go to any kind of psychotherapy? It seems like it would be really helpful (if you have a good therapist, of course.)

Lately I have been looking at habits as a big tool to help me fight depression. Every time I have a long depressive episode, many of my good habits erode and then I have to work to rebuild them when I start to feel a bit better.

I hope you'll read some of the posts on this forum and contribute as well. I find that this forum is helpful to me. Psych Central is a group of people of different ages and with different diagnoses. We're all kind of sharing our experiences and trying to help each other through the tough times.

I'm not sure, I have been mild to moderately depressed most of my life since teenage, with severe depression recently. CBT helped me manage my symptoms when less intense, there is good evidence for it in mild and moderate depression and could help with thinking habits which may trigger a down turn. Best Wishes

I don't have RBD, but I just wanted to stop by and say hi and congrats on making your first post here on PsychCentral. It's a positive mood forward because I find it very effective, for me personally, to be able to ask / post in forums where members may have similar or some kind of understanding of the issues that I face.

So it's good to see you here.

Thanks all for your lovely input. Really encouraging and helpful.

Vital - a very good read that you attached. Thank you. Matters of unconsciouss thinking and choice were really relateable. Will be trying the 'snapping' for sure.
Not sure what the other link was to though...

Jo - RBD is the closest form I can relate to. I dont have short episodes that last 2-3 days, rather a week or week and a half. Definitely follows tbe pattern of 6 or more a year. Had been diagnosed with bipolar at one point, but tbe whole 'manic' or even 'hypomanic' aspect isnt present.
Im definitely a procrastinator during depressive phases,but when I am outside of them I am still a heavy procrastinator. My mood is fine, I relate well to others, but in terms of chores and neccessary to dos I really struggle. Whether it be guilt of some sort, or side effects of medication - procrastination happens when Im well and Im wondering if its a result of my depressive condition. Would make sense if so.
I am in therapy and have been througb various sorts in my time. I am currently seeing someone I relate to well and Im happy with seeing her on a regular basis. I am looking to go and see a psychiatrist about medication. In the past they werent helpful in trykng various different avenues when i was still ill, but hoping that there will be progress in seeing someone else. It seems with the amount of therapy I have been through without any real success, that medication should be a bit of a 'go to. Even with tbe nature of my depression - regular patterns without consciouss thoughts and predictions about when they will happen

Fizzy - lve been through various CBT exercises, but i dont seem to have enough will power/persistence with it all. I dont know if this is due to severity of the depression, or that it just doesnt work for me. What type of CBT have you found to work well?

Holligan - thanks for your support and kind words!

Thanks all for your replies. Means a great deal.

Ed

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Hi all, I cant seem to read tbe post I wrote -please tell me I dont have to write it again!?! It was a rather long one!

Thanks so so much fkr your replies. They were really helpful.

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Ahhb I see, it takes time for posts to appear.

With regards to Vital's link they posted - I suggest you have a look and try. I seem to immediately be feeling positive effects from such a simple process. This is all very odd. Very odd indeed! A minute ago I was giggling to myself (during a period of depression ks unheard of) after trying the process and felt the need to post my findings. Im really not quite sure why or how it works - Im going to have to re read the article and fully digest it all. But initially this is very encouraging indeed.

It just seems too good to be true. Ill keep you updated with hopefully what is progress.

I just cant quite get my head around how easy this is and yet how quickly im seeing results. Hopefully itll be a trend to continue.

It might not work for everyone, im guessing it wont as otherwise this would have spread like wildfire and we would see people cured from depression left rigbt and centre.

But i just wanted to post my initial reactions and encourage yourselves to check out the article.

If you have trouble finding it above then try a google search of egg.bu.edu/snap_club

Thanks,

Ed

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Yep, there is a definite noticeable change in how Im feeling. I urge everyone to give this a try.

So so bizarre. I just did a little dance, sang to myself and generally felt so much more free. I have never encountered anything so simple and yet so immediately effective as this.

Apologies for the post after post. Had to share this as it works a treat!

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Amazing isn't it? It is new and spreading. I've been using it with some professionals at the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston for about 15 patients so far and the results seem to be very positive.

I'm really glad it's working for you - vital

Surely is. To instantly feel a release and start laughing and even dancing was testmanet - I was concerned I was showing signs of extreme euphoria!

Thanks, I will be spreading the word. It's great to do it for even little things like body language and breathing.

With your findings from the hospital, you can also add that it works for men as well!

Have you posted a thread that specifically focuses on this?

I didn't understand that part of your message - was this the correct link?

Ed

Vital - Just clicked the link again and it took me to something that makes more sense. Thanks!

Hi ed,

There's a long thread about it in the "depression success stories" section. Here's the link. They sometimes don't work in Tapatalk. You might have to get it from a laptop or a reply:

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...n-escaped.html

I also keep links to everything here How to understand depression and how to escape

It doesn't quit either. I've been doing it for about a year and a half. I know what you mean about that giddy feeling. Realizing that you are finally free of SO MUCH suffering is just amazing.

Showing this to patients at Brigham and Women's hospital in person ( both women and men, by the way https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigha...#39;s_Hospital ) was really encouraging. I could see from the reactions that many got that "finally I understand what has been happening to me" moment.

- vital

Thanks.

Since the 'snapping' a lot of tears have flown. A lot. I find that I'm being much more honest with people about how I'm feeling. As for proactivity - through the roof. I've been applying for jobs, eating well, doing exercise, playing guitar etc.

Not feeling tip top, but I'm sure that this and other things in place will hopefully get me on the right track to recovery.

Do you find that it is ok to retrospectively snap? Sometimes I make important choices and retrospectively snap.

I showed this to my therapist today, she really saw the value in it, and if it is a piece of the healing jigsaw puzzle that works for me then great.

Dear Ed,

WOW. I am SO glad it's really working for you. I can practically feel the joy and feeling of relief all the way from Scotland to Boston.

I think you're very right that it's a process. I only felt I was completely free of depression after a few months when I realized that I could decide SNAP! not to think about something if I didn't want to and that I could do the same for unpleasant emotions. You may find over time that your experience of emotions changes. You may feel like you have just more energy than before. You may realize that you are no longer AFRAID of your own emotions. For me, depression seems like it was a constant drain on me even when I wasn't actively being stressed. It's going to be a great adventure for you, I'm sure .

I think that snapping retrospectively is no problem. I don't think it's important to snap for everything or to always remember to do it. I often forget myself for a while. I've been doing it for about 1.5 years and I still love making tiny little nonsense decisions. What I think is important is to FEEL it and enjoy it when you snap and decide, to be creative about it and make it your own. You may find that each snap gives you "present moment awareness" as in mindfulness practices too, especially if you decide to use one of your senses.

At first, snapping may seem like a superficial trick, but, I believe that what it's doing is reconnecting you with that part of you that decides what happens in your life. In a way, that is your own true inner self, and reconnecting with that is all important. Depression, I believe, is exactly caused by unconsciously losing that connection. The symptoms can be complicated and indirect and severe, but that is the root of it. By re-making that connection, you've broken the spell and you are free.

I'm glad your therapist likes it too. It would be cool if she tries it with her other clients. At this point, I'm pretty sure that this could help many many people.

- vital

Brilliant - the internet is a wonderful thing!

It certainly is - this morning I had a bit of a dip after having to face a hard and procrastinated task head on. Wore me out but got it done!

Retrospective - great, thats good news! Yes, that was my first reaction, that it really does focus on mindfullness. That was one thing that hit me when I first started, how aware I was of my surroundings.

It seemed very superficial! My first reaction was that it was a bit hocus pocus and ridiculous. But after the dividends payed off instantly, it caught my attention!

Yes, hopefully my therapist will pass it on!

E