I'm one of those few(?)lucky people who was able to pull myself out of depression on my own. Perhaps it was not a true clinical depression - but after several years of the inability to deal with the world or do much of anything but lie on the couch, I can't help but believe it was. This was 30 years ago and I didn't even think of it being depression at the time (though I should have, having been a psych minor), but in retrospect I can't think of what else it could have been. It took a move to a different state (which may have triggered that "exercise makes endorphins") to start getting me out of it, followed by an absolute refusal to let myself fall back into my funk again, literally forcing myself to get up and get out and DO something. Obviously my problem was not a serious chemical imbalance, but the results were just as debilitating as if it were. Looking back, I'm astonished that I was able to pull out of it without help.
Would it have helped if someone had pushed me earlier to take the steps I ultimately did? I don't know. I tend to work better when I wait until I find my own motivation than when pushed since I tend to take perceived criticism personally and retreat further. But it sure would have been great if someone had actually recognized the symptoms and told me that there was actually something wrong and something I could do about it.
So, I, too, am glad you are doing this for those it will help. Just be positive in your approach... negativity just makes things worse.
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Date: 2008-01-30 03:46 am (UTC)I'm one of those few(?)lucky people who was able to pull myself out of depression on my own. Perhaps it was not a true clinical depression - but after several years of the inability to deal with the world or do much of anything but lie on the couch, I can't help but believe it was. This was 30 years ago and I didn't even think of it being depression at the time (though I should have, having been a psych minor), but in retrospect I can't think of what else it could have been. It took a move to a different state (which may have triggered that "exercise makes endorphins") to start getting me out of it, followed by an absolute refusal to let myself fall back into my funk again, literally forcing myself to get up and get out and DO something. Obviously my problem was not a serious chemical imbalance, but the results were just as debilitating as if it were. Looking back, I'm astonished that I was able to pull out of it without help.
Would it have helped if someone had pushed me earlier to take the steps I ultimately did? I don't know. I tend to work better when I wait until I find my own motivation than when pushed since I tend to take perceived criticism personally and retreat further. But it sure would have been great if someone had actually recognized the symptoms and told me that there was actually something wrong and something I could do about it.
So, I, too, am glad you are doing this for those it will help. Just be positive in your approach... negativity just makes things worse.