Nice read mate.
Did I say something bad btw? It think he would have gotten through it if he had close family by.
I worked for 7 years as a detective and I know what stress and depression is all about. Carried 300 dockets bout 30 of them murder cases, new cases coming in court cases then brought forward dates with deadlines where they get inspected where they can give you a bad rep if it ain't up to scratch so I am not talking just out the air its what I went through as well.
Ps. I fixed some of your spelling errors
Thanks for the corrections. It may not be as much what you said as what the implication was. I respect that you have been through some shit in your life and have found ways to deal with it and stay sane, some people out there struggle. As I said medical sciences have not been able to work it out yet. A lot of the time it is not one thing that triggers the illness. It is a bit like the camel and the straw. Big problems result when something minor triggers a major episode, and you are told to 'get over it', or 'it's not that bad'. This reaction just reinforces the feeling that what we are suffering/feeling is insignificant and therefore we need to shut up about it and deal with it ourselves when completely the oppersite is required. By all means think it, but always, always keep in the back of your mind that there might be more going on then you know and something you say or do just might cause someone to go and lie in front of that train. Hell, there are some people out there that I would love to tell them ' FFS, suck it up and get on with it'.
I think in one of your posts you said that Clyde should have told his family. Trust me, it is not as easy as just telling them that. First - because that could just be where the problems are steming from. Second - if they have been through the same thing and 'appear' to be fine, then it must be your problem, despite the fact that these people might be feeling exactly the same thing. Third - the thought process is that they do not need you adding to their problems. We think that everybody is suffering under then same burdens. It was a real revelation to me when I found out that the burdens I was shouldering were not shared by everyone else out there. I would even say that what I have said on this forum is probably the most I have talked about it any one group of people.
Wow, good post, SFR. Amazing that you can predict potential sufferers. What are some of the indicators - obsessives, perfectionists?
Yep obsessiveness and perfectionism are indicators but usually not on their own. Paranoia is another but I am sure that Godess will tell you that could also mean a lot of other things. Being a workaholic, not accepting praise , presimism, agrophobia, shyness, mood swings, self-harm and the list goes on and on and on. It is reaslly hard to explain. I know in the last couple of years, since I have started to recognise the illness in others there have been situations where I have pulled people aside and said 'Look, mate. You have a problem and before you destroy your life and that of those around you need to go talk to someone.' This is usually the first time that they have even stopped to think about what is going on. But having said that you need to pick your moments. I have a couple of friends that I am concerned about (wallabies amoung them) but have not said anything because I do not know what the reaction is going to be. Those I figure I just hove to be there for them and when it all goes pear shaped help as best I can.
One of the biggest problem with the illness is that it has NEVER been talked about in the past and still holds a certain stigma that means people don't open up. This not only reduces the chance of treatment and recovery, but also puts research and development in a go slow. I firmly believe that, like many mental illnesses, depression is to a certain extent hereditary and by not talking about it we are not doing the next generation any favours in recognising and treating the condition. Once you tell people that you suffer depression some of them react as though it is contagious. Trust me it isn't. Just act as you normally would, most sufferes have developed a bloody thick skin and broard should, but if you see a change in their behaviour, either positive or negative, ask them it they are alright and if there is anything you can do to help. Just having a quiet beer might be enough to get them through a bad patch. In no way am I advocating self-medication with alochol (or anything else for that matter). From personal experience it does not work, just costs lots of money if you have expensive tastes.
PaalBok - Just because Clyde 'did the chicken run', as you so kindly put it, does not mean that he will miraculously to 'cured'. At times that just makes it worse. The thought porocesses are either or both of the following -:
'Why do I deserve to be happy and be in a great place when others aren't?'
'This can't last it just has to all go tits up at some point.'
I am not saying that getting out of a bad situation is NOT going to help, in a lot of cases it does. I am just saying that getting out of a bad situation MAY NOT be the answer and we have to respect that.
I have been thinking the last year or so that I sould write my story down. Maybe I should. At least I won't be classed as an elite / high profile person wanting everybody to feel sorry for them.
