Pray for lungman.
I was diagnosed with major depression 10 yrs ago.
Had been doing well four two years with out any relapses.
The morning of Jan 10th,i woke up and it was back full bore.
I've now added alcohol to the picture.(I hadn't drank in almost 30 yrs).
I know it's the wrong thing to do,but it's the only way i can calm the anxiety that goes along with the depression.I actually feel 1/2 way normal after a 6 or 12 pack.(for a week and a 1/2 now).
I know this is not a sex related post,but i would appreciate your prayers.Thank you and i hope all of u are happy and well today. Not sure this will get posted,if so,thank u!
I now know the meaning of "hell on earth",it's called depression.It really does rob you of your life.IT"S HIDIOUS!! Take care guys!

used the hobby as a type of self medication for your own feelings of depression or depressed mood?  If so, did it work, or did it make it worse?

Good luck lungman, and get some help.

I will not sit here and nag at you, list all the things that could result from your current actions or anything like that.  All I will say is you know what you need to do or you would not have made this first step coming here.  Next step, go to a Doctor and fast!!  Take care, BIG hugs and many prayers!!


LadeeLilly

I have a chronic stress related disease that is going to kill me.

Meds have side effects I don't tolerate well.

I can measure the stress reduction via blood pressure readings I take daily. I make repeat visits to providers who can deliver a 5-10 point drop in BP that lasts a week or more.  It's why I hobby. Nothing else worked.

In between visits I find a good fracas on the boards very relaxing. The only thing better is a visit with favorite lady. I can't plan when all hell will break loose on a thread but when it does, it does me some good. Love to argue when there is little at stake. Very soothing.

You have my prayers lungman as do a few others. Be well and happy.

will not be found in a 6 or 12 pack. You're self treating depression with a depressant drug. (Very counter-productive) Your doctor, along with a good therapist can, and will, set you in the right direction. The rest is up to you. Meetings for the alcohol, and possible medication are a step in the right direction.

Feel free to PM me...Clean & sober for 24 years.

I would be the first to admit that I am NOT a chit chatter. I rarely pick up the phone to call others. My email is usually strictly business.

BUT

You CAN call me on the phone

And you know where ever I am

I pick up

Now that's what I want you to do!!

Pick yourself up!! Right now!~!  

Pick up the phone and call some friends

You have some and a wonderful family that loves you

Think about all of the life's you have touched with your doctoring

Get out there and take care of those precious lil babies who need your help. That will make you feel better.

My advice is to get the help you need and leave this board to the assholes and manginas that frequent it.

Manginas aside, this board is not a place for someone needing help and support. I am probably one of the most guilty of using a cry for help as an excuse to ridicule someone, but I am far from the only one and that is not likely to change. (unless the manginas take over lol)

Lastly in regards to your self medicating with alcohol, STOP!!! I drink as much as anyone here, with the possible exception of MP67, but drinking to fill a void or to "dull the pain" only causes more probems, many much more severe than the pain you are trying to kill.

Good luck, and no offense, but for your own good, stay away until and unless you are back in full form. Some of us just can't help but fuck with people who show weakness, and I don't want the guilt of having pushed someone over the edge who was already teetering.

I urge you to seek the advice of your therapist.  There is no shame in being depressed.  Lungman, there is good news. There are med's nowadays that do NOT interfere with your sex drive.  So, talk frankly with your doc and get on the correct medication and the correct dose for your needs.  (see D.C., his post is on topic).

Also, please put the alcohol away.  Although you feel the short term benefits, alcohol is a depressant and is only serving to exacerbate the problems associated with your depression.  As your bodies tolerance to alcohol increases, you will need more and more to feel that short-term high.  This will only result in unnecessary pain and suffering in the end.

Do the smart thing.....seek help now!!

Good luck to you and, yes, I will say a prayer.

Hugs, Belinda

Prayer may help, but I would also recommend making an appointment with your physician who may make a referral to a mental health professional.  Unless there has recently been a major loss in your life, the abrupt regression raises questions regarding organic problems.

Hope you didn't stop taking the medicine abruptly without discussing with your doctor.

Understand certain medications can adversely affect sex life, this also need to be discussed and there medications without adverse effects.

At any rate, discuss issues with the doctor openly and candidly. That's the answer, not drinking 6 or 12 pack.

Take care

I strongly recommend that you read the depression
self-help book : "Feeling Good" by Dr David D Burns. ( not to be confused the the "Feeling Good Handbook", which is an inferior sequel ). Superb book ! Burns is a cognitive behaviorist psychiatrist who instructs one on how to eliminate a depressive mindset. Book has sold many millions & has helped countless people to turn their lives around. Lung, go out & buy it !

Bringing up GaG's point,if any of the DK's make light of Lung's plight, then they are truly stupid motherfuckers. This coming from someone who is DECIDEDLY politically incorrect.

Lastly, in re to DC's point, Sex releases endorphins, which is a major catalyst in eliminating depression & anxiety. Do I do it for that reason ?----Hell----good as an excuse as any to get laid-----LMFAO !

Thank's DC for posting this.
I appreciate it very much.
I will get some help.

I'm not a Dr. and I  don't know if it will work for you, but Sunshine and Cardiovascular exercise work great for me if I'm feeling down.
If you live in D.C. maybe a trip to Miami will help..Good Luck

You've taken a good first step...you're not trying to deal with this alone. Keep reaching out and talking to others. Try to focus on something outside of yourself and your problems.  (much easier said than done.) PLEASE stay off the booze. If you have a close personal friend to whom you can confide in absolute confidence, go to them.  If not, keep in touch with us. Though it sounds almost incongruous to say so on this board, I will pray for you.  If you know a good, reputable, mental health-care professional with a successful track record see him or her, if possible. Remember too, there is always something really good just around the corner...ALWAYS.

I'm assuming from SexyCarolina's post (and your handle) that you are a pediatric pulmonologist or in some related field.  If so, take her advice, focus on your work, and realize the good that you do for others. Appreciate how you and God, in partnership, are making a difference in the lives of others. Things are gonna start looking up.

Depression is curable, being certifiably stupid is not. I'm glad you have an excuse.

Good luck to you. Maybe all the manginas are depressed?  

Thanks brother,,,,i will get the book!
I appreciate your input!

and I thank providence for that as I have known people who do suffer, and I know the seriousness of it.

Hobbying makes me very happy, but I'm not sure it is the correct answer in your case.

I do know that professional help makes a big difference to people so my ferverent hope for yo is that you have such a professional to turn to and gain relief.

Please stay in touch with us and take anyone up on an offer of support.

Absolutely, prayers to seek the help you need.

This is a serious thing... I have dealt with milder forms over the years and managed...

In some ways we all 'self-medicate' in some way... i.e. quit smoking and chew gum obsessively, etc.


May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness;
May all be free from suffering and the causes of suffering;
May all never be without the supreme happiness devoid of suffering;
May all abide in perfect equanimity, free of partiality

Best of luck to you !

First off, we live in a society now where depression is a very well known and considered to be a serious and profound real problem. Those that have it (in varying degrees) have others to look to for solace and comfort. It does not carry the stigma it used to. You must know that, or you would not have posted this help thread.

On to the story. It may or may not help.

Some 30+ years ago when depression WAS a stigma, I was in the dumps big time, for a number of wrong reasons of course. It seemed that nothing was good in the world, or so I thought.

I had a childhood friend that had become a priest and we went out for some drinks (just soda pop lol). I must say he learned some wise things in the seminary and with his career. He pulled from his wallet a small crumpled up piece of paper and said "here, take this. When it is all torn up, faded and illegible create a new one to carry in your wallet and when ever you are depressed and think you are at the end of the road bring it out and read it out load to yourself over and over".

I did just that and to this very day, I still have a crumpled up piece of paper in my wallet, I pull it out from time to time and it reads; "Everything is as it should be, right now, this very moment". Read into that what you may, it helped me. True story.

Seek professional help as well, which is the same advice others have given.

Sorry MP67,,,i cancelled my TER membership and can't receive pm's.
If this is allowed,,,i welcome a response on [email protected]
It would be good to hear from each and every one of you.

I will call u soon SC,,,Thanks.

Lungman, We have missed you and now we know why.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.  Do what the docs say and you will recover just fine.  Then, there will be a whole new crop of women to take good care of you.

Look, we're dudes. And if there is one thing on earth us dudes hate -- and I'm including myself here -- it is appearing vulnerable. Me? I'm 100 feet tall and bulletproof. If you don't believe it, just ask me.

If you've gotten to the point where you will share this with US -- WK's, DK's, Manginas and Manrectums -- then you can DEFINITELY share this with a competent therapist. Don't go all macho on this and drink yourself into oblivion. The troubles that can cause are distinctly NOT macho. Ditch the booze -- see a therapist.

Most competent therapists I'm afraid do NOT fuck your brains out, but they actually charge a lot less than most providers. So it's a good deal.

You are looking for either a cognitive behaviorist or a psychodynamic therapist. Some will use various adjuncts. Just be open-minded.

Because I have been dragging my wife around to therapists for about the past 7 years, I have become a real connoisseur of fine psychological services. There are a lot of "mental health social workers" out there. Over half of them SUCK. The other half don't. But why play coin-flipping games with something this important? Find a REAL psychologist with "PhD" after his/her name.

In addition, I am going to recommend that you get a referral from your Primary Care doctor to see a PSYCHIATRIST. Here's why I say this.

A really good psychiatrist or neuro-psychiatrist can infer a LOT about the nature of your brain and how it might be different from other folks' brains just be observing what most would see as innocuous behaviors. This can make a BIG difference in effectiveness and even safety of the prescribed meds.

I say this because my wife almost wound up irreversibly fucked up from seeing a GP to get an antidepressant prescription.

When she first got weird, I had no clue what was wrong with her. I had taken her to one of those "mental health social worker" types who had recommended that I take her to the GP to get some antidepressants. Thankfully, she never took them. Over that weekend, things got really bad and I got her in to see one of the top rated neuropsychiatrists in the country. We brought in the previously prescribed pills that she hadn't taken.

The shrink checked her out, looked at the prescription and almost had a coronary right there. I won't go into useless detail but the gist is that he said that because of the unique nature of her brain, if she had taken that script, she would have taken a one-way trip to the psych ward shortly thereafter never to be seen again.

I realize we have some GPs on this board who no doubt consider themselves competent in this realm. And perhaps they are. But, again, it's like flipping a coin. We're talking about your BRAIN here. If I were you, I wouldn't entrust it to the guy who treats your strep throat.

So, executive summary:

Ditch the booze
Get a REAL psychologist with a PhD after his name
Go see a psychiatrist for any needed meds
(And, yeah, read that book Priapus recommended. It's good stuff.)

Finally, one more thing. Psychologists tend to get into ruts, Many have their own favorite approaches and because what they have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Some are more flexible than others. Every one is a little bit different.

It is a psychologist's JOB to establish rapport and trust. You will feel like your therapist is your friend, and as such you will feel some loyalty there.

But here is the thing. We're talking about YOUR wellbeing here and nobody else's. If you find the therapeutic approach isn't working at all after giving it a reasonable amount of time; do not let that established rapport/trust/loyalty keep you from switching.

I'm not going to recommend hobbying or not hobbying because depending on the specifics of your situation and what may underly the depression, it could either help or hurt your condition. Only YOU know the answer to that. But as it may be germane to your situation, you shouldn't withhold that data from professionals entrusted to help you.

Be well, brother hobbyist! There IS hope, and there IS help.

Truth be told Terry, I'm not ashamed of what I wrote and would've shared it with everyone else here.

But I want to respect your privacy, so I sent it email.

I'm in your corner man!

Mike

Only you can get the help you need.  A PM is headed your way.  

Get to a meeting and the doctors.  You will be amazed how wonderful your life can be!

Clean & sober for 6 yrs on the 23rd.

And some reading that got me out of a funk was Nietzsche for fuck's sake. Fucking was intense. made me forget all about my woes.

Yeah, I can hear it now. MP? Reading Nietzsche?

There's a few layers to MP. Just like Lungman has.

Terry, you need to realize this. And embrace it. You're much more than you realize, and the world is a better place because you're in it.

At least I think so...

Lungman, as a lurker I usually just read without much participation in the hobby.  One of the best things that I have found for my depression is........prayer.  Regular and daily.  It works alot better than any meds......there are no physical side effects.  But, it does not work overnight.  It takes awhile to build up in your system.  In essence methinks that it is a form of meditation.....it works.......to a point.  You will still have your ups and downs but it helps you cope with them.

ALSO.......certain foods,as in diet......hugely important.
ALSO.......regular exercise......doesn't have to be body-wrenching.


It would appear that you have some faith )(as you asked for prayers).....use it.

Good Luck,

Bear

difficult and stress compounds things.  Self-medication is common and doesnt help (but believe me i understand)
thats why im out riding horses for awhile

hang in there my friend and i am praying for you!

Hang in there Lungman. It gets better.

You show bravery and intelligence by reaching out here for assistance.

Not only that, but by doing so, you will encourage others who suffer from this or similar afflictions to do the same, thus multiplying the beneficial effect.

I salute you for this.

sorry there Lungman, you come here lay out whats the issue but don't seem to say what you are dong to fix this aside from dinking , which isn't helping

I have compassion for those who suffer, we have all had times in our lives where movin on seems impossible but we have to take the step to do so.

I have not added to this thread for fear of feeding into your pitty party. Alcoholics are very big on throwing their own lil pitty bash. I don't see you doing anything to fix this but cryin about it. I know how this looks, like some heartless bitch kickin someone when they are down...but until you take the steps to fix your own problems you are nothing more than a whining drunk.

Get your ass to a meeting.
get to the Drs.
be proactive in your own life and solution.
stop cryin about it and go get help.

This is NOT the place to vent your woes, I know you were seeking compassion but you need to be seeking sobriety first.

I have no tolerance for someone who cries wolf. Instead of answering every post in this thread you should have made your way to a meeting.
Then again this additude wouldn't fly at a meeting..would it! No one is going to feed into your self pitty there.  Get off this board and go get help. We need to support someone by NOT enabling their negative actions.

Tough love people.

depression is a medical issue and can easily be treated with medication.

they can also test your thyroid to see if maybe that is causing the problem.

unless you are using depression as an excuse to indulge yourself as an alcoholic ???

about 6 years ago, i took celexa because i told my docta i wanted something that wouldnt interfere with my sex drive and it didn't.  i became a happy camper and since i've been accused of "having it all figured out" i will share my 3 keys to happiness ever after.


I do not believe that another person can make you a happy or unhappy, only you can do that and here is how.



1. love thyself - if you dont love yourself, change until you do.. every moment of every day is the beginning of the rest of your life and you can choose at any one of those moments to become the person that you want to be.    If you are miserable then dont be afraid of change because there isn't much that is worse than miserable.  what do you have to lose ?  you will find that when you are able to love the person that you are, you don't need other people to do it for you. It's very liberating.  

try this:  go to a nursing home and ask to see the activities director and tell her that you'd like to play checkers with some old dudes.  i guarentee you that by the time you leave, you'll leave happy because you will know in your heart that you did something good for someone today.

 Instead of looking for people to make you happy, look for ways that you can make other people happy and i can promise you that there is a surprise bonus waiting for you when you do.

2. forgive thyself --
you arent going to change the past and feeling guilty or ashamed of past mistakes is useless as far as i can tell so be grateful for your past mistakes because they taught you valuable lessons that will help you to become a better person in the future.   The odds are that you are not the biggest fuckup on the planet and even if you fuck things up with a million people, you still got millions left to choose from so get the f*ck over it already.  

3.  trust thyself -
by definition, your instincts cannot be wrong so learn to listen to them.    sometimes we think too much and it causes us to talk ourselves out of listening to our instincts.  stop thinking about things so much and just go do them or you will speculate and worry your life away.  The only thing in life that is truly irreplaceable are the minutes that are passing by.  I dont care how much money you have or how much you have carefully planned everything or how good you have followed all the rules, you cannot get even one of those minutes back once it is gone. why waste them on being miserable ?



i'm not necessarily saying i'm right but i am a very happy person so logic dictates that would make me either right and happy or wrong and crazy.  and i'll take either one of those over miserable any day of the week.





now if that dont make you happy, then i suggest you go f*ck thyself. mebbe.

already exercised all the great advice given to you here. But, then I remembered that that's one of the greatest obstacles one has when suffering from depression. They can't imagine anything positive, just negative. You may not be able to imagine that anything will help, even the advice given, which of course you new already. You may only be able to imagine that it won't help, that people close to you will think poorly of you, getting help will take more time and more that you have available, etc., etc., etc.

So, your task, is to not be ruled by your negative imagination, but rather, as the NIKE logo says: "Just Do It."

Hope you do!

I hope you get better! Take 1 day at a time.