Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

[Meteor858]

ringzing... you cant be too sure everyone has different reasons for acting the way they do so i guess its kinda hard to tell with Kathy
It seems like a strange situation and that may be true but who knows?

[aracelibercelle]

Hell yes she's just trying to get special treatment. It's the classic, "I'm hurt so I require special accomodations otherwise I'll never get far in life and die." You can tell when she states, "This is how you treat a depressed person?" as a rebuttal for no one wanting her as a leader. She's using that so everyone will feel high and mighty sad for her and let her soak up the glory. I take it that she thinks her "condition" makes her unique, even though thousands of people, especially teenagers, suffer depression. She doesn't realize...no one cares. At least not unless they're particularly close to her. But going up to some new kid and flaunting her "happy pills" in his face was most likely a hopeless attempt at getting him to notice her--her "uniqueness." Since he didn't really know her, and that was his first impression...he probably just thought she was eff'd and unstable. Or just a dayum liar.

I go with just a dayum liar.

[Rediahs]

In general, adolescents experience depression in a much different way than adults.

A teenager with depression may perk up noticably on social occasions, do normal teenager things, like at parties they will be very happy, get drunk, have sex, etc... the normal stupid and non-depressed types of things teenagers do. Teenagers with depression often suffer as two people; they are excitable and peppy around people, but they feel the real effects of their depression when they are alone, or sometimes when they are with family.

Speaking in generalities, if an adult has depression, nothing can shake him out of it. But if an adolescent has depression, he will often seem completely normal. Teenagers are more easily influenced by their environment and/or social surroundings. You put an adult with a bunch of happy adults and they won't feel keen to be accepted as normal, but a teenager will want to do anything to be seen as normal.

Some young people do break that rule though. As you said, you know three other people with depression who act more somber. I would say these types of teenagers are generally the exception and not the norm. They are probably more mature than your "proud to be depressed" friend is.

If she is recieving medication, I would believe that she is depressed.

Teens will often make light of the situation or reverse it. They just want to fit in.

I know this crap because I did a huge research paper on depression in teenagers earlier this year. If anyone would like to see it I'd be happy to share it with them. IIRC it has 10-20 sources and is 10-20 pages long with 4 or 5 main topics of study.

[QreepyBORIS]

Christie is overqualified.

Jesus. Quit waving proof at us.

[TehWhack]

"Kathy" is not seeking attention, she is suffering from depression. The thing about this kind of depression though is that it is pent up through aggression of every day life. This will vary in different invironments which can make here have different personalities at school and at home due to the fact that she has much less anger at school (or home). Regardless, this person may seem to be "faking it", but that's only because she's more confident at school. She is slightly suicidal, but its nothing to be worried about either.

Depression is truely a vague topic.

[Eyoshi]

A vague topic, indeed. I am thinking that "Kathy" was using depression as an excuse because while one could have different moods varying from place to place, I think if one were to be truely depressed, that person would feel depressed at any place. Also, while a person might be cheerful even when depressed, I doubt the person would be boastful about it, nor use it as a tool for getting people to do things his/her way, as this would count as being manipulative, not depressed.

[emptiness]

i blame depression for my lack of motivation and enthusiasm at work....or maybe i just hate work so much

[Vamps]

Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

Um... If she takes medicine... why is she depressed? Isn't that supposed to like... make her happy? Like the commercial with the little white blob guy, and he's all sad. Then when it introduces the medicine, and shows how it works, he gets all happy and bouncy and chases a butterfly(?). Depression is a state of mind. These people who think they're depressed just need something to open their eyes and show them how to be happy, and I'm not talking about medication. That said, there are plenty of dumb kids who fake being depressed for the stupidest reason of all: attention. This sounds like 'Kathy'. They get people to see they're depressed or even suicidal so they will get attention. And they're too blind to see it's all fake. They don't like the depressed kid, they're worried about her killing herself or trying to cheer her up. I don't know about your status with Kathy, but I've never seen a fake-depressed kid with real friends (other than kids doing the same thing). Like I said, state of mind.

I am sooooo sick of hearing that depression is a state of mind! If you dont know anything about depression....its probably wise to do some research before you post about it! Depression CAN be a state of mind...but not usually! Eg. Some people are born with depression...it can be a genetic thing....

Mytham, I'm not positive on this (because I don't know firsthand), but I've heard that anti-depressants really screw with the body.

It doesn't just make people on them perfectly happy, it messes with other stuff as well. That's why some people don't want to use anti-depressants.

Yes...anti-depressants...prozac in particular...DO screw with the body...well...some peoples bodys. I was on prozac for 4 years...the last 2 of those 4 years...i was on 2 a day....ended up feeling so monotonously sick...and so constantly drowsy that i took myself off them...the way your not supposed to...without slowly taking my doasge down...and once all those chemicals where out of my system....i started actually being able to get up for school in the morning! I DO NOT RECCOMEND THAT ANYONE DOES THIS!!!

As for this "Kathy"....she may actually have depression....and this may be her cry for help...but on the other hand...she may have some other disorder....again...a cry for help...or she may have problems at home and this is a cry for attention because she may not get the attention she wants/needs at home.

[senate7377]

Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

It's an excuse for a TON of students.

The good rule of thumb is to see if they show it off. That means they're just attention-grabbing mongrels.

I know a friend of mine claims he is under depression but he's completely lying about it. He has the pills and everything too.

~Squeek

BINGO!

However, its an excuse for EVERYONE. Even in the "real world" people calim depression to varying degrees (manic and otherwise), anxiety, ADD, ADHD, PTSS (Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome - was called Shell Shock for a bit)pick something.

Everyone has bouts of depression, this that make us upset, but by no means is that true depression. It comes from the social need to place labels for understanding and catagorization. I guess is that the girl could be upset over something going on in her life, but depression - TRUE depression is something that is actually very rare. It amazing how 50 years ago... people suffered with the same symptoms ans socially we were fine. Today, there are more mental "illnesses" than people onthe planet...and we have a hard time coping. BAH pussy modern society - wah wah wah.... then again it goes back to personal acceptance of surroundings and ongoings...

[Vamps]

RE: Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

I'd like to make a note that "true" depression is not "very rare"....as a matter of fact...it's not rare at all! I dislike the people that try and tell people that they are depressed....when in fact they are simply feeling really down. If they were depressed...they would have lost the will to live...and not just because they got some stupid mark in they're maths test or they lost their boy friend! But just because there are alot of people that cry depression like the boy cried wolf....doesnt mean that "true" depression is rare.

[senate7377]

RE: Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

I'd like to make a note that "true" depression is not "very rare"....as a matter of fact...it's not rare at all! I dislike the people that try and tell people that they are depressed....when in fact they are simply feeling really down.

But just because there are alot of people that cry depression like the boy cried wolf....doesnt mean that "true" depression is rare.

Your statement conflics with itself here. The more of something fake you add in a mix, the less of the real element becomes. THis means that true depression, based upon your own statement, is rare. If you buy juice at a store and it says 10% real juice, then the amount of real juice in comparison is pretty damn rare. Same thing here.

While yes, you can be born with depression, its RARELY genetic, more commonly a chemical imbalance, and more common still to be a state of mind. States of mind do not need medicine just therepy and support. Chemical imbalances do, and genetics... well thats therepy and medicine. Lots of people take medicine for depression even if its a state of mind simply because of conditioning. We feel that we cant have things fixed without pills... pills solve everything. They don't but its what we think. Prozac is a pretty common Rx. Effexor and Lithium are common now as well. Lithuium more so today than 10 years ago. IS this to say that the number of people who are depressed have also increased. More than likely no. Not at all. I wonder about your prozac prescrition. Did you also have anxiety? Prozac has been pretty much ruled out as an anti-depressant becuase of the adverse efftecs it has on your body...mainly the increased risk in suicide when changing doeses or coming off of it completely. THis is expected wheen you introduce a chemical to the brain, then alter that. Its a basic chemical dependancy

I dont doubt there are people who do suffer from depression, and I agree that its an overused term, much like ADD and ADHD. It has become an convienant excuse for kids to run around and not take responsibility for their actions. I'm sure kids act out in frear, anger, or whatever...but its not because they are depressed. Its something completely different and neither the child nor the parent wants to work through what it is.

As a person who as a child acted out a lot, my mother would sit me down every time and ask "why?". I HATED tthe two hour lectures and the grill sessions that were nothing more than "WHY?". I couldnt begin to tell you the reasons for half of the stuff I did. However, in hindsight, I realized that the questions being asked might not have been the right questions coupled with my unwillingness to talk abotu how I felt. Had my mother said "What were you feeling when you did that?" I may have responded with an answer that, togehter we could have worked through to find the real answer. Instead they took me t o a shrink, who suggested I be admitted to an institue and that I had ADD with bouts of dpression. How generic can you get?. I wasnt upset at anything really, I never honestly contemplated suicied, nor did I dwell on thoughts that brought about sadness and anxiety. I didnt and havent ever thought I suffered from depression. I was surrounded by close to 100 other kids who were there because of supposedly the same thing. Like me, most of them didnt appear to really be depressed and the medication we were all on was for ADD (at the time it was imipremene, but its given to insomniacs now. Aderol and other Rx turned rec. drugs are given out now), so we werent really beiong "treatd" for depression... why then was it a diagnosis? My guess is becaue its a catch all. THe doctor cant really pin point it, so they diagnose you with something generic and treat the symptoms instead of the illness. Its not the persons fault that they believe themselves to be depressed when the diagnosis is handed out like candy.

SO, yes - true depression is rare, but only becaue the label is handed out freely. I think that if someone is going to claim that they are depressed, they should at least look it up and understand what it is and recognize that they may only have 1 of the 5 major symptoms and 3 of the 10 minor ones. Someone cant pay attention to something for a few minutes and suddenly they have ADD... depression isnt much different in that aspect.

You guys can sit and tell me that you have this and that or feel this way or whatever, but... if you think you're life sucks now... leave highschool and dont have mom and dad to fall back on. THose of you who think you already DONT have mom and dad to fall back on, you do, but you choose not to. Im almost certain that if you really really needed it - your parents would be right there for you... however, moving away nad living on your own - this will not happen, especially when they pass on. How will you cope then? Lots of the kids that claim depression and other illness based upon 2 or three minor things need to really wake up and realize - shit aint that bad after all. Sure, there is someone whos got it better - but theres someone whos got it worse too...

in looking up anti-depressants I stubled upon this and read it - its a pretty interesting...

http://www.socialaudit.org.uk/

this one I've known abot since one of my exs was on Prozac AND Lithium...hey I didnt prescribe it, her shrink did...

http://www.prozactruth.com/

So you'll see that a lot of social arguments for the commonplace of depression are indeed, false or at least not completely accurate. Lots of stuff goes on int he psych drug world... its a conspiracy for money is all it is... so sit there and be "depressed" - its making someone rich[/url]


Oh, and for the ones that want to stick to "well my doctor said.... and he knows more than you do on this issue..." Yes, he does and hes a doctor - listen to your doctor, but realize that paychology is more theory, label making, and educated guesses than hard solid evidence.

[Vamps]

RE: Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

I guess i did make a pretty stupid mistake there didnt i? Well..im only human.....
Just to...i dont know...blab on about nothing i guess...you mentioned at the end there about "my doctor sed so im sticking to it"....im just letting you know...that after watching my grandma and my mum since i was old enough to understand what was going on around me....and from being told by the many different doctors and whatever that i've been to...ive come to the conclusion that im one of the "lucky"*sarcasm* few......
But i do agree that prozac does form a chemical dependance...one of my friends decided to take herself off prozac the same way i did...and she had no real need to be on it anyways....and she went through some pretty crappy...what im going to call...withdrawal symptoms...
I mentioned a book in a post in another thread...and i'll mention it again in here....Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzle (sp?)...it's an autobiography of Elizabeth and her depression....they turned it into a movie...and im not sure how popular either of them are in America...but not many people know of them in Australia....but i swear by that book....she does an excelent job of putting what she was thinking and feeling into writing....a gift only the greatest writers posess. I reccomend you read it if you havent already.

[senate7377]

RE: Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

vamps - its ok man, its pretty easy to make a condradictory statement when you read about something and you just type as you think. It happens. I do it too.. I'll check that book out - I read one about het FDA and the conspiracies they had in teh past ot make a quick buck on chemical dependancies and how the doctors in some cases are told to only prescribe a certain drug, even though its usually not the right one. In turn the Drs would get a percentage of the prescriptions given... Its pretty sad really. It caused me to rethink the trust in the medical field, and now I dont really even go to teh Dr aside from a physical or the dentist. They prescribe me pills for hte flu or something... unless its amoxacillin - I'm not really down with it. I've always kind of felt that it weaken the immune system over time anyway and creates a inability to compe with certain aspects of stuff...

Prozac withdrawl is not a pretty thing... Lithium is REAL bad... like I said my EX was on lithium and just one day stopped... that was a big bag of insane coated in crazy...

However, back on topic...

Yeha, its always beneficial that if your doctor says you have a mental ilness, you read not only what pamphlets he hands you ablout it, but also a bit or personal research so that you and the doctor can maybe figure something more out... I'll check that book out though, thanks

[Vamps]

RE: Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

Hey Senate....im a chick XD....i guess we are all human :P:P
Yea...i agree...prozac withdrawals aint bad compared to alot of other...much heavier drugs....but for some1 who's not used to any form of drug in their body....it isnt a pretty sight....
Im with you on going to the doctors....i avoid them at all costs....but as im 16...that can be a bit hard sometimes...mum kinda likes me to go when im sick XD lol.
trying not to sound too young and stupid....but whats the FDA (if its something i already knew...i will not be happy with myself:P:P:P...its 3.30 am!!!)....that sounds like an interesting read though....

[Rediahs]

RE: Re: RE: Depression becoming an EXCUSE?

Withdrawing from anti-depressants accounts for many, many suicides. Basically, withdrawing from Prozac or something similar is a risk to your life. Suicides while on the medication are rare, but suicides while withdrawing are all too common.

Most suicides and attempts "caused" by Prozac were from not taking the medication correctly.

Basically, Prozac is GOOD for people whom it works on, and who do not suffer debilitating side-effects from the drug, and who have somebody to make sure, very intently, that they take their medication as prescribed. It is VERY GOOD and VERY SAFE when taken in this manner. It PREVENTS suicide, doens't cause it.

Prozac is BAD for people who suffer bad side effects that lower their quality of life, people who it appears not to affect/help, or people who have trouble taking all their medication or who stop taking it. VERY BAD. These are the people at risk for suicide while ON the medication.

So as you can see... Prozac works for some, but not all. It's a godsend for some. But withdrawl or non-effectiveness can "cause" suicide in others. It's not the Prozac doing it...