Mental illness - self diagnosis possible?

[kincella]

there was a youth group here in Melb last year...they took the young men into care....omega 3 and fish and special attention to their diets...the kids went from living off the streets , drugs and depression...to total change in life...back to school or got jobs....
the emphasis was what they lacked in their diets....mood changing, life changing

 

[alwaysLearning]

To answer the original poster. YES, I do think that self siagnosis is possible in some situations.

Mindfulness meditation is one powerful technique for figuring out what is going on with youself. In mindfulness you can actually hear and see what your thoughts are. If your thoughts are excessively negative or whatever you can find ways to change your thoughts etc.

In worse situations sure, maybe you get a warped sense of reality to such an extent that you don't even know what is going on around you. But those who have some grasp of what is going on can benefit greatfuly from practicing mindfulness.

 

[alwaysLearning]

Knew a bloke

an intelligent happy go lucky sort of bloke

wasnt himself for over a year , knew there was something wrong as in just didnt seem to have the same drive in him anymore . rather lie on the lounge all day , couldnt be bothered doing stuff he loved , ie fishing , mixing it up with his kids etc etc....had no enjoyment left in his life actually

finally he reached out and approached a doctor for help as he had come to the end of his tether and KNEW there was something seriously wrong with his thought processes

the doctor accused said patient as being a "drug seeker " as said fella went about his plea for help with a lil humour....... said doctor made said patient feel 2 inches tall and patient was a proud man not used to being accused of rubbish by strangers......

um the ending to this story is a lil unconventional


anyways ....... said patient lost the plot in doctors surgery as he was wild that he had finally went to seek helpand was denied and accused of something sordid .... um he gave the doctor a shove and a few choice words

the cops were called and he was whisked away .. on being whisked away he explained to the cops why he had done it , he broke down and blubbered all his woes to aresting officers , .,.... the arresting officers organised for a GP to examine said patient while in lockup and was promptly medicated and issued with some form of anti depressant

tis a strange world we live and this said fella is actually considered a respected and highly admired businessman in his field ........

can happen to anyone at anytime ...... he didnt even notice his lack of enjoyment or angst in his everyday thinking until it had gone so far ......

the thing is tho . HE knew there was something wrong with him

So how is he doing now? Is he ok and happier?--Did he recover?

 

[MrBurns]

Depression has nothing to do with personal wealth.

Plenty of poor people are happy, plenty of rich people have depression, imagine what it's like when you cant get happy when you have money ?

I think it depends more on friends and personal relationships, much harder to develop than wealth.

Exercise does help, gets the endorphins going, walk 45 mins every day.

 

[nunthewiser]

So how is he doing now? Is he ok and happier?--Did he recover?

yep actually

he underwent a course of anti depressants for around 8 months/year somethin like that

it altered his whole outlook on life and just gave him the pep to get back out there and rejoin life, after his medication was over he was already back in the swing of things and just continued on enjoying the days regardless if they were good or bad ....

i have known ppl that depression is a recurring problem for them but this dude been right as rain for a few years now and just cruising along a little bit wiser to himself

 

[alwaysLearning]

some here just dont get it do they ?

Depression is a bona fide illness it aint something u get just because ya havin a hard day /week/month/year

ive watched a person VERY close to me have it all , houses , kids , wife , money the whole lot ...... sit there and not have the oomf to get out of his loungeroom for a month , no showers ,sporadic eating , forgot how to actually smile anymore . HE KNEW he had it all , he knew he was fortunate , he knew that he was bloody ill ........he didnt know why nor understand why

its got nothing to do with ones circumstances (which may set the ball in motion but in normal fuctioning thought process , one defeats or overcomes or ignores the negativity) it is a genuine imbalance of ones brain chemicals .

i am no doctor but i know what i have seen and HIS illness was not because he had a bad day.

rather sad actually seeing it BUT seeing him back to his normal self was even better

some ppl dont recover

You know I bet it would shock a lot of people when they eventually realise that once they have everything they 'think' will make them happy, they actually don't end up permenatly blissed out.

Maybe this guy figured that since he had everything he should be happy. Found out that he wasn't. Then he had no idea what to do or get in order to be happy.

But happyness is from within not on the outside.

But as you point it can be an actual problem with the person's brain and chemical imbalances and such. So yeah, if it is like that then proper medication and support may be required.

 

[nunthewiser]

Depression has nothing to do with personal wealth.

Plenty of poor people are happy, plenty of rich people have depression, imagine what it's like when you cant get happy when you have money ?



Exercise does help, gets the endorphins going, walk 45 mins every day.

amen

 

[alwaysLearning]

yep actually

he underwent a course of anti depressants for around 8 months/year somethin like that

it altered his whole outlook on life and just gave him the pep to get back out there and rejoin life, after his medication was over he was already back in the swing of things and just continued on enjoying the days regardless if they were good or bad ....

i have known ppl that depression is a recurring problem for them but this dude been right as rain for a few years now and just cruising along a little bit wiser to himself

Fantastic and glad to hear that he is now ok and happy

Good thing that he had the medication to help him get back on his feet.

 

[kpas]

The flaw in your argument is that it's all relative, and that even the privileged, in their mind, can be worse off than those who may be worse off from the common perspective.

So that's not a flaw, it actually supports my argument.

Maybe I didn't communicate it as well as I could have.

It doesn't matter what has happened to you, how bad things are, how worse things could get, it is highly likely that there is someone who deserves pity more so then yourself. So cheer up and get on with life because ultimately you are only wasting it by being depressed and sorry for yourself.

You would have to be dying from cancer, in a wheelchair with no friends or family before you could say you would be one of the worst off people in the world.

You underestimate the attachment many people will have to their own lives. Far fewer would be willing to trade than you think. Wanting much of what someone else has is not equal to wanting to be them. Many of those 5.5 billion enjoy their life and family, despite not being as well off as you are.

In the end, the most important thing for most people is happiness, and socio-economic status and standard of living do not guarantee that. Have you been to many third world or developing countries? If not, you'd be surprised how happy many of them are.

Many third worlds are happ

It can be suggested that their lack of attachment to material possessions allows them to understand what is important in life, and therefore allows them to be happier than many of us.

Yes I have seen third worlds and yes for the most part people with no material possessions are far happier people in a day to day sense.

That is what I meant about Aussies not knowing how lucky they are.

When people are worried about not getting a payrise or not being able to afford the repayments on their 2nd car or overly lavish house, it shows how well off the country is.

I honestly think as a nation we could take a step back and stop being such wankers on a whole.

 

[nunthewiser]

So that's not a flaw, it actually supports my argument.

Maybe I didn't communicate it as well as I could have.

It doesn't matter what has happened to you, how bad things are, how worse things could get, it is highly likely that there is someone who deserves pity more so then yourself. So cheer up and get on with life because ultimately you are only wasting it by being depressed and sorry for yourself.

You would have to be dying from cancer, in a wheelchair with no friends or family before you could say you would be one of the worst off people in the world.



Yes I have seen third worlds and yes for the most part people with no material possessions are far happier people in a day to day sense.

That is what I meant about Aussies not knowing how lucky they are.

When people are worried about not getting a payrise or not being able to afford the repayments on their 2nd car or overly lavish house, it shows how well off the country is.

I honestly think as a nation we could take a step back and stop being such wankers on a whole.

well after reading your posts on this thread i totally agree , YES you should take a step back darl

you have no idea on the causes or illness of depression

 

[kpas]

some here just dont get it do they ?

Depression is a bona fide illness it aint something u get just because ya havin a hard day /week/month/year

ive watched a person VERY close to me have it all , houses , kids , wife , money the whole lot ...... sit there and not have the oomf to get out of his loungeroom for a month , no showers ,sporadic eating , forgot how to actually smile anymore . HE KNEW he had it all , he knew he was fortunate , he knew that he was bloody ill ........he didnt know why nor understand why

its got nothing to do with ones circumstances (which may set the ball in motion but in normal fuctioning thought process , one defeats or overcomes or ignores the negativity) it is a genuine imbalance of ones brain chemicals .

i am no doctor but i know what i have seen and HIS illness was not because he had a bad day.

rather sad actually seeing it BUT seeing him back to his normal self was even better

some ppl dont recover

I have had depression and I have family friends who have had it for extended periods of time (20+ years).

So I agree it is a chemical imbalance in your brain that can cause it and for that reason some people cannot recover from it.

I still maintain that it is about being mentally strong enough to push past the feeling and to think about other peoples circumstances. When you consider how good some people have (ie, they have their health, the love of a family, a house over their head, a well paying job)... yet they still can't be happy - you can't help but wish they would just consider someone else.

Like I said before, unless you are one of the unluckiest people alive, I see being depressed as one of the most selfish acts possible.

Think positive and start enjoying life because you only get 1 crack at it.

 

[kpas]

You know I bet it would shock a lot of people when they eventually realise that once they have everything they 'think' will make them happy, they actually don't end up permenatly blissed out.

Maybe this guy figured that since he had everything he should be happy. Found out that he wasn't. Then he had no idea what to do or get in order to be happy.

But happyness is from within not on the outside.

But as you point it can be an actual problem with the person's brain and chemical imbalances and such. So yeah, if it is like that then proper medication and support may be required.

Very true.

Can also be a lot to do with your peers. If they are depressive and downers then of course it will rub off on you as well.

Surround yourself with positive happy people and that also will rub off on you.

 

[kpas]

well after reading your posts on this thread i totally agree , YES you should take a step back darl

you have no idea on the causes or illness of depression

Mate if you want to go through life being sorry for yourself, that is your choice. Just don't ruin my day because of it - keep it to yourself.

 

[nunthewiser]

I have had depression

.

u had a bad week ?

TRUE depression is a bonafide illness , just as is cancer/syphallis/herpes etc etc etc

its not just about being happy . in a true "depressed "state one cannot even function .....


just hope your white picket fences continue that way as it is an illness i would wish on no one

 

[nunthewiser]

Mate if you want to go through life being sorry for yourself, that is your choice. Just don't ruin my day because of it - keep it to yourself.

LOL unreal

im fine with myself darl .in fact havin a ball dear .

me ruin your day ?? mmmmmmm sounding a lil sensitive m8 ....please dont dwell on it too long tho champ as it may drag on

 

[kpas]

LOL unreal

im fine with myself darl .in fact havin a ball dear .

me ruin your day ?? mmmmmmm sounding a lil sensitive m8 ....please dont dwell on it too long tho champ as it may drag on

I personally couldn't be happier.

Got nothing worth complaining about, least of all a petty argument on the internet.

Water off a ducks back.

 

[nunthewiser]

I personally couldn't be happier.

Got nothing worth complaining about, least of all a petty argument on the internet.

Water off a ducks back.

cool glad to hear

wasnt actually an argument was merely pointing out you was talking crap about something u obviously knew nothing about

re ducks back ..... thats the way it should be m8

have a good evening

 

[weird]

This is a very good site for common mental illness, from the Sydney St Vincent hospital,

http://www.crufad.com/

good for education, however see a Medical professional.

I think that if you finally decide to do something about it, such as making an appointment to see an understanding and educated person in that matter, even if it leads to a further referral to a specialist, you will fell quite abit better.

Mental illness can be treated, and quite common. Life is too short, a gift, just thinking about whatever happiness you have enjoyed in your life before, knowing that you can enjoy many more of them in the future, and whatever you are feeling right now is not unusual.

 

[Geoff]

As the title says is mental illness self diagnosable and how is treatment these days for mental illness?
This is a serious question which I have no patience for crap.

No self diagnosis necessary - you have an anger management issue

Honestly though, trying to self-diagnose your own psyche is impossible. It's trivially easy to look at a list of symptoms for some mental illness and realise that you have >50% of the signs when in fact there's nothing wrong with you.

 

[Julia]

there was a youth group here in Melb last year...they took the young men into care....omega 3 and fish and special attention to their diets...the kids went from living off the streets , drugs and depression...to total change in life...back to school or got jobs....
the emphasis was what they lacked in their diets....mood changing, life changing

kincella, it might have been that simply for the young men to be cared for and to know someone was working towards better outcomes for them had as much benefit as any dietary changes.
I don't think we can ever exaggerate the importance of feeling included, cared for, and not left in isolation which is how many people feel.

So I agree it is a chemical imbalance in your brain that can cause it and for that reason some people cannot recover from it.

I still maintain that it is about being mentally strong enough to push past the feeling and to think about other peoples circumstances. When you consider how good some people have (ie, they have their health, the love of a family, a house over their head, a well paying job)... yet they still can't be happy - you can't help but wish they would just consider someone else.

Your two statements above are contradictory. First you concede that it can be a biochemical problem and then you effectively criticise people who are not able to "push past the feeling".

Earlier I expressed concern about normal mood changes and ordinary responsive sadness too frequently being pathologised and treated with medication where perhaps a period of grieving would resolve the sadness.
But I also said clinically diagnosed mental illness would require medication.

Like I said before, unless you are one of the unluckiest people alive, I see being depressed as one of the most selfish acts possible.

With respect, this is one of the most insightless remarks I have ever read.
It has nothing to do with being selfish. Go back to your earlier suggestion of biochemical imbalance. This is not mediated by human willpower, so called!

Think positive and start enjoying life because you only get 1 crack at it.

If you seriously think a depressed person (as distinct from someone who is temporarily sad/discontented) can just suddenly say "Whacko, I'm just going to go and snap right out of this crap and start enjoying everything" you simply have no idea of the difference between endogenous and reactive depression.

Very true.

Can also be a lot to do with your peers. If they are depressive and downers then of course it will rub off on you as well.

Surround yourself with positive happy people and that also will rub off on you.

I would probably say to the contrary on this suggestion. If someone is severely depressed, being around happy, bouncy people may only serve to further point up his/her own inability to feel similarly.

Mate if you want to go through life being sorry for yourself, that is your choice. Just don't ruin my day because of it - keep it to yourself.

He wasn't being sorry for himself. Nothing to do with his own feelings.
Maybe read again what he said. It demonstrated an understanding and insight you have yet to reach.

I don't mean to be unreasonably critical, but sometimes it's good to read and absorb the experience of others or if you don't find this possible, then perhaps do as you have suggested above, and keep your insensitivity to yourself.