Hey Pandas, How Did You Get Over Depression? (Closed)

How I got over my... ?

I will let you know as soon as that happens.

I have chronic mild depression and reoccurring major depression, and I'm an alcoholic.
I got into therapy. I got clean/sober. Started taking antidepressants as prescribed. Developed a spiritual life. Continued to work on myself, confront the things that caused me problems, seek ways to improve.

There is no quick fix, but it can get better. I still have depression, but I am not depressed. I'm living my best life and I expect it to keep getting better.

I didn't. I learned to accept that, unfortunately, it is part of me and I can only learn to live with it. I recognise the signs and prepare myself to be emotionally assaulted by it's ugly presence. For me, the first sign is complete loss of appetite followed by irritability by everyone and everything around me. I plucked up the courage to call a meeting with my manager to lay bare all the facts about my depression and anxiety and in doing this I no longer have the pressure of having to force a smile and pretend everything is okay at work when it isn't. So whenever I'm entering a particularly dark phase then I am allowed to call off work for however long it takes me to feel more stable. I volunteered my medical information to my boss and that way it's been noted on my file so I don't have to explain or repeat myself when I call off sick. I have such a supportive workplace. I also have a very supportive partner who understands that I'm not in control of my depression. When I was single I did used to worry that nobody would want me as I'm damaged goods and complicated at times. But being in a relationship with someone for 8 years means they know me inside out and know what to expect. I've found distracting myself with websites such as this (not to sound too soppy but thank you Bored Panda) and keeping myself to myself by sleeping on the couch allows me to get through my depressive episodes faster. Unlike a lot of people I really don't find talking helps so I enjoy peace and quiet, although music sometimes helps. For all the partners of depressed people out there- sometimes you don't have to say or do anything to show your support, all you have to do is be there. Something as small and insignificant as gently rubbing your partners back is enough to make them feel loved and supported. Stay safe everyone ❤

I have been in a major depression for years. I have two answers:

1. You wouldn’t believe how good it feels to own it. I decided I was too depressed to get through on my own and knew I was on the brink then decided to tell my close friends. Bottling it up was actually the absolute wrong thing for me to do. The weight I’d been feeling was gone, and now I feel protected by people who love me for all of what I am.

2. I say to people I talk with “I just need you to hear, let me feel heard, no need to figure out how fix it for me. Just give me your compassion for awhile.

First off, there is a temporary depression that comes with say, losing a job, a loved one, anything that can bum you out for a few days. These are usually passing. You can "get over these" just by the passage of time, most of the time.
When you're talking clinical depression, there is no "getting over" it. Medication and treatment can help alleviate the symptoms, but you cannot be "cured". If you are severely hindered by your depression in your daily life, its time to seek professional help (if not before).

You don’t get over depression, you get through it. With medication, family, friends, and support though therapy.

Well, I have not quite gotten over it, but I have certainly improved, and I'm proud of myself and thankful to my family and the doctors. I've come from sobbing every night, being a bit violent, and suicidal to taking medicine, and learning to cope with my depression and anxiety.

I find small things I enjoy and tell myself "This is something worth living for"

Honestly, by letting myself be depressed. By thinking of it the same way you'd think of a cold. By making sure to know my signs, acknowledge when I'm depressed, and following my biggest rule - never analyze my life or make big decisions when depressed (because it's like trying to get an accurate view of the world while wearing dark sunglasses.) By catching negative self talk and talking back. ("God, I'm such an idiot. Hey, you can't call me an idiot!" "Why can't I do this hard thing? What the hell is wrong with me? Haha, damn! I really AM depressed. Time for a Coke and some murder shows! I can do that hard thing later, no big.")

Now, I still get depressed, but not as deep or for as long. Because I no longer get depressed about being depressed.

Art and regular exercise (not much of it, as I also have ME and chronic pain) help me a lot, but I need to be on antidepressants to get to the point where I can motivate myself to do them.
If you have depression, ask your doctor about medication. It's not weakness, or some sort of moral failure. Your body isn't producing enough neurotransmitters, and medication can help with that.

I manage my depression or it manages me. Exercise, positive activities, medication therapy, my dog, my friends and family are all part of the process and it can be exhausting, so I am occasionally overwhelmed and have to re-evaluate the process and adjust.

In my case you don't, 35 years and counting. SSRI's help, but they just mask the depression; depression manifests itself at any time, regardless of what pill you're swallowing.

I find it as like a wave, and I honestly just sleep until it's over.

I bettered myself. I went back to school got an Engineering Degree and a great Job. At the same time I got into running. Let me tell you the runner's high is real. Tuns of endorphins and adrenaline.

Before you are diagnosed with depression, anxiety or low self-esteem make sure you're not just surrounded by arseholes...

Thanks, Bored Panda, for posting these!
I manage my mild depression by looking for fun stuff to read on Bored Panda.

Pills.

I’ll have to take them for the rest of my life. As long as they keep working, I’m totally fine with that.

Doing one small thing at a time to take control of my life back. I started with medication that allowed me to exercise.

I haven't. My younger brother died 6 years ago and my dad 3 years ago. Loosing my brother, who was 37 at the time, was the single worst thing to ever happen and plunged me into the deepest darkest place I have ever been to. I have never climbed back to the surface light.

My brother and my dad were more than father and son to each other too. Best friends and it hurt my dad deeply. My dad and I spent more time together after my brother passed away - I live in a different town, roughly an hours drive away. My dad would come up each Saturday and we would go bowling together - Crown Green Bowling - He joined the club I was a member of. Many good times.

He was supposed to be coming up to the end of season awards bash, an excuse to go and get drunk with your mates really, hotel booked and everything. He rand me and said he was going to come but not stay he'd drive up and head back the same night. He didn't sound right on the phone and I called him back, I just got lots of heavy, laboured breathing.

I knew he wasn't right so I drove down to see him, got his spare keys from mums house (they had split many years ago but remained friends - she still did his washing!) and went to his. I found him crashed out on the floor in the dark. He'd hit his head on the ceramic fireplace and wasn't in a good way at all.

Rang 999 and got an ambulance out. Took into the local hospital for some tests, he was there a few weeks before being transferred to a specialist unit in Manchester.

He was there several weeks, I was there almost everyday. He was showing progress but suffered multiple heart attacks and passed in his sleep.

It was hard to loose him, but strangely, didn't hit me as hard as loosing my brother. I don't know why and I feel bad for it not hurting as much. I don't think that I'll ever recover from loosing these two, it's a little easier everyday but it is still very dark.

I remember being scared all the time of my parents dying or something bad happening to me or my family, and my parents just told me to try harder and I didnt want to tell them how i felt because I felt like I was a burden to them, but when i started to talk about how i felt i started to get better, every time another wave of sadness came, they were there for me. For everyone out there who is having a bad time just keep going, even when you feel like you are at your worst and that its never going to get better just keep going. I'm only twelve, I have a hole life ahead of me, so for everyone reading this please just remember your loved ones, thats my advice.