how do i stop depression?

[david2357]

Ok, I am really tired of always feeling depressed. The depression has persisted for quite some time (2009). I had anxiety issues before that that received medication (starting in 2006 ). I have aspergers which harms my social interaction and was likely the biggest factor in inducing the mood problems. Now the mood issues have harmed my abilities to socialize even farther. I dont get excited, which makes me seem uninterested in talking or rude. It doesnt help that dislike of eye contact , anxiety in social situations , and an already present monotone and difficulty in expressing myself (all from aspergers) are also present. Low self esteem and lack of knowledge of social norms are a bad combo, which ends in me wondering if ill ever get a girlfriend, etc. which leads to more depressed mood.

Please dont tell me to get therapy or medication. First of all, i dont buy into the chemical imbalance theory. I believe your mood responds to things by lowering serotonin and dopamine levels, which in turn cause you to feel depressed, which in turn effect your life in a way that makes your serotonin and dopamine lower. etc. not a natural "chemical imbalance". Antidepressants are not a good option for me. I took an ssri for anxiety (most ssris work for depression and anxiety as both are thought to be similar ) and it had horrible effects. not only that, they take weeks to start working and they take a long time to get off it. my parents wont let me go on another one anyways, so its a moot point. dont say "try another medication" as they all work in pretty much the same way and have pretty similar side effects. The ones that dont work in that particular way (seroquel ,etc) would seriously counteract the ADHD med that im currently on. various talk therapies havent worked either, some have made it worse.

Dont say look at the positives either, in reality thats impossible. one must look at negatives too. I have friends , so dont say to go out and make friends. i just still feel depressed around them. i never really feel better

Also , i go on this site for help. and it seems like everyone in the chat doesnt give a damn. theyd rather stay in chat lobby 1 talking about random totally unimportant stuff, and then when i get "impatient " when they take 5 minutes between each reply (it would be faster to message a random person in the forums) they say im harrassing them or some shit and put me on ignore . which makes me feel even worse.

[Xx.Shes.Unbroken.xX]

Hey there!
I'd would be more than glad to help? So, if you ever need to talk.. I'm always here. Just send me a message, and we'll talk.

[Brandon]

I think the answer is quite simple, but requires a lot of research. I haven't been in the same circumstances, but I know what you're going through if you feel like you don't have any other options. What I have learned through many self-help books is that, ultimately, you are responsible for your own feelings. I'm sure you understand the power of the mind; once you fully understand that power and how to utilize that power, I think you'll be in the right direction to understand how you can battle your depression. To battle your depression, from my experience, is to battle yourself. Spending time with friends is nice, but they won't do much for your happiness if your mind is convinced that you won't get over depression. The only way that you can stop depression is through yourself: no psychiatrist, no friend, and no medication. There has to be a moment in your life where you eventually decide to tackle your depression mentally...to say that today, you are going to make a change in your life. You know what doesn't work, so you have to venture off doing things that you haven't tried yet...and I think that you're putting too much reliance on the outside world. Depression, in my opinion, is an internal struggle. The only way that depression can be dealt with is ultimately you. It took several self-help books for me to realize that, and if you're not convinced at what I'm saying then I would suggest you read Awaken The Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. Even if you don't want to read those kinds of books, at least reading something that can potentially help you will let your mind know that you acknowledge that you're in pain and that you're not willing to suffer much longer. When it comes to depression, every little bit counts. Try new legal and socially acceptable things when it comes to tackling your depression. If the method you are using doesn't work, then try something else. Keep pushing because our bodies experience homeostasis at some point, but you have to endure struggle to get your body to change.

[Xx.Shes.Unbroken.xX]

^^ Agreed! Couldn't have said it better myself, Brandon. :P Cause, well.. I didn't say it.