is depression an illness or a state of mind?

depression - is this situation familiar to you?
@liranlgo (5752)
Israel
February 27, 2007 9:01am CST
years i thaught my depresion was a state of mind till i want to the doctor and he told me it is an illness and there is a cure what do you think depression is an illness or a state of mind? did you or one close to you has it? what are you or what are they doing to overcome it? i will thank you for the solutions i have someone close in the family that wont go to a doctor he says it is all a state of mind what would you do in this problematic case?
13 people like this
70 responses
@itssang (11)
• India
27 Feb 07
according to me...it depends upon the things upon which u get depressed...as to whether u can come out of it or stay in the same condition..desire is the formost cause of depression.wen u desire for something and wen u dont get it u fall into a depressed state...it can overcome only wen d situations under which a person became depressed is known.....if d depression is due to love failure or something lik that...he/she may may need company some one to care for..if the depression is coz of some failure in exams den...he may someone to cheer him up.giv him confidence.etc.so as i said it depends ....!!
2 people like this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
so you claim depression is a state of mind?..
1 person likes this
• India
28 Feb 07
ya definetely....its a state of mind....and not illness....illness is something that has to be cured by others also....but depression as a state of mind can be cured either by urself out ur own decision or by the others....
@vivekk20 (185)
• India
27 Feb 07
because depression now can be explained by scientific basis. all the psychiatric illnesses are stte of mind but every state of mind is not psychiatric ilnesses. i have treated many of them with anti depressant and they are doing well. merely someones closeness is not beneficial. everytime depression is not preceeded by sad events hence can not be related everytime with depression. you can understand it as if somebody developed fever after having fight with his brother ,this does not mean that the conflict is the cause of fever. this is same with psychiatric illness too.
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
vivekk thank you very much and i do feel that me being there for my family member is not beneficial..thank you for letting me understand this now i only have to figure outwhat to do to help with this situation because he wont go to a doctor to get medication or any other kind of treatment
1 person likes this
@ZowieR (940)
• Canada
27 Feb 07
I am a person who is depressed, I too wont go to a doctor. I find it very hard to explain what makes me upset when I'm not in the depression. but when im in it. I dont want to go any where or do anything. I get up for my son take care of his needs feed play with him, but i wont even brush my hair. I want to go out and take baby lots of places, but I get overwhlemed, and feel, anxiety. Like each case is different, what needs to be done is a full mental AND physicall check to find the problem. But who wants to be picked aparted at their weakest. Its almost like when a cop has to ask a rape victom over and over what happened, its all just worse than uncomfortable.
2 people like this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
zowier thank you for sharing with me this. this is the exact problem with my family member and i really do not know what to do in order to help
1 person likes this
@maudlin (125)
• India
27 Feb 07
Depression is a state of mind that causes a serious illness. Many things can trigger debilitating depression. Feelings of depression are caused by a chemical change that affects how the brain functions.The brain cells are responsible for our emotional state. Depression happens when these cell messages aren't delivered correctly between brain cells, disrupting communication. There are many forms of treatment that can help you cope with depression, including medications that can strengthen weak signals by raising the levels of certain neurotransmitters, or by improving the neurons' ability to process signals. This ensures that the brain's vital messages are delivered -loud and clear.
2 people like this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
thank you maudlin for explaining about the depression illness
1 person likes this
@izmailov (67)
• Indonesia
27 Feb 07
nope i wanna be best soccer player like samuel etoo
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@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
?
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Feb 07
Feelings of sadness or a case of "the blues" may only be a state of mind, but these are temporary feelings. It sounds like your friend is truly depressed, though, which is an illness. I've suffered from it myself and have dealt with it with medication and therapy. Both have helped, but the medication helped me the most. I also take supplements that can be bought at Target or anywhere--I take 5-HTP, which also really helps me. Might he at least consider something like that? I would still keep talking to him about going to a doctor. Or you could do as one of your other responders suggested. If he really thinks it's just a state of mind, he should be able to come up with some things that might help change it, and maybe you could get him to agree to do at least some of those things. If he truly cannot get out of bed, though, he should probably be hospitalized, but unless he is a danger to himself or others, he would need to agree to that.
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
sappho thank you for your response which delt specificly with my family member i will try buying him the supplements maybe it will open a way to start and dealing with the problem..thank you:)
1 person likes this
@tamanash (950)
• India
27 Feb 07
i think depression is an illnes but being tense is a state of mind.depression is a pecular illnes where you cant see any symptoms but stll the patient is more ill than anybody else because the patients mind is not working properly.the problem of depression can be solved either by doctor through councelling or just by medicine.the problem of depression should be taken care of seriously as it can lead to many more types of diseases.
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
thank you for the response but i have to disagree with you about saying "can't see any sympotoms" usually a person that is ill with depression has troubles getting out of bed, eating, sleeping and many more things but in the second part of your response i will take the advice about some kind of a treatmrnt. thank you:)
1 person likes this
27 Feb 07
My sister-in-law was diagnosed as chronically depressed a few years ago. It is classed as an illness and treated as such with medication and therapy. She is vastly improved and although she still has some wobby moments, she has recovered wonderfully well. I really think your family member should see a doctor as the medical profession have many wonderful ways to treat depression.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
recycle thatnk you for the response i am glad to hear that your sister in law is recovering well te problem with my family member is that i can't convince him to go to a doctor..what can i do about that?
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
28 Feb 07
My father was depressed all his life. Back then there was no real treatment so it was not discussed much. I have had episodes of depression myself. I think most of mine is a result of things that happen or things that I have no control over that upset me. When you think there is no way out of a situation that is sometimes when you feel lost. I have learned that some people have a chemical imbalance in the brain and medication helps. Many times, for me, I have to fight myself to maintain a positive attitude. Doctors are learning more and more about brain function. It's not always a state of mind. But I think it can be treated with either medication or life style improvement. Positive energy from those around us can help.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
28 Feb 07
i too am trying to believe that positive energy from those around us is helpful..thank you very much for the sharing and the advice and for all the others that i had not a chance to respond to their response i apoligize my computer was down for 24 hours due to a virus..
@gotbot (46)
• United States
27 Feb 07
It's not very cut and dry. Depression comes in many forms and it still isn't fully understood by the medical community. I have read that it can be caused from a chemical imbalance in the brain, often with an issue in serotonin levels. But it's not always a chemical issue, but rather one of emotional anguish or spiritual disconnection. Personally, I definintely have a chemical issue and I'm on medication that helps me. But I also have to do the footwork. Exercise, diet and my spiritual fitness all play a role.
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
thank you for your response gotbot it's iteresting hearing what you have to say from a point of aview of a peson that deals with depression in his life i always thaught that you can overcome the illness by doing the physical exercise which balances the serotonin levels. maybe it depends by what level of depression a person has do you think physical exercise can take a place instead of the medication or do you recommend doing them both if you have a severe depression i myself always start with the natural way and if it does not help i try taking the person to a doctor what do you think?
1 person likes this
@cobradene (1171)
• India
28 Feb 07
What is illness? I guess illness can also be called as a state of mind. And if the illness is psycho-somatic, obviously the illness is a state of mind. So depression is an illness caused due to the state of mind. So, how to come out of it? Hmm...we have to be really strong and believe in ourselves. We have to believe that nothing can shake our happiness. I was in big time depression for a few weeks. All I did one day was just sit down and introspect myself and find out the reason of depression. So when I got to know the reason of my depression, all I did was detach my mind from the object of depression and just meditate ...meditate and meditate. And I found myself transformed into a new person the next day who didn't know what sorrow was, who didn't believe in what he was the previous night. He found that the joy he was seeking for was right within him. Inside his heart.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
28 Feb 07
cobradene thank you for the ideas but i do not really think the illeness of depression is a state of mind it is wonderful if a person can "pull" himself out of it by postive thinking and actions but what if he can not do that? what if he is too much sick?
@juoanna (362)
• Portugal
27 Feb 07
In my opinion is a state of mind that can lead to a illness :)
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
don't you believe it can be an illness that can not be controlled by the mind as a result of chemical balance problem in the brain?
@tinam13 (839)
• United States
28 Feb 07
i think its a state of mind, but ppl actually do suffer from it. im not saying its not real, but a lot of people take advantage of health problems and say they're ill just to have ppl feel sorry for them and others really do have something wrong with them and dont talk about it.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
1 Mar 07
o.k tinam but don't you think that people that are "just" tellin' others that they are ill when they are not are troubled people..i do not think that many people would do such a thing..
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
21 Oct 10
I use to manage depression, listening musiq, playing violen and i like chocolates, and i feel i get refreshed after having my chocolates. And best remedy is Meditation, try breathing exercise, it will help you balance and handle depression.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
5 Nov 10
will do that thank you besthope:)
• Philippines
28 Feb 07
depression is a state of mind , you think too much, because of so many problems you are with,exmaples:,marriage problems,frustrations, financial problems and etc. it is a result of deep thinking, emotional problems and all. you have to be strong to stay away from depression, and positive thinking is a key also. there are medicine to lessen it, but not to cure it.
@AndiCat (325)
• United States
28 Feb 07
I must respectfully disagree here - clinical depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a serious imbalance that does not respond to "willing oneself" to be strong.
@miryam (6505)
• Italy
27 Feb 07
It is an illness , I there am passat for 6 months was not eating, either was sleeping or was crying ... .... They have cured me with antidepressants. . am now well.
1 person likes this
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
i am glad to here that miryam:)
@lovein (345)
• India
28 Feb 07
If your mind always goes to past or future. You should focus on present. If it is automatic, take some medicine to stop headache. for immediate recovery. Thanks
@lovein (345)
• India
28 Feb 07
If your find always think past or future It is depression. It is not illness. If your feelings are not due to this. Then it is illness. Thanks lovein
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
27 Feb 07
There is a difference between being depressed and suffer from depression. Being depressed is a state of mind, it is usually brought on by something bad happening in your life, and it is usually temporary. It can be dealt with by dealing with and getting over the bad thing that happened to start it. Talking out your problems and time can ususally help. Suffering from depression is a disease. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain and usually you don't really know what caused it. Everything just seems to not work for you, you start to think that you are worthless, you lose energy, you push people away, you do not think clearly, your logic disappears, and so many other symptoms. True clinical depression has to be dealt with and it is never really cured, it is just leveld out. I do suffer from depression and I tell you what, een those who suffer from it, don't fully understand it. I did go to the doctors, but it took my sister making the call for me, because even though I wanted help I couldn't get myself to make that call. Anyways, the doctors put me on meds which made me worse. I tried 3 different meds before I gave up and decided to try accunpuncture. The accupuncture combined with homeopathic depression rememdy worked wonders. It took about two months for me to get leveled out and now I only need to get a treatment and take the remedy about once every two months. I did also go to therapy and that worked great. It is improtant that you find the right therapist, but once you do, it is great. There is just something refreshing about talking to someone who is completely neutral and is there just to help you. My therapist never tried to fix me, he just let me speak my mind, he asked questions to make me think about what was going on with me, and he let me figure out solutions. He just guided me and it was wonderful. Unfortunately you cannot really help someone if they don't want the help. I suggest you just be there for your friend, don't judge him, and give him kudos for every little thing he does. It is so hard sometimes just to get out of bed, so I learned that I had to be thankful for whatever I accomlihsed no matter how small it seemed, because to me it was huge. If you friend really thinks it is just a state of mind then maybe you could talk to him and help come up with things that might help change his state of mind. It is important to find out if he is depressed or if he is suffering from depression. Being depressed can get better with changing your state of mind, but suffering from depression needs more than just a change of your state of mind. Good luck and just remember to be a good friend.
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
27 Feb 07
thank you very much for your response it has been very interesting to read how you deal with it and i was glad to see the ways you found to deal with that i know that my attitude has a problem with medication and thats why i try to find a natural solution to most of my problems and to others my friend suffers from depression as a deasease he wont do nothing and i am there for him as much as i can but i know i am not very helpful cause he is in a stage that he wont talk and does not have strangth to get out of bed..it is a problem
• United Arab Emirates
28 Feb 07
i believe its a state of mind... well just try come over it or dont think of that problem.... if you keep yourself busy in other stuff it would really help you out ..