I think I am depressed as well. before I came to America I was a very jolly person. there were no worries, life seemed wonderful and colourful,but nowadays i feel like a totally different person . i have no enthusiasm, no creativity, no hunger and sometimes no sleep .Sometimes I have identity crisis. I feel like I am losing myself.Is it just a phase in everyone's life or a serious indication of depression?

Dear friends!
this is true , before we come here me imagine lot of thingsBut in fact we got just little . I know lot of guys who are lossing and turing back in our country. Also I do know lot of guys who do not care about there target and only taking relaxes.As for me I am contuniously trying to get my Target But future is not in my hand.
As my advise , people should try to get there oppurnuties only, should not feel lose. advise can give easy , but work is hard.
Delta

Dear depressed!

Life is too short, so I often wonder why we do get depressed and for what? I really see no reason for depression. I have seen some people traumatized through half of their life but I have never seen them melancholic. You have to make your guts beat your depression. It is nothing but little boredom for the spur of moment. If you think that it is noticable, can't you bypass it even with a fake smile? That works. Believe me , it really does.

Say for an instance, you are about to get F in one class. No matter how you study, you do not see any chance of geting more than D. So what? It is not the pause of your life. Try to think light over the matters you do not have control and think deep over those for which you really can make diffrence by puting little effort. You have broken relationship..so what? It is not the end of your life. Think about the time before you had the relationship. Haydays do not suppose to last forever otherwise it won't mean anything. Try to accept tragedy as another tide. It is not that difficult. It depends how you take it. If you get failure, compare with one level down. The bottom line is you have to teach yourself to get the best out of worse. So why worry? Life is all good. Quit thinking about past, do not worry about future, Be freak and happy with skyhigh guts and good morale. You will get there.

if everyone could follow the dale carnegie stuff on positive thinking, no one would be depressed. but the fact is that the carnegie stuff, great that it may be, doesn't apply to all of us.

yes, the best thing to do when your dark phase persists for weeks, or months, is to seek professional help. there's no alternative to that, frankly. good luck.

Beside the other suggestions, also try eating some good quality brown chocolate, if possible the traditionally produced ones in small amount at regular basis. It helps.
People who suffer from depression have an irregular production of phenyethylamine due to which the uptake of tryptophan, an essential amino acid to the brain will be low. On the other hand cacao, which is the major ingredient in chocolate contains some bio-active compounds including phenylethylamine. The consumption of chocolate selectively increases Tryptophan uptake by the brain which in turn induces , 'Feelings of Pleasure'.
People of the western world depend upon chocolate to keep depression at bay.
All the best.

Every school are suppose to have a counseling center. Check in your school, it gotta be there.

Here is one USERGROUP "depression", You can find more discussions on this topic there. I t can be useful to you.

Dear "dubna laageko ghaam",

What an interesting name.

You know, there is this great essay by writer Shanker Lamichanay.
The title of that essay is: "ardha.mudit nayan ra dubna laageko ghaam".
That essay, if anything, is Lamichanay's meditation on life itself, with
little details brought out very vividly.

Still, your use of this name -- the setting sun -- has raised a red flag
in my mind. You have given a "before and after" scenario. You have talked about having no enthusiasm, and so on.

I would take your concerns VERY SERIOUSLY.

If I were you, I'd soon talk to a senior, trustworthy person -- a dean, a professor or even a counselor, or anyone senior who commands your respect and trust,
and see what they recommend in terms of making use of other resources.

Regarding friends, you have to use your own judgment, and that's NOT an easy thing to do at a time like this.

A few friends are good at listening to you without being judgemental about you in any way, and they quietly help you get through this phase.

Others do freak out upon hearing what you are going through, and think of you as a potential trouble for them, and try to distance themselves from you.

And some, showing their true colors, would shamelessly abuse your friendship to use your vulnerability to kick you hard to finally take their own long-suppressed revenge.

Whatever you do, yes, eat chocolates.
Go to the movies.
Don't try to analyze your feelings and thoughts too much.
Don't be harsh on yourself.
Be busy, even if it means hanging out in book-stores, cafes, etc.
Talk to friends who cheer you up.
Visit sajha.com

And know that you are NOT the first one to feel this way, and you will not get stuck feeling this way, and that soon, with efforts on your part, you will be a "udau.na lageko ghaam" (or Rising Sun).

With best wishes,
ashu

Hey ashu,
I think whatever info you provided is going to help a lotta ppl out there. hats off to you!

Hi Ashu

Thanx for shading some light on my condition. I am trying...... but i hate chocolates . Also I love to watch the sunset thats why I named myself "dubna laageko ghaam" .....

Hi DLG,

Re: depression, it helps to think of the human brain in chemical terms.

This is a hugely reductive view, of course; but it helps if we think of the
brain as an organ that controls, regulates most things about our moods
and behaviours. And the way brain contols, regulates all that is through
chemicals produced in the body and brain.

My understanding is that what antidepressants (drugs such as Prozac,
Zoloft, etc) do -- and do stuff like chocolates do in the short-run -- is help
trigger the use of certain chemicals in one's brain, while prohibiting the
use of others.

That said, if your blues persists on and on for more than a week, then I
would urge you to start talking confidentially with people you trust and
start sharing stuff.

Please do NOT bottle these blues inside yourself.
I can sense that bottling everything inside would be easier than bringing them outside, but do take care of yourself.

With best wishes, and knowing that you will take care of yourself to pull yourself out of this.

oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal

dear on the verge of setting sun,
try prozac if your depression persists. st. john's wort is another nature's remedy easily available off the counters at any pharmacist.
by the way, didnt you know that there are plenty of social welfare agencies around you who could refer you to an appropriate counselling entities?

if you still feel down, try tiramisu, cold and with plenty of whipped cream, believe me, it will invigorate your senses!
best wishes,
tiramisu

After consuming tiramisu, if you get a facial flushing, then don't go beyond that. It is the symptom of toxicity due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde(toxic!) produced by your body in response to the alcohal present in tiramisu.
Accumulation of acetaldehyde within your body will not only give you a hangover but also triggers your depression.
Rise but don't set!

Ok, here's my story:

The best thing to do when you are depressed is go see a doc right away. And instead of Prozac be on something else. St. Johns Wort is also helpful in producing happy neurons in your brain cells, but one thing that needs to be taken care of is sleeping disordedr. Use valium or any other sleeping aids available off the counter. If you manage to get Vallium, start with 10 mg, for a week, then get 5 mg for 2-3 weeks untill you get back to your old sleeping habbits. A good nioght's sleep is the must while dealing with depression.


Also share things with friends that you trust the most (TRUST not LOVE, because love/maya thing it doesn't exist).

Do you know some exercise such as yoga, qi gong, martial arts etc.? if you know, then its the time to do those, if you don't know those, then you can pump up the volume, and just dance to release all the tensions in your body.

Another effective medicine, if you are lonely and do not have anyone to share your feelings with:

Just write it down what's bothering you, just keep on writing.. and when you think you are done, just burn, tear the whole thing right away. don't read it..

If you are a smoker, just smoke. Your lungs aren't getting ddamaged if you smoke a couple of more cigarettes, so, smoke as much as you want to because it gives you a false sense of security and peace, and releases dopamine (sp??) in your brain, and that will make you happy.

Drinking also helps, but don't drink heavily if you are bon pills. Prozac and hard liqor isn't a good combination. When you drink, think that its all momentary and once you get your life back on the track, you won't be drinking.

Another thing, find yourself a job. That will keep you busy for atleast 10 hrs a day.

But to be really happy and get everything on track, you need :

Friends, Detertmination (Say these: I will make it big in LIFE, I will MAKE IT BIG in LIFE, I WILL GET WHAT I WANT) and courage. These three= success and happiness forever.

If you do not want to drink, dance, write, doc, then start reading Chicken Soup series that you can get in any book store in the US or read anythying related to your field/interests. You can also sit and watch TV all day.

If you have some $$$ then spend it, go somewhere.. see the US. Its a big country, so don't confine yourself to your room (but only if you can). Go to Grand Canyon, its not that expensive, go to Zion, Yoshimete (sp??), SF, NYC.. where there's lots of things happening.. If you don't have anyone to gob with you, just go alone (remember this nepali saying: jiu da ko malami) so, when yoiu know when you have to spend your life alone, don't hesitate to do things alone. It will just boost your confidence.

and live your life. I know its the hardest thing to do right now, but you will eventually realize that the key to happiness lies in you.. and that the world that we live in is nothing but a mirage..jagatam mithyam.

OK, this is all based on my experience. I hope it all helps..

And hey, this I remember from NBCs 20/20 (or is it ABC's??)

If you are angry/ depressed/hurt by somebody's actioon, then you know what you can do.. just forgive that person.. half of yiour anger, depression goes away.

I hope all this helps.

OK depressed manhe ko kura ddepressed manche le nai bujhcha..I was depressed. I did not get into grad schools of my choice, and so many things happened to me and i shared this with a friend who was in the same situatiion like me when i was graduating (2 yrs ago).. he is now doing his PhD on Clinical Pshyc. *(sp??), so he was the best person to rely on for help. He did offer me good tips.. and hoping that it will help you guys.. here's his email that helped me a lot in dealing with my problems...if you have old college freinds, then be in touch with them too.. if you don't know their email adds, just send an email to your alumni office, they can provide you with the email adds.. what else..just keep yourself busy...

Hey Trai,

I am sorry that you are going through what you are right now, because I am sure it must feel like the whole world has turned its back on you. I went through pretty much the same thing with ......, yes, cos she got into grad school whereas I didn't. Ultimately, my man, you must not give up on yourself, even when it feels like everything else has given up on you, and I admire your courage in trying to seek help.

Whereas prozac or celexa may help, you'd still need to go see a doctor to get dosed -- I'm not a psychiatrist, so I don't really deal with medications, though I've had friends and relatives use them (and I've been on an old antidepressant a long time ago). Stuff that may not require prescription include St Johns Wort, which I think you can buy in most health food stores or even supermarkets here, so hopefully you can find that in ......

But still, medication is one thing -- you need to talk about this with your friends, because it is not so much your brain that has been hurt, but your heart, and while you might be able to find a counselor, your friends and family know your heart better than any other. It may be tempting to remain in bed and isolate yourself all day (I know, I've done that MANY times and sometimes still do so nowadays), but you MUST go outside and force yourself to live in the world and embrace it. Activity helps your body produce its own endorphins to help calm your mind and relax you; go out with your friends, play some sports, or go jogging or play soccer... What you need most of all are your friends now, and for you to calm your mind to think carefully about what your options are, because only when your mind is calm and clear can you make good judgments.

Life is NOT over, for here you are asking me for help to get your life together again. I am not going to say that it is going to be easy to fight this despair, but that you WILL win in the end. It may take some time, it may take a lot of effort, but eventually, you WILL rise out of the ashes a new man, with greater insight, and a better knowledge of yourself and others.

Best of luck,

>****

***********
These words did help me. I relied on him because he is a good friend and that he too went through the same phase that I went through very recently.. but we both survived.. we both are well on our career tracks...i was fortunate enough to get a nice job on something that I want to base my career on.. but still there's this void which seems almost impossible to fulfill right now.. but time is the best medicine.. i don't feel what i used to feel 2 weeks ago.. things change but slowly. so have patience, determination and courage.. you will succeed, you will be happy.

Trai

Hi guys
thankx for the info u all have shared and some STRONG MEDS you guys have prescribed like PROZAC. I just asked a question that I am going thru such and such phase in my life, IS it a sign of depression? I don't want to take PROZAC cuz I know My situation is not that bad... and yeah the next one is the add that comes on TV some medication ohh I know its called Zoloft.......... I guess I odnt need that either...
Thankx for all of you guys' advice, I am gonna try to take chocal tes which I hate the most, i know chocolates help but YUCK....

Ola, I think dubna laageko gham is better now but my mind is playing games with me. talk about insomnia, delusions. flights of fancy, hallucination, manic-depression I have it all. I was complled to seek medical help as I could not go to sleep for four straight days and started to hallucinate - about what? i will write a story about that someday. I was on some powerful meds but they made me more unstable and I was constantly having suicidal thoughts, everyday after work I would drive home in the dark evening and as the snow flakes fell on my headlight I wanted to end it all by ramming my car into a semi or something. But the best advise if anyone is depressed is family. Just being with them makes a lot of difference and a good routine helps a lot too.

As for me things are better now(that was a year ago and I have quit taking the medicines that they prescribed me for bi-polar disorder) but once in a while I still get a bout of depression...the only way out is to make it a part of your life and not freak out. All the medicines are just temporary relief- that is how some brains work, yes it is chemical imbalance but it is your mind, nobody knows it better than you do. So any number of sacrifices you have to make, make it to learn to live with this wonderful and reckless brain.

mG.

i believe : everything what u do will help u enjoy life more. hope is what everyone needs. just a point to remember: CHARESH KHANU HARESH NAKHANU

THE 12 STAGES OF DECLINE AND MALADJUSTMENT

1. We gave much importance to ourselves and ourfeelings

2. We grew inattentive to God's presence and providence and God's natural order in our lives

3. We let competive motives, in our dealings with others, prevail over our common personal welfare

4. We expressed or suppressed certain feelings against the better judgment of conscience or sound advice

5. We began thinking in isolation from others, following feelings and imagination instead of reason

6. We neglected the care and control of our bodies

7. We avoided recognizing our personal decline and shrank from the task of changing

8. We systematically disguised in our imagination the real nature of our unhealthy conduct

9. We became a prey to obsessions, delusions and hallucinations

10. We practised irrational habits, under elated feelings of irresponsibilities or despairing feelings of inability or compulsion

11. We rejected advice and refused to co-operate with help

12. We lost all insight into our condition

The lay people suffering mental illness self help programme for you is GROW and the outlined 12 steps led to your down fall.

The twelve steps of recovery and personal growth are:

THE 12 STEPS OF RECOVERY AND PERSONAL GROWTH

1. We admitted we were inadequate or maladjusted to life

2. We firmly resolved to get well and co-operated with the help that we needed

3. We surrendered to the healing power of a wise and loving God

4. We made personal inventory and accepted ourselves

5. We made mora inventory and cleaned out our hearts

6. We endured until cured

7. We took care and control of our bodies

8. We learned to think by reason rather than by feelings and imagination

9. We trained our wills to overn our feelings

10. We took our responsible and caring place in society

11. We grew daily closer to maturity

12. Wecarried GROW's hopeful healing and transforming message to others in similar needs