depression

[NoDrugs4Me]

Sometimes it just hits you in the face...

I've been unemployed since January (due to something out of my control) and was DENIED unemployment benefits. Money has been tight, but my fianceé has been helping out. I've been staying with my folks and going to college and have passed 64 credit hours. No money for lights, ventilation, or even new air pumps. My plants are with my fianceé who likes to garden, but has no indoor green thumb at all. The plants are stressed and she lives about 50 miles away.

It seems as-if I have no friends other than her, and she can really knock me down sometimes. It's hard for me to trust new people I meet, and it seems most of the new people I meet are not people I would like to associate with. My folks don't like talking about politics, religion, money, or anything else I would like to talk about. It gets to be a drag.

I guess what I'm trying to say is.... does anyone else feel like this? What can I do, that's within my means, to fix this?

[birdgirl73]

Two things that always help brighten my mood when I'm low are exercise, which is cheap. Walking doesn't cost a thing and it really does make a difference. The second is getting out and volunteering. That inevitably helps me with perspective and shows me that I don't have it so bad. Also try journaling, chatting, and/or blogging to take care of the urge to talk about politics and religion.

Times are hard right now for an awful lot of people. Sounds like you have a home/family and a fiancée and are making forward progress in college. That's pretty darn good, considering the alternatives!

[killerweed420]

I think we all have suffered from depression at some time. Find some hobbies, try and stay busy and try to do the little things that make you happy.

[TurnyBright]

Try finding some people who seem at least sort of tolerable at first, and get to know them better. Pretty much anyone can become a friend if you get to know them well enough.

[cygnustaxt]

hey man, I'm in the same boat as you. I moved back home after a year away with my girlfriend. When we moved I ended up losing my job, my friends,and my own apartment (i live with my parents now). So now I'm broke, friendless, jobless, and living at my parents house heh. I've been trying to find a job all summer but no one is hiring. I think i finally have one lined up, but i haven't heard from them in about a week, so i guess I'll call back and see whats going on tomorrow. I also lost my girlfriend about two weeks ago. She started her new job and I guess made lots of new friends which are cooler than me because like one week after she started working there she started acting different toward me and then two weeks later she dumps me...after a year and a half of saying we were deeply in love with each other, anyway thats another story. Really, I guess only time can heal our wounds (cliche? heh) but finding hobbies really helps. I'm a guitar major in school so this summer i've been practicing 6-7 hours a day. It really helps me keep my mind off the ex and all the other crap plus its productive. I also try to exercise a lot now. It feels good, you see a physical change in yourself, and it keeps your mind occupied. I also am trying to train my self for next spring. I am planning my great adventure. Once I get out of college next year, I plan on hiking the entire appalachian trail. It takes about 5-7 months and is over 2,100 miles of hiking through the forest. I mean i dont have any real friends, i'll be out of school, and I'm still young so its the perfect time to go. Anyway, I guess just find stuff that you enjoy doing. Try exercising, learning to play an instrument, reading, I like to spend time on the forum since everyone here is really chill and like-minded. Focus on your school work. I should be a senior at a university right now but i dicked around a lot so now I'm still a sophomore in community college. Plus like birdgirl said, you have a home, a fiancee, and soon you will be out of school. Sounds like you're doing really well, now just get a new job and you will be all set. Good luck to you my friend.

[theforthdrive]

I feel ya... six months ago I moved to cali to flee growing persecution! Everything was tits up until 4 days before our move. We had more money than we needed, one job that paid great that we could take with us. then, out of no where.....BLAM, the company that told my GF that all was well fired her with only four days until our move. we already gave our notice on our home and had a lease in cali.....so we could only move forward. Uhaul gave me the wrong trailer to tow my truck. I had to fly back and then drive it to cali. In one weeks time I lost income and needed savings to uhaul, which laughed in my face and tried to start a physical fight with me. we were turned down for all social services even thou we really really needed help. Jobs are hard to come by in cali, no replacments yet. Six months later things are horrible.... im depressed! all i have is my knowledge that my door wont get kicked in for my medicine/hobby. was it worth it..... FUCK YEAH. lifes a roller coaster bound to go up sometime. I watched "we are marshall" the other night... i took this away from it. sometimes life is shitty, and there is no good way to get back on top but keep fightin until you are there. Buck up, tiger! good times are coming soon!

side note: the company was lifesuccess! a company that is run by Bob Proctor of THE SECRET... beware, First hand knowledge. They dont actually care about you only your money! Its not just what they did to my GF and I....PM me if you want details before anyones waste hard earned money of snake oil salesmen!

[trancefusion5]

I do a lot of glass work when im not feeling up. Its always such an accomplishment when you pull that tight pipe (or anything else) out of the kiln and realize that an hour ago it was just a thought in your head. If nothing else it takes your mind off everything (no time to think about drama when that pipe you have been working so hard on is about to turn into a ball of molten glass) and when it comes out better than you thought it would, its always a nice surprise! If glass blowing is a little to extreme try stained glass or even mosaics (my girlfriend does those) If you dont like working with glass try clay or anything else! Just get a hobby you really like and when you feel down make something up! :thumbsup:

[cygnustaxt]

I do a lot of glass work when im not feeling up. Its always such an accomplishment when you pull that tight pipe (or anything else) out of the kiln and realize that an hour ago it was just a thought in your head. If nothing else it takes your mind off everything (no time to think about drama when that pipe you have been working so hard on is about to turn into a ball of molten glass) and when it comes out better than you thought it would, its always a nice surprise! If glass blowing is a little to extreme try stained glass or even mosaics (my girlfriend does those) If you dont like working with glass try clay or anything else! Just get a hobby you really like and when you feel down make something up! :thumbsup:

man that sounds sweet, how did you learn how to blow glass? I was thinking about taking some classes or something, but I can't find anyone that teaches. It would be so bad ass to make my own pipes and stuff though.

[Opie Yutts]

Depression sucks, but there are things that help me.

1) get out of the house
2) don't sleep alot, don't hibernate
3) Light, yes light. Sunshine - living in a sunny climate makes a huge difference. I've done both. Indoors the color of light can have a huge effect. You want bluish vegging light (5500-6500K), not reddish budding light (2500-3500K). Also some say the schedule of light is important. You should have some lights gradually go on an sunrise and gradually go off at sunset. In winter have a summer indoor light schedule.
4) doing stuff that burns calories helps produce endorphins
5) Medications? I've tried most and quit all. There are three basic kinds that target the re uptake of chemicals in the brain. Norepinephrine, Seratonin, and Dopamine (sp? all) are the 3 main chemicals that influence depression. The drugs that "worked" for me just kinda made me feel a little weird but didn't make me feel better.
6) Narcotics? Yes please. These are the only prescribed meds that improve my mood. You have to be careful with these since they are extremely addicting, and not meant treat depression. Some of the most miserable experiences in my life occurred when I went through withdrawals. I fully understand why some people would kill, or do whatever is necessary to get their next fix.
7) Read the book "winter blues" (I think).
8) Jesus, God or other deity? I don't know, it may help some but I've become disillusioned over the years.
9) Friends. Make sure you have play dates.
10) Hobbies. Make sure you have at least one thing you enjoy doing, and take the time to do it regularly.

And of course as Tommy Chong said in one of the stoner movies, "I take weed for depression. If I don't have weed I get depressed."

Transfusion5, nice glass. How about a thread about your shop?

[trancefusion5]

man that sounds sweet, how did you learn how to blow glass? I was thinking about taking some classes or something, but I can't find anyone that teaches. It would be so bad ass to make my own pipes and stuff though.

Ive always been into it because i could never find tight glass beads to rap in hemp so i always wanted to make them myself (along with pipes but i thought that was a crazy dream) and in 03 i stayed in Hawaii for the summer and id always go to a shop where they would make stuff (no pipes just a lot of sea creatures and stuff like that). I spent alot of my time just watching. When i got back i ordered all the stuff i needed. Making pipes can get really expensive because of the torch, kiln, oxygen, propane, tools, glass, exc. but if you just wanted to start out making beads you could get a really cheap starter set on thebay (It uses a very small torch that fits on the top of a one foot gas bottle, you may have seen plumbers using these) This set up is much smaller than the set up to make pipes. I need almost half of my garage for all the equipment and my desk. Its just like growing though, if you wanna get it right you gotta read read read - youtube is good too. Other than watching those people at the shop id say it was all self taught. It can be really hard to find lessons unless you live in the right places. You should give it a try, Its really alot of fun and a big accomplishment when you teach yourself something new!

[NoDrugs4Me]

Wow.

You guys are amazing... it feels like I'm welcomed in a community for once.
We can't talk about our herbs to anyone... but here... it's sacred!

Not trying to leave anyone out, but Opie... I've been thinking about S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder?) and how people tend to get depressed in the winter due to lack of sunlight. I've noticed spending time in THE ROOM seems to brighten my day, no pun intended, and not solely due to lookin at my babies!
Whodathunkit?

You all have made me think very deeply, without medicine, and each of you are truly appreciated.

Suffering from some swollen tonsils, and will be turning in for a bit.

THANK YOU!!!!!

[thcbongman]

The important thing to look at is you got love, you have your family, you have the things you really need to be happy. You may be going through financial straits, logistical issues with your plants and lack of friends, but that'll come in time. Money isn't something you can't always regain. You can always make friends once you find some like-minded people. Remember the things that make you whole and happy and be fortunate and thankful for what you have now.

[NoDrugs4Me]

For now and a little while, you guys are true friends, and the only ones I need and share interests with!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!