Reply:
47 Posts
Mon, 28th May 2012, 11:41pm
Now to find some homeless people you can feed...... Baking bread is an art I never quite developed..... So I brought a Bread Maker.
I did try for about 12 months..... Almost every night..... One might my 14 year old asked me if he could have a go. The bloody thing turned out to be perfect....... Mine just continued failing. I gave up and brought bread from the supermarket after that. A defeated man out cooked by a son who was not interested.....
Well done on the bread..... There must be someone you can give it to?
Reply:
108 Posts
Tue, 29th May 2012, 1:19pm
Jason baking bread is good for your mental state. It is something that I had learnt last week, I am no expert with Diversional Therapy. The theory is that what you do is divert your thinking from depressed to positive by doing things that you enjoy. Markomark has spent some time with a mate, mine is working on the trainsand being avolunteer whale watcher and yours it seems is to bake bread. I would encourage anybody who enjoy something to pursue it. It will help you to enjoy a positive outlook I know it works for me.
regards Carey Akers
caza
Reply:
292 Posts
Tue, 29th May 2012, 1:50pm
Not joking, but at 70 and suffering from periodic bouts of depression during most of my life, I've always regarded it as a 'mood' - just another state of mind - and my attitude has been to get on with my life, get involved in 'things' and start some form of diversional activity that took my mind away from the dark thoughts.
Oh! It hasn't been easy - some days were blacker than others - but nowdays I tend to look back and think "Well, just what was it you were all so down about!"
Having another 'mountain to climb', some form of personal challenge, always helped and, if I failed at it I just felt that it was not the 'mountain' for me and found me another one! I took up small motor repairs - mowers, etc; cooking (I love eating good food, so cooking came easy); photography - marvelous how the world looks different when you see your images of it and compare those with what was in your minds-eye); fishing, though as I've aged I've found it easier to buy fish than to catch them; studying; I have heaps of trade certifications and many teriary qualifications as well.
I tried prescribed anti-depressant medications but the day I heard my 10 year old daughter screaming from the back seat that I had just driven through my third red light (Truthfully - very scary moment) I threw them away and cold turkey came off them (and off 70 cigarettes/day and 20 cups of coffee/day). Funny thing was, my GP prescribed them 'cos he thought I needed them but my psychiatrist said"Well, what can we do with you? We could try some anti-depressants if you want them but I don't think they'll really do much for you!" - so how go figure that one, ehhh?
I can guarantee you one thing - depression is NOT worth dying over!
Reply:
47 Posts
Tue, 29th May 2012, 2:25pm
Something to be said for the OLD AND BOLD methods...... Congratulations for working your way through it.... The common thread here seems to be to KEEP BUSY, even if if you have to push yourself...
I was warned that my body was no going to be able to cope with the work I needed to do and what would I do then.....mind you my diversion therapy may not be that demanding....
Thanks JohnnyD
Reply:
108 Posts
Tue, 29th May 2012, 3:09pm
It has nothing to do with the work being demanding it is doing something to divert the mind.
regards Carey Akers
caza
Reply:
292 Posts
Tue, 29th May 2012, 4:35pm
ucdailoi writes
--------------------------------------
Something to be said for the OLD AND BOLD methods...... Congratulations for working your way through it.... The common thread here seems to be to KEEP BUSY, even if if you have to push yourself...
I was warned that my body was no going to be able to cope with the work I needed to do and what would I do then.....mind you my diversion therapy may not be that demanding....
Thanks JohnnyD
UCDAILOI
Yes, Diversion is important, however, so is lifestyle, so don't lose sight of that - you also need to examine your lifestyle and make wise and appropriate changes.
Certainly, smoking 70 cigarettes/day, drinking 20 cups of coffee/day, 'popping pills' (and drinking copious amounts of alcohol - socially, of course) did not help me at all and changes needed to be made there as well. All these things were effecting my work, my health, my marriage and could very well nearly cost me part of my family.
I not only stopped taking the anti-depressant (and only do this with qualified medical consent) I stopped smoking, drinking alcohol and cofee in large volumes and got myself some far healthier diversions - gardening, fishing, tinkering with motors, studying for exams, etc.
There is no single answer! A more holistic approach is required to your whole life!
Reply:
108 Posts
Wed, 30th May 2012, 2:34pm
The greatest stories aren"t written but, lived.
regards Carey Akers
caza
Reply:
292 Posts
Wed, 30th May 2012, 7:52pm
But .... If the story is not lived where comes the inspiration for the story? 
Reply:
139 Posts
Tue, 5th June 2012, 11:18pm
Very good article in 'The Good Man Project" on "the Masculine Mystique and Male Depression". Posted 3-6-12.
Reply:
108 Posts
Wed, 6th June 2012, 1:25pm
Laz91 I agree it is an excellant article. However I don't condone going of your meds unless under medical supervision. The withdrawals are not worth it. I also agree with the concept of loving yourself, loving those close to you and loving those in your support group. The notion of having a calling is quite appealing as it gives a sense of purpose in life. Maybe starting this discussion group maybe my calling. Jed Diamond writes some interesting stuff.
regards Carey Akers
caza
Reply:
292 Posts
Wed, 6th June 2012, 2:24pm
Definitely - DO NOT TAKE YOURSELF OFF MEDICATION!
Seek the opinion of the prescriber or other specialist medical advice before altering a medication regime.
Reply:
108 Posts
Wed, 6th June 2012, 2:56pm
JOHNNYD you are absolutely spot on. If you come of your meds then you need to do it slowly. I had tried to go cold turkey but the withdrawals are definitely a bitch. Work with your health proffesional to do it.
regards Carey Akers
caza
Reply:
47 Posts
Fri, 8th June 2012, 8:05am
I am just going through a dip, they sometimes come on slowly and just drag on and on.. It takes a while before I come to recognize that I am part way into a bout of depression... This time it has been particularly deep..
The result is that I become withdrawn and quiet.... Unable to participate or appreciate anything much going on around me. I want to be somewhere else. All I can do is find a safe place and ride it out bu the frustration of being so unhappy and miserable with no sight of anything to look forward to for the future adds to the burden and is off course part of the problem....
I find some comfort in these little sayings.
And those who were seen dancing
Were thought
To be insane
By those
Who could not hear the music
Take care
Reply:
108 Posts
Fri, 8th June 2012, 4:05pm
UCDAILOI. I understand where you are coming from. I visit these dark places from time to time. I try to find that safe place but I continue to find support from my wife, family and supportive friends. i am a lucky man to have this around me. I do understand that there are people who do not have that for them. this is why I started this topic to try and offer support for people who aren't as fortunate as me. You will never be alone we are a "Band of Brothers" destined to be there when one slips. We are able to pick each other up when we see what is happening. Talk with us so that we can support you.
regards Carey Akers
caza
Reply:
1 Post
Sat, 30th June 2012, 7:13pm
Carey Akers writes
--------------------------------------
I suffer/co-exist with depression. The hardest thing for me was to come to terms with my own prejudices with the disease. I have found that the only thing about this disease is to clear your mind I am not crazy but "but just unwell, just wait and see I will be the same man I used to be". Just as I had mates around me if you need someone I am here. I have run the full gammut of this disease and if I can help then let me. I know the tricks of the dark dogs. This disese is a journey, Don't allow it to become the destination.
I too suffer from chronic depression, and I am seeing a psyc to help me get through it.
I have been divorced from a wife I dearly love now for 2 months, she was my second wife, and we successfully had a beautiful little boy with the help of doctors, he arrived a week after I got out of hospital from a quad bypass.
almost funny now, but I had involuntary unemployment insurance, but because we recieved child endowment, they classed that as a centrelink payment, and refused to pay. That almpost sent us bankrupt, but her mother paid all her bills, and stopped that from happening.
My little boy is five next week, and I'll have to get him something he can hold happily in his little heart like a memory of a great time, but I've racked my brain and was going to get him a ride with an old friend in a sidecar on a 1940's motor bike, but not sure if it will be working.
Sorry for rambling, but it's the first time I've reached out in a forum of any kind, and I'm not quite sure what or how to go about letting go of a lot of hurt.
thanks for reading this anyway Guys.
Reply:
47 Posts
Sat, 30th June 2012, 9:18pm
G'Day Carey
You have run the gambit and come through shaken, scratched and dented..... A survivor by any measure.
Congratulations on being able to write about it.... Somehow I feel that it does help when you throw it out there.
The things kids remember most is not so much things but times.... So spending time with him and doing something he will enjoy will stick with him. As an example, I took my kids camping when they were younger... They are now in their 30's and still talk about the smoke from the fire, the cold, the wildlife etc etc... I am not necessarily suggesting camping but just something where it is just the 2 of you.
When I first took my kids I did not have a tent, just a fly over us to keep the dew of us... 2 camps later we saw a couple of huge lizards walking around the camp site. The thought of one of those wandering through the tent at night convinced me to get a small tent with sides...
It all became part of the stories that are still told.
At 5 he will be smart enough to enjoy and make good use of your time together.
Let us know how you go?
Reply:
10 Posts
Sat, 30th June 2012, 10:45pm
Good on ya mate one can learn to live with it with the right help.
Reply:
8 Posts
Sun, 1st July 2012, 6:19am
this depression is a shit of a problem, why does it seem to cost you all the things you hold close to you, things that mean anything to you, all your dreams dissappearing, as your world seems to be collapsing around you. i know you are supposed to look after yourself, but why is it so bloody hard!!!!
Reply:
47 Posts
Sun, 1st July 2012, 10:10am
You have just hit the nail right on the head..... Depression is one problem made worse by the losses that surround it......
That's the toughest of all.....
Reply:
2 Posts
Tue, 3rd July 2012, 11:47am
Yay My dark days are FINISHED !! I suffered with depression,sleep deprivation,lost my profession. I am 60 and jobless BUT I HAVE MY LIFE BACK !I was in health most of my life and I dealt with clinically depressed people on a daily basis. It was a surprise to find myself with the problem . I remembered reading that 70% of acutely depressed people requiring hospitalisation had a co-existing chronic illness. I discovered 2 things that I fitted the profile and the illness .i.e. variceles that I co-existed with was messing with my head. The quality of information about treating this common condition borders on malpractice. One school says that it is harmless. The other school says it allows testosterone rich blood to drain thru the prostrate at levels hundreds of times what they should be. The result is prostrate swelling and sometimes cancer. Prostrate brings its own set of problems including sleeplessness due to peeing every 2 hours or so and constant pain due to a half empty bladder. That is on top of feeling like a wanker because you dont feel well. After my varicoceles were removed I felt better than I have IN YEARS !! I can pee harder and straighter than I have done in ten years. I have increased lower body strength and this is inspite of the operation being a week old. I would recommend all guys suffering with depression feel the scrotum. If there is ANY discomfort AT ALL see the doc and get the lumps removed. It worked for me !
Find us on