DEPRESSION...I wonder how widespread severe depression is?

[GabbyLoggon]

Another test cricketer is on the way home from the World Cup due
to depression, he is not the first.

I assume it must be clynical for him to come home.

Geoff Boycott, who I usually like, made a fool of himself over this..
said the player was "not good enough" (wrong words at the wrong time.)

It is said by experts that depression is still a taboo subject. Well, it should not be these days, surely

I'm at home and I could definitely do with some valium.

Depression is very widespread though Gabby, you're right about that. I often wonder whether depression is more prevalent these days, or whether it has always been widespread but just not recognised.

Gabby - the way you're phrasing your posts makes it sound like you haven't experienced depression or don't understand it..? I am no expert but for most people, the first port of call should not be a doctor (if medication is what you are hinting at). For mild depression people should have therapy. A drug won't cure your mental illness but therapy can help you learn to deal with it or its causes.

And, as Chil said: why did you refer to the depressed sportsmen as 'jumping ship'? That's a bit perjorative and judgey.

Depression is extremely widespread and very unpleasant to go through. Lucky are those who don't experience it!

Valium used to be given as an anti depressant. It's been replaced with much more effective meds.

Not all depression has a "trigger" though or something going on in the person's life - some is an imbalance in chemicals type thing (ie it just happens it's not caused) and some people just have that sort of disposition.

So it's complex, isn't it. For some it's to do with their lives/history - counselling may help. For others it's to do with a situation they're in that they can't change (eg lots of small children) - drugs may be the answer there. For others again it's how their brain is wired or their brain is misfiring - then they try all sorts of things. My mum used to be involved with people getting ECT - she said that it works but no-one really knows why - these people were depressed in teh sense of totally incapacitated, unable to function at all depressed.

I'm sure that rates have always been high but people used to use booze / fags more and before about the 40s loads of heavy duty narcotics were legal. I'm sure people self-medicated.

My "this may help" things there aren't meant to be absolute, BTW, i was just putting some ideas down.

I agree with most of what you say sardine but I think depression does have a trigger - it might not be obvious to start with but people don't get it out of the blue for no reason.

Gabby, in listing various 'causes', must be talking about Reactive Depression. This is not the same as Endogenous Depression. I started suffering with depression at puberty - it was cyclical until I went through the menopause. I have not suffered from it since then. It was an absolute bloody killer of a thing to suffer with!

Gabby ativan and librium were commonly used in the early 70s. Ativan is also known a Lorazipam (a group of medicines known as benzodiazipines ) used for anxiety and / or depression. Also a GP should monitor anyone stopping any of the benzodiazipine medications as it needs to be done in a controlled reduction programme.

Rosemarin, I think the first port of call is nearly always a doctor, and unfortunately there is long waiting lists for counselling and therapy and (from my experience) antidepressants seem to be prescribed before any other kind of help.
OP I know nothing of cricket but I know that depression can be very debilitating. Is the name of the drug you were thinking of lithium?
The charity MIND were of great help to me in many ways and do lots to make depression easier to understand and less of a taboo, especially for young people.

Just to say there isn't always long waiting lists for counselling and therapy - of course it depends where you live etc but I have been seen pretty quickly and only had to wait 4 weeks. Just so no one is put off if they need it :)

Rosmarin, most people do need to make the doctor their first port of call because otherwise they won't get a referral for therapy. Not everybody is wealthy enough to pay.

A lot of useful posts on here. Depression is a complex subject.

It must be true that there has always been a lot of it about.
(modern lifestyle will also be a factor.)

Yes, Ladythumb...I believe the "killer" asect of your suffering.

Sardine, I have heard about ECT, it apparently works for some
people and not for others. And yes,sardine we are all mostly putting
ideas around.

Being as it is a subject with a taboo element; it must be good to open it up. And the cricketer coming home will father lots of articles.

Women columnists seem to write more sense on depression. They open up
far more easily than us men.

valiumredhead good you got seen quickly and I hope no one would be put off by my comment, I guess I was trying to say the same as cory, just that some people need referrals. Things probably happen faster nowadays, as the subject of depression is being better handled than in the past.