Wish i could offer you more, but please accept this

meggy said:

Meggy, I went through years of abuse as a child, well into my teen years. I wish I could say that it gets easier, but it's a hard battle to fight to overcome the trauma of abuse. But it can be done. I'm almost 42 and been living with the memories and the pain all these years, but I can honestly say that it's much better now. It doesn't hurt and I don't feel so lonely anymore. I realized that the abuse took a lot from me, but it also gave me something that most people never have, the ability to look at the strength that I truly contain because look at all that I survived. You too have that same strength. Look at what you've survived!

There are some new therapy techniques that help with PTSD, namely EMDR and DBT. Have you tried either of these therapies? The EMDR is really still pretty experimental but some research into it has shown that it helps to lessen the pain associated with trauma, and DBT has really shown a lot of success, especially with survivors of childhood abuse.

If you ever feel like talking or need a friend, please feel free to email me through the org or pm me. You aren't alone in what you've experienced. There are many of us out there in the world.

If you are someone who suffers from depression- it is an everyday struggle.
Some days it is harder to cope than others- I truly hate the term/label depression because as you can see just by the posts here- there are varying degrees of symptoms and causes.
In my lifetime I have only met one person that has been able to honestly say to me that she has never for one day felt depressed in her whole life.
It was hard for me to understand that and come to terms with that because I have lived with depression as far back as I have a memory of being alive.
I am happy for every time I have come out of a major episode alive and well. I get sad and worried every time I think it might be creeping back into my life but i fight it with all I have.
Mine was diagnosed as situational- brought on by stress and anxiety. I too grew up in a very bad environment with violence and lots of anger and FEAR everyday.
There were times in my life I wished I had not been born. I used to let my depression stop me from doing and feeling certain things but I am learning to let go. I have thought and planned out suicide before and I never told or mentioned it to a soul. Usually the one person closest to me knew I was depressed but not suicidal. I was too ashamed to say anything. My dogs saved me from doing it the last time. I was afraid they would starve to death before someone found me. so thank goodness for them.
I admire every one on this thread for sharing their stories and I am glad that they are still here to share with us.








[Edited 6/26/07 16:49pm]

pardonme4livin said:

My mother was an alcoholic who drunk herself to death. My dad had a nervous breakdown after his wife was murdered. his family was on the way to comiit him and he jumped out of the car and was killed. I am pre-disposed to depression.

I know a few attention seekers...

shanti0608 said:

My really bad episode was brought on the same way. . . stress, fear, anxiety. Unfortunately, since then I find it easier than I did before to slip back in that direction. So, daily meds for me. Sucks, but it sort of acts as a fence on a very scary ledge.

I have been on both sides of the issue of suicide. I've known those who've taken their own lives and witnessed the aftermath of such a irreversible decision and, as a lifelong sufferer of depression myself, have felt suicidal and utterly without hope on more than a few occasions.

It's not always possible to discern by outward appearances who is suffering, who is hurting, who feels hopeless, and who feels as if life is no longer worth living. This thread should serve as a powerful reminder as to why everyone should try their best to weigh their words and interactions with others with care, and how meaningful the smallest of friendly gesture can be (even if the giver of such never realizes the difference made by their word or gesture).

A smile, a 'hello', or merely taking a moment to just acknowledge another in a kindly manner won't fix anybody or cure a depression, but it might help give somebody that extra bit of necessary strength to make it through another day -- or another hour. And that extra time can mean a lot to one struggling towards finding peace or healing

to those in pain.

I just want to say that, yes, and according to the Buddha, life is suffering. But there is a path and a way to light and love and infinite grace. We can seek this path and we can find it, I truly believe this.

In my own life, I can say that life is a blessing and though this process of change eventually cuts everything we love away from us...our spirits can develop and mature and we can find peace and a ground of permanence, an everlasting essence behind the pain and grasping.

I understand, and relate, to what a lot of people have mentioned on this thread.

Just want to give you ALL - those who have posted and those who haven't - a big, massive .

CalhounSq said:

Ass.

WillyWonka said:

You always have something beautiful to say.

CalhounSq said:

Ass.

I'm glad we have this thread for everyone to express. Suicide is such a taboo subject. Just the thought of it brings shame, but look how prevalent it is. It's everywhere around us, part of human nature, I suppose, to consider it or contemplate it (if you have any kind of depth). So...hugs.

Oh man. I just got news that my 16 year old cousin tried to commit suicide yesterday. It's so strange, I thought she had the perfect life. She's gorgeous, musically talented, is involved in a lot of school activities, and has a boyfriend she's crazy for. I guess she's been battling depression for quite sometime, and her mother suspects she's bipolar. She's in the hospital right now. She's fine physically, but they're still keeping an eye on her. I don't know what to do or think about all this. It was just very unexpected. I just want her to know that I'm there for her, and that she has a support system.

2 periods in my life i was despairing enough to consider it. I am truly glad i didin't do it.

mdiver said:

Me too