what triggers your depression?

[Belle]

Often with depression there are certain triggers just like with our adhd symptoms. What are some of your triggers or warning signs that a depression is coming? For me a sign depression is on its way is when I start to do jig saw puzzles, or hyperfocus on the computer. Lately I have been fighting one. But I do need to try and get things done so I will write more later. I look forward to your responses.

[Laurie Siegel]

Cute attachments, Belle. Having a sense of humor is a lifesaver for me. Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused. I've always maintained that in many ways, ADDer's have an advantage over mere mortals. I can usually anticipate the arrival of my next depression, since I too am aware of the triggers. Hyperfocusing on the computer is both a blessing and a curse. For hours and hours I can become so lost in concentration on the computer, to the point where I lose track of time and the outside world has little significance. Many times I have fallen asleep by my computer and I get so stiff that it's very hard standing up again. I could be absorbed reading the UK Telegraph ( more interesting than the NY Times), Scientific-American magazine, sales at Home Depot or Staples, cartoons from every newspaper, or developing
software for Apple. Even after I shut down my computer and get into bed,
if I can't fall asleep after 15 minutes, I start playing games on my iPod which I keep next to my bed. Then I play games on it until again I fall asleep.
The other major trigger is in the form of a person. I've been seeing someone for the past year and we are together only once or twice a week.
When he is here, I am so focused and in the moment and nothing else seems to matter. At night, I seldom sleep when he's here so that I can absorb and commit to memory this wonderful feeling. It's unlike my former marriage (in the beginning) or any other relationship I've been in.
I feel like I'm 25 years old. But in the morning, right after he leaves, everything becomes dark and dismal. Even my computer cannot console me at that moment, knowing I will be waiting for a week until we are together again. I'm sure the situation would be different if we were always together. This has to be why it is always so fresh and exciting.
My doctor has not been helpful when I talk to him about the depression triggers. He always tells me not to think with emotions and simply move on by going through the motions without thinking. If I tell him I can't get out of bed, he says: just do it, get into the shower, get dressed and don't think. I do make the effort. The only way I can make it happen is with music, listening to songs that make me feel good. More often than not, it takes me out of my funk - at least long enough to be productive. Music is the greatest mood elevator, at least for me. Another depression trigger is in the form of a peak experience. It could be a great movie, a wedding, or just having a wonderful day. I know that when it's over, I will be so sad because those peak experiences are so few and far between. I wish I had more friends that I could share this stuff with. Talking about it is part of the panacea. I joined facebook, not to look up old friends, rather to try and make new ones. I don't use it as a means to try to meet men and I don't think any less of people who use it for that purpose. I'm looking for a network of female friends, buddies to hang and chat with. I apologize for being unfocused and losing sight of the original question. I am curious about the jigsaw puzzles. Is it about the frustration of putting the pieces together or is it the depression following a completed project? I think it's the latter because that's what happened with me after completing a difficult crossword puzzle. It's the "what next" or "where do I go from here" situation, I believe.
Anyway, initially I responded with the intent of being helpful. I may not have been and if that's the case, forgive me. One thing for sure, I feel much better now than I did before I replied.
Best wishes and be well, Belle.

[lieve verteliknog]

It is all about how you deal with life
how you live yours
how I live mine
so
if you fall in love with your ocmputer and you don't seem to get what you want
it is because there is something missing
the only thing I can think of that is missing
is what is happening

why are you on this computer so much time?
what are you looking for?
What do you need?
Only if you have some kind of an answer to this question
there might come an answer on how you deal with it

[Belle]

For me with jigsaw puzzles it is completely about the what is next?? It gets myy mind going many different directions.

[Hzjewl]

When holidays roll around and I'm still single. I have to say "no, I'm NOT going there."

[lieve verteliknog]

if I read well, you say: I'm not going there but while you are saying this
it is happening
for you have asked for it
so how can you overcome this thing from happening?

[A]

Warning signs for me:

I start pulling away from people to the point I won't answer my phone or go anywhere other than where I have to go;

I start wanting to sleep more;

I eat waaaaay too much or don't want to eat at all;

I also get where I spend too much time on the computer or reading books.

Thanks for starting this. I am in the midst of a depression right now and am struggling to get out of it.

[lieve verteliknog]

I understand what you are saying
there is this need
and you don't realy know what need it is
you don't realy know what you want
only that it isn't fullfilled
you only know you don't want to involve with other people
for you have enough to pay attention to without them
so there is nothing wrong with having some time for your selve
there is nothing wrong with having time to become who you realy are

on the other hand why do you have to say that this is negative?
Why would it be wrong to take time for your selve
to become happy again?

[Her Lateness]

Sleep, computer, books! This is so where I am right now! I find myself spending way too much time doing these things! For me I was thinking it was a way for me to escape, so that I would not have to deal with the recent loss of my sister. The past couple of days I have been feeling like is depression. I have been feeling isolated from my friends also and noticed that I have been acting melancoly. I need to find a doctor and make some changes but I don't even want to deal with it. Ugggghhh!

[DistractedByShinyThings]

I haven't ever been able to identify any triggers or warning signs that it's coming. I kind of feel like I'm always on the edge of a depression. Sometimes I "fall in" and other times I don't.

[lieve verteliknog]

so perhaps this is the first thing you might do
learn about this place you are
it is like a border where it is not bad
but not feeling comfortable as well
and what is the thing that makes you fall into bad times
is this something you start yourselve
or is it because you inhale some energy
which isn't realy yours (that is you listen to people who talk negative
and without you noticing, next day, you feel negative as well?

[Niels]

I don't always see it coming, only about half of the time. Warning signs for me are not enjoying things that I normally do enjoy doing, like going to work or hanging out with friends. Just like you, I then tend to hyperfocus on solitary things like spending (way too much) time on the computer.

I don't know for sure if it's an ADD thing (but I am pretty sure), but I can switch from happy to depressed very quickly and vice versa. And sometimes almost anything can trigger another switch. I really hate it when I can't switch back to happy for some time though.

Like Laurie already mentioned, music is the key. Listening to my favorite music for a while makes me focus on the music instead of what I'm doing and how I'm feeling. I don't know what styles of music you like, but you could try things like:

cafe del mar - energy 52
muse - Feeling good
alphaville - Forever young
manu chao - me gustas tu
guru josh project - infinity 2008 (klaas vocal edit)
fat boy slim - praise you

[Helen Sullivan]

I have a cyclothymic sort of depression...its short lived and comes and goes. So I have periods of
sort of feeling normal, followed by a period of quite severe but short lived depression (sometimes only hours), then on to anxiety (less frequent). I am of the opinion, at least as far as I am concerned, that my depression is like a lens that colours my day. So nothing bad, or different has happened, but I react differently to the environment because of how I am feeling. Likewise, things can go wrong other times but my mood is more stable and the lens is different so I perceive things as ok. So to a certain extent it is out of my control, but eating and exercising well, planning my day with thing that are uplifting to me does help, but sometimes the mood comes on regardless and I just ride it out.