Depression: Disease or Excuse?

[Natasha Whittam]

Twenty years ago people were depressed, but they didn't have depression.

Does that sentence make sense? To some it will, to others it won't.

Plenty of people are depressed, but isn't that just another word for "a bit fed up"? In recent years it seems to have been turned into a disease like cancer or HIV. People now claim to have depression and are using it to excuse almost anything.

Let's face it, we've all had periods of our life that weren't particularly enjoyable. Dave was depressed when his internet connection was down for a few hours, Sharps depressed when he found out his new neighbours were from Pakistan and Amos was depressed when his favourite transvestite had his willy removed. But can they really say they had a disease? Of course not.

There's a bloke at our place who has been off with "depression" since August. He has a doctors note and everything, meaning we've had to pay him for the majority of the time he's been off. When I asked him what he was depressed about he said his wife had left him and taken the kids. Ok, so I can understand him being pissed off, but how is that a disease? And shame on the doctor for letting him get away with it.

So am I right, is depression just a made up disease to mask the fact they’re pissed off with their life, or am I talking utter bollocks and is depression as legitimate as cancer or Parkinson’s disease?

[watty]

Not utter bollocks.


Depression is a disease.


Some people use it differently.

[Jamster26]

I don't think it's an excuse, it is a legitimate illness if you like. Although, people do tend to play the "I am depressed" card an awful lot,.

It's all do with your mentality. You may think the guy would only be angry for his wife leaving him, but what if there are hidden issues in there? The reason why his wife left him? Does he have much of a social life, so in a way he felt that his wife, was also his best friend?

I think it's too plain and white to just say, that this situation, it just isn't an illness. Because we don't know what the hidden details are.

Having said that, there's no reason to say that he was the one who did something that forced his wife to leave. And now he is using that as an "excuse" if you like, to get time off work. But it's impossible to say really.

You'd hope that the doctor would be able to decide, or even still, judge on a scale how depressed he is.

It's just not an open illness. People hide it very well. And most work places, will allow the employee to have time off, because they wouldn't want to "risk" anything, if you get me.

It is a very serious illness but it's not one that you can see visibly most of the time.

[aarons2009]

I know a couple of people who work in hospitals and from what they tell me there are 2 types of ''depression.''

People who claim to have it but are just as you say are fed up and others who have, I think it's known as chronic depression which is a very serious and mental case of depression.

I mean for me there is a big difference saying your depressed because you have just lost a £5 note and losing a loved one.

[Le God]

Obviously you will get "fakers" who claim to have every disease under the sun, and on the flip side there will be countless people genuinely ill, physically or mentally.

just because a few people "pretend" to depressed doesn't mean anyone who uses the term should be ridiculed.

It's a shame that there are people willing to do it because it gives genuine sufferers a bad name.

[Natasha Whittam]

But it's easy to treat depression, not so easy if you have cancer.

If you're "depressed" because you're skint you work harder or play the lottery, if you're "depressed" because your wife and kids left then see a hooker or try and find another woman, if you're depressed because you were caught mastubating in the local park then move to a different area.

I really don't buy into this depression lark and the point I'm making is you can treat depression easily, usually with cash or a fit bird.

[Le God]

Unless you're a doctor you really can't proclaim such nonsense.

I don't pretend to know anything about to be honest but i certainly won't make any sweeping judgements just because a few idiots pretend to be depressed to get a day off.

[traf]

Depression is a fully fledged mental illness, but is prone to exaggerated claims by people who are merely "unhappy"

It's a bit like those mard-arses who take a week off work with flu and/or pneumonia when they've actually just got a sniffle.

[DaveBWFC]

I used to think it was an excuse and people who claimed to be depressed should pull themselves together and stop being so soft. I've changed my opinion on it though and now think it's a disease. Poor bastards.

[Gloria Stitz]

Depression isn't a made up disease. It should be recognised as an illness as it is a condition resulting from an inbalance of a chemical (serotonin) in the brain. Too much or too little of the chemical can result in feelings of low mood for no apparent reason. THAT's depression and it can be as much a physical illness as most. An illness caused by an inbalance of chemicals in any other part of the body isn't so difficult for folk to understand for reasons I've never been able to comprehend.

But Shittam does make a valid point, albeit badly - in that anybody that feels depressed over times that would make the toughest cookie on earth feel depressed is said to HAVE depression.

Depression is the illness. Being depressed is part and parcel of living.

Thanks for reading,

Gloria.

[Natasha Whittam]

Depression isn't a made up disease. It should be recognised as an illness as it is a condition resulting from an inbalance of a chemical (serotonin) in the brain. Too much or too little of the chemical can result in feelings of low mood for no apparent reason.

Utter bollocks.

Would you say a season ticket holder at Bolton was more prone to be diagnosed "depressed" than someone who watched, say, Liverpool?

[Gloria Stitz]

Where "utter bollocks" means science, its utter bollocks!

With every counter argument, you demonstrate more and more your lack of understanding for the subject, in that you only consider apparent reasons for people to be depressed or not depressed - the things we established in post 9 depression isn't about.

Thanks for reading,

Gloria.

[Natasha Whittam]

Unless you're a doctor you really can't proclaim such nonsense.

I am a doctor. Your point?

[Natasha Whittam]

With every counter argument, you demonstrate more and more your lack of understanding for the subject,

I understand perfectly. It's a modern "disease" started by the work-shy. 50 years ago someone claiming depression would have been laughed out of town.

I hark back to the good old days.

[Batman]

Depression is a fully fledged mental illness, but is prone to exaggerated claims by people who are merely "unhappy"

It's a bit like those mard-arses who take a week off work with flu and/or pneumonia when they've actually just got a sniffle.

In one.

[bangerhard]

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable, experience loss of appetite or overeating, or problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions; and may contemplate or attempt suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment may be present.


Feeling depressed is when one is subdued over loss of money, loss in a football match or other form of negativity but does not involve any of the "depression" traits as feeling depressed is very much a short term, as in hours, state.


Personally speaking I would describe "depression" as an illness rather than a disease

[Batman]

Personally speaking I wish you'd fcúk off.

[Squidgy]

Depression is a fully fledged mental illness, but is prone to exaggerated claims by people who are merely "unhappy"

It's a bit like those mard-arses who take a week off work with flu and/or pneumonia when they've actually just got a sniffle.

What Traf said.

It's easy to mock the subject of depression, and I too have been guilty of it in the past. Recent events have made me think about it in a less "man the fcúk up" sort of way. I've been fortunate never to suffer from it personally, but I know some very close to me that have.

For those of you that don't browse WWs or missed this, take a few minutes to have a look at this thread, it was a real eye-opener for me.

http://www.wanderersways.com/forum/topic/69095-stan-collymore/

[Big_Sharps]

Personally speaking I wish you'd fcúk off.

You can't say that it is abuse.

[Natasha Whittam]

Reading some of these responces has given me depression. How ironic.

[Squidgy]

Reading some of these responces has given me depression. How ironic.

That's just it, nobody expects any truly genuine response on a football forum. It's all about banter and having a dig, and that thread was anything but.

[Big_Sharps]

I have experiance of it but not personally, I dont wish to discuss it.

[Natasha Whittam]

That's just it, nobody expects any truly genuine response on a football forum. It's all about banter and having a dig, and that thread was anything but.

I don't agree at all, it looks like attention seeking to me. Why would anyone want to tell a bunch of strangers their secret shame? And how do you know it's true?

[Big_Sharps]

I don't agree at all, it looks like attention seeking to me. Why would anyone want to tell a bunch of strangers their secret shame? And how do you know it's true?

I do agree, I personally wouldnt although it would probably be easier to open up on a forum than it would to somebody who is staring back at you and possible judging you. 

[Squidgy]

Given the speculation around the late great Gary Speed, it was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for a subject to raise it's head without fear of others mocking them. I have no doubt that all of the responses  on that were truly genuine. It took a lot of bollocks for them to come forward and admit their problems on an open forum, especially a football forum.