Expats And Depression

[canadiangirl]

I find that exercise really helps. It's not a cure for life's problems, but I find it helps me cope better with day-to-day things. Really vigorous yoga,or a night out dancing are especially good for dealing with stress.

When I was in Thailand I was drinking every day, or every second day, when I barely drink at home, and after a while, I started feeling really, really depressed all the time. Then I realized the booze was probably not helping (it's a depressant!), and cutting down helped.

At least the weather is nice in Thailand -- no need to get depressed about that. :-)

[girlx]

Does anyone know where to buy St.John's Wort in Isarn?

order it from ebay! you will just have to look for someone who ships internationally. make sure to look for 'standardized' herbs.

i do tantra yoga and it is absolutely 100% the best cure for depression.

Edited October 7, 2007 by girlx

[visionary]

I don't think that there is a single cure for depression. My belief is that depression and frustration are borne of perceptions of conflict between who we are and who we ought to be. If we have expectations of our selves that are impossible to fulfil we will be very depressed. If we have low expectations that are easily exceeded we will be very content with ourselves.

I am a huge fan of Dr Eric Burne , Author of " I'm OK, You're OK ." In his books he talks about " scripting " . Scripting is the process whereby we came to be dominated by a self governing philosophy and sense of direction or purpose in life. Mental and emotional illness are products of overdemanding or impossible scripts. It is his belief that our scripting is completed between 5 and 8 years of age. Combatting mental and emotional illness requires an understanding of our script and acquiring the ability to adapt it to realistic and obtainable standards. That is a very difficult thing to do. On an individual level it is nearly impossible. I strongly recommend his book to anyone dealing with crippling frustration or depression.

[mamanoodle]

It is not advisable to take St Johns Wort if already on antidepressants or soon after ceasing them, please read up on the side effects and contra-indications before deciding to proceed.

[obsession]

I thought St johns wort caused sensitivity to sunlight. Obviously not good in los.

[geriatrickid]

As several people have recommended, a strong dose of exercise can do wonders for a person. Just the change in itself is good, instead of sitting there fretting. We could learn a thing from house cats that get the 10 o'clock crazies. A lot of running around for a bit and then they are calm. The health literature is filled with enough documentation of the benefits of exercise for those suffering from depression. If you haven't discussed this with your health provider you might be surprised by the benefits which can include reducing or even eliminating medication.

(Please note that I am not advocating stopping any medication or that this is a cure all. Just that it's worth discussing with one's physician.)

[girlintown]

Getting an new job and moving to a new country with a different culture can be quite an exciting time... a real high of new stimulation for your senses.

It can (understandably) wear thin after a while.

Thats exactly my point. What is it with this needing new stimulation for the senses all the time as opposed to people who go nowhere and seem happy.

Girlx - thanks for the advice, that seems to be the general consensus too. BTW I got the dog but its a border collie and is causing me even more stress. Have been told by others also that meditation can really help heaps and have started reading a book on Vipassana.

Try the vipassana meditation course - it specialises in looking at yourself, and your misery. It is a real wake up call.

[Junglejumbo]

Thailand has also changed in the past 2-3 years. There isn't as much hope here as before and the job market is not as vibrant. The long-term future of the country and it's economy is difficult to make out given over-riding future political pressures and the smarter riding of other economies like China and now Vietnam. The nighlife has also been gradually going down hill for the past several years and anyone who came either wholly or partly for sex is finding there choices limited to a fairly run down bunch of workers from the surrounds of Issan cities. Not that there's anything wrong with Issan, a place I like very much, or Issan girls who are on the whole very nice and pleasing, but I am just saying the beauty you find out in the bars these days is far and few between. Put this together with general ageing, or natural "mid-life crisis" as well as having seen and done it all, we're probably getting lost for what to do next other than drink. Better keep ourselves busy somehow. Exercise can help. Learning Thai language helps break down barriers and maintain friends. Generousity helps and can sometimes win respect.

[stevenjm]

I don't think that there is a single cure for depression. My belief is that depression and frustration are borne of perceptions of conflict between who we are and who we ought to be. If we have expectations of our selves that are impossible to fulfil we will be very depressed. If we have low expectations that are easily exceeded we will be very content with ourselves.

I am a huge fan of Dr Eric Burne , Author of " I'm OK, You're OK ." In his books he talks about " scripting " . Scripting is the process whereby we came to be dominated by a self governing philosophy and sense of direction or purpose in life. Mental and emotional illness are products of overdemanding or impossible scripts. It is his belief that our scripting is completed between 5 and 8 years of age. Combatting mental and emotional illness requires an understanding of our script and acquiring the ability to adapt it to realistic and obtainable standards. That is a very difficult thing to do. On an individual level it is nearly impossible. I strongly recommend his book to anyone dealing with crippling frustration or depression.

I am really strarting to beleive this also. Have been getting CBT and am really noticing the differerence. The negative thinking, why me, leave me alone attitude is typical of the victim who suffers from depression. Have suffered from depression most of my life and now think its just a way of thinking (bad scripting). Am only half way through cbt and have already had my thought proccess changed. Its all about telling yourself STOP eveytime a bad thought enters your mind - sounds easy but can take a little time and professional help to get there.

1 month ago if something asked me to do something I would just instantly go into that why me, leave me alone I'm suffering depression mode and now I'm capable of not letting that happen. beleive me this is a major step for me because I am the supreme sceptic when it comes to any sort of therapy being able to help. I used to think it was just a chemical released in your brain that made you feel depressed but now I'm realising its brought on by negative thinking and that if you think to yourself stop everytime a situation happens where you would normally go into drama mode you can actually conquer it.

Even simple things like walking up a hill before I would think oh shit what a <deleted> drama having to walk up this hill and be depressed about walking up the hill, now I can just stop those thoughts and walk along uneffected (except for a bit panting) up a hill. Or if I have to do something like unpack the dishwasher I can just do it uneffected.

My phsycologist keeps going at this rate I'll be conquering the world in a couple of months. I can't stress the value of good CBT enough and strongly recommend anybody with bad depression look into it and I was the most negative, pesimistic person in the world and considered myself beyond any mortals help and my many thanks to Sheryl for encouraging me to do this.

Only thing that worries me is that people may take advantage of my new found subserviancy and actually start asking me to do things like mowing the lawn

[Spee]

I don't think that there is a single cure for depression. My belief is that depression and frustration are borne of perceptions of conflict between who we are and who we ought to be. If we have expectations of our selves that are impossible to fulfil we will be very depressed. If we have low expectations that are easily exceeded we will be very content with ourselves.

I am a huge fan of Dr Eric Burne , Author of " I'm OK, You're OK ." In his books he talks about " scripting " . Scripting is the process whereby we came to be dominated by a self governing philosophy and sense of direction or purpose in life. Mental and emotional illness are products of overdemanding or impossible scripts. It is his belief that our scripting is completed between 5 and 8 years of age. Combatting mental and emotional illness requires an understanding of our script and acquiring the ability to adapt it to realistic and obtainable standards. That is a very difficult thing to do. On an individual level it is nearly impossible. I strongly recommend his book to anyone dealing with crippling frustration or depression.

I am really strarting to beleive this also. Have been getting CBT and am really noticing the differerence. The negative thinking, why me, leave me alone attitude is typical of the victim who suffers from depression. Have suffered from depression most of my life and now think its just a way of thinking (bad scripting). Am only half way through cbt and have already had my thought proccess changed. Its all about telling yourself STOP eveytime a bad thought enters your mind - sounds easy but can take a little time and professional help to get there.

1 month ago if something asked me to do something I would just instantly go into that why me, leave me alone I'm suffering depression mode and now I'm capable of not letting that happen. beleive me this is a major step for me because I am the supreme sceptic when it comes to any sort of therapy being able to help. I used to think it was just a chemical released in your brain that made you feel depressed but now I'm realising its brought on by negative thinking and that if you think to yourself stop everytime a situation happens where you would normally go into drama mode you can actually conquer it.

I've never been evaluated for or diagnosed as suffering from depression, but I've had several points in my life of going through extreme depression. Nowadays, I still tend to get depressed easily, but I also look for ways to not let it affect me by getting my mind on something else. I don't take illegal drugs and while I occasionally consume a fair share of alcohol, but don't have a drinking problem and can go days or weeks without having a drink.

Part of this happens because of the way I live. I take risks, and tend to push hard with work and other things. I sort of go at life as if it is a shot glass to be thrown back rather than a glass of wine that is to be slowly sipped. This tends to create some ups and downs, which can be magnified depending on mood and other personal circumstances. My highs tend to be higher and my lows tend to be lower. The hard part is when there are a lot of lows and not too many highs. That's when depression sets in.

When I sense depression setting in, I change my pace and try to keep my mind focused on something else. It doesn't work all the time, but does most of the time. I also try to keep myself busy. My mind tends to wander when I am not busy, so I try to look for things to do.

Also, several years ago when I was undergoing chemo, I decided to try and change my life for the better. One of the things I did was read Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People." It not only helped me change my behaviour, but it also helped me to see things in other people that I would like to see in myself. This helps me to try to remain positive and not dwell in things that tend to depress me.

Also, when I get depressed I try to think not of how unlucky I am or how bad I feel, but rather how lucky I am and how much I've been able to see and do. I think about people who have died before their time or who have not been lucky enough to experience the things that I've experienced.

I also get a lot of positive therapy from being a member of this forum. Reading about what is going on with other members and occasionally writing about my own experiences is good therapy. It helps with understanding and it helps take my mind off of other things.

I wish you and others good luck and good fortune in dealing with your personal and life difficulties, just as I wish it for myself.

[brahmburgers]

BTW; it has been my experience that psychology degrees tend to attract the 'walking wounded'. This is why so many people are studying this subject in the west. I suppose if it helps them.

studies show whole swaths of Thais appear to be suffereing from depression also. Take a look at faces around town. I see many many Thais, and especially Chinese-descent people who haven't seem to have cracked a smile for decades. You can see it in the eyes also.

I got dpressed in my former existance in California, and I get some of it here, but less often or deep.

I never have taken anti-depressent drugs, neither do I drink fermented sugar nor smoke ganga. I find it helps to believe that 'I am my own best counselor.' Similarly, I can be my own worst critic. So it sometimes helps to consciously sweep negative thoughts from my consciousness.

I also climb rocks. Twice in the past 3 days I went out solo, with no aid, and climbed some very dangerous straight up cliffs - easily 150 meters to the top. It's in a rather remote area where, if I were to fall, it's unlikely anyone would find me for a week or a month or more. By then I'd be well digested by ants, worms and fungi (there aren't any large scavengers left in Thailand).

Anyhow, climbing focuses the mind incredibly, so that all life's worries are off the screen. Since I live alone and sometimes go days without conversation (not a lament for me) I sometimes light a candle and put on some Los Lobos rock and roll and dance solo. I wouldn't mind going out to dance, but I've never seen a hint of a place in Thailand which had music that I liked. In CA where I was from, we had something called the Freedom Dance. It was a big beautiful former church hall, all wood, where a DJ would play excellent recorded music (Sting, etc) and all sorts of people would show up to mingle and dance, talk, laugh, space out. No alcohol. Grandmas and little kids, all sorts. Nearly everyone would have a non-drug induced smile on their face (or at least a glow) for hours on end. Could it happen in Thailand? Not in such a non-agenda way but perhaps a semblence of that could happen. Methinks in Thailand, there's too much overt sexual soliciting and pressure to drink - that it would near impossible for a Freedom Dance-type uninhibited carefree thing to happen - if it were open to the general public.