| Topic: |
Sociology > Depression |
| User: |
"edmund" |
| Date: |
05 Aug 2005 07:40:35 PM |
| Object: |
serious question about mental health |
I've been to a few therapists/psychiatrists recently and all of them
say that I am just depressed. I'm not sure, because I think I may have
some other kind of problem. It think the problem is I changed my major
from physics to computer science to literature. A big mistake which
left me with me with severe depression and mental problems. Now my
whole personality has changed -I'm more philisophical, introspective,
and well I just think differently . Is there any hope for me to
returning to my old self? I started taking meds a couple of days ago
and I'm going into intensive group therapy. i'm even thinking of going
back to study again. But will I ever be the same again?
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| User: "Fiber Optic" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
05 Aug 2005 08:52:14 PM |
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I've been to a few therapists/psychiatrists recently and all of them
say that I am just depressed. I'm not sure, because I think I may have
some other kind of problem. It think the problem is I changed my major
from physics to computer science to literature. A big mistake which
left me with me with severe depression and mental problems. Now my
whole personality has changed -I'm more philisophical, introspective,
and well I just think differently . Is there any hope for me to
returning to my old self? I started taking meds a couple of days ago
and I'm going into intensive group therapy. i'm even thinking of going
back to study again. But will I ever be the same again?
It's never too late to change. Go back to school, taking night classes
if you have to. (You will meet lots of interesting people along the
way). Complete the degree. Get a new job in your chosen field. Happiness
follows.
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| User: "edmund" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
05 Aug 2005 08:59:37 PM |
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Hey, thanks for the reply. You really think that might help? I am
feeling at my lowest right now. In one month, I think I'll probably
start taking classes in maybe computer science or possibly math classes
also. I'm also considering engineering. I just wish I didnt have to
deal with this brooding thoughful instrospective brain that I created.
I preferred thinking less to this.
Fiber Optic wrote:
I've been to a few therapists/psychiatrists recently and all of them
say that I am just depressed. I'm not sure, because I think I may have
some other kind of problem. It think the problem is I changed my major
from physics to computer science to literature. A big mistake which
left me with me with severe depression and mental problems. Now my
whole personality has changed -I'm more philisophical, introspective,
and well I just think differently . Is there any hope for me to
returning to my old self? I started taking meds a couple of days ago
and I'm going into intensive group therapy. i'm even thinking of going
back to study again. But will I ever be the same again?
It's never too late to change. Go back to school, taking night classes
if you have to. (You will meet lots of interesting people along the
way). Complete the degree. Get a new job in your chosen field. Happiness
follows.
.
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| User: "David" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
06 Aug 2005 03:43:10 AM |
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Being indecisive about what subject you would like to study, could be
apart of depression.
I'm glad you're getting your degree, this is still something I need to
do. I'm sure you'll do well.
edmund wrote:
I've been to a few therapists/psychiatrists recently and all of them
say that I am just depressed. I'm not sure, because I think I may have
some other kind of problem. It think the problem is I changed my major
from physics to computer science to literature. A big mistake which
left me with me with severe depression and mental problems. Now my
whole personality has changed -I'm more philisophical, introspective,
and well I just think differently . Is there any hope for me to
returning to my old self? I started taking meds a couple of days ago
and I'm going into intensive group therapy. i'm even thinking of going
back to study again. But will I ever be the same again?
.
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| User: "David" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
06 Aug 2005 04:01:24 AM |
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Being indecisive about what subject you would like to study, could be
apart of depression.
I'm glad you're getting your degree, this is still something I need to
do. I'm sure you'll do well.
edmund wrote:
I've been to a few therapists/psychiatrists recently and all of them
say that I am just depressed. I'm not sure, because I think I may have
some other kind of problem. It think the problem is I changed my major
from physics to computer science to literature. A big mistake which
left me with me with severe depression and mental problems. Now my
whole personality has changed -I'm more philisophical, introspective,
and well I just think differently . Is there any hope for me to
returning to my old self? I started taking meds a couple of days ago
and I'm going into intensive group therapy. i'm even thinking of going
back to study again. But will I ever be the same again?
.
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| User: "Nina" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
06 Aug 2005 08:04:12 AM |
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On 5 Aug 2005 17:40:35 -0700, "edmund" <squido26@yahoo.com> wrote:
I've been to a few therapists/psychiatrists recently and all of them
say that I am just depressed. I'm not sure, because I think I may have
some other kind of problem. It think the problem is I changed my major
from physics to computer science to literature. A big mistake which
left me with me with severe depression and mental problems. Now my
whole personality has changed -I'm more philisophical, introspective,
and well I just think differently . Is there any hope for me to
returning to my old self? I started taking meds a couple of days ago
and I'm going into intensive group therapy. i'm even thinking of going
back to study again. But will I ever be the same again?
You can't un-change. You can't erase the past, and you can't change
whatever reasons drew you to change majors... which is probably a red
herring, anyway.
It is possible, though, that the nature of literature causes you to
focus on things in a different way that something more analytical
would, and thus that by taking more of those sorts of courses, you
might give your brain a break... if that makes sense... from the
brooding, etc.
Your "old self" didn't change because you changed majors. Something
else happened... and people change and grow. If you focus on this one
thing... and if you focus on trying to go back to somewhere that you
cannot get back to... you stop yourself from doing something more
positive, something that might help incorporate both the analytical
side of your personality and whatever else is causing the
introspection, etc. I suspect that if you try to simply close off the
latter parts, you'll just be creating a bigger problem that you'll
have to deal with... sooner or later.
Nina
_____________
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus
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| User: "edmund" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
06 Aug 2005 11:01:03 PM |
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It is possible, though, that the nature of literature causes you to
focus on things in a different way that something more analytical
I spaced out every class, I didn't understand or like the coursework, I
didn't get anything out of writing essays, and hated the reading. I
think there is something seriously wrong with me for going that route.
I think I relate to the world in a confused way now because of it. I
have other problems too, I agree. There is too much pressure for people
to go to school and get a degree - I really don't think people should
be pushed into it.
would, and thus that by taking more of those sorts of courses, you
might give your brain a break... if that makes sense... from the
brooding, etc.
Your "old self" didn't change because you changed majors. Something
else happened... and people change and grow. If you focus on this one
thing... and if you focus on trying to go back to somewhere that you
cannot get back to... you stop yourself from doing something more
positive, something that might help incorporate both the analytical
side of your personality and whatever else is causing the
introspection, etc. I suspect that if you try to simply close off the
latter parts, you'll just be creating a bigger problem that you'll
have to deal with... sooner or later.
Nina
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
_____________
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus
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| User: "jill" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
09 Aug 2005 10:17:12 AM |
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Edmund,
The fact is if you don't have a college education you just can't
compete out there. That's something that has really changed. If you
want financial security get that degree, , good luck.
You don't have to figure everything out right now. Don't put so
much pressure on yourself. My advice, definitly finish college
if possible. !!! Good luck ! jill
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| User: "Nina" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
07 Aug 2005 06:25:55 AM |
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On 6 Aug 2005 21:01:03 -0700, "edmund" <squido26@yahoo.com> wrote:
It is possible, though, that the nature of literature causes you to
focus on things in a different way that something more analytical
I spaced out every class, I didn't understand or like the coursework, I
didn't get anything out of writing essays, and hated the reading. I
think there is something seriously wrong with me for going that route.
I think I relate to the world in a confused way now because of it. I
have other problems too, I agree. There is too much pressure for people
to go to school and get a degree - I really don't think people should
be pushed into it.
So why did you change your major if you disliked the coursework?
Again, it seems to me that there's something more going on here if you
changed your major to something that you actually dislike, and then
did poorly in it.
I should possibly mention that I'm a college professor, and that I
completely agree that people shouldn't be pushed into going to school
and getting a degree... it's a waste of everyone's time if you are
pushed. But thus the real questions that you should probably be
thinking about are things like, why did you allow yourself to be
pushed? And being in school, why did you choose something that you
dislike? I suspect that the way that you're thinking about things has
far more to do with a combination of depression in general and doing
something that you really don't want to do than it does with any
change in your thought patterns actually brought about by the major...
Nina
_____________
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus
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| User: "Youll Never Know" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
07 Aug 2005 10:49:45 PM |
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On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 12:25:55 +0100, Nina <ninaNOSPAM@economika.net>
wrote:
On 6 Aug 2005 21:01:03 -0700, "edmund" <squido26@yahoo.com> wrote:
It is possible, though, that the nature of literature causes you to
focus on things in a different way that something more analytical
I spaced out every class, I didn't understand or like the coursework, I
didn't get anything out of writing essays, and hated the reading. I
think there is something seriously wrong with me for going that route.
I think I relate to the world in a confused way now because of it. I
have other problems too, I agree. There is too much pressure for people
to go to school and get a degree - I really don't think people should
be pushed into it.
So why did you change your major if you disliked the coursework?
Again, it seems to me that there's something more going on here if you
changed your major to something that you actually dislike, and then
did poorly in it.
I should possibly mention that I'm a college professor, and that I
completely agree that people shouldn't be pushed into going to school
and getting a degree... it's a waste of everyone's time if you are
pushed. But thus the real questions that you should probably be
thinking about are things like, why did you allow yourself to be
pushed? And being in school, why did you choose something that you
dislike? I suspect that the way that you're thinking about things has
far more to do with a combination of depression in general and doing
something that you really don't want to do than it does with any
change in your thought patterns actually brought about by the major...
Yeah what she says!
I suspect the depression would probably have happened no matter what
you were studying at the time, and that's what has buggered your
abilities.
Stick it out until the meds have (hopefully) kicked in before you make
any life-changing decisions.
I got pushed into doing what I was good at rather than what I was
interested in at school (they didn't have the facilities for me to do
both) and got pressured into going to college although in real life
I'm no way an academic-type person. If I could do it all over again
I'd prolly have taken time out before making any decisions as to what
if anything I wanted/needed to study, worked a bit and found out more
about the Rest Of The World first. Oh well . . .
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| User: "edmund" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
07 Aug 2005 12:37:18 PM |
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Well, I stopped going to my computer science classes and failed 2 of
them. So I changed my major to what my friend was doing. Then after I
did ok in 4 classes I just kept going. I think deep down I knew it was
the wrong thing. I'm dealing with the depression the best that I can, I
think. Basically, my parents had control over me when I was younger so
I did what they wanted. I think maybe I was setting myself up for this,
being unhappy, but I don't know why or how. Maybe I was afraid to face
the working world. Sounds pretty odd, I know.
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| User: "Nina" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
07 Aug 2005 05:43:28 PM |
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On 7 Aug 2005 10:37:18 -0700, "edmund" <squido26@yahoo.com> wrote:
Well, I stopped going to my computer science classes and failed 2 of
them. So I changed my major to what my friend was doing. Then after I
did ok in 4 classes I just kept going. I think deep down I knew it was
the wrong thing. I'm dealing with the depression the best that I can, I
think. Basically, my parents had control over me when I was younger so
I did what they wanted. I think maybe I was setting myself up for this,
being unhappy, but I don't know why or how. Maybe I was afraid to face
the working world. Sounds pretty odd, I know.
I don't think that sounds odd at all. Actually, I think it sounds
pretty normal.
Nina
_____________
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus
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| User: "edmund" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
07 Aug 2005 07:07:23 PM |
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I don't think that sounds odd at all. Actually, I think it sounds
pretty normal.
Ok, maybe, but I think it was very self destructive. Now since it is
over and done with, I am wondering if I can ever live with myself
again. Reading usenet postings all day seems to be the only thing that
gives me satisfaction. I can see how many people's problems are
temporary, but mine definitely aren't... I'm stuck with this...
Nina
_____________
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus
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| User: "Nina" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
08 Aug 2005 06:14:38 AM |
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On 7 Aug 2005 17:07:23 -0700, "edmund" <squido26@yahoo.com> wrote:
I don't think that sounds odd at all. Actually, I think it sounds
pretty normal.
Ok, maybe, but I think it was very self destructive. Now since it is
over and done with, I am wondering if I can ever live with myself
again. Reading usenet postings all day seems to be the only thing that
gives me satisfaction. I can see how many people's problems are
temporary, but mine definitely aren't... I'm stuck with this...
Temporary or permanent has a LOT to do with what you make of it. As
does living with yourself. You did what you thought was right... or
what you had to do... at the time. That's the past. You can stay
with that, or you can figure out where to go from here, and how. The
rest of your life is a really long time to not forgive yourself for
things that were probably a product of your past, how you grew up, and
the state of mind that you were in.
You need to give the meds and the therapy a chance to work. I think
that all of us have been in that frame of mind where all you do is sit
around and click "get new headers." It passes... with time, with
help, with actively working on trying to move toward a better place.
Nina
_____________
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus
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| User: "edmund" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
08 Aug 2005 10:32:31 AM |
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I just feel confused and like I can't ever think straight. Maybe this
is due to my chronic insomnia as well... I don't feel quite like I've
lost my mind but like I lost something...
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| User: "edmund" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
08 Aug 2005 10:23:18 PM |
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Thanks to everyone who replied. I guess I'll try to sort this out
eventually.
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| User: "Doug Laidlaw" |
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| Title: Re: serious question about mental health |
06 Aug 2005 06:16:14 AM |
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edmund wrote:
I've been to a few therapists/psychiatrists recently and all of them
say that I am just depressed. I'm not sure, because I think I may have
some other kind of problem. It think the problem is I changed my major
from physics to computer science to literature. A big mistake which
left me with me with severe depression and mental problems. Now my
whole personality has changed -I'm more philisophical, introspective,
and well I just think differently . Is there any hope for me to
returning to my old self? I started taking meds a couple of days ago
and I'm going into intensive group therapy. i'm even thinking of going
back to study again. But will I ever be the same again?
Did you really hate the change? Would you be happier in the other stream?
If so, you mightn't get better until you go back. But talk it over in
therapy. Talk it over somewhere where you can say what you really want,
without caring about what others will think of you. Dare to imagine: What
would you do if you had no constraints, of either time, money or a wife and
family? Group therapy might be ideal for this, because the members have no
need to rely on your answers.
I was in a University residential hall with a guy doing medicine. It may
have been to please his parents. Whatever the reason, he hated it, and it
made him devote all his energies to forcing himself on - until he snapped,
or crashed. He switched to science, and was a much happier person.
For my part, I am of a rather sensitive/creative nature, but my father
valued academic achievement (and didn't believe in depression, either.) I
did law and stuck at it till my 55th birthday, although from the beginning,
it didn't feel right. Now I am looking at redirecting as well. It would
be much better for you to get it right at the start.
For a direct answer, a guy on a psychology ng asked "I have searched
everywhere for an answer to this: how do I change from a Type A personality
to a Type B?"
The answer he got, was: "You're joking, right?"
In other words, it can't be done. And you can't change so fundamentally,
either.
HTH,
Doug.
--
ICQ Number 178748389. Registered Linux User No. 277548.
The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and
hands.
- Robert M. Persig
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