Possible to still be depressed but in an OK mood???

[string of letters]

My subject line probably won't make sense or will seem like an oxymoron to some readers, so I'll try to explain (without droning on about myself too much, I hope). I am currently 43. I was depressed for a majority of my adult life, and hit rock bottom around the time I turned 40. Somehow, I 'bounced back' about 3 months after I turned 40, and found that I was able to take things in pretty good stride and became a lot less hypersensitive. I've been doing relatively well since then, but seem to be slipping again (I'm often socially isolated, due to moving around due to work and things like that. Haven't been in a relationship since forever. The last time I met someone I was really romantically interested in was a couple of months before I turned 40, and it was a total disaster. Anyway, very few chances to meet people, and OLD is just horrible).

 

The problem is that 'bouncing back' (and being in an OK mood a lot of the time) didn't actually solve a lot of my problems. I experience a lot of brain fog, am often unmotivated, and go through long periods where I do just what I need to get by. Actually, I keep myself occupied during a lot of my free time but I don't feel like I end up accomplishing a great amount. I get inspiration now and then, but it's very very fleeting. When I have to pack for weekend trips, I'm almost totally incompetent at it (despite a lot of travel in my life) and it's almost inevitable that I will forget a couple of important things (maybe some kind of 'mental block' here... I don't know).

 

I did recently read some studies about how long term depression can actually harm the brain, particularly the part of the brain that forms new memories. I found this very eerie since for example visiting new places doesn't cause them to 'stick' like they used to. Maybe I should just keep my eyes on this kind of study, and maybe it's the answer to my question (but even if it is, what do I *do*? I'm already involved in activities which should supposedly keep the brain sharp, like studying foreign languages).

 

But, maybe I had an idealized notion of what escaping from depression would be like. I guess it's often described as a 'fog being lifted'. I didn't experience anything like that. It's just that I'm more likely to experience a very rudimentary contentment rather than feeling numb or awful.

 

Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

[Justanaverageguy]

Brain fog symptoms you are talking about are very often linked with digestive issues caused by sustained periods of high stress / anxiety. So very common for people with depression for extended periods. Though the depression often lifts .... the digestive issues causing the brain fog and tiredness often don't unless you take corrective action.

 

Briefly why this happens. 70% of the immune system is based in the gut and it requires a huge amount of blood to regulate and function correctly. The intestine wall for example is replaced completely every 24 hours. While stressed or anxious, your heart rate goes up, your blood pressure normally rises, and blood is shunted away from your midsection, going to your arms, legs, and head for quick thinking, fighting, or fleeing. This is meant to be a temporary response to help with survival, but when stress and anxiety becomes chronic it results in issues with your digestive system.

 

Typically its common to see things like Candida get out of control in the digestive track. You may see rashes, thrush etc presenting themselves. Also a condition known as leaky gut where your intestine wall isn't able to adequately repair itself and gets holes allowing food particles through into your blood stream.

 

This affects mental clarity due to the toxins getting into the blood, it reduces nutrient absorption, and creates tiredness due to a combination of both the body having to clear additional toxins while also not getting the nutrients it needs. This creates a cycle where the condition can get worse.

 

See a doctor to see if this is you. They can run tests to verify. If it is a contributing to your current state then they will be able to prescribe methods and supplements to help resolve. The main ones you can look after yourself are diet and staying healthy and happy.

Edited July 15, 2015 by Justanaverageguy

[string of letters]

Brain fog symptoms you are talking about are very often linked with digestive issues caused by sustained periods of high stress / anxiety. So very common for people with depression for extended periods. Though the depression often lifts .... the digestive issues causing the brain fog and tiredness often don't unless you take corrective action.

 

Briefly why this happens. 70% of the immune system is based in the gut and it requires a huge amount of blood to regulate and function correctly. The intestine wall for example is replaced completely every 24 hours. While stressed or anxious, your heart rate goes up, your blood pressure normally rises, and blood is shunted away from your midsection, going to your arms, legs, and head for quick thinking, fighting, or fleeing. This is meant to be a temporary response to help with survival, but when stress and anxiety becomes chronic it results in issues with your digestive system.

 

Typically its common to see things like Candida get out of control in the digestive track. You may see rashes, thrush etc presenting themselves. Also a condition known as leaky gut where your intestine wall isn't able to adequately repair itself and gets holes allowing food particles through into your blood stream.

 

This affects mental clarity due to the toxins getting into the blood, it reduces nutrient absorption, and creates tiredness due to a combination of both the body having to clear additional toxins while also not getting the nutrients it needs. This creates a cycle where the condition can get worse.

 

See a doctor to see if this is you. They can run tests to verify. If it is a contributing to your current state then they will be able to prescribe methods and supplements to help resolve. The main ones you can look after yourself are diet and staying healthy and happy.

 

Thank you JAAG. I should look into this more. I've actually had IBS on and off for over a decade (seems to have been caused by giardia picked up during an overseas adventure and/or the antibiotics used to kill the giardia). I've been using high quality probiotics the last few months and that's helped a lot with GI symptoms, though haven't felt a lot better mentally (that said, I'm going through an unusually stressful period currently). Also had high hopes for a round of Rifaximin a few years ago, but it didn't help(dosage may have been too low though...).

[empresario]

I'm going to approach this from two different paths:

 

 

1) It's not actually depression

 

 

I know, I know. But don't jump down my throat. Sometimes depression and brain fog can be a SYMPTOM of some other condition, and not the disease itself.

 

 

For example, a lady I know was chronically depressed. She could never focus, would get brain fog and had a terrible memory (and would even black out). She felt like crap all the time.

 

 

Everyone told her it was depression and filled her full of medications that merely made it worse.

 

 

After months of studying and getting tested she found out she has a fructose intolerance. She changed her diet and went from a 2.0 student to a 4.0 student just like that. She is now optimistic. Her serotonin levels are back to normal (which she was told she genetically produced low amounts). So since you've had chronic problems you shouldn't rule out something else.

 

 

I mean, seriously. I didn't even know intolerances could cause that. But look up fructose intolerance signs. It made sense once she got the test results back.

 

 

I'm not saying you're fructose intolerant. But environmental impacts do cause those symptoms.

 

 

2) It is depression

 

 

Depression is a real disease. I was diagnosed at age 12 and though I don't always experience it, I am more likely to fall into it than most people.

 

 

And if you can find a solution to that, I'm all ears. Best I've ever been able to do is train my brain to see the optimistic view of everything that ever happens to me. Over time it has worked. But every so often I do crash and go manic.

 

 

---

 

 

Best of luck! I hope you figure it out.

[casey.lives]

being depressed is when your core is sad. not just about experiencing sad thoughts or being drained from stress....

[Justanaverageguy]

Thank you JAAG. I should look into this more. I've actually had IBS on and off for over a decade (seems to have been caused by giardia picked up during an overseas adventure and/or the antibiotics used to kill the giardia). I've been using high quality probiotics the last few months and that's helped a lot with GI symptoms, though haven't felt a lot better mentally (that said, I'm going through an unusually stressful period currently). Also had high hopes for a round of Rifaximin a few years ago, but it didn't help(dosage may have been too low though...).

 

 

I got leaky gut last year. Came after a period of super high stress with work and relationship break down. I had really bad brain fog for a few months and was wondering what the hell was going on - I only found the cause due to a fungal infection caused by candida. I was able to pretty much completely resolve the issue in a couple of months by doing the following:

 

1) Temporarily removing Carbs, All processed foods, Dairy and high sugar foods along with alcohol and caffein from my diet. I went Paleo. Heaps and heaps of Vegetables and green leafy salads with healthy lean protein. You don't need to do this forever (carbs are actually good for you despite what paleo nuts tell you) but you do need to cut these out while your body heals. These foods are the ones that typically cause the most damage when your digestive system is not functioning properly and trigger food allergies.

2) L-Glutamine. Seriously it is the most critical thing I did to fix my issues. It heals your intestines and helps restore a fully functioning digestive system. It is basically the fuel your body uses to rebuild the intestine wall. I took high doses 30-40g per day of Glutamine powder mixed with water in multiple sittings and saw amazing results within a week. You don't want to say at these high doses forever but you do in the initial repair stage. I think its one of the first things they recommend for any digestive diseases normally.

3) Probiotics - Need to get your gut flora back in order. Sounds like you are already taking these.

4) Digestive Enzymes to assist your digestive system with the break down of carbs, protein and fats. I took these with every meal I ate to ensure food was properly being broken down in my stomach and digestive system.

5) Lastly I started mediating twice a day every day. This one is a bit different but was more related to getting my mind back in a good place. For someone with a history of depression you should look into Transcendental Meditation.

 

Hope that helps

[autumnnight]

Thyroid can also be a culprit. Many a person has walked around in a listless, depressed, befuddled fog only to discover that their thyroid levels were low.

[whichwayisup]

Thyroid can also be a culprit. Many a person has walked around in a listless, depressed, befuddled fog only to discover that their thyroid levels were low.

 

That and having low vitamin D levels can do it too. Actually any vitamin or mineral can alter moods.

 

Try yoga, daily brisk walking, deep breathing, and meditation. Even singing (it sounds stupid but it does make a difference. Go on youtube, find your favourite songs and sing along! Open another page and find the lyrics while singing away!

 

Sometimes when I get that brain fog (happen frequently in the winter months or too many gray/rainy days in a row, any bit of exercise you can do, helps. Also when you feel isolated, call a friend to come hang out with you. It'll pick your mood up and also not make you feel so alone and blah.

 

Even taking an advil once or twice a day helps. Weird, but it works.

[GoldieLox]

being depressed is when your core is sad. not just about experiencing sad thoughts or being drained from stress....

 

But being drained from stress can absolutely lead to situational depression. Doesn't sound like that's what this poster's issue is however. OP, have you ever consulted someone professionally?