Korean Job Discussion Forums

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

I've had a bout of it for a good few months now. Need to get the meds again though. Next week. Amazingly I have gone over 2 months already without. In the past I've gone around the bend within a week or two, or so, when without the stuff.

So that's key now. Have had a few hard days of late. After just a few hours at work today I really could not deal with it much longer. The last hour or two was not good. Even simple stuff seemed hard to do. It was a chore just getting on the train to get home.

Anyway I've been Ok, so to speak, for most of the past numerous years. Been on stuff (starts with z...) pretty well straight since 1996. It's a long time. Don't take a lot. But it makes a lot of difference.

Probably the wrong place to be this personal. But of the few who know me, it doesn't matter.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

plane ride to some exotic destination will cure that!

need to get active! find a passion..
goodluck man..

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

I know what you're talking about. Probably the colourful whirlygig that working with kids is takes the blues away, right? The non-stop entertainment of it. No time to think, just energy comin' at ya. I know it works for me. And the quick pace in Korea.
I'll tell you what, though, I avoid drinking excessively. Sure, once in awhile but waking up like a flatline zombie in a one-room, with no zip to do anything, is inviting a funk. But, and I think you like drinking, it can be a social activity. Like the whirlygig at work.
About getting a mad passion to RAID (the insecticide) the blues. I've just gone on tangents like that, one after the other. 'Disposible income' to a degree, find something that makes me go, 'hmm, I'd like to do that', and take off with it. Metal detecting, throwing and making boomerangs, scuba diving, stuff 'one never had a chance to do as a kid'. Getting the 'kid' in oneself to play. Something that gives one a sense of speed (like caffeine) is excellent, like driving a motorcycle, trips, physical activity. Going to the gym kicks in that brain chemical (endorphins?).
Gotta be tough with myself. Like there's a sort of 'alarm system' set up to atomize (reduce to atoms, as with a nuclear blast) the blues. I listen to it and act fast.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Getting active or securing a passion.. I agree with that.

Particularly passions.. they can consume you and any depression.

Also.. try not to be too self-oriented on it. For example, people play music to match emotions/feelings.. and suddenly depressive music is being played exacerbating the feelings and emotions tenfold. You don't need that.

I'd recommend picking up books about other people.. so you have your mind off yourself.. and onto other people and other things. Opening your mind to the expansiveness of life and the people in it.

desultude · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 3:18 pm Post subject:

I've found in the past that it helps me to volunteer someplace. Orphanages here need volunteers, and spending time with orphans might help you get out of your head a bit.

When I'm here in Korea over breaks, with few wai gooks around and too much time on my hands, I start feeling depressed. I don't want to be running off on an expensive holiday every time, so I am thinking this year about how I can connect more with Korea in ways that don't leave me feeling empty on break time.

Its really a drag to be depressed here (or anywhere). It helps me to know that I am not alone in this, and there is something "normal" about it.

kermo · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject:

I think that people have given a lot of great advice about managing moods, staying positive, getting active, etc. All this is great, and relevant, but may not provide deliverance to the chronic depressive. It's not your fault, Jadude-- it sounds like your brain is just really vulnerable to depression, and all the cheerfulness and positive thinking you can muster is not going to keep you afloat all the time.

Depression is genetically prevalent in my family, and although it takes some humility (and expense) to stay on medication, I do it because it's an illness, not a mood problem. I used to experiment, taking breaks from the medication when my life was proceeding smoothly, but my current medication has a very short half-life, and I go into physical withdrawal very quickly.

You sound like a brave person, and I applaud your efforts to get through these tough times. Do whatever needs to be done, including medication, in order to survive. Here's a pat on the back, for what it's worth.

osangrl · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Location: osan

no offense buddy... but maybe asia is not the place for you. You're always depressed. Here, vietnam... etc. Why don't you go home and get the help you obviously need.

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Kiddirts · Joined: 25 Jul 2003

workout.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Get into meditation. Meditaing 20 minutes a day can do WONDERS.

And yes, get off the booze. We're all getting old and so is drinking.

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

This past year has had me pretty down as well. What you should do is change your life up. Spring will be here in a few months, so you can try to make a new beginning. Exercize, join a class, meet some new friends, find some new hobbies, learn something new that interests you. In other words, do things to make you feel better about yourself, and things will start to look up.

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

While finding new friends and starting new hobbies is all well and good advice for the mildly,"I've got the blues" and feeling depressed. However if you suffer from any of the major depressive disorders such as depression, major depression, Bi-polar, manic etc you need the following;
-A good psychiatric doctor.
-Chemical therapy.
-Psycho therapy.
-You also need the support of your friends and family.
Depression is a medical problem and needs to be treated as such. You're not just feeling sad you feel a deep sense of sadness, despair and it can affect your life in profound ways.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

Have you ever thought to visit a shrink to talk about stuff? I did when I first came to Korea. Not that I had depression but I didn't know anyone except my husband and life was tough being alone in a place where you didn't speak the local language and the locals didn't speak yours. It was just good to go talk to the doc and get stuff off my chest.

I hope, anyhow, that you feel better soon.

rawiri · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Location: Lovely day for a fire drill.

Im with whoever is recommending exercise...get those endorphins kicking in and after your done...what ever problems you had pre workout don't disappear but you do see them in a different light as opposed to shuffling around mulling things over and over till everything seems too fucked up to carry on with.

Setting achievable goals and getting to work on them is also a way to keep things in perspective and look toward the future instead of concentrating so heavily on the here and now.

Don't depend on other people that you haven't got a firm friendship with (i.e drinking buddies and the like)...look out for yourself man because ultimatley no one else is going to do it for you.

The thing is, as someone previously pointed out...their is a mammoth difference between having a case of the blues and being chemically imbalanced...i feel for you man...that must be a heavy load to carry...still, it's a cliche but it's true as well...theres always some poor *beep* thats a million times worse off than you are....you went to vietnam...so did i for a few days...saigon was my first 3rd world experience and it put a lot of things in perspective for me...i will never be rich or exceedingly (well not quite) handsome but chhhit...at least i'm not scraping an existence from foraging out of other peoples garbage.