From: garygm@leland.Stanford.EDU (Gary Brainin)
Subject: Re: Any suggestions for when you feel depressed for no reason?
Organization: Stanford Law School, Stanford University
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 07:32:15 GMT

   Sorry, no suggestions, just some observations.  First, globally,
what you're describing sounds familiar.  I've had bouts of free-
floating quasi-depression for as long as I can remember.  [No comments
from the peanut gallery, please.]  I don't have any particular
suggestions as to how to get over it except to say that doing almost
anything with the belief that it will help often does.  At least as
long as I'm doing it, and as long as I don't overanalyze why that
thing should make me feel better.

In article <1992Oct8.045716.29495@leland.Stanford.EDU> sykopath@leland.Stanford.EDU (Mickey) writes:
>Well, not *no* reason (I may have carpal tunnel syndrome, I'm in a few
>relatively stressful friendships, I've not been in a relationship in
>a remarkably long time), but no sufficient reason.
>
>I got lots of sleep last night, ate reasonably well today...
>...and still everything just feels off.  Out of kilter.  Skewed.
>
>I'm not even sure I'm "depressed" per se.  I just feel disgusted
>with my life, disgusted with myself, disgusted with the mere
>raw fact of existing and existence.  I know that sounds really
>philosophical, but it's true.  I don't feel well today.
>
>I feel like going to sleep, but I'm not tired.  I feel like
>eating something good, but I'm not hungry, and even chocolate
>tastes bad right now.  I feel like getting a hug, and there's 
>not someone within 800 miles who I could trust to really want
>to give me one right now.  
>
>I feel lonely, tired, and just...worn.  Worn down, worn out.

   Let's see . . . background problems, but they didn't depress you
yesterday.  No obvious physical cause.  Not really depressed, just
world-weary.  Nothing that you think of seems both possible and
helpful.  Yeah, that's about right.

   Not to trivialize, but being from the same environment as you,
could your malaise have anything to do with the weather?  It's been
godawful hot, and the air quality is miserable.  Being listless and
run-down isn't too surprising under those conditions.

   It's just a suggestion; I'm the last person to suggest that
depression needs an identifiable cause.

>
>So what do I do?  Should I pick up my Bible and read some? 
>Should I go work out, and hope that the endorphins will kick in
>before I get too tired for it to be worthwhile?  Should I go
>to bed and try to *make* myself tired?  Should I go and look
>for a friend (or is that just being dependent)?
>
>Should I post to a newsgroup in the hope of getting some positive
>affirmation from a motley assortment of complete strangers?
>(should I make mildly humorous self-referential comments in the hope
>of providing some slight amusement to myself and others?)

   Well, I'll take the liberty of presuming that you've been down
before.  And the further liberty of presuming that you didn't stay
that way up until today.  So, the obvious question is, what did you do
that got you out of your funk last time?  Chances are, the best thing
for _you_ to do to make yourself feel better is something that's
worked for you in the past.

   Good luck, and I hope you feel better.

			-Gary
-- 
|Gary Brainin                     |BITNET: garygm%leland.stanford.edu@stanford|
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