Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[booder]

Actually I'm in China atm - Macau.

Hey Mr Cos , do you have any plans to bungee jump from Macau tower ?

[Claw75]

The link was a jest to my pal Celtic..not you personally and if you have very real issues I wish you all the best....now Celtic is an example to you all as  a man who has every right to be depressed, but does not let his own circumstances get in the way of a smile on his face and banter with his pals...

I've mentally (no pun intended) drafted several replies to this post.

Option one was going to be "who made that post....a five year old?".

Second choice was to tell you the story of my friend who broke her arm tripping over a loose paving stone whilst walking down the street - not even running! How ridic is that? I know others who have been involved in car or bike accidents, or fallen from great heights without a scratch on them when they'd have had every right to break their arm. I hope my friend felt suitably chastised when I told her she should have looked to those people as an example and just bounced back unharmed.

The third alternative was a long, factual post, explaining the very basic facts about mental illness and depression as if to someone who had never heard those phrases before and wished to understand. I don't think that would quite hit the mark though - as with so many other subjects it would probably end up only preaching to the converted.

I didn't want to not reply at all though. There is a danger when viewpoints like that are left unchallenged that the silence indicates an overarching acceptance of those kinds of views as fact.

Many people see depression as born out of weakness - flaws in the individual that make them unable to cope with the stresses and strains of life. The danger with that is, for the depressed person, it is the negative stereotypes they will focus on. They will chastise themselves for not being strong enough to avoid getting ill and take comments such as those above, however ill-informed, as their 'proof'. This fuels low self-esteem, in turn making the illness worse, to the point that, when the suicidal idealations begin the person really believes they are nothing more than a blight on society and a burden to family and friends, and that their loved ones will genuinely be better off without them.

How have you been lately..things have looked up I believe?

I presume this is an enquiry after my health? The stock answer is 'i'm fine, thank you', which for the moment I am, for the most part. The reasons for that and the deviations from that state are for me, my doctor and anyone else close who I choose to discuss such things with.

Theres just one thing I want to add. Whilst it is certainly true that stress etc can trigger episodes of depression theres not necessarily always a causal link. I've been through some rough stuff in the past - worse than you would imagine, i'm sure. Though ive had my struggles in recent years, during which i've been ill, it's been a walk in the park compared to things ive had to deal with previously. I didnt choose to become ill later in life any more than I chose not to become ill at the time when you, in your wisdom, would probably have deemed it justified.

[the sicilian]

The link was a jest to my pal Celtic..not you personally and if you have very real issues I wish you all the best....now Celtic is an example to you all as  a man who has every right to be depressed, but does not let his own circumstances get in the way of a smile on his face and banter with his pals...

I've mentally (no pun intended) drafted several replies to this post.

Option one was going to be "who made that post....a five year old?".

Second choice was to tell you the story of my friend who broke her arm tripping over a loose paving stone whilst walking down the street - not even running! How ridic is that? I know others who have been involved in car or bike accidents, or fallen from great heights without a scratch on them when they'd have had every right to break their arm. I hope my friend felt suitably chastised when I told her she should have looked to those people as an example and just bounced back unharmed.

The third alternative was a long, factual post, explaining the very basic facts about mental illness and depression as if to someone who had never heard those phrases before and wished to understand. I don't think that would quite hit the mark though - as with so many other subjects it would probably end up only preaching to the converted.

I didn't want to not reply at all though. There is a danger when viewpoints like that are left unchallenged that the silence indicates an overarching acceptance of those kinds of views as fact.

Many people see depression as born out of weakness - flaws in the individual that make them unable to cope with the stresses and strains of life. The danger with that is, for the depressed person, it is the negative stereotypes they will focus on. They will chastise themselves for not being strong enough to avoid getting ill and take comments such as those above, however ill-informed, as their 'proof'. This fuels low self-esteem, in turn making the illness worse, to the point that, when the suicidal idealations begin the person really believes they are nothing more than a blight on society and a burden to family and friends, and that their loved ones will genuinely be better off without them.

How have you been lately..things have looked up I believe?

I presume this is an enquiry after my health? The stock answer is 'i'm fine, thank you', which for the moment I am, for the most part. The reasons for that and the deviations from that state are for me, my doctor and anyone else close who I choose to discuss such things with.

Theres just one thing I want to add. Whilst it is certainly true that stress etc can trigger episodes of depression theres not necessarily always a causal link. I've been through some rough stuff in the past - worse than you would imagine, i'm sure. Though ive had my struggles in recent years, during which i've been ill, it's been a walk in the park compared to things ive had to deal with previously. I didnt choose to become ill later in life any more than I chose not to become ill at the time when you, in your wisdom, would probably have deemed it justified.

It was an enquiry about you generally..you don't post that often and i havent seen you at Luton.. and by things looking up I was referring to your impending nuptials ( congratulations by the way ) ..an incredibly defensive post..i was not enquiring as to the finer points of your health or state of mind although you have chosen in the past to share these with the forum... u seem to have taken a few of my last posts a little out of context..my five year old comment was referring to the link to a depression test where the questions were like..do you feel depressed..not exactly a spectacular insight into giving someone an answer more helping to reinforce an already perceived state of mind.. my off the cuff remark to celtic was within keeping in our general ribbing of each other and Vblue saw it for what it was..

[Claw75]

Fair enough - I presumed you were asking after my health given the nature of the discussion up til then, but was unsure so was trying to cover all bases. I didnt really have any issue with your earlier posts, and my replies were directed in response to your later one where you seemed to be suggesting that becoming depressed was somehow a choice within an individual's control.

thanks for the congrats - yes, super-happy in that respect

[the sicilian]

Obv don't think it's a choice... Although you will get cases of sympathy vampires... however for those that truly suffer through no fault of their own i can empathise..I have a client that is a suicide charity and have seen some truly troubled souls within its walls..and I just hope I never have to face those kinds of demons

[GreekStein]

Actually I'm in China atm - Macau.

Hey Mr Cos , do you have any plans to bungee jump from Macau tower ?

there isn't enough money knocking about in all of Macau to pay me to do that. Plus a fat bastard like me might just break the rope.

I'm fine with flying but hate heights. A few years ago I swerved the Helicopter tour in Vegas with the boys because I'm not comfortable with that sort of thing and a few years before I made the mistake of going up the Eiffel tower. I was shitting myself all the way up. Absolutely hated it.

[booder]

Actually I'm in China atm - Macau.

Hey Mr Cos , do you have any plans to bungee jump from Macau tower ?

there isn't enough money knocking about in all of Macau to pay me to do that. Plus a fat bastard like me might just break the rope.

I'm fine with flying but hate heights. A few years ago I swerved the Helicopter tour in Vegas with the boys because I'm not comfortable with that sort of thing and a few years before I made the mistake of going up the Eiffel tower. I was shitting myself all the way up. Absolutely hated it.

I share your sentiments, really hate heights. Liv Boree went up in my estimation when she did it , total respect to her.

[Tal]

Shitting yourself on the Eiffel Tower could present a health and safety risk for those below.

[GreekStein]

Shitting yourself on the Eiffel Tower could present a health and safety risk for those below.

why?

I guess we're not the same Tal. When I'm out in public I tend to have boxers and trousers on.

[tikay]

Actually I'm in China atm - Macau.

Hey Mr Cos , do you have any plans to bungee jump from Macau tower ?

there isn't enough money knocking about in all of Macau to pay me to do that. Plus a fat bastard like me might just break the rope.

I'm fine with flying but hate heights. A few years ago I swerved the Helicopter tour in Vegas with the boys because I'm not comfortable with that sort of thing and a few years before I made the mistake of going up the Eiffel tower. I was shitting myself all the way up. Absolutely hated it.

As a general rule, the going up is rarely fatal.

[Tal]

Shitting yourself on the Eiffel Tower could present a health and safety risk for those below.

why?

I guess we're not the same Tal. When I'm out in public I tend to have boxers and trousers on.

I don't tuck my trousers into my socks.

Vive la différence

[GreekStein]

Shitting yourself on the Eiffel Tower could present a health and safety risk for those below.

why?

I guess we're not the same Tal. When I'm out in public I tend to have boxers and trousers on.

I don't tuck my trousers into my socks.

Vive la différence

I don't wear old man boxers

[Tal]

Shitting yourself on the Eiffel Tower could present a health and safety risk for those below.

why?

I guess we're not the same Tal. When I'm out in public I tend to have boxers and trousers on.

I don't tuck my trousers into my socks.

Vive la différence

I don't wear old man boxers

Eat too many escargots and who knows whether Calvin Klein has built enough resistance

[tikay]

 

I like what you do when you do what you do

[tikay]

Do it again now
You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals
So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel
Gettin' horny now