How will you cope/deal with depression post SHTF

[Waterbaby]

I think an outlook in life in general that takes you a little outside the box is a good discipline.
I believe that the average daily life has divorced us so much from what we are supposed to be like that unless we challenge that,we are setting ourselves up for becoming traumatised should our world be shaken.
I'm a firm believer in not becoming too accustomed to the easy life,and setting yourself challenges and letting yourself feel some discomfort.To develop a sense of determination and the ability to tough stuff out has got to pay dividends in my opinion.

[Hamradioop]

I have suffered from clinical depression in the past and it is not just feeling sad. It is a total apathy to life and living, you do not want to do any thing, and you have no motivation. It is very hard to get out of Bed in the morning. Suicide makes more sense than anything else as you have no value to anyone and you do not value them, I have honestly felt that I and everyone I know would be better off if I was dead.

THis is only a part of true clinical Depression and I hope none of you ever suffer from it.

[DustyDog]

having lived with two manic depressives and still live with one of them, lets say i have learned to cope with down times, so i think i would cope with post shtf blues, for how long of course depends on what is happening. Very good question and possibly something not many have thought about.

[PreppingPingu]

It's something important that does need to taken into account. The series Alaska, the last Frontier touched on it in one or two episodes. "Cabin Fever" will ruin you if you aren't prepared for it. Anyone who has been on a holiday with their kids or mates in a canal barge, tent or static caravan in this county during a week of rain may have an inkling to what may lay ahead. If you thought being cooped up for a week or two in bad weather on an English summer holiday imagine what it will be like if the SHtF! Add that to the mix of uncertainty, loss and fear and depression will be an issue for some people - not necessarily the ones you think will be effected. Sometimes people who look like they are coping, aren't coping at all. An example is someone I know who used to look after children, nanny them etc but when she had her own children she suffered massively with depression - some of the reason being, she thought she would cope and thought that she should cope so when she didn't, it hit her harder. I mention this as some of us here think we will be fine, but until you have either your own personal SHtF moment or experience something terrible, then you don't really know.

As for dealing with it, only those who have been through can give some good tips on how to cope with depression. I get the impression from those that I know who have suffered that it is a very individual thing, and what helps one person may not help another as we are all wired very differently. One thing that occurs to me is prevention if and where possible. Keeping our eyes on each other to look for signs, keeping people busy, assigning jobs and roles, giving each other purpose and make the people you are with feel valued may help keep some depression at bay.

[unsure]

It's something important that does need to taken into account.

As for dealing with it, only those who have been through can give some good tips on how to cope with depression. I get the impression from those that I know who have suffered that it is a very individual thing, and what helps one person may not help another as we are all wired very differently. One thing that occurs to me is prevention if and where possible. Keeping our eyes on each other to look for signs, keeping people busy, assigning jobs and roles, giving each other purpose and make the people you are with feel valued may help keep some depression at bay.

your right in what you say ,, it is a very individual thing and what helps one may not help another .
i know what caused mine and remember it all to well , just the thought of going back there fills me with dread but as much we all think we`re coping in reality no one can say for sure .its not like having a bad day , were you can usually shrug it off it goes much deeper than that .couple that with ones moral compass
,,,,,

[ukpreppergrrl]

Re: PreppingPingu's "cabin fever", one thing also perhaps to consider now is whether or not you are by nature an introvert or an extrovert (in the Jungian sense not the life and soul of the party sense!) as this is likely to affect how well you will deal with enforced isolation or enforced co-habitation, quite apart from dealing with the aftermath of whatever caused the S to HTF. Introvert and extrovert is not about how socially accomplished you are, you can be a confident, sociable introvert or a shy, awkward extrovert, it's about where you draw your energy from. I'm strongly introvert, I've never understood why being sent to solitary confinement is deemed to be punishment, for me it's a two week holiday away from other people. For a friend of mine, who is strongly extrovert, the lack of human contact probably would drive her insane. If you want to punish me, put me in a room with 100 other people partying away, and force me to join in, within a few hours I'll be weeping like a baby!

To help identify your introvert/extrovert nature, imagine this scenario: it's Friday evening, it's been a long, hard week at work, you're tired, fractious and need to unwind. Do you: a) change into comfy clothes, dial-in a takeaway, put your feet up in front of the tv accompanied only by your significant other (or maybe not!) and a bottle of your favourite tipple, drawing energy from the peace and quiet; or b) put on your glad rags, gather all your friends, head out to the local pub/night-club, and party away drawing energy from the buzz around you. If you're drawn to the idea of a) your preference is introvert, if you're drawn to the idea of b) your preference extrovert. If you're answer is "it depends" then you're neither strongly one nor the other....which may be a good thing, or it may mean you're prone to the problems of both!

If you're strongly extrovert, you're not going to cope with even a week's isolation in your BIL, BOL or bunker, yet alone the months that may be required post SHTF. This includes being quarantined in your house because of a pandemic outbreak. If you're strongly introvert you're going to find it hard to deal with being in close proximity with others in any kind of state-run shelter, or quarantine situation shared with other people. It's best to consider your innate preference now and plan accordingly, but not forgetting to try to work out a coping strategy if you were forced to be in your non-preferred environment.

[Wonderer]

I think about this often as I suffer from bipolar. Please don't forget the power of laughter, a little laughing goes along way, in your preps don't forget to add things like playing cards and other games I have mentioned this in the list forum before and it seems that it's missed a lot.
For me personally keeping busy helps.
who knows how you'll feel in the SHTF sanario I dont pretend to but the challenge of daily life may help sometimes I think this daily life is to easy go to shop get food no labour their. Remote for TV you get my drift. Hope it helps if it makes sense if not, I'm a good listener lol

[dangerman]

Sorry to jump on the bandwagon, but I'm very aware of this topic due to my personal experiences and education. And I'm learning more!

If you want to prepare for life after pharmaceuticals, knowledge is power. You need to look after yourself first. Official reports suggest that one in three will suffer from a debilitating mental health condition. Personally, based on what I've read, I'd say it was closer to one in one. Life is hard and everyone will have ups and downs. Some worse than others. But there are some professionals arguing for non medicine based treatments. Things like talking therapies or even things like personal trainers to help with motivation.

Have a read up, or start collecting reading material on the subject. Bio-psychosocial models etc. For me, I'll be avoiding medication even when it is available.

Of course, sometimes medication is definitely going to be your best bet. Like with episodes of psychosis and whatnot. And in that case, maybe stocking up as much as you can on relevant a-typical anti-depressants/anti-psychotics/mood-stabilisers would be a good move. Even sleeping pills. Research the best ones for long lifetime useability and be very aware of how these drugs should be used (their addictive nature and how they cycle in the body). Thinking of storage, some medications will last a lot lot longer than advertised. Studies have shown that lots of medications, like anti-biotics, last for at least three decades longer than suggested, but I'm not sure about other drugs.

[ForgeCorvus]

I found this useful
http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/

[Waterbaby]

Perhaps for some,there could be a degree of comfort to be gained from some sort of spiritual practice/belief -whether that be praying to a god,becoming attuned to the rhythms of nature,or adopting some sort of meditative practice.
I've begun to practice yoga,and I really think its good for me,both physically and spiritually.
I completely acknowledge that depression needs treatment with drugs,I'm kind of musing as to what may help people with no previous diagnosis of depression from falling into despair.