Pilots and depression: What to do?

[pilothouston123]

A friend told me that Depression was anger turned inward. Find out why you are angry and try to do something about it or let God handle it.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

A friend told me that Depression was anger turned inward. Find out why you are angry and try to do something about it or let God handle it.

Let God handle it huh? are you preaching? Long long ago ,this big ball of gas and stuff exploded and created the planets and stars which are still expanding from this central area hence "BIG BANG" oh, and the majority of the stories in the bible are stolen from other stories from other religions.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

okay, im done talking tonight, im pissed off about work tonight and im taking it out on here. I appologize about all my negative comments, im drunk and pissed and Im not making an excuse. Im appologizing. Fly safe, be nice to your controllers and life is grand. Peace.
MK

 

[Rally]

Depression can be physical and mental. You can have a physical genetic disease such as pyroluria. Basically under stress you piss zinc and b6 out in much much higher amounts then the normal people. End result is lower zinc, rising copper and depression, anxiety, schziophrenia, etc. B-6 drops which is directly responsible for making tryptophan->5HTP->and the serotonin. (feel good hormone). Liver problems can causes depression, according to chinese medicine liver is where the emotions are stored. Every hormone in the body is regulated in the end and disposed of by the liver. Stay away from junk and preservatives. I am speaking at a subclinical level on some of this. Look up many diseases or disorders, and all they are mostly is a body trying to cope with bullcrap, no exercise, what you eat, etc and most of them have depression as a buzz word or fatigue which is inherantly the same thing. Sometimes taking prozac or a drink for that matter is enough to just stop the emotions and reset the clock and let the body reset and get back in to homostsis albeit the wrong method probably. As far as mental, its really just a taxing of your body mainly your adrenal glands which handle stress. Excess stress, caffiene, staying up late, bad lifestyle can cause your adrenals to get tired then stop putting out. (the turn burnt out come from this) Its subclinically called adrenal fatigue. Thinking positively or turning a frown upside down helps so does one again lifestyle. Easier said then done.

I'd be interested to see the amount of pilots that are depressed. Even more interesting would be to see how many of you guys have had anxiety or even panic attacks. Not sure we'd get many to admit it but I bet its more common then we think.

 

[Wyatt]

Im on the road to aclholism with the FAA these days, whatever they can do to make me as miserable of a controller as possible they will do but have some respect for the matter. I resent your comments because even though I didn't start this thread I take this crap seriously because its part of who I am, what I have been and who I am now. While your comments I'm sure were meant to be humorous becasue women are my crutch I find it disrespectful and not a whole lot offends or upsets me, but I've been in the depressed world, I battle it every day of my life and people like you who have no F'n clue make your remarks and think your cute and funny. Well I have a comment for you. F... You!

Right back at ya bunky!

For a guy who doesnt get easily offended or upset you sure are doing a lot of spouting off....Sounds like you dont need to be a controller, or anything else that requires responsibility with your problems. Why dont you quit your pissing and moaning and seek professional help?

Hows that for "cute and funny"?

 

[Gorilla]

Learjtcaptain, you had to know this would come, didn't you? 8/10 posters here sound like a clueless mom - "Cheer up, it's allll in your head." Some of you mean well, and some of you are just mean.

True depression is chemical, it's not just a state of mind. Yes, there are "the blues" that most get occasionally which CAN often be fixed by a rowdy night on the town. But for those that genuinely require meds, it is often a matter of life and death. It's not a joke. The guy wanted to know about getting BACK his medical, not how to snap out of a bluesy state.

I know some of you mean well, but it's a serious issue that can tear people apart. I saw it happen, and I have the utmost respect for that fine balance of dopamine and serotonin which regulates mood. Out of whack brain cocktail = utter and complete misery; I mean physically unable to get out of bed misery.

I wish I had the answer. My "friend" is not a pilot and successfully returned after the correct meds were found, but I'll say this... NOTHING should prevent you, your bud, or anyone else from seeking help. NOTHING. Do what needs to be done, and then work on the license. Good luck to anyone suffering.

 

[sky37d]

When I was suffering from depression the only thing that made me feel better was to go fly. When flying I use to think of nothing else except the task at hand. I can remember landing and having all the feelings come back to mind.

I'm reminded.
I was taking my PP lessons, when I lost my son. It was a horrible time. A couple of weeks later, I went back for a lesson. All the troubles lifted, I concentrated on flying, and the joy of being in the air. I can still remember that night, as if it was yesterday. Things got put into perspective. Having an understanding partner helps. So does sex. I found that if I am down, great sex puts things better. So does flying. Doing something different, changes the way you look at things. If you are constantly depressed, you can go see a shrink, or take a pill, but it's really up to you to determine what you are down about, and do something about it. Of course, that's the hardest part. Some of us don't want to acknowledge what that is. okay, that's just my $.02.

 

[MQAAord]

When you're in the clutches of depression, you can feel like you're not worth the air you breathe. Someone who's never been there really can't understand the complete and utter hopelessness and despair in that pit. You see the world through skewed eyes, unable to take pleasure and happiness in the things that ought to be happy.

I only saw a very small glimspe of this world, the depression I had was very mild and was not long-lasting. But if I had a mild case, holy crap I can't imagine what a bad case must be like. For very bad cases, excercise, diet, reading books, none of those will probably help. Professional assistance is NECESSARY. Drugs can help re-establish the chemical balance, and are a tool that should be used when necessary.

Please try to cut LRJ some slack. It can be hard to see people making jokes about something that so deeply affects you. It's not easy for someone who's never suffered depression to understand really how bad it can be.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Learjtcaptain, you had to know this would come, didn't you? 8/10 posters here sound like a clueless mom - "Cheer up, it's allll in your head." Some of you mean well, and some of you are just mean.

True depression is chemical, it's not just a state of mind. Yes, there are "the blues" that most get occasionally which CAN often be fixed by a rowdy night on the town. But for those that genuinely require meds, it is often a matter of life and death. It's not a joke. The guy wanted to know about getting BACK his medical, not how to snap out of a bluesy state.

I know some of you mean well, but it's a serious issue that can tear people apart. I saw it happen, and I have the utmost respect for that fine balance of dopamine and serotonin which regulates mood. Out of whack brain cocktail = utter and complete misery; I mean physically unable to get out of bed misery.

I wish I had the answer. My "friend" is not a pilot and successfully returned after the correct meds were found, but I'll say this... NOTHING should prevent you, your bud, or anyone else from seeking help. NOTHING. Do what needs to be done, and then work on the license. Good luck to anyone suffering.

Well said. Depression is a disease, the same as cancer, MS, stomach ulcers or anything else. It can and does manifest itself both mentally and physically. It is not a depressed persons fault, they don't bring it on themselves and there is little they can do to prevent it. It most people, it simply is and must be dealt with. It is a shame we don't look at depression and other mental disorders (I prefer the term "brain diseases") the same as we look at other more "acceptable" body malfuntions. A lot more people would get the help they need.

A diagnosis of depression is a lot more complex than simply saying to the doctor "I'm sad." In a conversation with my sister, who is both a physician and a depression sufferer, she told me that the condition is hard to identify and treat. The symptoms of depression can be indicative of other disorders, or even mask the symptoms of other disorders.

Bottom line: If you don't feel right, if you feel like you need help, get help. Consequences be damned. Life is too short to try to deal with a monster like depression by yourself for the sake of some flying job. If it turns out you are not depressed, then just report it on your medical as going to the doctor for a flu like symptoms. That's probably true enough.

Again... Find help, get support.

 

[SCT]

LrJetCapt,

I'm not superstitious, but look at your post #.......

 

[Groundpounder]

St. John's Wort helps alot with anxiety, think it might help depression as well.

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

I'm reminded.
I was taking my PP lessons, when I lost my son. It was a horrible time. A couple of weeks later, I went back for a lesson. All the troubles lifted, I concentrated on flying, and the joy of being in the air. I can still remember that night, as if it was yesterday. Things got put into perspective. Having an understanding partner helps. So does sex. I found that if I am down, great sex puts things better. So does flying. Doing something different, changes the way you look at things. If you are constantly depressed, you can go see a shrink, or take a pill, but it's really up to you to determine what you are down about, and do something about it. Of course, that's the hardest part. Some of us don't want to acknowledge what that is. okay, that's just my $.02.

I am so sorry you lost your son. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain of losing a child... The mere thought makes me shudder. I am very happy to hear that flying helped you deal with your grief. I too have used flying as a "balm for the soul" when things weren't so hot.

Everything you said is true. However, we have to remember that grief or being upset over something is not the same as clinical depression. Clinical depression is a disease, one which sometimes REQUIRES pharmacological intervention for a person to get well (along with counseling and lifestyle changes, etc.). Traumatic events can trigger episodes of severe depression, but from what I have been told by people who ought to know (I am no medico, thats for sure) many times these people were already depressed to some degree.

Sky37d: Please do not take my above comments as minimizing in anyway the pain you felt after the loss of your son. I know that grief feels terrible, and your's must have been especially soul rending. I just feel a distinction needs to be drawn between the DISEASE of depression and FEELING depressed. We through that term around a lot without understanding what it really is, I think.

 

[sky37d]

Sky37d: Please do not take my above comments as minimizing in anyway the pain you felt after the loss of your son. I know that grief feels terrible, and your's must have been especially soul rending. I just feel a distinction needs to be drawn between the DISEASE of depression and FEELING depressed. We through that term around a lot without understanding what it really is, I think.

Good point, there is feeling depressed, as I was, and being "Clinically" depressed, the disease.

And thank you.
Nothing else to say.

 

[FN FAL]

I would think that anyone that has a suspicion that a personal or medical problem is going to be debilitating, they should consult with professionals.

Consider the moral, ethical, legal and liability issues and move forward from there.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

hey wayatt. If you didn't read my post complelty you would understand a few things. I dont spout off about airline crap so dont spout off at me. bottom line, we all work together, if you think i shouldn't be a controller come to my airspace. If you are courtous and follow my rules its a damn fine place to fly, im a pilot and you want more pilot controllers out there. I don't take it out on the radio i take it out on here. Peace....Be nice to your controllers.
Fly safe.

 

[FN FAL]

Learjtcaptain, you had to know this would come, didn't you? 8/10 posters here sound like a clueless mom - "Cheer up, it's allll in your head." Some of you mean well, and some of you are just mean.

True depression is chemical, it's not just a state of mind. Yes, there are "the blues" that most get occasionally which CAN often be fixed by a rowdy night on the town. But for those that genuinely require meds, it is often a matter of life and death. It's not a joke. The guy wanted to know about getting BACK his medical, not how to snap out of a bluesy state.

I know some of you mean well, but it's a serious issue that can tear people apart. I saw it happen, and I have the utmost respect for that fine balance of dopamine and serotonin which regulates mood. Out of whack brain cocktail = utter and complete misery; I mean physically unable to get out of bed misery.

I wish I had the answer. My "friend" is not a pilot and successfully returned after the correct meds were found, but I'll say this... NOTHING should prevent you, your bud, or anyone else from seeking help. NOTHING. Do what needs to be done, and then work on the license. Good luck to anyone suffering.

Yea, we're all mean. So let me ask you this one...say the kid isn't clinically depressed and doesn't suffer from the same chemical imbalance problem as LrjtCA. He then goes down to the money grubbing doctor who gets a kickback from the pharmaceutical companies for writing prescriptions for the drugs that are going to ultimately mean a loss of flying status and a paperwork trail. How is it that we're mean for suggesting that the person re-evaluate their emotional status, before they run down and see the nice drug salesman MD guy?

If I was a doctor and I had my stethoscope out and was listening to some guy going on and on about "girlfriend dumped me...boo hoo hoo...yadda yadda yadda" I'd be thinking about how many more prescriptions I was going to need to write in order to buy that new cigarette boat and say, "Yea, you're depressed..."

 

[JimNtexas]

Unless it's viagra.

I knew I wasn't the only over fifty person here!

 

[Dizel8]

A good friend of mine tried Johns Wort or something, said it helped him. AFAIK it is over the counter.

 

[RockbrigadePC1]

Hope this helps:

How do I know if I need to be on medication?

Sometimes, when a person is dealing with depression or anxiety, taking medication can be helpful in managing the symptoms. Here are some signs that you might be experiencing depression or anxiety:

Symptoms of depression

? Feeling sad or irritable most of the day, nearly every day
? Loss of pleasure in usual activities
? Significant weight loss OR gain
? Difficulty falling or staying asleep OR sleeping much more than usual
? Feeling physically restless OR very slowed down
? Fatigue or loss of energy
? Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
? Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
? Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide


If you are experiencing some of these symptoms (or ones similar to them), and they are interfering with your ability to function on a daily basis, you should talk with your counselor about whether medication might be helpful for you. For some people, counseling by itself is effective; for others, an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication is helpful in addition to counseling. Although your counselor cannot prescribe medication, s/he can help you decide whether seeking medication makes sense for you, and can help you figure out where you can go for a medication evaluation.

Why should someone consider using medication?

Medication can be a helpful addition to therapy and can speed recovery from depression, anxiety, and other psychological conditions.

Will medication change my personality?

No, but depression and anxiety can. Medication will allow your personality to come through without being as affected by your symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Isn’t it better to try to fix the problem without medication?

It is certainly a good idea to try to address your symptoms without using medication. However, you may find that your symptoms are severe enough that they keep you from implementing changes or even understanding what caused your condition. In these cases, medication can help clear your thinking, increase your energy level, and improve your overall psychological well-being, all of which will help you get to the root of the issue more easily.

Is it a sign of weakness to take medication? Am I just running away from my problems if I take medication?

No more so than if you had diabetes and took insulin. By taking medication for depression or anxiety, you are using a proven treatment for a real condition. In fact, you are facing your problems head-on by using medication and counseling to treat your symptoms.

Do a lot of other students take medication, or am I alone in this?

You are not alone. Many other students as well as people in the general population use medication to help with psychological conditions.

How can I tell if my problem is just a chemical imbalance?

There’s really no such thing as “just a chemical imbalance.” Our brain chemicals affect our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions – and our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions affect our brain chemicals. So, if you are feeling anxious or depressed, your brain chemistry is off-balance – regardless of “why” you are depressed or anxious. Thus, if you take a medication and start to feel better, it does not mean that it was “just a chemical imbalance.”

If I talk to a psychiatrist, will s/he push me into taking medication?

Your doctor will not push you into taking medication. He or she will only offer you treatment options and recommendations. The decision whether or not to use medication is ultimately yours.

Do I need to be in counseling, too? Why do I need to be in counseling if I’m on medication?

Medication helps your symptoms feel less severe, but may not address whatever caused the symptoms to emerge in the first place. Counseling may help you understand what led up to your symptoms, what you can do to help yourself feel better, and how you can prevent your symptoms from returning in the future.

Does medication work better than counseling?

Research shows that for some problems, including depression, counseling works as well as or better than medication alone. For many people, a combination of the right medication and the right kind of counseling is the best way to treat symptoms.

If I’m feeling better, should I stop coming to counseling?

You should always discuss your decision to leave counseling with your counselor before you stop coming. Often, your symptoms will show improvement when you start taking medication – and that is good! However, this should be a way for you get even more out of counseling, to address any underlying issues that led to your symptoms in the first place, to prevent symptom relapse, and to help you get to the point where medication is not required.

How does the medication work?

Medications for depression and anxiety work by affecting the chemicals in your brain that are related to your emotions and restoring these chemicals to their normal functioning. Some of the most common and effective modern medications work by allowing these chemicals to stay active in your brain for longer than they would on their own. Other classes of medication work in the brain differently.

How long will it take to work?

Most medications for depression and anxiety take at least two weeks to take effect, and some do not reach their full effects for 4-6 weeks. During this time, you should not stop taking the medication or change your dose without first talking with your physician.

How long will I have to take it?

It depends – on how severe your symptoms are, whether you are in counseling, the type of medication you are taking, and what else is going on in your life. For depression, a minimum of six months is recommended. Most people find that they are feeling much better after a few months, and can discuss tapering off the medication. You should have regular check-ups while you are on the medication to evaluate its effectiveness and discuss the duration of treatment.

Do I have to take it every day, or can I just take it when I need it?

Most medications are taken every day. Your doctor will talk with you about how a particular medication is to be taken. It is important to use the medication as your doctor directs in order to receive the full benefit and to avoid serious health problems.

Will I need to be on it for the rest of my life?

Probably not, but it is possible. Most people who suffer from depression or anxiety find that medication and counseling help them recover, and then they can stop treatment. Some people with more severe symptoms or who have a genetic predisposition may find that long-term use of medication and/or counseling is necessary.

What side effects will I experience?

It really depends on what medication you are taking. However, medications from the same drug family often have similar side effects. Some possible side effects of the most popular anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications are:
? Nausea, diarrhea, or constipation
? Dizziness
? Drowsiness
? Nervousness
? Sleep changes
? Dry mouth
? Headache
? Blurred vision
? Change in sexual interest or functioning

Not everyone experiences these side effects, and most people will experience only one or two. Also, you are most likely to experience side effects in the first three weeks of using a new medication. Usually, these symptoms are mild and tend to fade as your body gets used to being on the medication. However, if you experience side effects that are unpleasant or last more than a few weeks, you should talk with you physician about this. It may be that a different medication or dosage would work better for you.

What other changes will I have to make in my life if I go on medication?

While you are using an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety drug, you should not drink alcohol or use any other recreational drugs. Your doctor should know about any other medications that you are taking. You should plan to take the medicine at the same time every day, and you may find that you have to make adjustments to your schedule to accommodate minor side effects (such as drowsiness).

Who can prescribe medication?

Generally speaking, medical professionals are able to prescribe medication. This includes any M.D. or D.O. (such as your family physician or a psychiatrist), or Nurse Practitioners with pertinent education. In general, psychologists and counselors CANNOT prescribe medication.

How much does it cost?

Medications can be costly, but there are ways to control the expense. The cost of medication depends on several factors, including which medicine is being used and your health insurance’s prescription drug coverage. Before making a decision to go on a medication, you should find out how much your prescription co-pay is, and whether this differs based on the specific medication you are prescribed. Some medicines for psychological problems are available as generic drugs, which helps reduce the cost to you. Most people find that their health insurance covers a large part of the cost of these medications. If you have concerns about cost, you should talk with your doctor about these. In addition, you can go to www.needymeds.com for more information on managing your medication costs.

Whom should I talk with if I have more questions?

www.ulifeline.org
www.nimh.nih.gov
www.apa.org
www.mentalhealth.com
www.mentalhelp.com
www.depression.com
www.anxietynetwork.com

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Se...tManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7723

 

[whaleroast]

Once you accept the fact that people are greedy and will do anything to screw you over, that you are essentially an accident of existance with no meaning or purpose, that one day you will be dead and none of this will matter anyway...then you will be cured of depression. It's called reality. No doctor or preacher can sell it to you. You have to figure it out for yourself.