Waves of intense Depression

I've been noticing I get these horrible waves of depression and I'm wondering if this is just how Depression works or what... does anyone else with depression get this..

I'll feel ok for most of the day (not really happy, I mean I always have a certain level of depression with me) but then there will be a random moment where I just start to feel really miserable. It's this intense feeling of doom/depression that just takes over me out of nowhere and I feel completely hopeless and have horrible thoughts even suicidal ones. It's kind of like a panic attack but with depression. Not really panic, but similar. I would never commit suicide, but it's such a miserable feeling all over me that I do get the thoughts. I don't know, this just seems odd to me. This happens about once a day.. I ride it out and, just like a panic attack, it passes and I feel like a completely differnet person afterwards...

Anyone else get this?

Yes, I have "low" points too. I feel extremely tired of life, uninterested, unmotivational. But in a few days, this usually passes. There's not much that can be done b/c I'm already taking anti-depressant. Doctor told me to exercise at least 30 min every day. I guess they can increase the medication dosage, but I'm willing to give it more time and see if it goes away. But don't worry, you're not alone.

flochfleeden

Yes I get these "waves" of depression. With me they last from a few minutes to a few hours.

I think it is representative of mild clinical depression. I used to have quite severe depression and the mood was fairly constantly low then and when I was put on AD's, my mood inproved, but was fairly constant as well as a bit numbed out.

Keeping a mood diary perhaps might help. It has helped me a little. Various therapists recommend it. It is not much help when the mood is constantly low as with severe depression, but it could help the depression that you describe.

flochfleeden wrote:I've been noticing I get these horrible waves of depression and I'm wondering if this is just how Depression works or what... does anyone else with depression get this..

I'll feel ok for most of the day (not really happy, I mean I always have a certain level of depression with me) but then there will be a random moment where I just start to feel really miserable. It's this intense feeling of doom/depression that just takes over me out of nowhere and I feel completely hopeless and have horrible thoughts even suicidal ones. It's kind of like a panic attack but with depression. Not really panic, but similar. I would never commit suicide, but it's such a miserable feeling all over me that I do get the thoughts. I don't know, this just seems odd to me. This happens about once a day.. I ride it out and, just like a panic attack, it passes and I feel like a completely differnet person afterwards...

Anyone else get this?

Hi, I get those waves too. I don't think it's necessarily indicative of 'mild' depression, it can happen with any types. It's like this horrible feeling inside that shakes everything up and can last hours or even days. I get what you mean about always feeling kind of depressed (to varying degrees), but then having really bad sweeps that can bring you into a suicidal state. Or where one might feel like crying. I tend to get endless negative thoughts when it happens sometimes as well, or find that I can't handle other intrusive thoughts and they get on top of me.

In some ways, I think the existence of such waves, especially when they haven't been preceded by an upsetting event or thoughts, is some evidence that depression is partly chemical. Some of the time anyway. It's as if the chemicals suddenly go off balance or something. Or that's one theory! It does seem odd though how the waves come from 'nowhere'.

Hi
This question about depression and waves of intense depression has bothered me for some time. I ask myself are there any ways for how to cure depression?
Most of the time I feel OK (not great) but I get these overwhelming feelings of depression and gloom. I know I'm not alone in this.
There is plenty of help out there, I just have to keep looking.
Steve

In between my major depressive episodes, it works the exact same for me. I feel no motivation to do anything, little if any pleasure but it's not actual sadness emotionally, it's more a neutral attitude on things. But then occasionally these waves hit me like a shovel pretty much instantly. I am not sure what exactly it is either. My psychiatrist says it's depression, but i consider it far less severe than my major episodes which is allmost that horrifying state albeit constantly.

How long has this been ongoing?

I know this thread is really old - but I have been feeling this too- I was so worried I was going crazy or having a nervous breakdown- I just want you to know - all of you - you helped me realize it is just my depression- I just want to say thank you- now I can go to bed and not worry that I am dying

Woke early this AM, wondering whether there is such a thing as waves of depression, found you in this forum, and now I feel better - many decades of this feeling now make sense . . . well, as much sense as such brutal nonsense can be . . . You've all helped me tremendously, and I thank you. It'll make it easier to churn through my rough patches from now on.

I get periods of intense depression in the evening. It seems like eating dinner brings it on. It is not really "thought based" though. It's more like a physical feeling. There is a heaviness behind my eyes. It's definitely more than just tiredness though. It is very intense. A feeling of doom or heavy sadness would describe it, but there is also a sensation of physical weight lodged behind my eyes. I can't really function when I'm in an episode.

I know once when I was in the hospital they injected me with Haldol and it caused the worst doom feeling ever. It only lasted 20 minutes or so but it was torturous. I felt so sad and tired I couldn't even cry. I can't really describe how bad it felt. It was awful.

That haldol triggered it makes me think it has something to do with very low dopamine. Stimulants like caffeine seem to provide immediate relief.

I don't know if this is similar to anything anyone else has ever experienced. I don't feel it is a normal form of depression. It bothers me so much I start to fear I have a brain tumor. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

i just got one ! I looked it up and there you all are writing about it. I havnt had depression for a long time but every now and again I get a wave. And its the difference between night and day but with no sunset or sunrise, just a switch.
When I was having a breakdown about ten years ago i would get waves of about 5 different emotions sweep over me every 4 hours, always in the same sequence.
Ive had it once in reverse when I was so depressed I couldnt move and I willed God to come and save me. Im not at all religious I might add. Suddenly this feeling of rosey coloured light just flooded through me and I was fine ! It was that dramatic.
Its good to come and chat here with you all.
It IS chemical.
Im wondering what has brought on this recent episode. I fell in love recently so maybe its coming off that dopamine high. Perhaps its because its the autumn and I get SAD. Perhaps its cos I always stop having my evening drink when the summer ends. Perhaps its because Ive had too few successes lately and my to do list is filling up. Perhaps I run out of my supplements like Omega 3 and methylated B12. Maybe all of these.
Its a great shock when it happened today though.
Love to you all x we'll get through.