Ze hair is washed and I've managed to clear some paperwork. And didn't take any tranquilisers all day. So today is a bit better, as long as I don't have to deal with anything "real".

Good. Hope you are feeling better too.

Even just having acomplished these task im sure made you feel tons better (i hope)

Interesting article in today's Swissinfo, an article about depression:

Swiss still know very little about depression.

About 20 percent of the population suffer from depression, according to official statistics. Perhaps it is even more.

In a study in the canton of Zurich was one in three 50-year-olds have been treated at least once for depression, Psychiatry Emeritus Professor Jules Angst said on Monday at the edge of a press conference of the Werner Alfred Selo Foundation.

Nevertheless, the Swiss people know little about depression. The Selo Foundation conducted a representative survey of 714 people in the German-speaking Switzerland. 11 percent of respondents did not even know of the disease called depression.

Crude EN translation here.

__________________
404 – punoɟ ʇou ɹoʇɐɹǝpoɯ

Doesn't 20 percent of the population also consist of resident foreigners?

I'd be willing to bet only a small percentage of foreigners make up the quoted 20 percent. The Swiss are notorious at suffering depressions. They are just now learning how to deal with it. It's no longer a hushed up family secret carefully swept under the family rug.

I think it is termed Teufelskreis in DE ( Devil's Circle ).

I think 20% is pretty consistent with what people quote in the US - 1 in 5, maybe 1 in 4. And the truth is, it's pretty much swept under the rug in the US for the most part too. You hear about people in NY and LA admitting to depression, but it's not so common in other areas.

We're only depressed by the thought of beeing paid less than 120K / year. On a serious note though, I found an unexpected benefit by moving here from dark/cold sweden, im way less prone to getting depressed. Seems the better climate is doing me good. Scandinavia has a climate that actually encourages depressen imo.

You hit the nail on the head with DARK. There is a lot of research into the effectivenss of vitamin D. we get vit D from the sun. But most of us do not get enough sun in out daily lives especially people in Scandinavia. It has been recommended to take vitmin D in fairly high doses. I know people who get the pill form withthe pill containing 1000 units. It is suggested maybe taking 2 to 3000 units per day. I take only one pill. You can do some research on the web. I do know people who take vit D instead of medications.

I've been told I am Vit D deficient. I'm caribean background, but the grey Zurich winters leave me very white (relatively speaking of course). Many have suggested to go to tanning salons here. I'm kinda unsure of it though...any suggestions?

We did tanning salons a number of years ago but did a little reading on them and it was suggested that they may be a cause of skin cancer. I am not sure but don't do it anyway. Again do a little research and take into consideration who has funded or supported the research.

Also not sure if the tanning beds produce the vit D .

From the minimal research i have done (I'm pretty lazy---proally due to lack of vit. D) I've seen some claims that my skin type risk of cancer is much lower that the benefits of Vit. D from the sun. Whether I get said sun from the real source or the tanning beds are sufficient, not sure yet.

This is another article from SwissInfo that may explain the reasons for stress & depression: We are all perfectionists!

	Quote:
	Perfectionists show greater sensibility to psycho-social stresses than their more relaxed peers, a responsiveness that may have health consequences.

Tanning beds are so 1985.
Just go to your nearest moantin and take the gondola up over the clouds. Living in Luzern i had a great uplifting time on top of mount pilatus on sunday in the sun (or was it the beer in the sun?)

It's the sun, clear and simple. I'm looking at clear blue skies and bright sunlight right now, and I'm already excited to get out and live.

This is probably why pre-historic humans worshipped the sun.

I would love to, but need the full tan! Tan lines are unacceptable

I have a question for you EF members.

Do you think, that some people, at some point use depression to get attention?

Do you think that someone who gets medications, treatments and professional help since more than 10 years can stay in depression?

Is it any point in time when someone who does everything to get better do actually gets better? I mean, with proper medications, help and assistance, it should be a matter of months maybe years but decades?

What would be the reason to not getting better? Could someone carry on this state because of habits? comfort? attention?

If someone does everthing necessary to get better, do you think it still can take so long in time to achieve?

Nil

The mother of an ex boyfriend of mine had clinical depression which was controlled by medication to correct the chemical imbalance in her brain. She had it for years (and still suffers, as far as I know).

No attention seeking as far as I could make out.

It's a medical condition as much as a broken leg or other "more visual" condition.

Stephen Fry is a high profile sufferer and has made documentaries about himself to bring awareness to the condition. Must be awful.

Well Nil, there are people that are attention seekers and you have it with many illnesses. I personally would not disclose the fact that I am taking antidepressants or I am feeling depressed, maybe it is just a silly SouthAmerican way of thinking but it would make me look weak. Of course there are people who need therapy and support for depression but I am sure there are also people that used it for the "oh poor me factor"