depression ????

M

monsterman

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2011
Anyone had any ideas on dealing with depression in Thailand apart from the usual Thai doctors drugs cocktails ,
i have been really negative for last couple of weeks very dysfunctional , cant even ride my bikes or do anything more than basic eat and sleep , citalopram stops me sinking into that deep dangerous pit but it only masks the symptoms .
I have been servicing my bike and rebuilding my wifes rebel but motivation is difficult , tried going for a long run on the Ducati but it was unpleasant as I had to interact with the world outside
 
that is a good sign, cause u aware of it .....
try get connected with more friend and talk it out, it really help, else u need to see dr for therapy .....

u can call below number :
Befrienders Worldwide
Samaritans of Thailand
P.O. Box 63
Por Nor For Santisuk
10113
BANGKOK
Contact by: Face to Face
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- Phone
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- Letter:
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- Email:
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Helpline 1: (02) 713-6793 (Thai service 12:00-22:00)
Website: www.samaritansthailand.blogspot.com
Email Helpline: samaritans_thai@hotmail.com
Opening hours:
Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 12:00 - 22:00
Samaritans of Chiang Mai
P.O. Box 123
50000
CHIANG MAI
Contact by: - Phone
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Helpline 1: 053 225 977
Helpline 2: 053 225 978
Website: www.samachiangmai.org/samaritansthai
Opening hours:
Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat: 19:00 - 22:00

they are very good listener :)
 
Doctors are useless , that about the only thing I do know ,
talking to people would be good , but round here no one to trust , wife and friends just dont understand what i am feeling
 
monsterman said:
Doctors are useless , that about the only thing I do know ,
talking to people would be good , but round here no one to trust , wife and friends just dont understand what i am feeling
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call that number listed above, 100% private and confidential .... they very good in communicate and listen :)
having some to talk to is the best cure for depression :)
 
Depression sucks. I think its good to remind yourself that it comes and it also goes. Like hitting your thumb with a hammer. After awhile it stops hurting and you forget all about it. Ying and yang. Find some distractions. Maybe some charity work. Build something. Grow a beard. Shave your head. Anything to pass the time. It'll pass.

If its really bad I'd recommend trying some SSRIs for a month or two (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors). They work pretty good.
 
Hey Monsterman,

I'm sure your not alone. Its 2.30 am where I am. I woke early basically because I'm just working and sleeping. Went bed at 8.30pm on a Saturday night basically because I couldn't be bothered doing anything else. Its cold and damp here, I have nothing in common with anyone here anymore, you should try going into a pub on your own in a country where the sun never shines and who had an empire where the sun never set and try to strike up a conversation about how you actually live in thailand where the sun shines constantly and your constantly surrounded by beauty and see the blank expressions. I'll be doing this depressing routine until mid January when I can get back to the Land of the Living. I'm going to miss most of the riding season and a few other maybe more important things I'm not going to go into here. But, I realise its not the same thing.

So tell me what your doing wrong mate ? . The Sun shines every day in the Land of the Living or Land of Smiles.
being a Ducatti Man your clearly not destitute ;). so tell me again what your doing wrong ?

It's a biking forum so someone has to suggest you take a road trip, I mean apart from the Sunshine, Smiles and beautiful Girls , what else is there ? ...... What about heading north to Chiang Mai, meeting up with a few guys , and then heading north to Chiang Rai to coincide with the Saddlebags trip to Nan on the 10th. It's got to be about the best time to do such a trip weather wise. you'll be with like minded people who no doubt will have had a few of lifes knocks themselves.


think about it. and then tell me why you can't and I'll but out
 
just Bob i am taking Citalopram its a good drug masks the worst affects of depression ,stops one feeling suicidal as well but i cant get rid of the underlying malaise , but without it i would do something really desperate

Lakota mate i hear what you say ,true i would not be any better in UK or USA or anywhere the malaise is in me not where i am ,I am not enjoying riding my bikes (fear and confidence issue as well) or scuba diving,sailing ,badmington drink or women either ,I would be better at work as i tend to be a workoholic ,even if most of the people I have to interact with are total prats , I dont like work all the time but when i am away earning money I feel better ,sure i am not broke , money in the bank lots of options , but nothing seems good , I am not really connecting with people or events anymore all I am really doing is being a breadwinner for my dependents .

the weather in Pattaya has been crap too rain rain and more rain every afternoon for hours just like UK
 
lakota said:
Hey Monsterman,

being a Ducatti Man your clearly not destitute ;). so tell me again what your doing wrong ?
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Depression knows no international borders or doesnt differentiate between wealthy or poor people.

Money isnt always the cause of it, Kurt Cobain for instance was loaded.

Hope you sort it out Jerry but it strikes a hell of a lot more people than you know
 
Jerry are you still in Pattaya? Best thing I've done by far in recent years was moving to Chiang Mai. You know my story...... 6 years of hell with the road widening scheme in Jomtien with eventual loss of my marriage, business and all savings...... trying to keep the Ace alive as I believed in the area and that we'd come out the other side smiling...... unfortunately it turned out to be just too long and drawn out..... down to a few thousand baht before the offshore gig came along....... yep, I was stressed out and depressed enough to have some very silly thoughts!
But honestly...... the change in location has given me an extra lease of life and I put it all down to getting the fuck out of that cesspit and up to Chiang Mai...... quality of life mate, coupled with what seems to be a whole bunch of nice genuine people....... there's a few Duke nuts up here too!
 
Martin ,

chiangmai is a nice place , but its not an option for me to move as my daughter has excellent school grades here and also goes to BKK every week for modelling and acting work she is only 13 so at least another 5-8 years of parenting , I am not in pattaya that much only 4 months or so this year and the depression follows me anyway it is just as bad in UK or wherever .

i agree about the people here I have very few frinds here now , trust and attitudes are a big issue for me , too many idiots and shallow people
 
monsterman said:
Martin ,
i agree about the people here I have very few frinds here now , trust and attitudes are a big issue for me , too many idiots and shallow people
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Very very true. It's not a shadow of the place (or people) from Simple Simon/Old Speckled Hen days!

I spent the last few years over the "Darkside" and hated having to go into town...... I had a terrific little bungalow with private pool
(very private :RE :D ) and small garden way up the top end of Khao Talor, and really enjoyed my 28 off just messing around in the pool, pottering in the garden etc.

Get yer arse up here over the next few weeks..... Kings Ride, many friends in town, few beers...... you know it makes sense. Aussie Greg's back in town for a couple weeks..... you know him, crazy Sat Diver & aforementioned Duke nut!!
 
Hey Monsterman, as others have said already, the fact you write about it here is a good sign. I have suffered tremendous periods of depression over the years, a couple of them being so dark, that I wondered if there would be another day ahead. Looking back now, I can easily put myself in that frame of mind as it hurt me so bad and it left it's mark.

Monsterman, I cannot say I know you, only that you were full on & straight talking with me when I met you about 4 years ago. You chatted like you wanted to push the envelope. That made me smile, cos there aren't too many folks genuinely like that.

Hang on in there & get on here & give us all a smile ;)

Ally
 
I would be better at work as i tend to be a workoholic ,even if most of the people I have to interact with are total prats , I dont like work all the time but when i am away earning money I feel better
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Looks like you need to explore this avenue, maybe with a professional in great detail. There's something you can identify with here that makes you feel good with yourself and maybe there's a way of working off this and using it to help you out of the problems?
 
Hi Monsterman. Thanks for posting here about this.

You are far from alone in this. So many of us have the same thing. And I believe, those of us who know the deal know there is nothing we can say that will make a difference. I have it bad, have fought it for more than 20 years. Thankfully, some of that time was depression-free but not much of it. My only advice, which you already know but I will reiterate just to refresh your thinking: When you're on the meds and still you get to that place where you know it is over and the battle is lost, get OFF the meds for a bit and things will get back to a more even keel shortly. Please, never forget that. When you're in that place and thinking that dark thought, ALWAYS remember to ask yourself if it is possible that the meds have pushed you there and then make the effort to back off of them for a bit.

Your family is paramount and they are worth that extra day or two of taking a break from the meds to see if the cloud recedes enough for you to make it. I believe other than family and the desire to not devastate them for the rest of their lives, there is nothing else strong enough in our lives to help us overcome that darkest hour. So, for them, give it that extra few days to see if shunning the meds can help you make it. Works for me every time.

Welcome to come up to CR for the day ride any time, guy. Will be happy to meet you.
 
Monsterman - It may be worth getting a medical consultation and tests to diagnose and check for some physical cause - i.e. thyroid, hormone levels, etc... I know what you are saying about doctors - and you'll need to use these for this - but there are physical conditions that can cause symptoms of depression - and there are some treatments for these conditions. I'd suggest doing some research on the internet and then try to find a suitable doctor... Likely there are suitable doctors in Thailand for this stuff - but you might find it easier looking in the UK. Not saying that this is the answer/reason for the problem - but worth checking. And try the odd smile to yourself about something or other... Even if it's forced and through gritted teeth!
 
monsterman said:
was not me I have not been in CM for 2 years ,
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That is bizarre! Around about October 22nd I sat next to a guy who is a ROV driver at the Rider's Corner in CM. Not like its a common profession. Maybe Phil knows who it was. I got the impression he was one of the regular rider crowd.

Back on topic, have you tried different SSRIs? I tried three before I found one that did anything for me my first go around. Second go around, just my luck, that brew was discontinued because it caused genital warts in honey badgers or some such shit. So I tried a newer one called Vibryd with some success, but the gastric side effects were brutal. However it is one of the only SSRIs that doesn't adversely effect your libido, which was nice.

My only other suggestion would be - if you haven't already - go buy a dirt bike. Big fun. (Can you tell I'm not a trained therapist?)
 
Just Bob said:
That is bizarre! Around about October 22nd I sat next to a guy who is a ROV driver at the Rider's Corner in CM. Not like its a common profession. Maybe Phil knows who it was. I got the impression he was one of the regular rider crowd.
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Lot of offshore workers in Chiang Mai now JB, and a fair few are ROV ops & Sat divers..... wasn't an Aussie guy rides a Duke was it?
 
MartinThai said:
Lot of offshore workers in Chiang Mai now JB, and a fair few are ROV ops & Sat divers..... wasn't an Aussie guy rides a Duke was it?
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Must have been the English wanabee named Johnny Sneddon.
 
Bob and CRS , I have low testosterone due to age and type 2 diabetes and am on testosterone meds which are great but only in Thailand, UK doctors will not prescribe them at all,
I find that citalopram is the best SSRI drug , I stopped using it for 3 months but am back on it again now as It does keep me from going suicidal and really dark ,stabilises my mood so as of today i am funtional but it has intersting side effects , can have sex ,but difficult to climax due to reduced sensitivity ,my mia noi loves it as she gets fucked for hours , no gastric problems
no decent therapists in LOS ,Thais only give out drugs and to be honest all the therapist , and mental health professionals I have met in UK seem like timeservers who are only in it for the money ,

i think from experience that i am on my own but having some like minded friends to communicate with does help a lot ,

I have been working obn my wife rebel 250 restoration today all the powder coatring is back and most of the chrome so progress .
if the bloody rain stops i may even venture out on the Ducati later in the week,
cant plan ahead further than the weekend in my present mood , and its possible i may have to go to work on the 6th or go to UK for an eye operation on the 9th, so going to CM or Nan run is a lovely idea but as in so much of my life circumstances mean i never get time to do the things that are best for my head
 
I have nothing of substance to add to this, but hats off man for having the courage to ask such a question. And yes I have had similar troubles. To quote Long John Baldry..."it ain't easy".
 
Jerry,

Like Sonny Koo mentioned, try to call the Samaritans again - maybe try this number for their english language helpline: T: 02-713 6791 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They may not pick up the phone due to a shortage of volunteers but, if that happens, they encourage you to leave a message with your phone number and they will call back as soon as possible. Talking about your problems and having someone listen to you might make the difference.
 
well I felt ,a little more positive today actually got the ducati out and did a 200+ mile round trip to bangkok , yeah i know not very scenic or pleasant but I actuall enjoyed it even though the bike was not absolutely spot on,shades of perfectionism , I can feel every imperfection , I went fairly gently most of the time only 110kph ,also i wore an open face helmet which kept me cooler and also amazing it seems to me that open face helmets with earplugs are quieter than full Face ?????/

actually managed to open a citibank international bank account for work in BKK which is very useful, all the staff spoke perfect english .
still not out of the woods ,but its a step in the right direction , mind you i do think that the Ducati is no longer suitable for my aging body on long trips , i may have to look at a softer touring bike for long distance triops in future ??trouble is i dont think I can actually sell this bike does not seem any demand for S4 monsters as they have loads for sale in thailand its the most imported grey model around i went to Chonburi superbike on the way to BKK , they had 3 for sale just in from Japan waiting for reg and green books , actualyl Manot had about 15 fresh from Japan grey bikes in assembly he says no problem getting NEW books on grey bikes it seems business as usual

i lso went to RedBaron in BKK to try and buy some spares for my wifes Rebel but they were taking the piss wanting 1000 baht for 2nd hand parts that I can buy new in Pattaya from Mityon for 700, staff bloody rude to me as well.
 
Just Bob said:
Good to hear. Though if I drove into BKK traffic I'd be hard pressed to keep a smile on. Too many people trying to kill you from too many directions simultaneously.
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That would save me the bother of killing myself .and the added bonus is they get the blame ...........only joking !!!
 
Just Bob said:
Good to hear. Though if I drove into BKK traffic I'd be hard pressed to keep a smile on. Too many people trying to kill you from too many directions simultaneously.
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Funny you should say that..... I was planning a Pattaya - Bkk - K'buri trip a few weeks ago and dreading it. Come the day I started after 09.30 so missed all the rush hour traffic and did Chonburi by-pass, Bang Na, Sukhumvit, Rama 4, Sathorn Tai, Taksin Bridge and Phetkasem in what I considered to be really good time with precious few traffic jams. I was actually having a laugh crossing the Taksin Bridge at how easy it had been!

Jerry, that old thumper would be a great scratcher for the roads up here..... stable her up here and fly up for a weekend's riding every other month..... that'll bring a smile back to your face...... flies in the teeth are what it's all about!!
 
Martin
my ducati needs my support system,to keep it it tip top tune so i have my tools here and diagnostics , No.... if I dont feel up to riding all the way to CM I can fly and rent up there maybe try something different .I am actually not as fir as I used to be partly age and also lack of excercise , that needs some work on.I used to play sport regularly but now I am too lazy .
 
Out of interest Jerry what age are you? I will be 55 next month and I am noticing the aches and tiredness of long distance riding these days too.
I also had two testosterone jabs just over a year ago and they certainly didnt do me any favours, I would lose my cool over the slightest thing and they certainly didnt give me the pep that I was expecting
 
I am 54 , Testtosterone androcaps do wonders for me ,
being married to a thai slob does not help though
 
Update

well i feeling a bit more alive ,

have kept busy , now 50% of my wifes rebel 250 restoraton project complete all the chrome done and assembly started , engine back in frame nearly all the chassis and suspension on and wiring loom , only waiting on wheels to be relaced ,might be 70% complete by time i leave on sunday for work

also done some work on the Ducatis suspension and been for some nice rides out of PRATTAYA but the sodding heavy rain everyday does my head in ,eating a bit more even being a bit more social with decent people,
not out of the woods still need meds but being undemanding on myself ,

still being fucked around by some people close to me but have given them all ultimatums ,seems to have worked ???
I am setting limits and boundaries and being less tolerant seems to help???
 
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