In all seriousness

The Holidays are here again.
Unfortunately many people struggle this time of year to find any happiness at all. Depression seems to get the best of people. I have cared for a couple of these folks that have felt lost and alone and hopeless over the past couple of weeks.
Christmas was established on Hope, Promise, and Giving.

I would like everyone to look around at their friends, family, and coworkers. If you notice some one having a rough go of it, would you please take a little time and let them know you care? Everyone has had some kind of setback this year. We have all felt the strain. Sometimes all it takes is knowing we are not alone to make things a little better.

It does not take much time or effort or money to say "I know what you are going through." So, if you could, please give a little bit to your neighbor this year. A little bit goes a long way, and it literally could be the little bit that keeps a guy going.

Merry Christmas, VFRW. And here's to 2009 being nothing like 2008!

 

Merry Christmas!

It's strange how many attempted suicides we run between Thanksgiving and January. Thanksgiving seems to be one of the most popular days people choose to "get away from it all".

I too suffer from depression this time of year, I hate the cold and the early sunsets. Makes me irritable when its too cold to even hang out in the garage and stare at the bikes. Luckily there is VFRWorld to keep me company.

 

This is not meant to bring people down. Hopefully it will lift people up.

 

Thank you Drewl. I had stared depression in its ugly face for about 12 years, and I can assure you, it can become quite debilitating. If it wasn't for the support of my family over the years, and for the love that I have for my sons, I'm just not too sure how things might have turned out. It was kind people such as yourself that most definitely made a positive impact and kept me going. Today, I have the tools to know what to look out for and how to cope when things get rough. But for some individuals, they are not so fortunate. I consider myself extremely fortunate, and it's really good to know that there are folks such as yourself out there in society that genuinely do give a damn.

Thank you sir.

 

Thank You,JBzRed07,nevermind

 

Huh? :unsure:

 

seriousness for seriousness : let's try to live everyday as it was Christmas day, and Christmas as it was a "normal" day.
Hard to think that the person in front of you is not always an enemy or a competitor ?
Lamps to all !
Carmine

 

Good post Drew. Thank you for using "Merry Christmas" and not the politically correct "Happy Holidays" nonsense.

 

Your story could be mine. We are lucky and have famililies who care, and whom we love more than ourselves. I can't imagine how awful it is for those who suffer but have no family support. They need us to fulfill this function for them.

I have had a half dozen friends and acquaintances over the years who gave up and checked out, and I didn't even know they were hurting. I wish I had in some way been able to see what was happening to them. Maybe, just maybe, they would still be here.

Thank you for your post!

 

Good Thread...good ideas, Drewl.
You never know what your attention might do for someone...sometimes the smallest bit of niceness can really help someone.
And afterall...it IS:
Good Karma!

Spread it around...every day!

 

This does gave people with depression a chance to smile and laugh out loud once in awhile...... and for that I THANK YOU

 

Nice post Drewl.
Merry Christmas to all of the VFRW members and their families.
May God watch over all of our members and families during the holiday season and 2009.
Merry Christmas (hanukkah, kwanzaa, and whatever I missed)
GeorgiaRider

 

Oh Ba Humbug.. there I said it, I feel better now.. thanks Drew

 

The vast majority of those who commit serious suicide attempts or completions suffer from a bipolar spectrum disorder, and many of them may also suffer from comorbid chemical dependency, as well as perhaps borderline personality disorder and/or antisocial personality disorder.

Many of those suffering from a wide spectrum of serious mood disorders (as well as comorbid psychosis) will often exhibit seasonal affective shifts in mood. For example, spring and summer may tend to bring on upswings in mood, while fall and winter may tend to precipitate depressive episodes, but the reverse may also occur.

Unfortunately, bipolar spectrum disorders remain vastly under-diagnosed in most western countries, and the reasons are manifold (too many to go into here).

In general, the following risk factors are highly associated with serious suicide attempts as well as completed suicides:

1) A family history of major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, chemical dependency, severe personality disorders, etc.

2) A family history of serious suicide attempts and/or completed suicides among 1st and 2nd degree relatives.

3) Frequent self-injurious behaviors (typically while under severe stress) such as self-cutting, self-burning, self-poisonings, deliberate sub-lethal overdoses etc.

4) A history of adverse reactions to antidepressant medications, particularly marked personality or mood changes, reckless behaviors, marked insomnia, racing thoughts, mood swings, agitation, paranoia, delusions, hallucinations, etc.

5) A sudden or gradual calmness and placidity that may soon be accompanied by such things as uncharacteristically wanting to reach out to estranged friends, lovers, family, etc. Other signs may include a sudden (but often subtle) interest in a Will, giving possessions away, etc.

6) A sudden or gradual increase in drug use, particularly alcohol, which may be surreptious or hidden.

Most of those who make a serious suicide attempt (or who complete suicide) typically send out cues and clues to those around them within the previous 6 months. Not uncommonly, they may make one or more visits to their family doctor with often vague somatic complaints such as physical aches, pains, poor sleep, etc.

If you become concerned that a friend or loved one may be feeling severely disturbed and perhaps suicidal, never ignore your gut instincts. If you're really worried about someone, seek help immediately, even if this involves being deceptive for the good of the person in question. That said, always first take into account your immediate safety as well as the safety of any others. Until help arrives, try to keep the person engaged in pleasant talk.

Statistically, men will most often commit suicide with a firearm (which is obviously highly lethal), while women will most commonly take an overdose, but there are no rules. In either case, alcohol is often involved because it tends to loosen inhibitions and it increases impulsivity in a dose-dependent manner.

 

Drew, Thank you for reminding us about this part of life, so often we forget to look around and lesson, it makes a big difference in someones life that is less fortunate than us or experiencing troubles, or to just say i love you to those close to us ? so thank you.

Reg, that is truly a sad thing, i had a friend a few years back that hung himself in his shop before Christmas because of depression and none of us saw it, we heard him but didn't hear him ? oh how i wish i had of lesson a bit more ? i too have a time with depression and with being apart from my family right now yes its a bit tough at times, i worrie about my kids all the time and miss them so much, i try to think of others and keep busy it helps to take my mind off my problems ? i think life just sucks but its what we do with what we are delt maybe that's why i joke around so much ? i do know one thing and some of you may not agree but i could not make it threw life without God's help nor would i want to.

so to all of us please, like drew said, take sometime to really lesson a bit more, people cry out in there own ways, but being a true friend we need to lesson more ?
Marry Christmas and may God bless all of you.

 

A BIG Hats Off to the Christmas Spirit. Yesterday was the annual Toys for Tots Motorcycle parade in Chicago. Billed as the "Largest Motorcycle Parade in the World" Always the first Sunday in December.The overnite low was 4 degrees F. They met at 8:00am and get started about 9:00. It was probably all the way up to 8 or 9 degrees by then. I was too much of a wus to attend due to 2" of snow and ice in the alley behind my garage. They meet on the South Side of Chicago and run about 15 miles up Western Ave. to the Marine Corp Armory. There is always a police escort and they don't stop at red lights. Many kids line the street to see all the motorcycles. Many riders wearing Santa Suits. All the local news stations run the story on the evening news. Entry fee is "Bring a Toy". All bikes are welcome but Harleys are in the majority. More than a thousand bikers show up every year no matter what the weather.

So when you are a little depressed, think about these hearty souls. Think about the kids that line the street, every one of them with a big smile on their face and think about the kids that get the toys and what it means to them.

My thanks goes to our two wheel brothers, no matter what type of bike they ride, for putting me in the Christmas Spirit and showing the joy that the motorcycle community can bring to others. I know on this very cold morning no one got cold and they transferred their warm glow to others. THANK YOU!

Merry Christmas!

 

Living in the land of the "big gray Blanket", I've come to realize that the lack of sunshine & the shorter days this time of year really take their toll on me.
Sleepy, tired, apathetic.
Turns out there are ties between this behavior & Vitamin D deficency.
(vitamin D - the Sunshine vitamin!)
If you are feeling down, get a check. Maybe you're not depressed, just a quart low or so.......easy fix. Take Vitamin D, or move to the land of sunshine...
I did both.
Now I'm so happy, no one can stand me.

 

Having suffered from this myself, I can assure you there is someone around you that is having more trouble than you will ever realize. I had a really hard time coming back to the northeast after spending 5 years in a southern climate. Winter was flat-out depressing to me. Over past 5-6 years, I've learned to handle it better with each passing season. Exercise is one of the main ways I deal with it. Winter is when I typically hit the gym to get those positive endorphans going again. The biggest improvement for me though is my own attitude. It has to start there.

Anyway, if you find yourself struggling through winter or with any depression in general, get some help. The relief you'll feel will be enormous speaking from experience.

Thanks to all those who have contributed insight in this thread!

 

As evidenced here, there are people everywhere who have trouble coping every now and then. It is not a crime or a stigma. It is part of life. Some folks have more difficulty than others.
If you are one of those people struggling, do not be ashamed or afraid to let some one know. There is help and hope for you. I know first hand how hard that is to hear when all around is dark and cold, but it is the truth. So speak up if you need a hand.
Family, friends, doctors, counselors, clergy...let some one know.