Comments on: Living With Depression: Strength

By: Miri, Professional Fun-Ruiner

Miri, Professional Fun-Ruiner — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:12:53 +0000

In reply to cheesynougats. Thank you! :)

By: cheesynougats

cheesynougats — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:16:42 +0000

In reply to Miri, Professional Fun-Ruiner. My apologies; this is what I get for skimming the article. Like your stuff, BTW; the network is lucky to have you. :)

By: Miri, Professional Fun-Ruiner

Miri, Professional Fun-Ruiner — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:12:07 +0000

In reply to cheesynougats. No no, I'm not saying there are no biological factors involved in depression. I'm an advocate for psychotropic medication. Read the article I linked to there. The point is that the "chemical imbalance" theory of depression has been largely abandoned by researchers but continues to be promoted by pop culture and advertising, thus spreading misconceptions about depression and hiding the actual complexity of the illness's origins.

By: cheesynougats

cheesynougats — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:53:12 +0000

Excellent post, but one important thing I feel you are dismissing too arbitrarily: that depression is not a chemical imbalance. It’s obvious to me that depression can’t be entirely chemical because I still have errors in emotional and social judgement, even with the meds. However, when I was off the meds but still had the tools I had learned through therapy, I still had a suicide attempt and a few self-harm episodes. All the stress-reducing methods and interpersonal skills meant nothing because I still felt like dying most of the time. I think the best results for chronic depression come from a combined approach: meds and therapy.

By: CaitieCat

CaitieCat — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:59:52 +0000

This is excellent, and tracks well with my own ongoing experience with the same issue.

Oh, right. *opens drapes*

Like that.

I’ve always known that playing soccer, or any active team sport, makes me feel better, not just when I’m doing it, but all day and for days afterward. Alone-sport doesn’t do it, and exercise doesn’t do it. But feeling strong is a big piece of it.

Thanks for writing about this. It helps. I might actually remember to go back to LJ and post today. Been a long time.

Also, good luck with yours, and the rest of us in this thread. Nice to not be alone about it. I’d start a support group, but y’know, that’d take, like, effort, and that would be hard, and then I’d have to go to it every week, and I’d feel guilty when i didn’t or couldn’t, and I’d feel more crappy, so…yeah.

By: smrnda

smrnda — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:30:52 +0000

Please keep writing! As a person who has had a lot of mental health issues, I love your take on the experience

I think physical strength is a good analogy since even though you *can* build physical strength, there are medical conditions and such that will leave you physically weak and that no amount of willpower will overcome.

By: sage0fwisd0m

sage0fwisd0m — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:19:49 +0000

Miri,

I’ve been reading your blog since you joined FTB. A few months ago, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Before the diagnosis, I found myself identifying with your posts and finding strength and comfort in them; how encouraging to know that I am not alone!

This post hit home so much (especially the part about crumbling and feeling weak), that I’m delurking after 5+ years of only reading FTB. Please don’t stop doing what you’re doing! 🙂

By: Improbable Joe, bearer of the Official SpokesGuitar

Improbable Joe, bearer of the Official SpokesGuitar — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:54:40 +0000

The best I have figured out for myself is to judge myself on a sliding scale based on how terrible I feel. So as long as I do a little better than my current mood, it counts as a win. If I’m doing really badly, brushing my teeth and eating 2 meals, and not writing a bad check for a toy to make me feel better… it is good enough. Not good enough to make me not depressed obviously, but enough to keep me from heaping self-loathing on top of the more general depression.