Getting depression into perspective. Please read this, it might help YOU

[white knight]

Every now and then, along comes an article that blows your mind and makes incredible sense. The one I'm refering to is just what I needed to explain the modern day depression in some of us.

So please google the following:

depression is not a disease but an indication that consciousness needs to change

Open for discussion. 

[gremz]

Thought it was spot on, a great description, to the majority.

There's always that exception though, where change will not affect their emotions. Eg. bipolar.
Places blame when sometimes there is none.

Do you think depression should no longer be counted as a disease? I think it should at least be harder to diagnose, especially defining the difference between grief and depression. That's just my two cents.

[Snoman]

From my perspective..... I don't agree with the article.

Have to go to bed now, so I will continue/explain my view on this tomorrow.

[Snoman]

I'm back.

Luckily for all of us, my long ranty post got lost. At least I got my rant out of my system, so here comes what would have been part 2, but first a quick summary of (ranty) critique.

Based on my research and my experience, I would have to disagree with the article in many respects. Yes there are many screwed up things about our society, but apparently there is evidence of people having experienced depression long before the modern world, before the internet, before people knew about global warming or species extinction or even that the world wasn't flat. People of all cultures all around this planet have experienced depression. Yes we should be frustrated with the state of society at the moment, but I would not ever say depressed about it.

My thoughts on should we refer to depression as a disease? How about an illness, condition, or just an emotional or psychological attitude? We probably can all agree to scrap that last suggestion.

To me, a "disease" implies some kind of pathological cause, but then what about cancer?  What is the distinction between "disease" and "illness"? I also think of a condition as not having a pathological root cause.

I acknowledge that some people have experienced some highly traumatic events that must surely contribute to mental illness. I am not such a person. I am lucky that my worst experiences have been the ill health and passing of both my parents, and working in a difficult work environment where they had vastly different ethics.  Yet here I am.

There is evidence that parasites in our gut can affect mental health.  This seems to be a new area of research, but I have seen & read about our gut flora affecting us in many unexpected ways, such as schizophrenia, depression and auto-immune diseases like IBD and Crohns.  Our gut and brain are so tightly linked that a bowel transplant is currently impossible.

Some research also suggests that depression is not simply a chemical imbalance or insufficient serotonin.  Increasing our serotonin levels may not alleviate depression, despite SSRI's working successfully.

Pathological? I think possibly, but not that simple.  Maybe a pathological imbalance.  Perhaps the correct technical category might be disease/illness.

Then there is always the social implications of how we refer to it.

I believe calling it a condition may reduce the emphasis on depression in terms of research / funding / support services etc.  I prefer to see depression still referred to as an illness.

[white knight]

Hi Snowman,

I agree with most of the article. In terms of depression and thousands/hundreds of years ago, people would have suffered depression but at reduced eprcentages I believe.

From hunting, protecting and nurturing with some socialising we are now stretching all of our abilities and cramming so much into our brains that I reckon (guess) that mental illness has much higher percentages. It is subjective of course.

I think the comment implying that those with no effect on them from modern life "they have the mental illness" is a little direct but I get that message and it is an expansion on the question "what is normal". 

Of course the 'labels' are mere words. I'm ok with the word depression. It's society that has made it a "turn away" word. 

A few years ago I met two distant friends at my local shops. One eventually asked me how I was travelling with my new medication. Before I could answer the other guy asked what my new medication was for. I said "depression and other related stuff".  He said "moving right along....hows your diesel Hyundai running".?  Immediately I fumed. I said "well Bill is interested and I'll continue with my conversation and if you dont want to listen and dont CARE, you are welcome to walk away". He walked.

This is why we have to continue to speak up and be proud that whatever condition we have we should stand our ground and make attitudes change. It's a long road though.

Perhaps by mid century we will have change.

[Jo3]

Labels and stigma of depression is still a big problem.  Personally I'm okay with telling people I have depression and anxiety but I have a problem telling people I suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder.  I think, for me, the label BPD is a difficult one to say mainly because of the words personality disorder. So I just tell people that I have depression.

I agree with you WK that we do need to educate and speak out and also be proud of our condition.  It's not a condition that we "lined up to get"; it's a condition where there is a chemical imbalance and therefore need medication and skills to learn how to cope.  It we had diabetes or high blood pressure (like I do) then you would just automatically take the meds to help control the blood pressure - it's the same for depression or any mental illness - we need to take our meds to help level out our moods and anxiety etc etc.

The thing that gets me is the people/family/partners who don't get it and don't try to even understand what it's like.  

When I was in hospital a few months ago I did not receive one get well card or flowers/chocolates etc from anyone.  Yet I am sure that if i was in hospital with a broken arm I would get the flowers and cards!!  Interesting isn't it??

Jo

[gremz]

The only issue I have with the ease of labeling depression is the over-use of medication. Sometimes thinking or a different environment can be the answer. Then it gives reason for those that don't understand to blame us for our pain and rally against medication. 

Jo it is disgusting that that happened to you. I'm glad there is so much more awareness growing within the youth. I don't think it will always be like that.I would rather get a broken arm than depression any day and I think people are coming to understand that. 

[geoff]

dear WK, another great topic to talk about so well done.

I have copied and pasted some part of the article but really there are a lot of other comments that I totally agree with, however, 

'Having depression is hardly just "being sad", or not being able to "get over" something. There are many factors that cause/lead to depression such as imbalance of hormones, chemicals in the brain, etc. Depression also often runs in families. Those who suffer from this type of depression can experience loss of quality of life without anything bad happening to trigger it. True depression is most definitely a disease.'

Other parts say that it runs in families which would answer many people who have wanted to know this, and like I have said before the first question I was always asked was 'did any of your parents have depression'.

Some people can 'will' their way out from having cancer, but this wouldn't happen everyday, but you can't 'will' your way out of depression.

I have read some comments about people believing that it's not an illness or disease and their justification is outrageous to say the least, and boy would I like to discuss their opinions with them, because they would be s***** down in flames, and their actuations of accusing me that I could have got over it any time, that it was a 'put on' or just looking for sympathy is so far from the truth, and all it means is that they have never had the experience of suffering this illness, or having to face the black dog.

To finish off I detest this comment '‘Depression’ cannot be proved physically, mentally, spiritually, or in any way shape or form because it does not exist. It is simply a selfish cry for attention', so there is no point commenting on this  ludicrous statement, because we all know how to feel about it. Geoff.

[white knight]

Hi all,

I thought I'd resurrect this thread as it hits a nerve in so many ways and could assist some members through their depression.

I recall a radio announcer and Tv personality Stan Zemanik (dec) on radio often denouncing "stress" as an illness, in fact he declared it didn't exist. This was of course provocative. I'd seen my late father suffer heavily with stress particularly when he worked as an insurance salesman. He passed away at the young age of 64. I can assume stress had a lot to do with it but heavy smoking since 11yo might have also- who knows?

My point here is that we ourselves are the best judge of stress and also depression. We know when we are depressed. We don't make up tales of a foggy mind, a sleeping feeling, low motivation and so on. Sure there is a low percentage of adults that delve into the sympathy acting and manipulation to seek their ends but it is very small and not worth the mention.

What are your symptoms of depression? What are your early signs, your triggers and if you have any strategies to face it? Do you have a cycle and wait for that cycle to pass before you try getting motivated or do you plough through hoping for the best?

Comments welcome.

Tony WK

[JessF]

Sometimes driving through the blizzard is the best option. I've found that the older I get, analysis becomes paralysis. My depression just is, and the less attention I pay to the way it manifests, the quicker it goes by. That could be because I have set up routines in my life that give me those anchor points in the storm however. It is much easier to ignore depressive symptoms and plough through when you have other things to occupy your mind, and the confidence too that it will go away with time.