Sunday, February 18, 2007

observations.....

on Sunday mornings if I wake up early enough I listen to Mass from Notre Dame. This morning in the half hour before that, I listened to a very interesting program.

The encouraging part of the whole half hour was this: depression is a medical issue: it does not mean you don't have enough faith or that you are stupid or that you are morally weak or that you can "snap out of it" by force of will (that is like saying you can "snap out of" having high blood pressure)

Somehow there was some real comfort in that.....

6 comments:

Travelin'Oma said...

About 25 years ago I had a major depression. I felt embarrassed and ashamed that my hope, faith and natural optimism seemed to be failing me. I could "fake it" in front of people, but at home I was a mess! I tried praying myself out of it, but finally went to a doctor who gave me medication. I had to juggle with dosages, etc. but after a couple of months I was able to see progress. I now see the medication as the answer to the prayer. I still take a maintenance dose, and probably will for the rest of my life. It is definitely a physical condition, not an imaginary one.

Nancy G said...

I was SO hoping this little genetic "feature" of our family would pass you by! In at least one respect, I was lucky; I had no real issues with feeling I should be able to fix it myself. Probably that was due to equal parts of 1)having majored in psychology in college [my 2nd major], and 2)being around when Mom was first really dealing with her depression. As you know, I too will most likely be on antidepressants for the rest of my life, just like Mom and Marty.

Bev said...

and again I seem to have passed on some lousy genetics .... sorry kid! I wonder how many generations back this little "feature" runs (and if it runs on both side of the family...something I can ask Ruth about)

kenju said...

Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. I've been there, and it took a long time to get out of it (without drugs or help). Thanks for the visit, Bev. I hope you'll return.

Kay Dennison said...

This really was wonderful to read, Bev!!!! I've fought with what Hemingway called "the black dog" for a long, long time. Most anti-depressants don't work well for me so I've learned to live with it -- sometimes better than others -- but it seems like it's a losing battle most of the time. Every time I get on an even keel, somethng knocks me overboard and I'm back to square one. Knowing that it's not my fault helps.

Bev said...

thanks to all of you for your comments!

its nice to know you're not alone when you are trying to slay the dragon