Posted by willyee on April 26, 2007, at 10:51:03
In reply to Family in denial of depression, posted by JerryPharmStudent on April 26, 2007, at 8:26:09
Sorry your going through such a ordeal,i dont post much on my social side,but my family flip flops,on one hand they do things for me so i cant say im better off without them,
On a second note as i grow older im less able to keep it to myself and pride,and now have to swallow my pride and rely on them,and to my surprise i get the same reactions.
Ive come to the conclusion theyll never fully believe all they are offering me with there SNAP OUT OF ITS,...GET OUT MORE,...DO THIS,DO THAT,..ETC are GOALS......NOT MY OPTIONS.
Again i dont think people not directly in the board understand the differance between goals and options,as if the though of just going out never popped in my head as a treatment,i just bypassed the obvious and easy options and went straight for technical explanations and drugs.
Ahh shame when i think how much well know in the time span weve all expired with dna research growing,too bad we wont be here to see.
> I reached out to my older brother because I had no money for food and he said - althought sorry - he couldn't help me out.
>
> He recognizes that my parents are alcoholics and also responded with (in a diffferent email) "We have to support mom and dad and try to understand what they are going through."
>
> However, today I receive an email about how - basically - I have the powere to snap out of depression. He meant to be nice - but it was/is clear that he thinks depression is for the weak minded and that anyone who has it can snap out of it.
>
> My other brothers repsond the smae way - either not talking about it or trying to persuade me that it's "all in my head" and that if I only "worked hard enough, got a job..." I'd be depression free.
>
> Here's what I wrote back
> --------------------------
>
> " I know I have the power - I've kept myself alive for the 15 years I've had depression. I've done a lot of soul-searching and have tried my very best to keep on movin' even tho the clinical depression says otherwise. I've soloed with symphonies, composed music, don't a lot of great things - however, I still suffer everyday and it's something I have to use all my strength to keep at bay so it doesn't snowball.
>
> Clinical depression is an illness like diabetes or cancer - it's not laziness or just feeling blue. It clouds your whole world - robs you of energy, motivation - causes extreme mental anguish. I'd gladly take physical pain over it anyday.
>
> But just because it is all that - that does not mean I give up - if I were to give up I'd be dead quite frankly. People who commit suicide aren't just loonies you see on the news - there are bright, intelligent people who do it because they feel there is no way out - nothing that can help them - no one to support them.
>
> I'm not advocating suicide - but instead trying to point out that many people still do not understand clinical depression and who think that it's jsut something one can snap out of.
>
> If I could snap out of it - I SURELY would have by now - TRUST ME.
>
> One wouldn't tell someone with cancer to snap out of it?
>
> There is a huge stigma against people with mental illness and that is saddening.
>
> Medications and therapy help people tremendously - however, I do not advocate simply popping pills to rid oneself of depression. You must learn about it, find support, reach out - ask for help when needed and work as hard as you can to battle the depression. For many - depression usually goes away by itself after a couple years. For many more - it does not. Millions of Americans suffer from depression even while taking a medication. Unfortunately, our understanding of how the brain works is in its infancy and hopefully one day - like on Star Trek - we'll have doctor's simply attach a cortical stimulator to our heads to fix the imbalance of neurhormones, etc.
>
> Until then, I do what I can do to get by. I take medication, I go to support groups and I try to reach out to my brothers, sister and parents for support and understanding.
>
> Thanks for your email."
> ------------------------------
>
> What can one do? I can't change their minds.
>
> Frustrated
> Jerry
poster:willyee
thread:753563
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070426/msgs/753601.html