Posted by seldomseen on March 23, 2009, at 12:00:38
In reply to Depression as a brain homeostatic reset, posted by linkadge on March 20, 2009, at 18:45:13
Well, I do think people's mood fluctuates from time to time, but I'm not sure it is designed to provide a more reality driven state.
I think a "happy" reality is just as real as a "morose" reality.
I think clinical depression is a chronic potentially fatal disease process. I lean toward separating it from the more spiritual interpretation of the symptoms.
However, the suffering it causes is very real and the search for meaning in that suffering I think is a uniquely admirable trait.
I also think that, just as life-style changes can ameliorate other illnesses, changes in thought patterns, stress management and ventures out of the "depression-induced comfort zone" can help.
While I want to make clear that I do not think one can *will*, *think* or *pray* their way free from depression, these actions certainly fall well within the "first do no harm" approach to treatment and may be of benefit.
In the field in which I work we use the mantra "prayer and predisone" when nothing else seems to be working.
Seldom
Seldom.
poster:seldomseen
thread:886279
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090322/msgs/886675.html