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thistle
Guest
Depression is not a sin.
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D
Deus_tecum
Guest
I accept that clinical depressions have chemical imbalances in the brain as a marker, but I firmly believe that brain chemistry can be altered by behavior, thought patterns, and spiritual communion. One big component of depression is an extreme over-focus on one’s self.
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vsedriver
Guest
are you saying over-focus on one’s self causes depression or depression causes an over-focus on one’s self?
I was recently diagnosed with clinical depression. I had no clue. But I knew something was wrong. No one recognized my symptoms as being depression symptoms. One was that I was in constant pain. I had been going to my doctor for chronic pain for two years. I finally had an anxiety attack and immediately went to my doctor. She put me on prozac and with in 3 days I was free of physical pain.
I think some people are just not wired to handle extreme stress.
M
Mystical_Seeker
Guest
They are not “at fault” but at times their depression isn’t entirely crippling, there are things they can do to help the situation, in addition to cooperating with their doctor if they have one.
Their medicine will help the symptoms. They can change their thinking to remove the depression, but we like to say that it’s “blaming the victim” to tell them that, rather than “empowering the victim.” That’s in part because remember to those who profit from the latest and greatest $450/month medicines, a patient healed is a customer lost.
The medicine treats symptoms but does not fix the underlying thinking that has been accumulated as a result of being raised in this culture of continuous manufactured anxiety.
Here’s one book, I have on Kindle and audio, in which a neuroscientist goes into some of why the brain is automatically designed to capture negative, but can be trained to capture positive to balance that effect. It has to do with the fact that we are constantly anxious now, compared to our evolutionary ancestors who were only in fear for short bursts of time. Being in fear is useful to us, but only when it goes away.
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and ConfidenceOct 8, 2013
by Rick Hanson
Their medicine will help the symptoms. They can change their thinking to remove the depression, but we like to say that it’s “blaming the victim” to tell them that, rather than “empowering the victim.” That’s in part because remember to those who profit from the latest and greatest $450/month medicines, a patient healed is a customer lost.
The medicine treats symptoms but does not fix the underlying thinking that has been accumulated as a result of being raised in this culture of continuous manufactured anxiety.
Here’s one book, I have on Kindle and audio, in which a neuroscientist goes into some of why the brain is automatically designed to capture negative, but can be trained to capture positive to balance that effect. It has to do with the fact that we are constantly anxious now, compared to our evolutionary ancestors who were only in fear for short bursts of time. Being in fear is useful to us, but only when it goes away.
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and ConfidenceOct 8, 2013
by Rick Hanson
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schaubj57
Guest
Depression can happen through no fault of your own.
I became depressed because of the fact I was harboring a secret (victim of molestation) that would have destroyed me even more had others known about it. In hiding that secret I was always seen as an outcast or a weird person because I was so withdrawn from those around me. I became the subject of ridicule, teasing, torment and harassment because of what others thought about me. In the 90’s you didn’t bring stuff up like that because there wasn’t the help network that there is today for those victims. Even when I received recognition for good things (honor roll, Dean’s list, student of the year) I wasn’t able to see the good in them because I was so beat down from those around me. It wasn’t really until these past 20 months, when my life seemingly came to a halt, that I started to shake this looming dark cloud over me. I have had setbacks but I am not being weighed down by them.
In a way I was slightly to blame because I let others get to me when I was younger. However, I limit it to slightly because for what I had been subjected to by classmates and coworkers is stuff no one should have to deal with or be subjected too.
I became depressed because of the fact I was harboring a secret (victim of molestation) that would have destroyed me even more had others known about it. In hiding that secret I was always seen as an outcast or a weird person because I was so withdrawn from those around me. I became the subject of ridicule, teasing, torment and harassment because of what others thought about me. In the 90’s you didn’t bring stuff up like that because there wasn’t the help network that there is today for those victims. Even when I received recognition for good things (honor roll, Dean’s list, student of the year) I wasn’t able to see the good in them because I was so beat down from those around me. It wasn’t really until these past 20 months, when my life seemingly came to a halt, that I started to shake this looming dark cloud over me. I have had setbacks but I am not being weighed down by them.
In a way I was slightly to blame because I let others get to me when I was younger. However, I limit it to slightly because for what I had been subjected to by classmates and coworkers is stuff no one should have to deal with or be subjected too.
C
Cimachol
Guest
While we’re on the subject, does anyone know of any good online resources for Catholic who struggle with depression? I have struggled with it as long as I can remember. I went to counseling once but the counselor made me really uncomfortable – I just didn’t feel like she was someone I could open up to. I’ve used “crutches” of various kinds to try to mask my pain, but this isn’t fixing the problem. I realize that the time has come to deal with this the right way,
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7_Sorrows
Guest
I would suggest trying counseling again. I have been in and out of counseling many times and it takes time to build a relationship and trust with someone you are spilling your guts to. There are good and bad counselors as with any profession. Maybe you can get recommendations from someone. Listen to your instinct and I pray you will find a good one for you. I ordered a book from The Catholic Company last year on depression and it is written for Catholics or anyone. I think the title might be a Catholic’s Guide to Depression. It was very good. If you call their number they might help you locate it.
Good luck!
M
Mystical_Seeker
Guest
I think it’s quite often a “reasonable” response, to an “unreasonable” situation. We aren’t taught to deal with things like that in school. We are taught that either we can find the right answer, or someone else can and will and we’re Less Than because we failed. Or that’s how it ends up too often, IMO.
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Deus_tecum
Guest
I will say that it can cause depression, but not always, and once in depression over focus on self is a primary component of the thought process. Depression is a big circle that feeds on itself. I just cannot pin it down to absolute cause and effect as a precursor to depression. Indeed however many peoples depressions were preceded by grief from a death in the family. Bear in mind that God tells us in Scripture that we are to die to self.
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dbranch
Guest
I suffer from psychotic depression. I take part of the blame in my own mind. I was pretty stupid in high school, but i did have some physical and sexual abuse as a kid. I don’t blame myself entirely for my condition.
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CRATUS
Guest
No. It’s a chemical imbalance. Maybe a reaction to a traumatic event. People get annoyed when people are not always happy-go-lucky around them. Some people do not understand what it means to be depression. Some people are predisposed to fall into depression easier. Some people just do not get as sad about certain things for whatever reason.
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