Who does NOT suffer from depression?

[Lady_Love]

How do you live your life? What is your routine? What is your prayer life? What is your attitude? What were your parents like? What was your childhood like?

Someone told me once, “To achieve the life you want, observe those who have it.”

 

[lizaanne]

There is a SIGNIFICANT difference between being “down” or unhappy, or dissatisfied with life, and clinical depression, which is a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Please specify which situation you are referring to.

~Liza

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I don’t. Used to have very severe spells lasting weeks where I couldn’t even get up off a mattress for the thoughts running around in my head, but I was also very psychotic. That’s healed now, so I can be as happy as I know how to be at any given time.

First, if it’s really bad, like the other poster suggested, nothing wrong with going to a doctor and seeing if you can get medicine. The medicine won’t “fix” your ways of thinking or really “heal” your depression, but it will help hold you together while you’re working on your journey.

That said, the first thing I think of is that I never have a bad day anymore, by decision. I have bad moments, but there no rule that says that because I had a Bad Moment, that now I must call it a Bad Day. And it is about how you call it. What about a day that wears you out – is that good or bad? Well, you have free will so you get to call it either. When I’m totally in doubt of what a day has been, I have a “pause” button I can put on it – I just call it “interesting.”

Another thing is our family loves music. I play piano at home every day, and nearly every day at least one or two of our kids will sing and dance with me. One of them is my cantor for 8 am Mass. I think singing and dancing around are wonderful.

Oh gosh there’s so much to say I don’t know where to continue. So I’ll wrap it up with:

a) you get to call what kind of day you’re having, regardless of whether you’re at a Bad Moment.

b) Music, singing, and praise to the Lord. We also like rock and roll, classical, in addition to praise.

And if you are having a Bad Moment and a good friend (who can take it) asks about it, you can know that it didn’t “get to you” (because of your awesome mental powers) but still be very candid. "I honestly thought I was going to lose my job, the way it seemed before lunch, and let me tell you I was very desperate because … " So let me add two more:

c) be honest with both positive and negative feelings around people who love and care for you, and have the time to listen.

d) with everybody else who either can’t handle it or you don’t want to talk to them anywayy about personal things or they don’t have time right now, consider speaking all Sunshine and Roses. Don’t tell them anything but “it is a wonderful day, isn’t it?” or if you want to get more sappy, “every day is a gift.”

So don’t be embarrassed to put on your rose-tinted glasses. Remember it’s only a tint so it alters your experience, but it doesn’t confuse or cloudy up the details of the scene. (If they changed the scene, they would be blinders or trick glasses.)

Alan

 

[RPRPsych]

There is a SIGNIFICANT difference between being “down” or unhappy, or dissatisfied with life, and clinical depression, which is a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Please specify which situation you are referring to.

~Liza

There is a world of difference between “clinical depression” (also “major depression”) and feelings of sadness, which unfortunately are also called “depression” in ordinary English.

The word depression is ambiguous, to the point where some professionals (self included) feel it should be dropped altogether in the clinical setting - and perhaps an older term, such as “melancholia”, can be revived to describe “clinical depressions”.

My guess is that the OP is referring to “clinical depression”.

But the problem is that “clinical depression” (like “obesity” and “stroke”) is a very heterogeneous condition. Sometimes a chemical or genetic factor does appear to be the main offender (this is sometimes called “endogenous depression” - depression “from within”).

At other times, a clinical depression develops in the background of another mental disorder (such as PTSD or OCD), a neurological disorder (Parkinson’s, MS, epilepsy), a chronic physical illness or disability (diabetes, for example).

Still other people appear to develop depression as an understandable, though disabling, response to difficult life circumstances or traumatic situations in general, hence the older term “reactive depression” (“in reaction to events”).

Finally, some people seem to have a depressive “personality style” that manifests itself from childhood or early adolescence, and which often has its roots in genetic vulnerability, disturbed early attachments, or both.

Why am I saying all this? Because it has a direct bearing on what the OP wants to know. No two depressions are alike, and - even worse - what works for one person may not work for another, whether it’s drugs, psychotherapy, or even specific ways of coping. Therefore, while the idea of “finding out what works for others” is interesting, remember that one person’s perfect solution may not be your cup of tea.

 

[robwar]

How do you live your life? What is your routine? What is your prayer life? What is your attitude? What were your parents like? What was your childhood like?

Someone told me once, “To achieve the life you want, observe those who have it.”

that’s a strange quote to “observe those who have it.” Life is more than observing others and observing others means you are not doing anything. If you are clinically depressed, you probably need help and that is more than taking anti-depression pills. When one is depressed, they don’t feel like doing anything and just end up observing others which does not break the depression cycle. Activity and doing things for others does help to start the break the cycle of depression.

 

[robwar]

There is a world of difference between “clinical depression” (also “major depression”) and feelings of sadness, which unfortunately are also called “depression” in ordinary English.

The word depression is ambiguous, to the point where some professionals (self included) feel it should be dropped altogether in the clinical setting - and perhaps an older term, such as “melancholia”, can be revived to describe “clinical depressions”.

My guess is that the OP is referring to “clinical depression”.

But the problem is that “clinical depression” (like “obesity” and “stroke”) is a very heterogeneous condition. Sometimes a chemical or genetic factor does appear to be the main offender (this is sometimes called “endogenous depression” - depression “from within”).

At other times, a clinical depression develops in the background of another mental disorder (such as PTSD or OCD), a neurological disorder (Parkinson’s, MS, epilepsy), a chronic physical illness or disability (diabetes, for example).

Still other people appear to develop depression as an understandable, though disabling, response to difficult life circumstances or traumatic situations in general, hence the older term “reactive depression” (“in reaction to events”).

Finally, some people seem to have a depressive “personality style” that manifests itself from childhood or early adolescence, and which often has its roots in genetic vulnerability, disturbed early attachments, or both.

Why am I saying all this? Because it has a direct bearing on what the OP wants to know. No two depressions are alike, and - even worse - what works for one person may not work for another, whether it’s drugs, psychotherapy, or even specific ways of coping. Therefore, while the idea of “finding out what works for others” is interesting, remember that one person’s perfect solution may not be your cup of tea.

that is very well put.

 

[Love_St_Auggie]

At other times, a clinical depression develops in the background of another mental disorder (such as PTSD or OCD), a neurological disorder (Parkinson’s, MS, epilepsy), a chronic physical illness or disability (diabetes, for example).

Still other people appear to develop depression as an understandable, though disabling, response to difficult life circumstances or traumatic situations in general, hence the older term “reactive depression” (“in reaction to events”).

Finally, some people seem to have a depressive “personality style” that manifests itself from childhood or early adolescence, and which often has its roots in genetic vulnerability, disturbed early attachments, or both.

Why am I saying all this? Because it has a direct bearing on what the OP wants to know. No two depressions are alike, and - even worse - what works for one person may not work for another, whether it’s drugs, psychotherapy, or even specific ways of coping. Therefore, while the idea of “finding out what works for others” is interesting, remember that one person’s perfect solution may not be your cup of tea.

Agree with everything posted so far Thought I’d illustrate some of what is said above with examples from my own life.

Depression runs on one side of my family. Many of my relatives were simply born with a profound difficulty to motivate themselves and see the glass as anything but half empty. That said, for the few who have been brave enough to take medication for it, it has done wonders. They are not the cheeriest people in the world, but they are able to get off the couch, take a shower, and work.

Then you have people like myself who fall into the the category of chronic physical illness. Before I was diagnosed, I started to wonder whether I had a mood disorder. It turned out that what I thought was depression was extreme exhaustion from running myself ragged and drinking pot after pot of coffee every day just to make it through the day (I have narcolepsy).

Since diagnosis and since getting off the caffeine, the only depressive episodes I’ve had came from early complications with doctors and treatment. But I wouldn’t even count them as depression- I’d consider that more despair.

Best of luck to you.

 

[RPRPsych]

that is very well put.

Thanks! But I can’t claim too much credit; it’s part of a speech I’m trying to write for World Mental Health Day this Wednesday.

To return to the OP’s question, though, there are some things (particularly early childhood experiences and genetic vulnerability) that we cannot change, but no one is “predestined” to suffer from depression all their life. Biology is not destiny. Our thought processes, the way we express and manage our emotions, our level of physical activity, and our relationships with others - including belonging to a religious community - can all help us with mood-related issues, even without recourse to specific drugs or therapies.

 

[Lady_Love]

Thanks Alan! I like your response. Especially, coming from someone who has had it and overcome it. I think it is wonderful! Your coping skills remind me of my fiance’. He also used to suffer from depression but I’ve known him for four years and I’ve never seen him down more than a day here and there. He doesn’t seem to let things get him down, at least not little things.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

I don’t, but I did once. Over twenty years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression so acute that following diagnosis I went straight from the psychiatrist’s office to the hospital, where I remained for over six weeks.

I’m fine now.

How do you live your life?

This is a very broad question. The best way I can answer it is that I live my life as it happens. I don’t dwell on the past and I don’t stress about the future. This doesn’t mean I don’t, for example, learn from my mistakes or save for a rainy day. It means I no longer beat myself up for the things I did wrong or live in fear of the day it starts raining.

What is your routine?

Other than the usual things most people do regularly—eat, sleep, bathe, housework—I also pray a minimum of one hour daily, go to Adoration twice per week (total of three hours; I’m in the process of adding a third session, the length of which is as yet undetermined because I will have to go outside the parish for it), confess weekly, and attend at least one Mass per day. I have been an Adoration aficionado for fifteen years and am always seeking ways to allow me to devote more time to it. The other three activities were born out of conversations with my current pastor. I was already praying 45 minutes per day. He increased it. I confessed four times annually and wanted to go monthly. He insists upon confession every Friday. (Believe me, we fought about this. I lost.) Daily Mass was his idea, though in fairness he never said I had to go every day, just “once or twice during the week.” I wasn’t crazy about it and at first it was really hard to stick with the commitment. Eventually that got easier and I kept adding Masses until I was going every day. Now I can’t imagine skipping even one day.

For reasons I won’t state here in the interest of brevity—though I’m happy to in a subsequent post if so requested—where, when and how often I attend Mass depends upon my pastor’s schedule (we have three churches; the pastor divides his time evenly between them), so it may not really qualify as a routine.

What is your prayer life?

Chaplet of St. Michael in the morning, Chaplet of Divine Mercy as close to 3:00pm as my schedule allows and evening Rosary. I’ve recently been given additional responsibility in my parish and I’m still adjusting to the new demands on my time, but as soon as I get all that under control (probably another week) I will add a second daily rosary to be prayed specifically for my pastor and his intentions.

I also pray about ten minutes daily for all priests and for vocations, particularly those to the priesthood. I would like to eventually increase that to a half hour.

From time to time I add a novena, most recently one to St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

What is your attitude?

I would love to say that I’m a bright ball of sunshine who enriches the lives of everyone I meet, but that isn’t true. I do try to remain positive and see the good in everything, but like everyone I have my moments. Both The Husband and my pastor have had to pull me out of blue funks from time to time, and they each have their own way of doing this. (Husband: :console:; pastor: http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/Pascal_S/smileys/smack.gif) In return, I try to be a blessing to them both, as well as to everyone I encounter in my daily life. My level of success varies widely. The important thing is to remain hopeful and never, ever give up.

What were your parents like?

Normal parents. (In case it’s important, they’re both still alive.) They did a lot of good things and they also made a lot of mistakes. One major error resulted in a lot of suffering that might otherwise have been avoided. But just as I have apologized to them for being a pain to raise , so have I also forgiven them for the horrible things that happened to me which were in their power to prevent. There is no sense in harboring ill will for that, since it is in the past and cannot be changed. As an adult, I am responsible for how I move forward from it.

What was your childhood like?

Not great, but I got over it.

Someone told me once, “To achieve the life you want, observe those who have it.”

And someone once told me, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” By following this advice, I am now at a point where I cannot remember a time in my life when I was as happy as I am today.

God bless!

 

[Lady_Love]

Both The Husband and my pastor have had to pull me out of blue funks from time to time, and they each have their own way of doing this. (Husband: :console:; pastor: http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/Pascal_S/smileys/smack.gif)

Thank you UpUpandAway!

That comment made me laugh, thank you.

 

[Kathrin]

I would say I am not depressed, even though I have had phases where I think I may have been.
I have struggled a lot with scruples though, and fears.

I think it has a lot to do with these three that are also mentioned in the Bible:
Faith, hope, and love.
When you have faith and hope, then you can see things optimistically. Even when you do feel down, you feel that it happens for a reason and it will get better again. Depression tends to attack hope itself: The notion that it will or even might get better again seems so imporabable that it seems clsoe to impossible.

Love gives meaning to everything.
If you don’t knwo what you live for, remember that we also live in order to love. Every single smile we give to another person has meaning. Nothing is in vain when you remember LOVE.

How do you live your life? What is your routine?

I am actually in a quite unstable situation. Since the beginning of last year I don’t have my job anymore and have started doing street music again. I sing my own songs and play the guitar. My financial situation is very … well, “poor”, and I am staying upstairs at my parents’ hosue at the age of almost 38 and at other times live in cheap enough places (cheap room/apartment or tent) in anothe rcountry where I ahve kind of made my “second home”. In this I find much joy, but the travels again take the little money I make.
I hope something will work out soon that I will have some othe rkind of income or maybe even emigrate and find a job in the other place, but I have a lot of faith and also I know my blessing (understanding parents, wonderful friends, the blessing of being able to be outside a lot, the blessing of having found a place where I feel so much connection to, etc…)

What is your prayer life?

I go to mass almost every day now.
I think I pray a lot as i go throug my day… thank God for little things sometimes… sometimes I do the prayers of the day from the liturgy of the hours but not regularly. I long to feel deeply connected with Jesus when i go to mass.

I have been struggling with scrupulosity a lot and also long for a real feeling of trust in God/Jesus. Sometimes I feel so much, so much trust and comfort.

What is your attitude?

I really would call myself an optimist. I try to believe that everything will turn out well for everybody.
Also I try to forgive everybody even those who really harmed me (like for example one time a guy stole my wallet and I later went to light a candle for him in chruch.) I try to undertsand all sides and see the good in everybody.

What were your parents like? What was your childhood like?

My parents are still alive.
I would call my childhood really happy, protected. I have a brothe rwho is one year younger and we were close and played a lot together. I played alone a lot too and made up a lot of stories.
I did suffer from some stupid fears though.

:shrug:guess that’s it for this… Kathrin