Kristin WolgemuthSome Thoughts on Depression
July 9th 2009 21:03
Depression can affect anyone.
I've been suffering from depression since I was a kid. That may sound unbelievable to some of you that depression can possibly experienced that early, or it may sound incredulous if you don't even believe that depression is something that is very difficult to deal with. Sure, some believe it's not a real medical condition, but that it is people being lazy and needing to "pull themselves up by their boot straps." This is definitely not how it works. Depression is a serious condition that affects millions of people.
Some people don't need to take medication for their depression. They use other methods to beat it, and that usually works for mild depression or dysthymic disorder (a low-grade chronic depression). For Major Clinical Depression such as I have, medication has been a god-send for me. I don't know how I'd cope without the alteration these drugs cause in my brain chemicals. For some reasons, these chemicals (dopamine, norepinephrine, and seratonin) don't work well enough on their own. So for me, medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise, and general daily activity help a lot in getting better from this disorder.
I also have panic disorder with agoraphobia. Medication has helped with this also. For those of you who are not familiar with this condition, the panic part of is severe anxiety that sometimes causes panic attacks. These attacks include but are not limited to the following: shortness of breath, dizziness, fear of dying, tightness in the chest, and sweating. There is also a general sense of anxiety that is persistent most of the time. The agoraphobia part is a fear of leaving the house or of being in places where one feels he or she cannot easily escape such as a crowded store or traffic.
I do a lot to try to escape the pitfalls of depression, including the treatments I mentioned earlier in this blog. Blogging itself also helps.
I hope that this blog will be of benefit to someone. This isn't the most fun thing to talk about, but I'm not ashamed of my disability. Frustrated, yes, but not ashamed. People who suffer from depression don't ask for it, and more people should seek help when they need it. It is not a form of weakness or a lack of self-motivation. It's a real medical condition with so many treatment options. If you're depressed, please get help. You're not alone.
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Comment by signals
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Comment by Kristin Wolgemuth
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Wow! 9 years old is horrible. The earliest I had ever heard before was 12. Oh, how I feel for that poor girl.
Thanks for the comment.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Kristin Wolgemuth
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I think meditation is really hard work. It takes a lot of time and practice to do that. I find when I do yoga that I really have to concentrate, but the yoga helps me focus. Have you tried something with a more behavioral aspect? That could help.
Thanks for the comment!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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im too inflexible to do yoga, ive been considering tai chi but i always procrastinate
a friend recommended a sensory deprivation float tank, sounds a bit freaky but i wouldnt rule it out
Comment by Kristin Wolgemuth
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I only studied cognitive-behavioral psychology, so I guess I can only accurately suggest things that involve both aspects. One thing I found helpful for my migraines, for example, is keeping a journal and seeing how my behavior (ie, what I eat, drink, stress about, etc) affects my pain level. Then I can try to modify my behavior. Just an idea. I'll try to think of or look up some more things for you.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Kristin Wolgemuth
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I found some more behavioral modifications that might be of interest to you. Check out the list below:
Go for a brisk walk in a beautiful place.
Swing on a swing.
Eat a healthy meal.
Dance! Even in your kitchen or bedroom.
Do nothing for an hour.
Ask for at least one hug per day.
Laugh.
Sing a song.
Just some random ideas. In simple terms, distract yourself!