by Corvin 26 Replies latest watchtower medical
How serious is depression related to your JW upbringing, association and/or disfellowshipment? Should this kind (or any other kind) of depression that lingers long after the WT smoke clears go untreated? How have you successfully dealt with your depression?
Thank You,
Corvin
I can't talk about this right now....I've been up for two hours straight...must get a good 22 hours sleep now!
mac, I'm okay though
Depression is like cancer, many types, degrees and treatments.
Here are some stats on mental illness in the US and also causes. Many people suffer from some from of depression. I think being a JW exacerbates those situations for people and they are prevented actively or by strong suggestion not to seek proper medical help. For example is a JW had cancer but was discouraged from seeking treatment, there cancer would become death-dealing when it did not have to. The cancer was not caused by being a JW but being a JW made it much more likely to be death-dealing.
http://www.allaboutdepression.com/gen_25.html
http://www.allaboutdepression.com/cau_01.html
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/45/1663_51213.htm?z=1663_51206_6503_00_09
What Causes Depression?
There is not just one cause of depression. It is a complex disease that can occur as a result of a multitude of factors. For some, depression occurs due to a loss of a loved one, a change in one's life, or after being diagnosed with a serious medical disease. For others, depression just happened, possibly due to their family history.
Factors involved in causing depression, include:
Biology vs. Emotions
There is absolute proof that people suffering from depression have changes in their brains compared to people who do not suffer from depression. The hippocampus, a small part of the brain that is vital to the storage of memories, is 9-13% smaller in women with a history of depression than in those who've never been depressed. A smaller hippocampus has fewer serotonin receptors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter -- a chemical messenger that allows communication between nerves in the brain and the body.
What scientists don't yet know is why the hippocampus is smaller. Investigators have found that cortisol (a stress hormone that is important to the normal function of the hippocampus) is produced in excess in depressed people. They believe that cortisol has a toxic or poisonous effect on the hippocampus. It's also possible that depressed people are simply born with a smaller hippocampus and are therefore inclined to suffer from depression.
Depression is a complex illness with many contributing factors. As doctors gain a better understanding of the cause(s) of the illness they will be able to make better "tailored" diagnoses and, in turn, prescribe more effective treatment plans.
Genetic Link
There is evidence that suggests a genetic link to depression. Children, siblings, and parents of people with severe depression are much more likely to suffer from depression than are members of the general population. Multiple genes interacting with one another in special ways probably contribute to the types of depression that runs in families. Scientists have not been able to identify a "depression" gene.
No drepression about that for me (but it is a serious matter in JW world also)
Good stuff, Blondie. You are awsome.
Corvin
Depression, regardless of the situations that may have triggered it, requires medical attention when it lasts more than two weeks OR interferes with your normal daily activities. As a matter of fact, I tell all my patients, when I am teaching them about post-partum depression, to consider seeking medical attention if they have symptoms that last a week, and to arrange to see their doctor after 10 days of symptoms without relief.
Here is a list of the criteria that a physician will look for:
If you experience at least three of these symptoms, and definitely if you experience five or more of them, it is time to check in with your doctor.
If at any time a person feels suicidal, medical attention should be sought without delay.
Love, Scully
Yes, it can be persuasive and lingering. As I have said I started on the SeaSilver and have been depression free since December I also have only had a sniffle since then too...no sinus infections no asthma barking and no bad allergy symptoms
Corvin,
This is your gatorade drinking buddy...
Cor... Growing up, I was really sad a lot - but I was never depressed.
The difference for me, was that when I was sad (as a teen) - I was EMPOWERED.
I was that kid that got teased and made fun of. And it got me sad. But it empowered me because I would channel that negative energy to be a success.
Without going into details. I'm in a profession where I get a lot of attention. I get intervied on TV so much that I stopped recording them. Get write ups in magazines.
In short, people don't make fun of me anymore.
But it was my experiences of being sad that made me work for what I have today.
Once I became a JW, though. I became diagnosed with DEPRESSION.
The difference between being sad and being depressed - is depression DISEMPOWERS you.
Gawd. You feel like you want to die and there is NO HOPE.
This was UNDOUBTELY caused by my association with the WT. Mostly the GUILT factor and the constant barage that no matter what I did - it was never good enough.
This is how I got over it...
1) I went to a medical doctor who put me on Paxil.
This was a great help.
I'm still on it today (probably going on 2 years now.)
But I think my depression was so bad that I think I will be on this for life.
The way I describe Paxil - oil in your engine.
I was so depressed that it was like the oil was NOT ONLY LOW, but the oil was completely burned out.
My brain got FRIED.
2) The second thing is that I consided Depression as a DISEASE. MUCH LIKE CANCER...
THANK YOU BLONDIE!!!!
But, I told myself and I told the elders at the time. Hey, if I had cancer, would you be harrassing me about going out in field service??? Meeting attendance???
HEY!!! I AM SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So finally, I just told myself that I am sick and started making excuses for myself.
Sure. I wish I could stop doing "this this or that."
But when I was heathly, sure. I did EVERYTHING.
But now, hey. Sometimes I break Jesus' laws. I hate that.
But I'm sick.
And hopefully, one day I will be NOT SICK anymore. And when that happens, I will be more empowered to work things.
But right now???
I am sick.
Hope this helps...
When I read the first part of this question , Just how serious is depression........I said one word........DEADLY. That is how serious it can be.
Depression is so complex, there are so many unanswered questions on how our minds word , no wonder .
I do know that most of the times, depression can be helped,,,,,maybe not completely done away with for some,,,,with medication.
I have had depression since I was 7 yrs old. For along time,,until I was maybe 25, I thought that I was just depressed over my life at home as a child, then losing my mother to suicide so young, etc etc,
Then I started getting deeper and darker depressions as time went on, lasting longer and longer. I started reading everything I could get my hands on, going to doctors and learned alot about myself, depression and that the truth was that I have had depression since a very young little girl.
I am pretty sure that the gene for depression is handed down to you by your parents just as diabetes, brown eyes, or any other signature characteristic. I can go back 4 generations on my mothers side , all on her side were women with depression, and the symptoms are so similar. Of course no one knew much about this common link , even my mother didnt realized the dept of her kind of depression. She died before Prozac became popular, just by months I believe. I wish so much she could have tried that, I wonder if she would have stayed on it because it usually doesnt cause weight gain, that was one of the main reasons she got off the Elavil.
My depression is caused by genetic tendencies , even if I take medication, sometimes there can be a breakthru but usually it is not any where close to what it could be if not taking meds. I also know that my life circumstances have alot to do with my moods, and haunt me even in my sleep, So everyday I am dealing with either a physical depression , trying to keep myself from falling in that black hole I have been in too many times before, and then dealing with the past of things that were done to me .
I know from first hand experience how deadly depression can be - it can lead to suicide and death - it is a nawful thing
