by Corvin 26 Replies latest watchtower medical
Depression is extremely serious. Chronic depression is genetic, but I know what it's like to feel down. I was not originally brought up as a JW but now that I am one I don't get depressed nearly as often (because I have a sense of purpose).
Depression is definitely chemical, but having a positive attitude and deciding to take action seemed to turn my life around.
For sure. Insightful as always, Shamus.
Corvin
You have a PM
Thanks for starting this thread.
Sirona
if the depression is congregation based
the depression is very serious, i almost found brainwashed individuals, i have had seven yrs of ptsd after they almost killed me.
it has to be remembered that a lot of these people are apostates regardless of here there or in the congreagation or wherever.
they push apostate views and that produces the effect of ill health, like in lamentations, i am ill all day long, etc
that depression is not normal, we saw it in congregations too, a strange tiredness that produces m.e. type symptoms ie unable to move or think clearly. it wasnt just simple depression it was the result of truly apostate brain beating not just having an argument getting df'ed and ending up here or somewhere else. some are in psychiatric units because of those effects and teachings.the depression does not need more jw therapy preaching meetings etc, that tactic was sickening when i saw it done, as far as i saw they need a return to normal daily living with milk and cookies so to speak till they get better. without pressure or brain beatings. which some areas have carried out. i have known people nearly suicidal, plz never take that course call an ambulance or whatever. that effect is a miswired jw brain unfortunately, and yes i have reported it to the police to get it stopped. they never saw my friends shaking in the corner with 2 nervous breakdowns yrs of hell running round preaching while they sat on their fat arses. that effect as i said can be very serious, especially if it comes from those apostate seared ones. they produce demonism so that produces severe mental abnormality, like voodoo or witchcraft.
some of the effects of those type of teachings produce violent outbursts, as they are the teachings of balaam, and the madness of those men became apparent to everybody. jesus said about demonic effects, like possesion those kind can come out by nothing except fasting and prayer, think fasting if youve got that effect put the articles down plz, and leave them alone, the errors in them a form of chirping to produce spiritistic effects.
loving people do not do such things, and shouldnt, they just care and help, the answer is not preaching, love and kindness works better. reassociation with the things that brought it on can and may well excaberbate the situation, please consult a doctor or psychologist not an elder or a watchtower.
jw treatment is not legal even, they are at best only quacks sometimes. plz consult youre own doctor not them, but of course verifiable info is acceptable.
plz accept my love and kindness, in a spirit of freindship. in my opinion that depression is different its a brain beating effect please consult a doctor if you or youre relatives have such things
((Corvin)) I hear ya, man.
A couple of thoughts about my own experience with depression (especially clinical depression):
My doctor explained that one of the normal activities of the neurological system is to process dopamine (a "depressant" factor) into seratonin (a "stimulating" factor), and then the normal biological sequence involves a "seratonin re-uptake" cycle that converts the seratonin back into dopamine.
Now, if the re-uptake mechanism is too diligent, then what happens is that your brain becomes overdosed with dopamine, and you naturally, unavoidably, feel depressed. We often resort to other stimulant substances (caffeine, nicotine, alcohol [because if its effect on elevating blood-sugar levels], methamphetamine) to self-medicate.
The flip side of self-medication is that all these substances have a short-term effect, and typically (by reason of biological habituation) require increasing dosages to produce what we perceive as "this is where I need to be."
I was on Prozac (a seratonin re-uptake inhibitor) for several years, and it was like a silver bullet, almost literally.
You hang in there, dude. This too shall pass; and continue to take advantage of this window that is open to you and explore, fearlessly, whatever psychological issues may be contributing to your depression.
Very best regards,
Craig
My depression took a very strange form. It was pointed out to me by others (on more than one occasion) that I had a "monthly" problem!
I would suddenly shift mental gears and become angry. My anger was hair-trigger. I would become hyper aware of slights from others. I would challenge, verbally, anyone for anything.
And the worst part? I had a persistent semi-compulsion to smash my head in the wall! Yes. I just wanted to hurt myself.
If this were a TV advert, right now the soothing music would begin......
One day, I was told by a friend to try St.John's Wort. I looked it up and researched the effects of this so-called "natural" remedy for depression. (Black widow spiders and heart-attacks are natural too, I complained).
After determining it would not kill me outright I began taking the St.John's Wort in pill form. I experimented with dosage and with brand names.
IT WORKED!
That is, the possibly placebo effect worked. I don't know if it was the pills or the expectation.
I reasoned about it this way.
When I tried several brands, only one of those brands worked. Would this be the case with a placebo? Also, if I didn't take two pills I had no response. If I discontinued the pills it would come back suddenly: the anger.
After about two years on the St.John's Wort I went off of it again. The depression was pemanently gone.
There were no side effect issues. No reduction in sexual desire or potency. Nobody was murdered. No smashed head.
I mention this for what it is worth. Tests on people taking the St.John's Wort are inconclusive. It could very well BE a placebo. But, perhaps the kind of depression and the brain chemistry have more to do with it than that. I don't know.
But, I've been depression free now for a long time.
More power to any of you who succeed like I have.
Terry
