Posts by puffthedragon

“MY HUSBAND and I have sought out medical treatment, made lifestyle changes, and worked hard to develop a routine that I can cope with,” says Ruth, who has suffered with depression for many years. “We seem to have found an effective medication, and I am doing better. But during the time when nothing else seemed to work, the constant love of my husband and friends helped me not to give up.”

As Ruth’s experience indicates, patients who suffer from clinical depression need all the support they can get, including whatever medical approach might be advisable. It can be risky to ignore depression because in some cases when left untreated it can be life-threatening. About two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ acknowledged that those with medical experience could provide needed help, when he said that ‘those who are ill need a physician.’ (Mark 2:17) The fact is that physicians can do much to alleviate the suffering of many depressed patients.

Some Helpful Options

There are a number of treatments for depression, varying according to the symptoms and the severity of the illness. (See the box on page 5, “What Kind of Depression?”) Many people may be helped by their family physician, but some need more specialized treatment. The doctor might prescribe antidepressant medication or recommend some other form of assistance. Some people have experienced good results with herbal medications, dietary adjustments, or a controlled exercise program.

Common Issues

1. Well-meaning friends with little or no medical training might try to tell you which method of treatment to accept and which to reject. They might also have strong opinions about whether you should take herbal medicine, prescribed medication, or nothing at all.

Consider: Make sure that any advice you accept comes from a reliable source. In the end, you are the one who must make an informed choice.

2. Discouragement may make patients discontinue their choice of treatment because they do not seem to be getting better or because of unpleasant side effects.

Consider: “There is a frustrating of plans where there is no confidential talk, but in the multitude of counselors there is accomplishment.” (Proverbs 15:22) A program of medical therapy is more likely to succeed if there is good communication between doctor and patient. Frankly explain your concerns or describe your symptoms to your doctor, and ask whether you need to adjust the treatment or simply to persevere before you will begin to experience benefits.

3. Overconfidence can make patients stop their medical remedy abruptly after a few weeks because they feel better. They may forget how debilitating their symptoms were before they started their medication.

Consider: Suddenly terminating medical treatment without consulting a doctor can have serious and even life-threatening consequences.

Though the Bible is not a medical textbook, its Author, Jehovah God, is our Creator. The next article will examine the comfort and guidance God’s Word provides both for those who suffer from depression and for their caregivers.

64

more abuse in today's watchtower study

by solomon in

jw
friends

today's study picks on the most vulnerable among us.

the mentally ill. .

the watchtower apparently hasn't learned that depression and mental illness are that a medical condition.

puffthedragon

Are there any relevant quotes from this article anyone can share? I did not read the article, but I would like to see what they actually said. If its online, which magazine is it taken from?

87

JW tour bus crashes in Florida, with fatalities-

by moshe in

miami - a bus carrying 32 members of a church group hit a concrete overpass at miami international airport after the driver got lost, killing two elderly people on board and leaving three others critically injured, officials said saturday.. the large, white bus was too tall for the 8-foot-6-inch entrance to the arrivals area, said airport spokesman greg chin.

buses are supposed to go through the departures area, which has a higher ceiling, he said.. chin said the passengers told him they were part of a group of jehovah's witnesses headed to west palm beach.

police said in a news release that the group had chartered the bus to take them to a church convention there-.

puffthedragon

Thanks EE, I realize that.

87

JW tour bus crashes in Florida, with fatalities-

by moshe in

miami - a bus carrying 32 members of a church group hit a concrete overpass at miami international airport after the driver got lost, killing two elderly people on board and leaving three others critically injured, officials said saturday.. the large, white bus was too tall for the 8-foot-6-inch entrance to the arrivals area, said airport spokesman greg chin.

buses are supposed to go through the departures area, which has a higher ceiling, he said.. chin said the passengers told him they were part of a group of jehovah's witnesses headed to west palm beach.

police said in a news release that the group had chartered the bus to take them to a church convention there-.

puffthedragon

"Praying" for the families - if not in an officially-sanctioned setting - would be considered "running ahead" at the very least.

Where do you come up with this heartless bullshit? I am disgusted in these lies and heartless comments by almost half of the people who have commented on this post.

I spoke with an elder in this congregation, and one of the first things he said was please pray for our families.

My mind is literally spinning at the comments on this thread. Any active JW that has doubts that comes and reads this thread is going to run back to the org and believe that what the org says about "apostates" is true.

Have some decency. Stop making up lies.

87

JW tour bus crashes in Florida, with fatalities-

by moshe in

miami - a bus carrying 32 members of a church group hit a concrete overpass at miami international airport after the driver got lost, killing two elderly people on board and leaving three others critically injured, officials said saturday.. the large, white bus was too tall for the 8-foot-6-inch entrance to the arrivals area, said airport spokesman greg chin.

buses are supposed to go through the departures area, which has a higher ceiling, he said.. chin said the passengers told him they were part of a group of jehovah's witnesses headed to west palm beach.

police said in a news release that the group had chartered the bus to take them to a church convention there-.

puffthedragon

Thats typical dubbie speak at its finest and while i dont like mocking the tradgedy its important to note that the famlies are unlikely to recieve much sympathy or support.

Sorry EE, I always respect your opinions, but thats not even close to true. I personally know people directly affected by this tragedy and what you are saying is not true. I have spoken with them since this incident and you are just wrong this time.

87

JW tour bus crashes in Florida, with fatalities-

by moshe in

miami - a bus carrying 32 members of a church group hit a concrete overpass at miami international airport after the driver got lost, killing two elderly people on board and leaving three others critically injured, officials said saturday.. the large, white bus was too tall for the 8-foot-6-inch entrance to the arrivals area, said airport spokesman greg chin.

buses are supposed to go through the departures area, which has a higher ceiling, he said.. chin said the passengers told him they were part of a group of jehovah's witnesses headed to west palm beach.

police said in a news release that the group had chartered the bus to take them to a church convention there-.

puffthedragon

Thank you Iamallcool. I wrote 5 responses but could not put it without lowering myself to violating some of Simons guidelines. Your explanation is correct.

87

JW tour bus crashes in Florida, with fatalities-

by moshe in

miami - a bus carrying 32 members of a church group hit a concrete overpass at miami international airport after the driver got lost, killing two elderly people on board and leaving three others critically injured, officials said saturday.. the large, white bus was too tall for the 8-foot-6-inch entrance to the arrivals area, said airport spokesman greg chin.

buses are supposed to go through the departures area, which has a higher ceiling, he said.. chin said the passengers told him they were part of a group of jehovah's witnesses headed to west palm beach.

police said in a news release that the group had chartered the bus to take them to a church convention there-.

puffthedragon

I am absolutely disgusted personally with anyone here trying to push an antiwatchtower agenda at this. People lost their lives in a tragic accident due to driver incompetence. Show some respect.

I am not an apologist, I have as much disgust for many things WT as anyone else here, but this is not the appropriate thread for this. Get over yourselves.

10

DF/DA for giving kid blood transfusion

by turtleturtle in

can jws be df/da for giving their kid a blood transfusion?.

puffthedragon

You could be, but I bet with the right elder body and an understanding of the weak emotional state one was in, it could be shown mercy.

87

JW tour bus crashes in Florida, with fatalities-

by moshe in

miami - a bus carrying 32 members of a church group hit a concrete overpass at miami international airport after the driver got lost, killing two elderly people on board and leaving three others critically injured, officials said saturday.. the large, white bus was too tall for the 8-foot-6-inch entrance to the arrivals area, said airport spokesman greg chin.

buses are supposed to go through the departures area, which has a higher ceiling, he said.. chin said the passengers told him they were part of a group of jehovah's witnesses headed to west palm beach.

police said in a news release that the group had chartered the bus to take them to a church convention there-.

puffthedragon

Let's have some dignity and not use this to attack JW believers. This is a tragedy, no matter your faith.