Is it the fact that we're getting older and wiser, or is it that times are changing when it comes to accepting depression as a diagnosis.

Do you think there's a generational divide?

Our parent's generation still doesn't accept depression as a diagnosis as easily as the kids today.

I attended a Teen Scene Panel Discussion recently and one of the kids said it was "IN" to be depressed.

Between the education they get in school and the commercials on television, I think it's more widely accepted.

Any thoughts?

Dear Dotsie,

I was (lucky?) enough to have inherited depressed genes from both sets of parents. I wasn't raised by my Dad but when I got to know him at 40, it becaue apparent that he and Mom were too much alike. I remember her being on Valium, which was the drug of the day. I think she was manic depressive as she would be so up one day and so down the next. Fortunately for me, my Doctor started treating me for it and was very understanding. It is a disease, there is a chemical in the brain that is not working right. I probably will be on meds for the rest of my life, but guess what? I am so much better now then before. Also, menopause made it so much worse, like having PMS every day of the year. I don't mind if people know that I take medication for depression, if it helps someone else take heart and get help, I will have done my job. My neighbor across the street, finally has started getting help, but not before she almost ruined her 36 year marriage!

Good luck to everyone who deals with this problem.

Sherri

Depression is certainly a confusing and painful state of mind. We all seem to want to end it as quickly as possible. But there are situations in which the healthiest response is a time of depression. It allows the brain to rest and recover from trauma.
Of course if it is prolonged, it can also become an unhealthy state of being. Changes in brain chemistry can, in some cases, make it difficult to recover. But after a period of depression the same chemistry can induce enthusiasm and energy. So maybe ultimately, even though depression is painful, it is a part of life and has positive results. Enduring it, though painful, may be the key.
I am concerned about what the ads on TV for anti-depressants may be teaching our children. It seems that they are saying, “No matter what the problem, there is a pill." And "If you just take enough pills all will be fine all of the time.”
I'm even more concerned about the increase in the use of anti-depressants and other drugs that affect the developing brains of children and teenagers.
That problem is made more urgent by recent studies of increases in suicides among users of anti-depressants, especially the youngest users.
I took Paxil for a short period of time after a divorce and though it gave immediate relief from the pain, for a while after I stopped taking it, I was much more emotionally volatile.
I think that painful emotions are like any other kind of pain. They tell us when something is wrong and if we can endure, they not only compel us to action, they build our tolerance for future discomfort.
If we avoid pain by drugging it away, our tolerance is actually decreased. The brain says, "Hey, this person is in a mess and she's not even hearing her emotions. Let's turn up the volume." Then when even the slightest sadness comes along, it screams in our brain.
Of course the screaming becomes more unbearable after our tolerance for pain has been lowered and the noise can only be quieted by taking more drugs. Then our brains turn up the volume again and more drugs are required to quiet the even louder noises and on and on. Then there are the drugs to combat the side effects and more drugs to combat the side effects of the drugs to combat the original side effects and on and on with no end in sight.
Surely there is a better way. There must be a way to endure emotional pain without drugging it into oblivion.
Avoidance of pain doesn't seem to be possible in a life lived to the fullest and the healthiest long term solution seems to be to endure. But from another perspective we only have the moment so do we lose the moment to depression in order to tolerate future pain or do we drug away the discomfort to seize the pleasure of the moment?
Maybe with prayer and faith that our God is a loving father who has given us a life abundant with both joy and sadness, we can find joy somewhere even in pain.
Just some rambling thought.
smile

My biological mother has some major mental health problems. She can explode with rage and become violent. I hope I never get like that but I have been on a couple different kinds of anti-depressants. I hate taking them because I worry that they screw up my brain's ability to ever produce brain chemicals on its own but I always end up back on them.

I don't feel very depressed, I just can't concentrate without taking something. Then, because I'm having so much trouble concentrating and my thoughts are jumping all over the place so I can't get anything done, I end up feeling like a complete loser and start getting depressed about it. So I take Wellbutrin. It doesn't completely eliminate my confusion, but it helps.

I hesitate to post on this one because I have a tendency to boo-hoo the cry babies that can't seem to handle their lives. Yes, I know, who do I think I am? I agree with Smile, we as a nation are over medicated. There are pills for this and pills for that and more pills to help handle the other pills. I probably went through the ugliest saddest thing on this earth at a very young age. I watched my handsome, fun loving, healthy husband fall ill and die a lingering and painful death while beging me to kill him. Sure I was as depressed as I could be because I was helpless to save or even comfort him. Did I take pills, NO. I went for long walks, I screamed into many pillows and I cherished my baby son. I am not a strong person but refuse to dope/drug myself up so I'm not sure if my thoughts are right or wrong. I get very lonely at times missing my son who walked away 9 years ago and sometimes when I look at the albums I cry. Then I get up and call my other son and we talk and laugh and I feel better. If you believe the drugs help heal, not so, they simply mask the problem. Look for the problem, seek Gods help, get more involved with things and maybe, just maybe you'll be too busy to feel sorry for yourself. Look up "depression" in the Thesaurus, then ask yourself do I want those words describing me? Love and good thought for you all....

I think there's a difference between situational depression and chemical imbalance. They may both feel equally bad, but the chemical imbalance often doesn't respond to non-drug solutions.

I know, I've seen my friends.

Thanks Merideth

I have a chemical imbalance and I can tell you that I have faith in God, but that didn't keep me from depression...good things were happening...I was still depressed...I married the man of my dreams...I was still depressed. There was nothing wrong in my life, but that fact didn't help. Thank God, I had a Dr that recognized the symptoms and has worked with me for 3 years to get me on the right combination so that I can function, and feel the best that I have in my entire life.

I was beginning to feel that I just didn't have enough faith and not a good enough Christian because I am on meds. I appreciate your understanding and support.

Sherri

I'm so glad this post got started. There are so many great thoughts in here.

There was a time when I thought people should stop the moaning and groaning, pull themselves up by their boot straps and get it together for gosh sakes. What was with these people who were depressed?

Then I was humbled in a very serious way. God had some work to do with me and it wasn't easy. I was in a car accident and suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome.

I lived in pain, didn't want to eat, cried, felt like I could't care for my children, couldn't sleep, and worried incessantly. What was wrong with me? I was happily married, had 3 healthy children, great friends, and until that time, loved life.

I pleaded with God to move the heavy, dark cloud and let the sun shine again.

Wasting away, in tears, pain, and total confusion, a dear friend came to the house picked me up and drove me to her therapist. I didn't want to get in the car because I thought I'd get sick on the way. My friend said that if I got sick, she'd pull over. Nothing ws stopping her.

Friends Heal Friends!

Long story short. I was clinically depressed, suffering from PTSS. Not only was I given an anti-depressant, before it was over, I was also given sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety pills.

Within a few days of starting the medication, the cloud started moving, I felt like eating, I had some hope that I could get my life back, and and perhaps an even better one.

Only had to take several sleeping pills, and a couple anti-anxiety pills, but I stayed on the anti-depressant for about 9 months. The doctor shared that you need to be on the medicine for at least as long as you were having bad feeling and thoughts. I had to train my brain to have healthier thoughts again.

It was amazing. It worked and I learned a huge lesson which I'm grateful for.

By the grace of God I've lived through several surgeries and my mom's death wondering if it was going to hit me again. Fortunately,it hasn't.

BUT, now I know there's help out there when it's needed. I also have been able to use my lesson to help others who've become depressed since. That's the best part.

Until that time in my life I wasn't a big believer in anti-depressants. Didn't understand mental health. I thought people were whiners, had to get a life, and any other judgmental thing you want to throw in.

I was taught compassion, and boy did I need to learn it in the mental health department!

Live and learn!

Thanks Dotsie,

My wonderful understanding Dr has told me, by the way he is a devout Christian, that I may need to be on anti depressants for the rest of my life, but never to feel bad about it. The secret is that I recognized the problem and got help for it before I did something to myself or someone I love. I am eternally grateful to him, and I wish my Mom had been given the same advice,she may have been spared a lot of pain.

Sherri

This post has been eating away at me since the first day I saw it. Maybe I am wrong in my assesment and a chemical imbalance is different and harder to endure than other forms of depression. I am certainly no doctor or profit. I think with my gut emotions and my way is apparently my way and not for everyone. We are after all different. Whatever it takes to heal ones self is what is right for them. I back away from my earlier estimation, as I see from these posts, not all depression is the same. Whatever the cause I hope whatever the cure, it works and all your days are sunny and bright and nights are peaceful and full of contentment.....

Paxil saved my life.

I'm convinced depression can be genetic. Further, I'm convinced my mother's mothers' side of the family suffered from depression for decades but they were never diagnosed nor treated. Mom always thought (because she was taught and wrongly, imo) it was a sign of a weak faith Christian for one to be depressed. Personally, I think that makes as much sense as having a broken leg and "thinking" it whole again.

For the first forty years of my life, my depression was not diagnosed, therefore, not treated. When it was correctly diagnosed and medication begun, it was, literally, a miracle in my life. On the 9th day after taking Paxil I woke up and my first thought was, "THIS is what normal feels like!"

I was on Paxil nine months, long enough for my body to begin producing Serotonin (which it had never done before). Serotonin is the naturally produced chemical which helps regulate emotions. After my body began producing Serotonin I've never needed Paxil again. But, if I had to be on Paxil for the rest of my life, guess what? That's not a big deal. Some people take an aspirin every day for their hearts, some take insulin to regulate their blood sugar...why should taking Paxil be any different?

Sometimes meds don't mask the problem, they fix the problem. Sometimes God uses doctors and meds to fix us. Sometimes God can't give us an answer because we already know too much and aren't listening anyway.

Depression caused by a chemical imbalance is quite different than depression caused by a turn of life events. Not to say one is worse than the other but with a chemical imbalance one simply can't work with a therapist and get well. That's as silly as saying my diabetic cousin who needs daily insulin shots can "think" his insulin levels well and not take his shots.

Please, for those who need meds...there's no shame in taking medication. Would you council a friend to walk gently on a broken leg until it had time to heal? No, you would council your friend to get medical help.

Take your own wise council.

Thank you speakermom for your insightful comments. And thanks to those that have emailed me privately. Your support here is something that I already love and cherish. When I received my T shirt from Dotsie (which I hadn't realized I was part of a contest!) she also sent me flyers and book marks that I have already passed on to other boomer women writers, and even a younger mother who really needs a healing support group.

I already love and appreicate you all, and if you would ever have the time to e-mail me and let me know a little more of your background that I may have missed by just coming on board, I would love it.

Thanks again,

Sherri

Dotsie,
I have just joined this website and love it. It is just what I have been looking for. I read your post about mental illness and it struck home. I have had an experience with acute depression in my family and I can tell you it is real. My wonderful, strong, brilliant father had two bouts with it. Once in 1988, when we had to hospitalize him. Therapy and drugs did not help. The only thing that saved his life was Electric Shock Therapy. We were lucky to have him aroung for 16 more years. We lost my mother, his wife of 52 years in 2000. He was fine for a while, but to make a long story short, he sank back into a depression and took his own life this past December, before any of us could help him. I know he is at peace now, but it still hurts. Members of my family are attending support groups and consultations from a wonderful facility that is helping us. Mental illness and depression are real. Medications do help. Anyway, just thought I'd share. This has been the hardest experience of my otherwise happy life. Depression is hereditary, though, so we are all aware of it in our own lives. I love boomerwomenspeak! I have laughed at lots of the posts I've read. The best one was the one about slumber parties! I did try to lift someone off the ground while meditating. We also used to sit in a circle holding hands, closing eyes and someone would lead in trying to contact things in the after-life. How weird is that!! Mostly, we just danced and ate junk!! Hugs,
Sweet T.

Chatty Lady,, don't be hard on yourself.. JUST GET EDUCATED!!! Its the best way to learn about Mental Illness. Its a very serious problem and so many people have it. So many fall through the cracks of our society cuz they cannot get treatment.. That's why there are so many people out on the streets. Its really sad..
My husband has Bipolar and without meds he would be who knows where...We all need to educate ourselves!!! Its very important. A lot of it is inherited!!!

I am happy to say that my meds are working and I am also getting counseling for depression. I got the double whammy, both parents were very depressed people. I am working to overcome ...and I will!

Sherri

Oh wow. Heavy topic but much needed. I resisted taking Prozac because my church taught it was for the weak and God could help me overcome anything. Well, I tried and then that belief made me doubt God because He wasn't helping me feel better.

My doctor told me that when a child is raised in an abusive situation, which I was, it chemically alters the brain and then, here comes depression. I will be on Prozac for the rest of my life and it's fine by me. I'm not strong enough to alter the chemicals in my brain back to what they should be.

I've tried being drug free and it doesn't work for me. I cannot motivate myself. And I suffer from OCD and Prozac helps keep it under control.

I used to believe we should pull ourselves up by our boot straps but the truth is...some of us don't have boot straps or boots so it's impossible.

Hi all,
I'm sorry I didn't start reading this posting earlier. About 5 years ago I started having anxiety attacks where I thought I was dying and was afraid to fall asleep for fear that I would never wake up. They were infrequent and mild so I didn't do anything about them. After I got pregnant with Ana and gave birth the attacks became more frequent. I couldn't sleep at night between the nursing the baby and these attacks. I didn't even share with my husband because I thought I was being silly. Finally I did tell him and he suggested that I talk to our new family doctor. So I did and he prescribed PAxil. I no longer have those anxiety attacks. I do have to watch my caffeine intake though because that can cause similar attacks if I have too much and I am hoping some day to get off the medicine by letting Christ into my life. But until that time I am grateful for the medicine and thank God that there is something that can help me with this problem.
My daughter has been diagnosed with depression and is on medication for it. She is much easier to deal with when she is on her medication. I can tell when she isn't taking it just by the mood changes. She has tried to commit suicide and been on downward spirals where I don't even recognize the person she is. So I thank God for her medication everyday too. Maybe someday she will find a way to stop taking her medication but until that day I am so thankful that there is a way for her to control her depression.

Chris(angel)

My doctor once told me "if you had diabetes, you would take your insulin as prescribed wouldn't you?" I readily agreed with him and he said that taking medication to alleviate a chemical imbalance in the brain is no different from a drug taken to alleviate glucose imbalance in the body. Wow, that gave me a whole new way of thinking about having to take meds. I like some of the other women who responded to this post had NO REASON to be depressed. No one died, no one was sick, I was happily married, two great kids, etc. and yet I was forcing myself to get out of bed in the morning and attempt to be normal. I know that kind of depression is not the same as being depressed after a disturbing life change. I too, will probably be on some type of med for the rest of my life and I have learned to accept it. By the way, the reason the doctor pointed this out to me was that this was the third time I had tried to "cold turkey" and get off my med. I was in the throes of a horrible panic attack which scared all of my family, had to be taken to the hospital, etc. I never want to go through that ordeal again. I do not think drugs should be taken lightly and you should always question, question, question your caregivers to be sure you are being treated properly.

That sounds like the very words my Dr gave to me. I am doing well on my meds and also getting therapy. I too, will be on meds all my life, but I do hope to be able to cut back on them some, once I know about my retirement and now that Heather and the kids are moving out.

I agree, you can't change a chemical imbalance without meds. I can't remember who, but someone from BWS also advised me to get professional therapy, that has helped me a lot.

Sherri

I'm wondering if like Time? Magazine dubbed us, we are truly becoming a Prozac Nation. Seems like all my friends are either on anti-depressantso or coming off them. I try to stay away from those trying to come off. Withdrawal seems to make them weird. And I don't think any who have taken them for any amount of time has succeeded in stopping anyway.
I took Paxil for a few weeks after my last divorce. I loved it, but I felt that I was depending on it too much and I was becoming so impulsive. It was difficult, but I just stopped taking it. Later I read some foreign research that identified loss of impulse control as a major side effect and extreme depression as a result of withdrawal.

However, I have never heard any religious implications. I've never heard a sermon about it or any scripture either. Does anyone know any scriptural references? Just curious.
smile

Good question smile. I don't know of any. I just know that depression is real and many people truly need medication to manage. I would love to believe that faith in God could cancel depression, but I've known many faithful women who have needed the help of anti-depressants at one time or another, even always.

I have to believe that God can change anything including depression, but I also believe that He is the God of science and medicine and uses them to make changes. I can't imagine the God I know wanting any of his children to be in pain if there is a solution.
If there are Scriptures about it, I'm still curious.
smile