Since we are talking about it, I thought it might be nice to look at our experience as a group.
-- Edited by hiccups at 10:37, 2007-11-30
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I think that as we explore this particular topic, that we must also consider the family histories involved as well. There is STRONG medical evidence that some genetic components and conditions can lead to and exacerbate depressive issues exist.
My mother was clinically depressed and suffered from varying issues related to bipolar concerns as well. But back in the day, nice people didn't talk about it. You were expected to just wash your face, get your hair in place and don't bother other people with your problems.
We should all thank God that we can be more open and understanding now!
I'm not even going to answer this poll, because it seems to assume that all depression should be treated medically. I just don't buy that. In your view, is all depression just a medical issue that needs pills? Couldn't someone be temporarily depressed, for instance, if they didn't get that job they had been hoping for? Or should they just pop a pill anytime they feel blue, whether due to chemical imbalances or for other reasons?
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Only two out of eight options propose that you're currently medicated. And three options allow for being depressed and not medicated at all. I don't see the poll as assuming anything.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
Arbi, I wasn't trying to assume anything. I was thinking about it from the angle of the article about medication we were talking about in the other thread. Perhaps I should have called the poll Depression and Anti-Depressants. I was trying to get at people's experience with medication, but not trying to suggest it was the only option. I also wanted to cover all the options within medication. So, if there are more more options that talk about medication it's because that's what I was trying to flesh out. People have options for stating depression without medication if they have had that experience.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I think it may be helpful to define what we mean by the terms "depression" and "depressed". How about when those terms are used, we're talking about classic clinical depression, with some or all symptoms lasting two weeks or more: depressed mood, irritability, trouble concentrating, unusual forgetfulness, insomnia or oversleeping (compared to usual patterns), loss of appetite or overeating (again compared to normal), loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities, feeling detached or apathetic, thoughts of death or suicide.
We're not talking about being disappointed about being passed over for a promotion or bummed because our team lost the big game. We're not even talking about temporary and natural depression that results from death of a loved one, or divorce. We're talking about actual chemical changes in the brain--mental illness, not a bad mood.
You cannot just "pop a pill" for major depression. The medications often take 4-6 weeks for them to reach maximum efficacy. The only treatment that cures depression fast is electroconvulsive therapy, which sounds barbaric today, but is actually quite humane and works better than medications.
Here is the definition for major depression. (Anyone want to change their vote?) Lifetime prevalence for having the following criteria is about 20%-30%. About 5% of US adults suffer these symptoms at any one time.
Major Depressive Episode
A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Note: Do note include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.
(1) depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
(2) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
(3) significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
(4) insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
(6) fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
(7) feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
(9) recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode.
C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).
E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.
There is also a term called dysthymic disorder, which has less criteria, except it needs to be present most of the time for 2 years. You treat it the same way as major depression.
Bok is right, people use the term "depressed" in everyday language. (cue valley girl voice) "I just gained five pounds. I'm soooo depressed."
That's a different beast altogether than clinical depression. I have regular ups and downs, low periods like most people. And it's nothing like the clinical depression I experienced a few years ago.
I had a conversation with a member of my bishopric, and I told him I was on an antidepressant - he was surprised, and said, "But...but... you don't seem sad." My response was, "Depression doesn't always mean you're sad. Just like a depression in the ground means it's a lower spot, depression in people can mean a lowering of body functions. I'm not sad, I'm exhausted."
Actually, IIRC, the nineteenth century term for depression was "exhaustion."
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They might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves.
So what are the people on Prozac and stuff for? (Not why but what.) Exhaustion? Fatigue? What can you have (an actual word, but not "depression" ) that will get you on medication, but is something you call "depression" to your friends/family so you don't have to go into this big long clinical explanation?
Looking at organist's list, I don't know if I was depressed or not. And there are times when I've had "waves" of many of these criteria which would only last a day or so.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
And one of the major difficulties of depression is the fact that it doesn't go away. For a long time. (at least in my case.) I'd have friends who were genuinely trying to relate to my level of exhaustion by asking if it felt like going without any sleep for two days.
Well, yeah, it was kind of like that, but the hardest part was the fact that feeling stayed. and stayed. and stayed. And that's where the despair and the guilt set in. When you're dog-tired day after day, month after month, year after year, you begin to wonder if you're ever going to get better. If your children will experience their formative years with a low-functioning mom. You begin to mull over those critical comments, and wonder if they're right, that really, you're just lazy.
Priesthood blessings and zoloft. And time. That's how I got better.
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They might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves.
