Confused, as I had always understood ...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Confused, as I had always understood ...
3
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 10:49pm
... that my depression's cause is biochemical .. that's why meds help ... but I just started therapy and he wants to talk about all the "bad" and "negative" and "sad" occurances in my life .... does he mean that this is a choice?! Does he mean I've had emotional control over this affliction all this time? He thinks the meds are actually making the physical symptoms worse .. I can see that, certainly .. as the common side affects of my meds are precisely my worst physical complaints .. but it does help my mood swings.

Is this depression a culmination of grief and losses in my life? Am I honestly capable of bringing myself out of it by looking into the well that is my life?

Denise



iVillage Member
Registered: 09-03-2004
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 11:49pm

Denise there are different kinds of depression. One is situational like things that happen in our lives that are sad and painful then there is the chemical imbalance kind. A lot of us that live with depression have or have had both. I take medication and go to therapy. In my opinion that is what is best for me. Some people don't believe in therapy others don't believe in medication.


I don't believe the therapist was saying you have a choice in being depressed. The fact is when we have repeated losses and negative events they effect the brain. Long term trauma can actually change the pathways and chemials in your brain. None of us want to be depressed no one in their right mind would think that but he may be talking about cognative behavioral therapy which is training yourself when the negative thoughts or distorted thinking starts you can catch it before you find yourself in a downward spiral. I hope this helped a little. Keep us posted. Hugs

Maureen/Mo


If this was a real life it would have come with instructions.


Let's put the fun back in dys-fun-ctional

Maureen/Mo

If this was a real life it would have come with instructions.

Avatar for mumontherun
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 12:09am
MO - This is totally unrelated, but I laughed out loud at your new siggy! You are SO right, lolol!

Nicola

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-03-2004
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 2:30am
Hi Nicola, I just decided even though I crashed and burned last weekend to try and regain my sense of humor. OK my sense of humor is more than a bit warped but I am glad it got a laugh out of you. Lets face it for most of us its laugh or cry. Big Hugs

Maureen/Mo


If this was a real life it would have come with instructions.


Let's put the fun back in dys-fun-ctional

Maureen/Mo

If this was a real life it would have come with instructions.