Posted by Kris on December 5, 1998, at 18:51:51
In reply to Re: sex, work and a life with depression?, posted by Nancy on December 2, 1998, at 18:32:04
Nancy: I would not say that I was exactly offended, but I was stung by the tone of your post, and especially by the implication that those who are suffering from different and less severe forms of depressive illness are not "really" depressed. I have dysthymia which periodically blossoms into major depression. My sister was bipolar (like you, treatment resistant), and I know how she suffered, and I know that I'm fortunate that the meds work for me, that I have been able to benefit greatly from psychotherapy, and that I have continued to function even when the depression was worse than it is now. But I still have a chronic form of depression; of that I am quite sure. Nobody who has ever experienced depression believes that it is possible to will oneself out of it. Sometimes it is possible to cope and function, sometimes not. But struggling to do so and succeeding does not negate the pain beneath. I can understand your anger but I don't believe that the intensity of your suffering (which I am not questioning) somehow trivializes the experience of those of use who have struggled with less serious forms of illness.
> How can all you people be having sex, going to work, and having a life. My bipolar depression has been both, totally incapacitating and treatment resistive. Except for being in the hospital, I haven't been able to go anywhere or do anything for a year and a half.
> Are all of you sure that you really suffer from depression???
> Mind Over Madness, !>)
> Nancy
> P.S. I hope that I didn't offend anyone by being so open about personal issues.
poster:Kris
thread:1440
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/1486.html