Posted by sweetmarie on August 21, 2001, at 9:25:51
In reply to wind up mouse, posted by susan C on August 20, 2001, at 13:34:30
> Hi Sweet pea,
>
> just checking in and saw your note, I just put one on babbbble social. I appreciate you sharing the quote. I think there is a part of this illness, even when the meds and the medical professionals are working where we have to take over. It is so difficult, as my spouse commented, it is like asking someone with broken legs to walk two miles for help. But we ask our brains every day to help us. Medicine can help us get there, I am sure of it. But our perceptions can confuse us. I am still running in circles, but your post brought my head up, thanks
>
> wind up mouse
>
> (Susan C)I think you`re right - medication can only do so much. This isn`t to dismiss it - on the contrary, I think it`s completely essential.
But over time, depression inevitably instills a very negative way of thinking. Obviously, the longer we are depressed, and the more treatment failures we experience, the more negative and hopeless we become. So, when we do have a good day (or days), or achieve something that we couldn`t previously do, we don`t tend to give ourselves any credit - we just think it`s what we *should* have been doing all along. Also, there is always more than one outcome of a situation, i.e. with depression, it can a)get worse, b) stay the same, or c) get better. On the whole, I`d be tempted to say that - rationally - it will always improve, it`s just the `when` that is unknown. But, given these alternatives, a depressed person (I`m generalising here, but I think it`s fairly typical) will choose the worst outcome. It`s like if you get into a car to make a journey - you pretty much assume that a) you won`t make any mistakes, b) the other drivers will not make any mistakes, and therefore c) you won`t have an accident. So, why do we assume the worst with depression? Well, it`s because of depression - but you know what I mean.
There you go - I`m great on theory, but ... not so good when it comes to putting it all into practice. Still, I haven`t given up yet, so I must have SOME hope.
Anyway, glad you liked the passage.
Love,
Anna.
poster:sweetmarie
thread:75652
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75770.html