Posted by llrrrpp on August 21, 2006, at 22:41:07
In reply to Re: Is Depression a choice? » finelinebob, posted by gardenergirl on August 21, 2006, at 22:25:47
I think that as I do more therapy and get my brain chemistry tinkered with, I am increasingly viewing depression as a choice. I may be unique, and don't want to generalize this to others, but my T agreed with me. For every stressful situation, there are many possible reactions and interpretations. Some of the ways we interpret stressful situations may lead us to a dark place, and some may be more benign. For instance, if I go to a bar, and nobody talks to me, and some jerk spills his beer on me, I could get angry and pissed and tell him FU to his face, or I might think that I am a totally worthless loser, and this state would naturally bring to mind many other memories of when I have been a loser in other situations. Then I would dwell on the bad times, and think that the bad stuff that happens to me is my fault, rather than view the beer spillage as an unfortunate accident, or the work of a stupid jerk.
Once I got to a very bad place, though, and I could not will myself out of it. I would try to write in my journal, and would write a bunch of crazy sh*t that made me even more depressed. I took vitamins, and tried to give myself a schedule, and read too many books and stuff. I ended up becoming obsessed with my own (growing) depression.
The best choice that we can make to get out of depression is to get a team of professionals to help us. Therapists can help us recognize that the crappy things that happen in life are not our fault. Pdocs can help tinker with our hormones and neurotransmitters, and perhaps even with the structure of the brain regions responsible for thinking bad thoughts and feeling lousy. Other people who care can be there for us, and remind us to eat our ice cream, and encourage us to take a day off of work when we look crazed. And getting these people involved in your depression is your CHOICE.
-ll
poster:llrrrpp
thread:678826
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060818/msgs/678895.html