Posted by mair on June 21, 2004, at 21:12:33
I don't want to stir anything up, so please avoid this thread if it upsets you.
I have an on-going difference of opinion with my T about the relationship between suicide and depression. In my case, I associate depression with symptoms that are as much physical as mental - an inability to sleep, persistent anxiety, exhaustion etc. Suicidal ideation goes hand in hand with those symptoms for me, but at times, I have alot of suicidal ideation which seems totally unrelated to depression. I can feel devoid of most of the rest of the typical symptoms, feel very clear headed and contemplate suicide (albeit somewhat impulsively) as a totally rational and realistic solution to an external set of circumstances. Admittedly, there's usually a fair amount of self-hatred lurking not very far from the surface, but that, too, is not necessarily related to depression. Sometimes likes and dislikes are just subjective.
My T takes the position that I don't have to feel depressed to be depressed; that therapy and medication have been periodically successful in addressing a lot of symptoms, but not that particular symptom. I don't really buy this.
I'd be interested to hear some other takes on this.
Thanks
Mair
poster:mair
thread:358810
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040614/msgs/358810.html