Saturday, March 7, 2009
I believe.
If I were starting life over, I think I'd find a new profession. Other than a writer. I'd probably become a depression specialist. Yes, that's what I'd call myself. Not a psychologist or a psychiatrist or a doctor. But a depression specialist. I'd find ways to cure depression. With words. With thoughts. Magical stuff. Nobody would have to take a pill. All they'd have to do is listen to me. Listen good. Yes, I'd find the words that bring people out of depression. I'd talk 'em out. Of course, maybe that would make me something akin to god. Equivalent to walking on water. I'd like to be able to enter people's minds and make them happy. I've been practicing. And sometimes, it works. There's a trick to it. First off, two people have to believe. Me, for one. The patient, for the other. Lots of people simply refuse to be happy. They don't believe it's possible. I believe. And my mission is to learn how to make others believe. --Jim Broede
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7 comments:
I personally do not think you have the knowledge to understand true depression.
I'd be the first to agree with you, mer. One probably has to experience depression to truly understand it. I don't think I've ever been what's called clinically depressed. I'm looking at it from my limited perspective. I wonder if I've been able to stay out of depression partly because of an attitude. Why do I have this attitude? I keep asking myself that. Maybe that has something to do with it. Maybe it doesn't. But I am trying to understand people with depression. And maybe that's impossible. But I'd like to keep trying. I'd even like to be able to walk on water. I'd like to do the impossible. But first, I have to believe in the impossible. That's my nature. My goal. My mission. I'd like to be able to find ways to make unhapppy people happy. Isn't that a nice goal? I'd like to see peace and harmony prevail. Then there might be no depression. --Jim
You do not understand at all. Attitude has nothing to do with it. Nor does peace and harmony.
I'm all ears, mer. A good listener. Educate me. I look at it from my layman's perspective. I have limited knowledge about everything. Even about myself. And I've lived with myself for 73 years. You'd think I'd know more. But I could live to be 1,000, and I'd still need to know more. I think we're all ignorant to some large degree. The more I learn, the more I discover how little I know. But I keep forging ahead. Albeit, in ignorance. But I'm still fascinated by life. I'm even fascinated by my stupidity. That I've survived this long in a relatively happy state despite everything. Maybe it's amazing grace. Guess I'm blessed. With just the right degree of stupidity. --Jim
It's not known specifically what causes depression. As with many mental illnesses, it's thought that a variety of biochemical, genetic and environmental factors may cause depression
Biochemical. Some evidence from high-tech imaging studies indicates that people with depression have physical changes in their brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain but may eventually help pinpoint causes. The naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are linked to mood, also may play a role in depression. Hormonal imbalances also could be a culprit.
Genes. Some studies show that depression is more common in people whose biological family members also have the condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing depression.
It seems there's so much we still don't know about depression. About all kinds of physical and mental illnesses. Do we agree that some counseling can help people in depression? I take it multiple therapies are being used. And some people just wait it out. Try to let it pass. I wonder if I'm susceptible to depression. My father committed suicide. And I assume he must have been in depression. And my mother was in depression much of her life. But I think I've avoided it. Why is that? If I were dying from a long, lingering illness, maybe I'd go into depression. I'd have good reason for it then. But so many forms of unhappiness can be fixed. And maybe in my case that has staved off depression. Maybe I should be thankful. And consider myself blessed. When I no longer feel blessed, I suppose I'll fall into this thing called depression. --Jim
Wouldn't surprise me if 100 years from now the mental health profession will look back on the year 2009 and conclude that we knew very little about depression. Think about what we knew about physical and mental diseases in 1909, a year before my father was born. Very little, compared to today. And today, we have such a long way to go. Much of what we think now will be considered cock-eyed in 100 years. --Jim
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