| Living with Depression: J. Marie | | | | maintain honesty in such things) but |
| Walker's Journal entry: Sunday, August | | | | also emotionally rewarding as an outlet |
| 31, 2005I just finished reading Prozac | | | | for the traumatic experiences that have |
| Nation, a novel by Elizabeth Wurtzell. | | | | chronicled my life. At least in writing, |
| I never thought I'd actually get into | | | | one has the opportunity to explore the |
| this book because it is quite | | | | causes of the depressive states and |
| depressing- being about depression and | | | | release all the anger, confusion, and |
| all. I needed to read it though. But | | | | disillusionment without directing it |
| it has left me with many questions about | | | | towards an unprepared and fragile family |
| myself and my bouts with depression. I | | | | member or friend. It's too easy to vent |
| wonder now if I can ever get well | | | | and hurt someone you know and love |
| without medication. According to the | | | | because one believes that the |
| book, it is quite possible to have gone | | | | repercussions will be small but the |
| so far without therapy and medication to | | | | truth is that never resolves the |
| arrive at a point when you need | | | | dilemmas inside even if it gives |
| medication just to get out of bed each | | | | momentary satisfaction to the |
| morning. Apparently, all the pain and | | | | anger-bearer. Depression is anger in my |
| suffering I've suffered over the years | | | | view. It is anger that has not been |
| has amounted to this horrible clinical | | | | released. Think about it. Any depressive |
| depression I experience with the MS | | | | state is usually the result of something |
| symptoms I cannot escape anymore. How's | | | | unfulfilled or lost. Doesn't that result |
| that for kicking a dog while it's | | | | in anger? Embracing the Anger and |
| down?!I want to be happy again. I want | | | | DepressionWhat then is the best way to |
| to enjoy life and all the little and big | | | | manage that anger and get out of |
| things it has to offer. My future seems | | | | depressive states? The answer isn't very |
| so bleak now and I am afraid I will | | | | simple and this author is not sure there |
| never be the good wife and the good | | | | is such a thing as an answer to managing |
| mother and the good friend anymore. | | | | depression and the resulting anger. |
| It's like life dealt me a permanent bad | | | | However, it is likely that learning to |
| hand and I am destined to be miserable | | | | channel that depression and anger into |
| for the rest of my life. I have to find | | | | productive efforts that allow the |
| hope in God again. I want to believe | | | | sufferer to vent without harming others |
| that I can be healed like I have done in | | | | or themselves is probably the best |
| the past and experienced the healing. | | | | management technique. Even now, this |
| I'm afraid that I will never believe | | | | author is managing depression and anger |
| like I once did again. ďDepression and | | | | by writing this article. Even |
| AngerIt is with certainty that one can | | | | psychologists and psychiatrists |
| state that no one escapes depression. As | | | | recommend that one becomes involved in a |
| human beings, with the chemical makeup | | | | hobby like painting or writing. Again |
| of our brains and central nervous system | | | | this alludes to the fact that creativity |
| that is affected by illness, trauma, | | | | is a method of channeling anger and thus |
| food consumption, exercise (or lack | | | | utilizing (in a sense medicating without |
| thereof), it is impossible to avoid the | | | | medication) depression to construct some |
| state of depression. Perhaps that should | | | | effort. This in no way recommends that |
| be comfort to anyone who is depressed. | | | | you not medicate, because many people |
| Yes, there are many levels of depression | | | | benefit from anti-depression medication. |
| (i.e. clinical depression as opposed to | | | | But what if you could learn to |
| depression over the loss of a loved one) | | | | self-medicate by channeling your |
| and there are many different methods of | | | | abilities and talents wholeheartedly |
| dealing with depression. What if the | | | | into some area you are interested in or |
| truth is that we have to just live with | | | | are talented in? Give yourself a chance |
| depression? How possible is that? Very | | | | to be who you really are. Nobody is |
| possible apparently judging by the many | | | | perfect. Nobody ever will be. But it's |
| brilliant, famous people who use their | | | | time someone advocated using every |
| depressed states to create marvelous | | | | aspect of themselves and their |
| works of art or pursue incredible acting | | | | conditions, particularly depression and |
| careers. Maybe some become brilliant | | | | any other malady that society deems as a |
| writers. It is this author's hope that | | | | deterrent, to create something rather |
| some day the chronic depression and the | | | | than destroying something and live |
| battle with Multiple Sclerosis will | | | | without shame or guilt in times of |
| result in writing that can not only be | | | | depression. |
| financially rewarding (in an effort to | | | | |