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