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