An Attitude of Gratitude & Depression

We had an experience with a young woman, diagnosed bipolar, who had stopped taking lithium. For some reason (don't ask) we were asked to have her to stay with us and help her.
I won't go into details of her complete collapse, eventually she had to return to hospital to restart her drug regime.
But bipolar is another specific type of depression.
And after all that she recovered, and eventually got married TG.

Thank you, oldbatty!. My ology should be preceded with "nutty"ology, I think!

Daisyboots I'm extremely sorry to hear that your DH has been through the horrors that leave one with PTSD. I have it too, and so entirely sympathise. Without the drug that takes the horrendous pictures and the indescribably fear from bursting through unbidden at the most unexpected times, I would not be able to live a normal life.

Of course there is absolutely no reason for people to have a judgemental attitude to drugs we are given for an illness such as PTSD, Depression or Anxiety, or any of the other kinds of Psychiatric illness, which are as painful and distressing as any non-psychiatric illness, possibly more so. I am very glad to say that today people are much more open and intelligent in their attitude. There was a time, maybe, 40 years ago when one would feel reluctant to say one was suffering from such a disorder, simply because of the ignorance and prejudice that it might be met with. Years ago, I was on the bus on my first trip to The Institute of Psychiatry which is part of the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital opposite Kings College Hospital on Denmark Hill, I had asked the driver to tell me when to get off. He called out "Stop here for the Hospital" and as I was leaving a woman said, make sure you go to the one over the road, the one this side is for mad people! I simply said, "I'm going to this one, The Maudsley."
P.S. Not that it really matters, but some people commented; My addiction definition came from my lectures from teaching at a uni in 2011 or around that time, so it's almost certainly from the Dictionary of Psychology or something similar. The point is addiction has to be detrimental to the person yet the individual is so driven by the gratification/reward of it that they keep doing it. It has a neurological substrate so is not purely "in the mind".

muffinthemoo. If there were a prize for reply of the year I would give it to you! You are brilliant! I am so glad that your life is good now and long may that last! The drugs today are getting better, so there's a lot of hope for a happier life for people with such horrible and very unfair illnesses that make us feel so unimaginably unhappy and stop us getting on with our lives.
I am deeply moved by the way you write and your phrase; "An internal infernal monologue of self hatred and urges to hurt myself." Is so very heart-felt and heart-rending it should be on every Mental-Health Practitioner's wall. Then to read you say, "The effect of my medication is miraculous. I have a life I never thought I could have, one I had never been able to experience." brought tears to my eyes and made my heart soar. This, of course, is the life that is truly yours, the one you so utterly deserve and the true You, being allowed to be expressed as the drugs unlock the mechanisms that had made the chemistry in your brain become the wrong recipe.
I am so happy to read that you have your life as it is meant to be!
It is even more wonderful that you know the beauty of gratitude! I think it does make something even better when you fully appreciate it and feel grateful for it!
God bless you, you beautiful, wonderful lady!

Thanks Tilly, what an interesting career and an ology to boot.

oldbatty do you mean me? I was a Neuropsychologist. Now retired. Had to study psychopharmacology. V. interesting. Being retired am now out of date on some modern drugs but stopping taking antidepressants which are SSRIs still applies - you must do it gradually, wean off them.

gabriella
Whatever your view, it ain't mine.
That's alright, then ?

Hooray for you, Muffin. I really admire your courage and deep down amazingness, and your wonderful post.

Amazing post muffin.

oldbatty

I’m out and proud about my antidepressants. I know a lot of other people in my social circles who are, too. There has been a movement of sorts for people to talk about their mental health and their treatment in order to destigmatise mental illness compared with physical illness.

The lifetime risk for a person in the UK of depression alone is 1 in 3. The lifetime risk for all mental illnessness is even higher. You are more likely to have an episode of mental ill health than to get cancer. The stigma needs to go because mental illness isn’t happening to rare and unfortunate cases. It’s happening to us, to family, to friends, to colleagues.

Speaking about my own long term ill health, and the long period of good health I am currently enjoying, is really important to me personally because I feel it is so important to be an example of recovery. It is so important, when you are in the darkest days, to see and remember that recovery is possible. I did not ever think I would be this well. I want other people to know that it is possible (heartbreakingly not for everyone, but with luck and patience, for most) to get well and stay well. And even if not fully well, to get better, to get relief from the suffering.

I also speak very openly about it because the thing in my life I am most bone deep, shatteringly grateful for, is that I have a drug that works. From the earliest I can remember I remember long waves of pain and speels of darkness, a spiral that got worse and worse the oldest I got. An internal infernal monologue of self hatred and urges to hurt myself. I take one small pill a day, and inside my head it’s now quiet and calm and peaceful. The chorus has shut up, and for the first time it became quiet enough in there to actually think. To appreciate my own good qualities, to plan for a future that I always dismissed because well, I might just up and kill myself at any time.

The effect of my medication is miraculous. I have a life I never thought I could have, one I had never been able to experience.

I was very sick. I was dying - truly, I was so sick it was certain to kill me. This medication saved me. I will never lose my gratitude for that. I will also never be ashamed for this. Why should I be? Are other people whose lives have been saved by modern medicine ashamed that they needed medicine to live? I don’t think so, and I don’t think I should be either.

I got better. I don’t have the words to explain how truly amazing that is to me, or what an incredible gift it is. I got better when I believed that would never be possible. I will be the best advocate for seeking treatment (of whatever type helps) I can be, because other people struggling and suffering in silence need to know there is no shame in getting better.

Reading some of the comments it feels like they are intended to shame anyone who can't cure themselves by being positive and thankful. I just don't see the connection when it comes to genuine clinical depression. Would you fat shame people? Clearly most who are obese can do something about it but can those who are clinically depressed just decide to be happy? No, they can't.

I suppose we should all be glad for those who think there is such an easy solution, they clearly have never been clinically depressed or had a close relationship with anyone who has. Lucky them but many of us are not so fortunate.

So, we're all agreed.
Gratitude is an excellent quality to have, and its worth always finding things to be grateful about.
However, it can't cure depression.

janeainsworth
Had I wanted to comment earlier in the thread I could have done so. I read everything. To say more, would give your criticism more credence than is warranted IMO..
Whatever your view, it ain't mine.
Too many moaners and sheep on here and not nearly enough positivity.

Lilyflower
A very refreshing comment.

Of course gratitude cannot cure serious depression which is clinical and needs to be treated.

However, gratitude and an attitude of thankfulness make for a positive outlook on life. Those who focus on misfortune, vulnerability, inequality and unfairness are often full of resentment, jealousy, anger and bitterness, often on the behalf of others. They find it difficult to understand what a free, privileged and happy society we are in the UK compared to other countries and they focus on the negative almost wholly.

Such a mindset is most unattractive and can be seen to poison the life, manners and outlook of the carping individual. In fact, there is whole political spectrum of toxic envy and ingratitude which is hurting public life.

I am about to have a cup of cafetière coffee and two Digestives and watch the birds in the garden. Sheer bliss. I am grateful for every morning I wake up still breathing.

jane43, I'm wishing you everything your wishing for yourself in your fight and recovery from Breast cancer. I do hope you have lots of love around you. . Take good care..

Is your nose out of joint because you weren’t in on the thread at the beginning, Gabriella?
If you’d read all the thread you would have seen that plenty of people have posted about feeling grateful and how it has helped them.
Why shouldn’t anyone talk about having depression, especially when it is mentioned in both the thread title and the OP? Are we supposed to pretend that depression doesn’t exist, or isn’t really an illness?
Why shouldn’t people mention articles they have read, especially if they are referenced so that others can follow them up if they wish?
Who do you think you are, telling us all what we can and can’t post about?

OK, have a nice evening.

Are you a professional please? You see to know what you are talking about.

What is the point of this interrigation question?

Just use "good internet judgement" and consider all anonymous forum posts to be opinion, and take the discussion in that spirit.

I could say "yes. Im a doctor" on here. It wouldnt be true. And shouldnt cause you to reduce the pinch of salt you should be applying to all anon online chats.

Are some degrees worth more than others? What is an ology?
If she knows a lot and is prepared to share it, good for her.

I was discussing the likelihood of Tillybelle having a degree, an 'ology, as in psychology, physiology, biology or even a doctorate. Who knows. She certainly seems to know a lot about depression and addiction et al.
I was not talking about myself.

My DH has PTSD and will awways need to be on a strong dose of antidepressants. On good days he can feel grateful for what he has but not on bad days. He was put on statins because his cholesterol level was 5.5 but two weeks of taking them he was feeling so ill that he felt life wasn't worth living. The doctor reduced the dose of statins and put him in an anti anxiety drug. No improvement. But he decided himself to stop the statins last week and it was lovely to gear that he now feels alive again.
Nobody should feel ashamed to be on anti depressants. They wouldnt be ashamed to be on insulin for type 1 duabetes.
I was brought up to feel grateful for what I had because many people were far worse off than me. But it certainly would be helpful for a person suffering from deoression.

and your degree is?

oldbatty
Gratitude and depression but the bias here seems to be on the latter.

Cut and paste from the internet. If you want medical advice, see a real doctor.

How very rude you are....what is an ology degree? What is your degree?