The former First Lady has given voice to a feeling experienced by many: long-term low mood brought on by world events

A short time ago, she was the 'First Lady', with all the power and influence that went with it. It must be difficult to adjust to being an ordinary citizen again.
Yes, the state of the world is distressing, especially as so much is caused by human activity and is therefore unnecessary. There will never be peace in the world because so many people thrive on conflict.

I feel a new book coming on. Sorry, that sounds cycnical I know. But that is what usually happens in the world of celbs.

Unfortunately I feel cynical about this too. She’ll probably write another book.

I really admire her, her life has been about trying to make things better, she must despair watching the present incumbent .

Both she and her husband must despair at the behaviour and pronouncements of the current President.
It’s not difficult to see why she would be depressed at events in the US.

My partner and I are depressed at events in the US (and the UK of course, but I suspect that would be another thread ...)

I reckon that if Biden announced now that she's to be his running mate, the US might suddenly wake up and decide to get rid of the Orange One in November.

I can dream, I suppose.

Another book? Possibly. But I do like and admire her, so will read it anyway.

I’d say a low mood at the moment is quite natural and to be expected. I took part in a YouGov survey yesterday. I ticked yes to feeling slightly more anxious and slightly more worried during the current pandemic.

On the next page I was told I’d reported having mental health issues. To be honest I think I’d have mental health issues if I wasn’t feeling slightly perturbed about the world right now!

Maggie I think we must all have mental health issues at the moment!

She and Barack must be feeling very frustrated.

I think those who are crowding into and around pubs are the ones with mental health issues.

It is good to hear someone speak out about feeling this way.
Many people, especially those living alone, may have felt they were coping badly and could be relieved to hear that others feel the same.

Maggie Once upon a time, feeling in a low mood because you had a real reason for worrying about some genuine danger was regarded as normal and even a sensible reaction to the situation. After all, if you weren't concerned about it, you wouldn't be motivated to do whatever you can to improve things, so you'd end up in even more danger.

Now it is referred to as a "mental health condition" I see a world of difference between justified concern and anxiety on the one hand and neuroses and psychoses on the other. I don't like them being lumped together.

Me neither.

There is a difference between feeling down in the dumps, anxious about things beyond our control and clinical depression.

I feel a new book coming on. Sorry, that sounds cycnical I know. But that is what usually happens in the world of celbs
Travelsafar I don’t consider Michelle Obama a ‘celeb’. That description is usually applied to airheads who go on reality TV shows, or at best, film or theatre actors, or minor royals.

I think of Michelle Obama as someone who has degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
Someone who complemented her husband’s role as President of the United States of America and leader of the Free a world with the grace and dignity fitting to the office of First Lady.

If she writes another book, I’ll buy it.

I agree Elegran Mental illness does seem to be the latest ‘thing’, but it’s perfectly normal to feel a bit unhappy or to have a low mood at the moment given the circumstances.

That doesn’t mean that millions of us are mentally ill !

Likewise grief isn’t a mental illness despite what a certain Prince Harry might say.

Michelle Obama may or may not have a new book in the pipeline, but the Presidential election is certainly looming!

Were her comments well timed?

Elegran, you are so right. Grief is normal and is a sign of being sensible of danger and loss.
From what understand clinical depression is grief that is a danger to the person's life or their persistent inability to function .

Barack and Michelle must be so frustrated living under the madness of the US buffoon.

Maggie I would go as far as to say those who selfishly carry on flouting the guidelines are the ones with the - mental health issues - not those like ourselves who also care about others! Listening to some news clips of why they feel justified doing what they want, they appear completely unaware they are responsible for their part in spreading the virus, beggars belief.

She describes her feelings as low grade depression, and this mood will chime with many people in the USA and indeed in the U.K. at the way events and the sharp move to the right has unfolded over the past few years.

Well then, time to use her much vaunted achievements to set a positive example.

Now it is referred to as a "mental health condition" I see a world of difference between justified concern and anxiety on the one hand and neuroses and psychoses on the other. I don't like them being lumped together.

Exactly, no-one is ever merely fed up, feeling a bit low, a bit pissed off, now it's 'anxiety' etc., the world is a money maker for the 'therapists' who must be the happiest people going.

I like Michelle Obama, I think she was a great First Lady. However, she is now a celebrity, a well known person. As I understand it, both her and her husband have trodden the well worn path of giving speeches, appearing at dinners etc and they command huge payments for these services as I understand it. It’s the same speech circuit that Meghan and Harry would like to break into to turn themselves into multi millionaires. I don’t know whether Michelle Obama has ever suffered from depression herself, but I have.

About 17 years ago, I suffered a life threatening illness which prevented me from working for over seven months. I was just going through the menopause at the same time and the combination of menopause and illness made me severely clinically depressed. I was treated successfully for the depression, but as time wore on, I realised that when stressful events occurred in my life, the depression returned, and so for that reason I stayed on the antidepressants, sometimes moving the dose up or down according to how I was at any one time.
I have found this period during lockdown and continuing after lockdown very, very stressful. The worry about my daughter and her husband and children was extreme as they are key workers, and exposed to Covid19 patients. The general situation, worry about my elderly mother of 92 who was receiving no visits at all, worry about my family, the not knowing when/if it will end, the uncertainty of everything, a serious tooth/gum problem that I was unable to access proper care for for over two months, but mostly I think, the lack of my normal life. No family visits, none of our usual childcare and interactions with grandchildren, no social life whatsoever, the cancellation of holidays. I can no longer increase the dose as I am now 67 and over 65s should not take the higher dose.

I’m saying all this because if Michelle Obama does write another book, or speak out about mental health during lockdown, I can’t help feeling cynical about it. I sometimes think people in public life think they are more important than they are. On the other hand, maybe it will highlight the mental health difficulties that many have experienced during lockdown and beyond.

eazybee

Well then, time to use her much vaunted achievements to set a positive example.

I think she is. Both Obama’s are warning against another a Trump term.

Elegran is quite right. The world is in a sorry state so it's quite normal to be sad or anxious about it. 'Mental health issues' seem to be buzzwords right now!

Is there really such a thing as 'low grade depression'? Surely, a person is either depressed, or not.

Do people now expect to be happy all the time? Perhaps they need to know that's not 'normal'?

Elegran nailed it. And I especially agree with no-one is ever merely fed up, feeling a bit low, a bit pissed off, now it's 'anxiety'. You can't even be "shy" anymore, you now have "social anxiety".