Posted by CarolAnn on June 13, 2000, at 8:54:06
In reply to all relate? (SORRY, from Bbob the non-human), posted by Bbob on June 12, 2000, at 20:50:12
BBob, I wasn't even thinking of you when I wrote the reply to Johnturner77. I shouldn't have written "you all can relate", and within the post I did change 'all' to 'most'. The purpose of the post was to commiserate with those of us who have had to put up with such simplistic suggestions of how to stop being depressed!
I will say that I am coming to a better understanding of your stance on labeling, and I do admire your ability to keep living a productive life despite whatever problems you may have. However; just as you don't want to be labeled with a mental health diagnoses, we who are labeled don't want to be told by non-depressives that we could stop being depressed if we just find enjoyable things to do. In my case, I have plenty of "enjoyable" activities in my life(playing with my daughter for one), and yet, my illness will not let me *feel* the *joy* such activities should create.
As far as trying to get beyond our illnesses and try to live productive, socially active lives, you have no idea how much I would love to do just that. Unfortunately, my depression manifests itself in such extreme fatigue, that there are times when I actually feel completely paralyzed with inability to accomplish anything.
You are right in that labeling depression doesn't matter, but please accept that most of us write to this board, because we are not strong enough to live our lives 'around' the depression. This is why so many of us are desperate to find medical help in the form of therapy and/or medication.
In closing, let me say that I have tried very hard to write this post as inoffensively as possible, because it's only purpose is to share my experience and that of the people whose experience is similar to mine. Please, please, do not read any slurs between the lines. None were intended and if they are there, it is only due to my poor ability to express myself. I have always suffered 'foot in mouth' disease, and probably always will! Sincerely, CarolAnn
poster:CarolAnn
thread:36828
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37142.html