Regarding Freeper Obit. TrappedInLiberalHell and Depression

self | Self

[joesbucks]

The problems of depression and despair.

[joesbucks]

I've been scanning through the comments in the thread Freeper Obit. TrappedInLiberalHell. I was surprised by the number of people that admitted they suffered through bouts of depression and how many themselves have gone so far as to ponder taking a gun to themselves or even getting the gun in the position of taking their life. Again, I was very surprised.

I will make some observations that are mine, and admittedly may be very wrong or amplified through my own personal experiences. This vanity was created to begin a general discussion as to why there seems to be such an epidemic of this type of condition or illness and why it's showing in what appears to be more frequently than I ever envisioned.

This site seems to be populated by mostly conservative who believe in inner self strength, accountability, self reliance and other character traits that demonstrate individualism. There generally is a leaning toward Judeo-Christian values. These values generally teach that the solution is found in faith and faith alone. Faith will sustain and solve the problems. Self inflicting death is wrong. (Please understand, this is my understanding. I tried to put this in a delicate wording as possible, yet it still appears to be harsh and judgemental.)

Again this purpose of this is to exchange ideas on the subject, which seems to amplify as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approach.

I too seem to suffer from very dark days, although I've never been in the situation where I seriously comtemplated taking my life. I will admit to having felt that life had no true meaning, but never have I entertained taking my life.

I'm interested in what others have experienced, what got them out of their "funk" and are you ever really cured of these conditions. Many will suggest turning to God, Christ or some other form of faith. I have. I try to surround myself with not only ideals based on faith, but anything generally positive. Yet, just the other day I felt for a few moments a horrible despair.

Again, this is for discussion and sources of solution.

Hope your Christmas holiday and New Year are filled with joy, peace, happiness and prosperity.

[IronJack]

I would suggest that it is normal for ALL people to feel doubt, and that your despair arises from that doubt. The human mind has a great capacity for playing "what if" games with itself.

But faith defeats doubt. And the consolation for doubters is in the Bible. Granted, it becomes a circular argument: if there is no God then the Bible is simply a collection of aphorisms, the dusty opinions of mortal men. But since your funk arises from a choice you make -- doubting -- then your salvation also arises from a choice -- faith.

[joesbucks]

Thank you for your reply. Interesting insight.

[RaceBannon]

I'm interested in what others have experienced, what got them out of their "funk" and are you ever really cured of these conditions.

Knowing that God is in charge, and if we are rightly related to Him as His word says, by keeping that in mind, you can keep some sanity through it all. By trusting Him only, not yourself, not others, not your situation, not your knowlege, not your good looks, but Trusting God.

I was expecting to get laid off in the next two weeks, and got news yesterday that I am being extended for another 3 months. God is good, whether we are being given gifts or caused to trust Him more through trials and tribulations.

The only answer is to trust Him in all things, AND TO SAY THANK YOU EVERY DAY for ALL blessings!

[Clara Lou]

would suggest that it is normal for ALL people to feel doubt
This statement indicates to me that you, thankfully, have never suffered true depression. True depression isn't about doubt. It's more to do with despair, combined with mental fatigue and more problems than a person can juggle at one time.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Sell!

[Free_at_last_-2001]

Think and Grow Rich - by Napoleon Hill has some very good sections on autosuggestion - ie your subconscious is a willing slave - if you tell it to be happy it will be - end of story, no questions asked.

This ties in with your bit about the Judeo-Christian faith - if your subconscious believes you are going to heaven then it's probably very difficult to be unhappy.

[Lazamataz]

Does depression necessarily come from doubt, though. Many men who are depressed are actually certain: Certain things will not improve, certain no one loves them, etc.

[Lazamataz]

I've been scanning through the comments in the thread Freeper Obit. TrappedInLiberalHell. I was surprised by the number of people that admitted they suffered through bouts of depression and how many themselves have gone so far as to ponder taking a gun to themselves or even getting the gun in the position of taking their life. Again, I was very surprised.

I'm no longer surprised. Freepers are a cross-section of society. When Rush gave me the courage to come out about my (in-recovery) addiction to drugs, I was stunned at the number of people that came forward or Freepmailed me that they, too, were members of Narcotics Anonymous.

[RightOnline]

If someone is convinced that they must deal with these problems themself, then yes............it is quite easy to see why such severe depression can ensue. I know, as a Christian, that I am NEVER alone; that I have the most powerful force in the universe......the Creator........on my side, there for me, and eager to help me.

Not just pretty words, mind you. Been there........and He's ALWAYS come through for me, especially once I get out of the way and let Him.

[joesbucks]

if you tell it to be happy it will be.

We've been discussing that. But in a different context. The company I work for made it's budget for the year. It was very aggressive. Fact of the matter is, there would be virtually no way for us to make the sales and profit numbers that were suggested or even come close. Just a few weeks ago, the president of the company made a state of the state speech. The results were worse than I expected. He said and I quote "I must have been smoking something when I pushed for and agreed to those numbers. However going into 2004, I am being asked to agree to even more agressive numbers." A twist on your "if you believe you'll be happy, then you will be"? Most of us walked away from that meeting feeling rudderless at best and guilty because we let so many people down on a plan that was doomed from the beginning.

Maybe my problem is that I tend to deal in reality. I don't believe I'm a pessimist, yet I'm certainly not an optomist.

I will agree that a hopeful outcome is more comforting than a doubtful one. Yet it must also be real. In addition, where I once believed that depression/despair was a character trait, it now appears to be something more than an attitude toward life.

[Amelia]

Perhaps this would lead to the question: are FReepers more inclined toward depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, addictions, etc. than the society at large?

Or perhaps only the FReepers who have experience in those areas tend to post on those threads, giving the impression of larger numbers?

Not that I have any answers, mind you, but they are interesting questions (to me, anyway...)

[Physicist]

I don't think philosophy correlates with mood at all. I've known depressed people who've turned towards religion, and depressed people who've turned away. They've remained depressed in every case. The only thing I personally have seen work is Prozac.

For the opposite effect, I offer myself as an example. I'm one of those insufferably happy people. Of course, bad events upset me, and of course I have my "sad" days, but my default state is that I'm really happy. Sometimes my happiness is punctuated by periods of near euphoria, and these are not caused by any events or circumstances in my life. They certainly are not religious in nature, as I am an agnostic.

I conclude from all of this that one's mood is largely determined by physiology.

[Physicist]

They certainly are not religious in nature, as I am an agnostic.

Let me amend that: I am a Deist. For most of my life I was an agnostic. For most Freepers, that amounts to the same thing, anyway.

[Physicist]

A further amendment: I started out as a Christian. No change in my religious philosophy ever made any difference in my mood.

[Siouxz]

Knowing that God is in charge, and if we are rightly related to Him as His word says, by keeping that in mind, you can keep some sanity through it all. By trusting Him only, not yourself, not others, not your situation, not your knowlege, not your good looks, but Trusting God.

I am both a Christian and a person who has suffered from clinical depression for at least 25 years. The biggest reason I delayed getting treatment was because I felt that if only I was a "better" Christian and had a closer relationship with God, my depression would lift. When that didn't happen, it pushed me further into depression because I felt that obviously, I wasn't "spiritual enough."
Finally I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, got up my courage, and went to my doctor. He put me on the right medications, and I was able to see life in a whole new way. I lost 100 pounds, and (at age 42!!) am going to school to become an RN, and just finished my first semester with a 4.0 GPA.
I thank God that He directed me to the right doctor, who took my problems seriously. I also am grateful that I was put on the right medications on the first try. I do see God's hand in my treatment, and I agree that we need to walk with Him through our dark times. I would just respectfully caution against sitting and waiting for God to miraculously lift the veil of depression. I know it can and does happen, but sometimes He gives us other tools to bring about healing.
I know now that my depression will probably never go away. One day without medication, I'm fine. Two days and I start feeling "funky." Three days, and even my husband notices and asks if I've forgotten my pills. ;)

[frithguild]

(Please understand, this is my understanding. I tried to put this in a delicate wording as possible, yet it still appears to be harsh and judgemental.)

In judgment is the power that you seek. Ignore the mamby pamby crap that makes you want to package your speech in a popular way.

Proverbs 8

Wisdom's Call

1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

4 "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;

16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

Now cut it out with this dark moments crap. Do not let your desire to please everybody rule you. Speak in a way that pleases god and you will have power over your darkness!

[rface]

These values generally teach that the solution is found in faith and faith alone. Faith will sustain and solve the problems.

I did not read the thread(s) you refered to, but I was told about them by my wife. Dispair and desparation and depression. Adressing these conditions is not JUST about relying on faith ALONE - Family and friends and strangers all can work with God to help those suffering from these aflictions.

I have seen depressed people shut themselves off from the rest of the world and in the process they have shut themselves off from those who might help them.

If you or anyone reading this are caught in the trap of depression or are filled with dispair and desparation then call a family member - or maybe better a Priest/Pastor/Rabbi or whatever...... Don't let it continue to grow. Too often it grows worse over time and it is so sad because there are treatments that can - and do - help.

Anyone can Freepmail me

[joesbucks]

I was stunned at the number of people that came forward or Freepmailed me that they, too, were members of Narcotics Anonymous.

I was and wasn't. I followed many of those same threads and saw many brutally hoenst and heart touching responses. I imagine the freep mail was even more revealing.

Most people if I recall had began their addictions as "youthful indescressions", but the addiction continued as they reached not only maturity in age but also maturity in life. Some specific reason made them take a step back and begin the process of detox and coming to grips with the addiction. Unfortunately, some never are able conquer those addictions (I seem to remember a long ago poster by the screen name A+Bert who as I recall struggled with alcohol and it spilled into this forum) or come to terms with it. Some may never for a variety of reasons.

Depression and despair are a tad different. I'm not sure how to word this, but to a point substance abuse is a choice. It may be an outgrowth of depression or despair, but still a choice. I don't believe most people have a choice of whether depression or despair are a part of their lives. As I mentioned, I've gone through many dark moments, yet never turned to drink or drug. Luck or a choice? I don't know.

[chicagolady]

L-Tryptophan an amino-acid

Otherwise touted as "Natures Prozac"

THAT"s why they banned it from the market!! Think of how much money the DRUG companies would lose!
But a smart Freeper can stil find it on line.


Also has been a great tool for my mothers depression caused by dementia.