Depression gene found

News.com.au ^ | 02/26/2006 | By Clair Weaver and Andrew Chesterton

[oxcart]

If the truth be known, St. John's Wort works like antidepressants do...by inhibition of the Tryptophan Pyrrolase (oxygenase) pathway. (see Badawy A.A. on medline)

[DallasMike]

There is not a depression in the world that cannot be relieved by expressing the withheld anger.

Clinical depression is a disease of the brain, just like Parkinson's or epilepsy. Someone who is severely depressed can't heal themselves by positive thinking any more than Ronald Reagan could have healed his Parkinson's by positive thinking. Yes, we can choose how we respond to things but there is a certain point beyond which positive thinking will not go.

Here's a post on my blogsite that you might find interesting. It concerns a person I grew up with who developed schizophrenia in her early 20s.

Stingray:  Conservative Christian News and Commentary

[Flavius Josephus]

I suffer from depression - strong family history. I get on with life the best I can - I've got a supportive wife and kids. But I feel like crap virtually every day. If I could go home to be with the Lord I would, but I'm no quitter,

Count your blessings that you've got a wife and kids. I haven't been able to get that.

I know what you mean about not being a quitter. It actually was a huge breakthrough when I decided only the Lord would decide how long I live, and stopped toying with the idea of suicide.

God bless you.

[najida]

Thank you!

I've always believed it was genetic in my family....for generations. No surprise here.

Sadly, it seems the depressed, short serotonins always marry the "What's wrong with you! Think happy thoughts!" long serotonins.

ACK!

[Iris7]

Thinking of your "predestination" and "personal responsibility" statements makes me recall a mystical experience. I saw clearly that believing predestination and free will are either/or is an artifact of our "seeing as through a glass, darkly" as the Apostle put it.

As is wisely said, all things are possible with God - even total individual freedom of action and God's knowledge of all you are and all that you do from birth to death and beyond. He knew you before the beginning of time and will know you after the end of time. He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega, and infinitely more.

Also you may be bipolar. Suggest you consider this possibility. Recurrent and long term depression are typical. Lamatrogine and carbamazepine and other anticonvulvsives can be a miracle, I mean that literally, as in "What hath God wrought?"

[najida]

St. Johns wart words well in mild to moderate depression, but those with severe and chronic depression, stronger meds/therapies are needed.

[oxcart]

Excellent article on your blog. Correction; RR had Alzheimer's not Parkinson's.

[technochick99]

For your ping list

[DallasMike]

My hero Churchill suffered from the 'black dog'.

Yes, he did, as did Abraham Lincoln. You can do a Google on "bipolar" and "genius" and find study after study showing how many great artists, composers, authors, and leaders have suffered from bipolar or unipolar depression or schizophrenia. Virtually all of the greats from Brian Wilson to Beethoven to Tolstoy to Isaac Newton to Van Gogh to Michelangelo to Charles Dickens battled with at least one of these diseases.

[freedumb2003]

If this is truish, it will be one in the eye for all those who tell me it's somehow my own fault.

The problem that you have to deal with is the massive number of people who hide behind diagnoses of "depression" when in fact they are the problem.

So it looks like doggone near everyone has a pathology that gets used in place of personal responsibility. THat ends up muddying the waters to where people view a claim of "clinical depression" with deep cynicism and skepticism. I mean, DU has entire threads devoted to the drugs they take (ignoring their other threads about Evil Rx Companies).

People should know that cases like yours are examples of brain chemistry problems, like so many other illnesses. But as long as lazy or agenda-driven doctors keep writing off all behavioural problems as being medical, depression and similar types of diseases will be viewed with suspicion.

But, for what it is worth, I know it isn't your fault.

[vimto]

Ah friend, I do count my blessings indeed.

Then again the Lord knows what's right for each one of us. He works this all out in His own way.

Keep on keeping on.

God bless indeed.

[najida]

I've read some really good reports on Lamictal and Borderline Personality Disorder/Depression. It seems to be a wonder drug for some folks!

[DallasMike]

Thanks you and thank you for the correction. Reagan had Alzheimer's, not Parkinson's disease.

[GOP_Raider]

Meet Gene.

I thought this was Gene:

[Melas]

Another way to sell pills. Flame suit on, but I believe that depression is a largely made up disease.

[Iris7]

Again, may I suggest bipolar disorder. I am convinced by experience that bipolar disorder is as metabolic as epilepsy.

[R_Kangel]

This whole study depresses me.

[vimto]

Ah, the problem of human nature is the bondage of the bondage of the will. We want what isn't good for us. Only grace breaks that bondage into freedom.

Spurgeon used to say that predestination and free will were two pillars that only formed an arch in heaven. Nice thought - your spiritual experience has that ring to it.

thanks indeed for the encouragement,

[Melas]

I never knew which song I found more truth in: Here Comes Your 19th Nervous Breakdown or Mother's Little Helper. Both of them were great social commentary.

Likewise, it's damned near chic to be depressed these days. This won't win me any friends, but it's pretty damned observable that retiring wallflowers without a social network tend to be the depressed bunch. People who like people and socialize, tend not to be depressed.

[DallasMike]

I am convinced by experience that bipolar disorder is as metabolic as epilepsy.

Not only that, but most meds that work for one work for the other. Many now believe that bipolar may be seizures which are going undetected.