Survival of the fittest

[1turtle1]

I hate having to fight depression. And it's just that. I have to chose to fight it. Every single day I have to fight it. It doesn't ever just go away. Medication doesn't help it much either. Every single day is a struggle. Some days are more difficult than others. Some folks have mild depression. Maybe medication is enough for them. Nothing has ever really taken mine away. It's not like I enjoy being depressed. I hate it! Therefore, I hate a part of me. That's not okay. It's not psychologically healthy to hate a part yourself. I don't wish to embrace the depression anymore than I would want to embrace any other chronic medical condition. It's absolutely unreal to treat this disease as an addiction, unless the disease lead to an addiction as self medication. There is a basic biological imbalance. Unfortunately, current medical science doesn't have a concrete understanding of the basis of the illness. They are shooting in the dark blindfolded. Yet it is considered my problem. Huh? Blame the patient.

Kind of like the current pandemic. Viruses have been around a long time. Mental illness's have been around a long time. There are lots of therapies for treating symptoms of the two diseases. There are respirators and antivirals. There are talk therapies and antidepressants. The fact, however, remains people have died of this disease; people are dying of this disease, and people will continue to die of this disease. And we don't even know how many, because we don't know how many "fatal accidents" are actual suicides. I guess this segment of the population doesn't matter much. It's only mental illness. Only the sick and weak are dying. Survival of the fittest.

I don't have the answers; no one does. I may sit quietly and suffer. Thanks to those of you around me, I do not suffer alone. I may suffer in silence, but I do not suffer alone.

[Survivingtheworld__]

For along time science has thought depression was caused solely by low serotonin levels but really it’s caused by a failure to link connections in the hormonal circuits of the brain resulting in low serotonin levels which causes the depression. They are just now trying to create medications that keep the links from failing. So...we are years away from meds that might truly cure depression but it’s nice to see clarity coming to the light. Mindful ness has been found useful to keep the links from getting disrupted.

[Sabio77]

1turtle1 thank you for sharing. I feel your frustration. I have overcome 3 deep depressions and because of this virus, it is trying sneak its way back. I totally relate. also, I have anxiety that causes panic attacks. it can get ugly sometimes. here is what my therapist told me and what I find works for me. I find that some foods and drinks do not help depression. suggestion: no soda, caffeine, sugary drinks, etc. do not eat corn. Positive: drink regular water - like cup of plain hot water, green tea hot or cold, eat dark green veggies. carrots, cauliflower, chicken, fish but only bake or broiled. limit fried foods, packed foods for they have lots of salt, sugar and additives. also try getting some vitamin D/Sunlight, fresh air, take a shower, listen to soothing music, write a journal of everything you do from when you get up til you sleep, include everything. these are just a few things to help you get started to healing. here if you wish to talk.