tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244823127610945876.post776146265737235844..comments2009-09-16T20:14:25.312-07:00Comments on Elissa Eggen (until I think of something cute or clever): Oh, Just Get Over It!elissaeggenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00980426532213024221noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244823127610945876.post-84316089973382700872009-09-16T20:14:25.312-07:002009-09-16T20:14:25.312-07:00I liked your post! I have been on depression meds ...I liked your post! I have been on depression meds for several years. In retrospect, if I had been diagnosed sooner it probably would've saved my first marriage. After I married Van I went through another severe depression and he said, "You need help!" But he knew the signs...<br /><br />At a family gathering recently, a relative was saying that he believed people can think their way out of depression. He basically said that those of us on meds & seeing therapists are either weak or lazy. It made me sad.<br /><br />Elissa, your maternal grandmother never understood Van's bi-polar disorder and depression until she was in her 60's or 70's and had a bout of depression herself for the first time. She asked him, "You deal with this all the time?? How do you do it?" He said, "I don't, Mother. I'm on meds, and I see a psychiatrist, and sometimes I get suicidal and they lock me up."<br /><br />~Rebecca Whippleelissaeggenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00980426532213024221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244823127610945876.post-18561052075981782872009-09-15T20:15:40.215-07:002009-09-15T20:15:40.215-07:00I too don't like to think that I will have to ...I too don't like to think that I will have to take medication for the rest of my life, but know that I'm a functioning human being able to leave the house and deal with every day life while on meds.<br /><br />Those who are religious seem to take the "positive your way out of it" to another level. If you're depressed you're "not being spiritual enough, you just need to pray". I was amazed to hear at an actual LDS function (Time out for Women) a speaker acknowledge that mental illness exists, and that if you need help, the medical profession was given to us for a reason, and to get the meds you need just as if you were sick. I have seen this same attitude from a handful of members, who look at dying from depression similar to dying from cancer. I had purchased the tickets to this event with a friend in mind, but took Mom when my friend couldn't make it. I was very grateful for the way it turned out because of a couple of things (including that) we could relate to with our family. <br /><br />The topic of situational depression reminded me of something Robert said to me that I've never really let him live down or gotten over. I'm sure this happened within a week of losing David, which makes it that much worse. He told me that he had felt "suicidal" and felt like running his truck off the road after splitting with someone, but thought of his kids and was able to pull himself out of it. My first thought? Well, good for you. So in other words my brother wasn't as strong as you are. Besides putting himself on a higher level than David, it also made me feel like shit.<br /><br />Sorry for the lengthy comment, but this blog really hit something in me, and I appreciate your ability to get thoughts on paper as efficiently as you are. I'm still a work in progress as far as writing/blogging goes.Jennifer Eggen Newellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09665540463531849150noreply@blogger.com