Would you self-diagnose and self-treat a brain cancer? Obviously not, yet many would do this in relation to depression. Most people will be afflicted at times by low mood, sadness and depression, but depression has many classes which differ as much as infections - an infection of the blood can be deadly while an infected finger nail is not, yet they are both infections.
Classes of depression vary from Major Clinical Depression to Melancholia to Atypical to ........well, you get the picture. Clinical depression is so-called because it relates to a malfunction of cerebral chemistry and neurology. Emotions like sadness may just be a symptom of a deep-seated physical-mental illness. Emotion is the symptom, not the cause. Sadness, the blues, may pass but it may not. If such down feelings persist then I cannot stress enough...... GET PROFESSIONALLY DIAGNOSED. If a lump appeared on your breast, would you wait for it to go away?
Over the years I have read quite a few posts from sufferers about their experiences, heart-felt and brave. But I repeat: SEE THE DAMN DOCTOR........ it won't hurt anything except your pride.
As a sufferer of 15 years from major clinical depression of the mostly unipolar variety, I can say I was lucky to be diagnosed by accident - luck engineered by the hand of God to my mind. There were CAT scans involved along with 10 months of therapy [Cognitive Behavior Therapy] and 10 years of medication. Again, only God's "accidents" were involved in 'suicidus interuptus'. I was so bad that I was given a separate waiting room from the general waiting room at the clinic. Suicide, like my own father's, is more prevalent than deaths by road accident and are preventable WITH TREATMENT. [Yes, there can be a genetic element to depression].
I have several people to thank. A long-time friend, Maurice , for ringing me several times per week. The nurse who happened to live next door and discovered me in a catatonic state and fed and nursed me for a week. The young woman whom I had never met, who exchanged letters with me for two years. My family for enduring me. And, of course, the wonderful team of doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists at the Nedlands Mental Health Clinic. I am so sorry for any grief I have caused anyone.
I have been free of that total debilitation for 5 years and ceased medication 3 years ago. Is one "cured" or does one remain a depressive? I don't know, but there are times ..........!
On this RUOK day, I am ever-ready to take a call from anyone who needs to talk.
Apart from stressing the need for professional diagnosis, if I were asked for advice summed up in one sentence, I would simply say this: You are in charge of your thoughts - don't allow your thoughts to take charge of you.
God Bless.
