depression not so different from other ailments

(This is being posted to “theworminmyapple.com” as well today. You’ll understand why after you read this post.)

Today I’m walking around with a compression band around my right knee and an ace bandage around my left ankle. Background information here and here. Monday I finally have an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. Boy, I hope I can quit limping. This has been going on for over six months now and I can tell you unequivocably that limping causes a huge problem for one’s entire muscular skeletal system.

But it got me to thinking about depression and how depression is not so different from other ailments. The biggest difference being no on sees your hurting heart. No one sees the invisible bandages.

First of all, I’m not feeling sorry for myself. It would be very easy to do. Six months ago I was doing pretty much anything I wanted to. These days I’m very limited. No long walks with my hubby. Not even any moderate walks. Treadmill only for a few minutes. Thank goodness I can use my elliptical machine but even there I can only manage the lowest level. 

It’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves when we’re depressed as well and just lie down and lick our wounds. BUT THAT NEVER, EVER HELPS. Yes, periodic rest helps but not a twenty-four hour nap. Not even post surgical patients get twenty-four bed rest!

Secondly, I’m not not getting on with my life. My goodness, what would that accomplish? What would not doing things that bring me joy possibly help?  I’ll just be doing it in pain. 🙂 And yes I know that when we’re depressed we don’t enjoy doing what we used to, but if we at least tried, wouldn’t that perhaps spark some interest?  And isn’t a “perhaps” better than nothing at all?

I’m not making light of a serious subject. Even if I were clinically depressed now (remember, depression is NOT a few days of feeling bad and I’m not even sure anymore a couple of weeks of feeling bad counts either. Please don’t give me the criteria for depression. I probably know them better than you. I’m just saying that anyone, because of illness, circumstances, etc could have a couple of bad weeks and not necessarily need treatment for depression. That’s my opinion and more and more professionals seem to be heading this way. Even the medical profession is changing its views on what physical conditions actually need treatment with medication. More and more, doctors are suggesting life style changes as the first course of treatment.)

And believe it or not, this brings me to another reason I’m posting this today. You see, it occurs to me that having a blog that has the word “depression” in its title might not be such a good thing. For one thing it gives my followers the idea that perhaps depression is all I’m about. It isn’t. I haven’t been clinically depressed in years. My idea was to help those who are suffering  and using my experience with depression as the foundation.

I want my readers to know that depressed people are not generally one-dimensional. Most of them go to work, raise family, have friends, go to church, etc. Having a propensity to depression is no different in that regards than let’s say wearing an ace bandage around an ankle and a compression bandage around one’s knees. I want to present a “total” picture and I fear I haven’t been.

Today or tomorrow you will receive a site-redirect as both my blogs will now live at the same house. New blog title, redecorated rooms but same homeowner.  I will still be addressing the same issues. The menu will say it all.

This has been on the back burner for months. I’m afraid to do it because I’m afraid I will lose some of you. I hope not. As I say, nothing but my address and title is changing. Beside, I think many of you follow both blogs anyway. So that will just make posting easier for me.

So watch your mailbox for the big announcement. Right now I can’t imagine anything getting in the way but if it does, that means God  interrupted my plans and steered me in another direction.

God bless each of you.

Rebecca

Hi. I'm so glad you're here. My blog focuses on faith and mental health issues such as mood disorders like depression, anxiety, and dysthymia (chronic low moods that don't qualify as depression.) I post DIY and decorating projects when I can. My book, "Depression Has A Big Voice. Make Yours Bigger! (Expanded Edition), is on sale at all online retailers. I have a Psychology degree and post-graduate courses in Clinical Pastoral Education. I am a former hospital chaplain, Bible teacher, and retreat/conference inspirational speaker. Thank you for visiting and may you feel God's presence today.

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