Fighting Depression
We had our first lecture on psychiatry yesterday, and learned the basics of the DSM IV–the big thick tome-of-a-book that helps mental health folks to diagnose mental illnesses. Recently I’d been talking with a friend about his possible depression, and encouraged him to at least talk to someone at CAPS about his concerns, and I really hope he starts to feel more like himself again soon. Sometimes I wish these were things I could just do for people, but in mental health especially, I think it requires a certain amount of personal motivation. The individual has to want to change.
I guess all one can do sometimes is try to be encouraging and supportive, and to lend an ear. Unfortunately, sometimes even that can get complicated by one’s own feelings.
Hi. I just discovered your blog and I think It’s really neat. I have been an R.N. working in mental health for 25 years now. When I read your blog on mental health I just wanted to comment on something. When you said that a person has to want to change that is not entirely correct. For a problem with an addiction be it food,drug or alcohol even gambling that is very much true. Also to make changes in your personality,habits and such it is also true. But for a mental illness such as schizophrenia or clinical depression that is not exactly the case.Often all a person need do is to take the medicine which can change the chemistry of the brain. It can make a huge difference. And in the case of some mental illnesses the person need not even be willing to take the medicine if it is forced upon them as in some exceptionally ill cases.So please encourage your friend to see a Dr. about an antidepressant. Depression is usually best cured with a combination of medicine,counseling and some lifestyle changes,but sometimes even medicine alone can do wonders!