Depression: Escape Your Mental Prison

There is an illness all around me in modern society that seems to be spreading like the Black Plague once did in Europe so long ago. It's called depression, have you heard of it? Has it affected you? The more I look, the more I see it in so many people in my life, including myself. Depression sucks. It's a real drag, and I mean real drag. It is different from the feelings of unhappiness that all humans have to deal with in their lives. It is being in a solitary prison where you are the only one who can see the walls; you are the jailor, the guard, and the prisoner all rolled into one. Sounds like fun huh? Well, we better become more aware of it because there are certain aspects of contemporary life that are causing more and more souls to lock themselves up, some believing that they have no hope of ever finding the key out.

If you look up depression on the Internet through a Google search query you will find a lot of different ways and means to manage or treat the problem. There are Eastern and Western approaches, psychological and spiritual; today there are 15,400,000 links about the subject. It seems to be on everybody's mind and yet we don't give it the general social awareness that we do for other illnesses. This is probably because there are so many stigmas around faults with the human mind. Broken bones and cancer we can understand or at least think we do; but we touch on a soft spot when we find a problem with that infinitely complex, helpful, magical device we call the brain.

Recently I went to a public talk by a world famous Psychologist named Dorothy Rowe who was selling her new book, 'Depression: The way out of your prison". I'm not going to tell you that she has all the answers, but I did like the different approach that she took to the illness. She's not against modern medication, but she feels that it can be only part of the solution. Of course there are types of intense clinical depression that need certain chemicals to rebalance the brain to a 'normal' working order, but for all depression she feels that the focus could be shifted from a management to a prevention paradigm.

Dr Rowe focuses on the assertion that depression comes when one's structure of interpreting the world around you has been affected by some deeply negative occurrences (usually in one's youth). Her theory suggests that if a certain event happens to one hundred people, they will all probably interpret the experience in an individual, different way; the perceived 'reality' having been a resulting construct from one's life experiences. For example: Let's say you get fired from your job. Just about everyone is going to feel a general unhappiness and grieve over the subsequent period. However, many people have built positive, optimistic ways of seeing life and will just go on and feel as though the layoff was another necessary step or a momentary setback on the way to their life's goals and dreams. "Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger." is a common sentiment from this type of personality.

However, a person who is prone to perceiving the world around them as threatening and dangerous (maybe their parents never gave them positive affirmations as a child, or even put them down emotionally) may believe that the loss of this job is a relative 'destruction' of their world, their safety, their confidence. This is where the illness of depression can dig its sharp teeth in. This is a pretty mellow analogy; in reality some people have gone through hellish childhoods filled with abuse, neglect and addiction. When this type of person then has to deal with the loss of a loved one or relationship break-up, you can imagine that they would be much more prone to perceiving the experience as deeply negative. Dr. Rowe believes that these constructed structures of perceiving what happens to you can be altered, thus giving rise to a new way of seeing reality. The main idea is based around the idea that we must learn to change the ways in which we see ourselves.

If we can learn to accept ourselves with all our faults and imperfections, and realize that if we are doing our best to be a loving and giving person everyday, then we can see ourselves as being worthy, and that all is well. Then if someone else treats us badly, ignores us, or says we aren't good enough, we can know and acknowledge that they are the person with the problem and that we don't necessarily need their affirmation or acceptance. We can then wait for positive people to come into our lives, as like attracts like. Soon enough we will find that there is a group of people that will stand by our side and support us when things get bad because we do the same for ourselves and for them.

One of the most powerful insights I had from this experience was the sheer number of people in the room for Dr. Rowe's speech. Each and every one had been or known someone close who had been depressed at one time in their life, thinking that they were completely alone in the world. When you see a big group of people together whom have all felt alone, you might just see into the true paradox of reality? If everyone who got depressed realized that it is a common occurrence, and connected to others in similar cases, it definitely could be a step towards healing. Could the Internet take a leading role in this process?

Jesse S. Somer
http://www.m6.net
Jesse S. Somer has been locked in a prison of his own mind. The way out was within.

---

Google News Updated : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:51:50 GMT NPR Radio Host's Conflict With Drug Makers Exposed by Sen. Grassley - InjuryBoard.com InjuryBoard.com NPR Radio Host's Conflict With Drug Makers Exposed by Sen. Grassley InjuryBoard.com - 2 hours ago Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) just keeps uncovering all kinds of skeletons in the closets of influential people. This time he has found that a popular National Public Radio (NPR) host of the health and science show, “The Infinite Mind,” has a ... NPR doc didn't disclose pharma payments FiercePharma Grassley Knock NPR Host Goodwin for Drug-Industry Conflicts Wall Street Journal Blogs Pharmalot - Nature.com (subscription) - New York Times all 9 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:29:51 GMT Florida Teen's Suicide Streamed Live On Internet - InformationWeek ABC News Florida Teen's Suicide Streamed Live On Internet InformationWeek - 1 hour ago Some thought the event a hoax until Adam Biggs, Jr.'s body was found by police. By KC Jones A Florida teen who intentionally overdosed streamed his death on the Internet while it occurred Wednesday. Florida teen kills self in front of live webcam Reuters Florida teen commits suicide in front of webcam The Associated Press ABC News - WTTE - TG Daily - FOXNews all 461 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:33:26 GMT UN: Gunmen kill woman while trying to rape girl at camp - CNN International WELT ONLINE UN: Gunmen kill woman while trying to rape girl at camp CNN International - 1 hour ago (CNN) -- Armed men entered a Congolese camp for displaced people Friday to kidnap and rape a girl, but when the girl screamed, the gunmen fired shots, killing a 20-year-old woman, a UN spokesman said. DR Congo rebels say Hutu militia heading to evacuated zone AFP Rebel violence is latest in string of plagues afflicting Congo's Goma Los Angeles Times Sydney Morning Herald - Whitman Pioneer - BBC News - Reuters all 1,940 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:44:05 GMT Globe Magazine preview: Chuck Turner on race, ethics - Boston Globe WHDH-TV Globe Magazine preview: Chuck Turner on race, ethics Boston Globe - 1 hour ago For an essay in the Boston Globe magazine that will appear this Sunday, freelance writer (and former Boston city councilor) Tom Keane conducted an e-mail interview with Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner. Turner released on $50K bond in bribery case Boston Herald Boston politician Chuck Turner accused of taking a bribe NECN The Associated Press - Bizjournals.com - WBUR - WBZ all 375 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:32:45 GMT Small blaze erupts in Malibu, but winds are helping firefighters* - Los Angeles Times Small blaze erupts in Malibu, but winds are helping firefighters* Los Angeles Times - 57 minutes ago The Los Angeles County Fire Department estimated the blaze has burned about two acres but appears not to be spreading. Wind conditions were favorable for firefighters, who were on the scene. Brush Fire Ignites in Malibu LAist Brush Fire Breaks Out In Malibu CBS 2 Ventura County Star - San Luis Obispo Tribune all 5 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:53:56 GMT Inside the Kobe-Shaq feud - SI.com TVNZ Inside the Kobe-Shaq feud SI.com - 5 hours ago By Mark Heisler This excerpt from Madmen's Ball: The Continuing Saga of Kobe, Phil, and the Los Angeles Lakers is printed with the permission of Triumph Books. Daily Dime: Shaq and Kobe play nicely - NBA ESPN Lakers roll past Suns Sports Network FOXSports.com - The Associated Press - Denver Post - East Valley Tribune all 645 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:36:50 GMT Congressional Leaders Vow Support for Carmakers - New York Times Vancouver Sun Congressional Leaders Vow Support for Carmakers New York Times - 1 hour ago By DAVID STOUT WASHINGTON - A day after declaring that American auto executives had failed miserably in making their case for federal aid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought to encourage them on Friday, saying that “we don’t have any intention of seeing ... Bailout debate simmers as GM pares output Reuters Hill to Detroit: You Want Money? Play By Our Rules. Washington Post Detroit Free Press - Indian Express - FOXNews - WIS all 3,012 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:00:15 GMT Merchant Datafeeds Amazon Tool

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Suicide Prevention: 12 Universal Laws

The Law of PermanenceSuicide is always a permanent solution to... Read More

Vagus Nerve Stimulation: What are the Benefits and How Does It Relieve Depression?

Vagus nerve stimulation is more effective than antidepressants and is... Read More

Acidity Depresses Thyriod Function

THE RISKAccumulation of acids in your body, due to insufficient... Read More

Depression: Bringing Yourself Down

Sometimes it's hard to see the forest from the trees.... Read More

Sources of Online Suicide Help for People Suffering from Severe Depression

There are Many Resources for Online Suicide HelpFirst of all,... Read More

What is Neurotransmitter Deficiency Disorder and How Can It Cause Depression, Anxiety, and...

Neurotransmitters (NTs) are essential chemical messengers that regulate brain, muscle,... Read More

Recognizing Depression?s Warning Signs

Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of... Read More

Can You Overcome Depression?

There are many things that happen within the body when... Read More

Turn Depression into Joy

Depression is the most prevalent disease of our time. Under... Read More

Your Daily Struggle With Depression

If you have been diagnosed with depression or feel that... Read More

How to Uncover the Reason You Cant Sleep Tonight

If you are like me ...you love your sleep!Sleep deprivation... Read More

Depression Help & Support Groups

For those who face depression, every day of their lives... Read More

First Thing You Should Do to Get Out of Depression

Depression, in psychiatry, is a symptom of mood disorder characterized... Read More

The Cost of Giving Up

I'm sure at times of deep crisis many of you... Read More

Senate Finance Committee Delays FDA Approval of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Depression

On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that... Read More

Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic or Treatment-Resistant Depression About Vagus... Read More

Disability is NOT a Life Sentence

On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in... Read More

Depression: What It Is and What You Can Do About It

There are three basic ways to treat depression: psychotherapy, self-help,... Read More

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Should be Used Early in Treatment when Traditional Antidepressants Fail

Lifetime Prevalence of Depression and the Age-of-Onset Report Distributions of... Read More

What About Drugs for Anxiety and Depression?

As a counselor, I am often asked, "Can drugs be... Read More

10 Simple Coping Strategies When a Family Member Has Clinical Depression

1.Remember that it is an illness:Clinical depression often requires medical... Read More

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Depression Are Not The Same Thing!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a... Read More

Biological Psychiatry Confirms of Efficacy and Safety of VNS Therapy for Depression

The September 1, 2005 issue of Biological Psychiatry confirmed the... Read More

Major Symposium About Vagus Nerve Stimulation & Depression at the American Psychiatric Association

A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment... Read More

Fighting Depression by Restoring Your Routines

When we have depression, one of the things we drop... Read More