I have made significant improvements over the past two years in overcoming my battle with depression. I've spent many hours studying, pondering, and applying concepts and information that I've learned in my quest to overcome this trial.
The journey has been long. I still wake up each day struggling to have enough energy and willpower to face sometimes even simple day to day events. I have to continue to remind myself that progression and healing takes time. Sometimes we have setbacks and sometimes we just need the reassurance that things will continue to improve.
I've found that I do much better when I have a clearer vision of who I truly am. So how do we obtain that?
As I sat in church yesterday with the wonderful young women whom I have the blessing of working with, I was touched by what I was taught by the teacher. She shared with us a time when she prayed for Heavenly Father to allow her to see and understand who she is. She was given just a glimpse of the person that Heavenly Father knows she is. As I've pondered upon that, I've wondered how our lives and perspective would be changed if we could truly see ourselves as our Father in Heaven sees us.
Would we make better use of our time?
Would we make different decisions?
Would we have different priorities?
What type of person would we be?
As mortal beings our perspective and our understanding is limited. We don't have the ability and understanding to comprehend things in the same way as a perfected being. However, we are all given opportunities throughout our lives in which we can gain a greater comprehension of God's perspective.
It's interesting to see how often our understanding of who we are increases only after we've experienced some of the hardships and trials of life. Why is that?
We all enjoy life when it doesn't feel like we're on a roller coaster of trials. We relish the moments when we can take in a deep breath and feel calm before we start our next uphill climb. However, sometimes during these calm periods, we may become a little too relaxed and fall into the trap of complacency. When that happens we tend to rely more on our natural human tendencies and desires instead of turning our hearts to the Lord.
Trials have a way, when we allow them to, of refining us. In times of hardship we are given a glimpse of our personal strength, of our capacity to endure, of our increased ability to have compassion on others, and of our willingness to submit our will to the Lord's. It is through trials that we become more pure, more Christ-like, and more like the person that Heavenly Father sees in us.
Consider these words by,Orson F. Whitney, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He said:
"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God… and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven."
My struggle with depression and anxiety has taken me to depths of despair that at times have been indescribable. It has tested my willpower and strength beyond what I believed I was capable of enduring. However, even through the difficulties that at times have seemed to consume my life, I've been blessed to see the growth that has taken place in me. This experience is definitely one that I did not wish for, but I know that it has not been a wasted experience. It has taught me Christ-like attributes that only could be learned through my experience with hardships. It has taught me more about the person that I am and it has given me a glimpse of the person that God knows I can become. For that, I will be eternally grateful!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Thank You Mormon Woman.org and Your LDS Neighborhood.com
Today the Mormon Women website posted an article that I submitted to them about my experience in dealing with depression. I have come to gain a great respect for the people that oversee their website. I have specifically worked with Michelle Linford, who is one of their editors. She has taught me a great deal about the influence that writing can have, not only on the readers, but on the author as well. She is a very talented, kind, and insightful lady.
I want to thank her for her willingness to work with me and tutor me as I have searched for opportunities to share with others what I have learned and experienced as I have dealt with the struggles of depression in my life. Thank you Michelle!
I also want to thank those who oversee the website, Your LDS Neighborhood.com. They have featured in their weekly newsletter one of my recent posts, "We Don't Have to Do it Alone."
I so appreciate the ability I have been given through others to share my journey in dealing with depression. My purpose in creating this blog was to have a means by which I could reach out to those who are struggling with depression, in hopes to be able to bring a glimmer of hope and light as they strive to overcome this adversity.
It is through the blessing of websites such as Mormon Woman.org, Your LDS Neighborhood.com, and Mormon Times.com, who have featured some of my posts, that I have had the capability to reach even more people. Thank you for providing for me this opportunity to share my journey!
Here's a link to Mormon Woman.org and Your LDS Neighborhood.com website:
http://yourldsneighborhood.com/newsletters/monday_2011042
I want to thank her for her willingness to work with me and tutor me as I have searched for opportunities to share with others what I have learned and experienced as I have dealt with the struggles of depression in my life. Thank you Michelle!
I also want to thank those who oversee the website, Your LDS Neighborhood.com. They have featured in their weekly newsletter one of my recent posts, "We Don't Have to Do it Alone."
I so appreciate the ability I have been given through others to share my journey in dealing with depression. My purpose in creating this blog was to have a means by which I could reach out to those who are struggling with depression, in hopes to be able to bring a glimmer of hope and light as they strive to overcome this adversity.
It is through the blessing of websites such as Mormon Woman.org, Your LDS Neighborhood.com, and Mormon Times.com, who have featured some of my posts, that I have had the capability to reach even more people. Thank you for providing for me this opportunity to share my journey!
Here's a link to Mormon Woman.org and Your LDS Neighborhood.com website:
http://yourldsneighborhood.com/newsletters/monday_2011042
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
We Don't Have To Do It Alone
As we approach Easter, my thoughts have been turned to the significance of the Easter Holiday. I have taken time to reflect upon the Savior and the vital importance of His life, His sacrifice, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. I feel so very blessed to have the understanding and the knowledge that I have of the Savior.
As I have fought my battle with depression, I have come to understand that it is in these moments of our extremities that we can come to know as never before, our strength and our capacity to endure, through and because of the very real and very personal Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Because our Savior paved the way for each one of us, we can have the reassurance that we don't have to travel along life's journey alone. There may be times when we may question and wonder why we have to bear such difficult adversity and burdens. We may wonder when and if our healing will come. It is in these times of our extremities that we will need the reassurance, strength, and understanding, that can only be found because of the eternal power of the Atonement and the healing blessings that accompany it. We can come to understand that healing through the Atonement does not always mean that our burden will be removed. The Atonement is a means for us to become better, more pure, and more Christ - like. In some instances it may be necessary for us to endure our afflictions for a time in order for us to become better acquainted with God.
“Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a "healing" cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are "healed" by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us..... Brothers and sisters, the healing power of His Atonement is for you, for us, for all. The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them.... is available for every affliction in mortality." (Dallin H. Oaks, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 6–9)
Elder Holland of the quorum of the twelve apostles so elegantly teaches us of the sacredness of the EAster season. He said:
"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: 'I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”20
"As we approach this Holy week.... may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ 'at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death, for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone." (Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him,” Ensign, May 2009, 86–88)
How grateful I am for a loving Savior. I add my testimony to that of Elder Holland's and humbly and reverently express gratitude for the celebration of this Holiday in which we commemorate the sacred gift of our Savior which has given to me the knowledge and understanding that I don't have to travel my journey alone.
As I have fought my battle with depression, I have come to understand that it is in these moments of our extremities that we can come to know as never before, our strength and our capacity to endure, through and because of the very real and very personal Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Because our Savior paved the way for each one of us, we can have the reassurance that we don't have to travel along life's journey alone. There may be times when we may question and wonder why we have to bear such difficult adversity and burdens. We may wonder when and if our healing will come. It is in these times of our extremities that we will need the reassurance, strength, and understanding, that can only be found because of the eternal power of the Atonement and the healing blessings that accompany it. We can come to understand that healing through the Atonement does not always mean that our burden will be removed. The Atonement is a means for us to become better, more pure, and more Christ - like. In some instances it may be necessary for us to endure our afflictions for a time in order for us to become better acquainted with God.
“Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a "healing" cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are "healed" by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us..... Brothers and sisters, the healing power of His Atonement is for you, for us, for all. The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—whether it removes our burdens or strengthens us to endure and live with them.... is available for every affliction in mortality." (Dallin H. Oaks, “He Heals the Heavy Laden,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 6–9)
Elder Holland of the quorum of the twelve apostles so elegantly teaches us of the sacredness of the EAster season. He said:
"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: 'I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”20
"As we approach this Holy week.... may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ 'at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death, for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone." (Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him,” Ensign, May 2009, 86–88)
How grateful I am for a loving Savior. I add my testimony to that of Elder Holland's and humbly and reverently express gratitude for the celebration of this Holiday in which we commemorate the sacred gift of our Savior which has given to me the knowledge and understanding that I don't have to travel my journey alone.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Divine Guidance
I love General Conference that comes around every six months, when the people of the LDS (Mormon) faith have the opportunity to hear inspired words from the prophets, apostles, and leaders of the church. One theme that was really emphasized throughout the conference was that of caring for others. This may be done through the Welfare program organized under the direction of the church leaders, or it may be done in a very personal way in which we have the sacred opportunity to serve as instruments in God's hands to become an answer to the very prayers that are being offered by those around us.
A couple of times throughout the conference we were reminded by Church leaders, that "God does hear our prayers, but it is often through another person that He meets our needs."
I have always had a deep gratitude for the knowledge that I have of understanding that the Lord can directly provide answers to our individual prayers, through other people just like myself. In this setting, under these circumstances, these charitable individuals are no longer just mortal beings, instead they are for a time, mortal angels, carrying out the work of the Lord in a mortal state under divinely guided direction.
I have seen so many times in my own personal life and in the lives of those around me, people who have been blessed because of the willingness of others to reach out in the spirit of love and sacrifice to those around them. These individuals are exemplifying the Christ-like attribute of charity. In doctrine and covenants 42:38 it says, "for inasmuch as ye do it unto one of the least of these, ye do it unto me." If we understand that scripture, then we should also understand the importance of helping, loving, and serving those around us.
It is through my battle with depression that I have truly gained a deep gratitude for those who willingly listened to and obeyed those heavenly promptings received on my behalf. I have come to recognize as never before, that my prayers are heard and they are answered, but many times those answers come through the divine guidance received by my family, friends, and neighbors.
"To the world we may be only one person, but to one person, we may be the world." I love that! How true that is! I can attest to this because through my dark days of depression there have been individuals who literally have meant the world to me, because they made all the difference in the world, during times when I so desperately needed the reassurance that I was worth something.
I would like to reiterate a challenge given by Church leaders to carry out a day, or at least a deed of service. Think of how many lives could be touched, how many hearts mended, and how many prayers could be answered if we all made serving, caring, and loving a constant part of our daily actions.
I would also encourage you to take a few minutes to view this Mormon Message, "Cheering Each Other On." My heart was touched as I saw the Christ-like love that these high school cheerleaders showed to their classmate. To this sweet girl struggling with the paralyzing affects of muscular dystrophy, these cheerleaders made a world of difference. These cheerleaders literally became mortal angels, carrying out a divinely guided and very personal mission on behalf of another who also in her own angelic way, has blessed the lives of countless others.
Here's the link:
https://lds.org/youth/video/cheering-each-other-on?lang=eng
A couple of times throughout the conference we were reminded by Church leaders, that "God does hear our prayers, but it is often through another person that He meets our needs."
I have always had a deep gratitude for the knowledge that I have of understanding that the Lord can directly provide answers to our individual prayers, through other people just like myself. In this setting, under these circumstances, these charitable individuals are no longer just mortal beings, instead they are for a time, mortal angels, carrying out the work of the Lord in a mortal state under divinely guided direction.
I have seen so many times in my own personal life and in the lives of those around me, people who have been blessed because of the willingness of others to reach out in the spirit of love and sacrifice to those around them. These individuals are exemplifying the Christ-like attribute of charity. In doctrine and covenants 42:38 it says, "for inasmuch as ye do it unto one of the least of these, ye do it unto me." If we understand that scripture, then we should also understand the importance of helping, loving, and serving those around us.
It is through my battle with depression that I have truly gained a deep gratitude for those who willingly listened to and obeyed those heavenly promptings received on my behalf. I have come to recognize as never before, that my prayers are heard and they are answered, but many times those answers come through the divine guidance received by my family, friends, and neighbors.
"To the world we may be only one person, but to one person, we may be the world." I love that! How true that is! I can attest to this because through my dark days of depression there have been individuals who literally have meant the world to me, because they made all the difference in the world, during times when I so desperately needed the reassurance that I was worth something.
I would like to reiterate a challenge given by Church leaders to carry out a day, or at least a deed of service. Think of how many lives could be touched, how many hearts mended, and how many prayers could be answered if we all made serving, caring, and loving a constant part of our daily actions.
I would also encourage you to take a few minutes to view this Mormon Message, "Cheering Each Other On." My heart was touched as I saw the Christ-like love that these high school cheerleaders showed to their classmate. To this sweet girl struggling with the paralyzing affects of muscular dystrophy, these cheerleaders made a world of difference. These cheerleaders literally became mortal angels, carrying out a divinely guided and very personal mission on behalf of another who also in her own angelic way, has blessed the lives of countless others.
Here's the link:
https://lds.org/youth/video/cheering-each-other-on?lang=eng
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Treatment for Depression
If receiving treatment for depression is so important, what options are available for treating this difficult mental disorder?
In my last post I mentioned the idea of not giving up on seeking out treatment for depression. Having said that, I felt like I needed to follow up with my knowledge and understanding as to what's available for treatment. I don't want to give the perception that I have all of the answers, because I don't - not even close. However, I do hope to share what limited experience and understanding I have, in hopes of benefiting another. Some may have a different perspective than I do, but the important part in all of this is to find a treatment that is beneficial for you in your own personal battle.
I come from a family with medical roots. I have a brother who is nearing the end of his residency in gastroenterology. I have another brother who recently graduated and will soon begin his residency in neurology at the Mayo Clinic. I have a brother in law who will soon be graduating and will be doing his residency in pediatrics. I also have a brother in law who is a practicing chiropractor. If you've ever dealt with doctors and chiropractors, you will understand that they have a different approach in how they handle treatment for various ailments or injuries. I find merit in both of these strategies depending on the needs and circumstances of the individual person.
In the LDS (Mormon) church we are taught to abide by what is known as the "Word of Wisdom." These teachings are essentially guidelines which are put into place in order to help us maintain a healthy lifestyle. We are taught to refrain from coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco. We are also given guidelines, comparable to what many know as the food pyramid, which enlightens our understanding of a proper and healthy balance of food intake.
As members of the LDS church we believe that our bodies are sacred and that they are a blessing from God. Therefore, we should care for our bodies as if they are a gift from God, and strive to do our part in maintaining a healthy balance. To me, that summarizes what the purpose of the Word of Wisdom is - to help us maintain healthy bodies.
There are many approaches to treating depression and/or anxiety, but the most important part in it all is finding what works for your personal situation. If I can, I would like to share with you my approach in treating different illnesses and disorders.
I have what is called hypothyroidism, which is an under active thyroid. Hypothyroidism can create many different health problems, including depression. To keep my thyroid regulated and prevent additional health concerns I take medication.
I also have a chronic kidney disease known as IGA nephropathy. In addition to this, I have high blood pressure. Kidney disease and high blood pressure play off of one another. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure and high blood pressure can cause, and also worsen kidney disease. Therefore it's important to maintain normal levels of blood pressure - to do this I take medication. Other than regulating blood pressure, there is not much that can be done medically speaking at this stage of my kidney disease. However, there have been studies done that have shown fish oil intake to be beneficial in helping to slow down the progression of this particular kidney disease, therefore fish oil has been included as well to my treatment regime.
My oldest son has ADHD, which brings with it another decision process in regards to treatment. My husband and I have studied quite a bit of information on ADHD and methods of treating it and dealing with it. My son has seen a professional counselor, he's taken natural remedies and most recently has been taking medication for it. Our decision to put him on medication did not come easily, but it came as a result of recognizing that his symptoms of ADHD were beginning to affect his self esteem, which in turn can have a great impact on a child's actions and decisions, having a lasting affect on their lives. When we weighed the pros and cons of each treatment option, we determined for the time being the most beneficial decision for our son was to put him on medication. This is something that we hopefully avoid having to do long term. Our hope is that through the use of medication our son will gain a better understanding of how it feels to function without ADHD symptoms. With that understanding and additional guidance from us as his parents, hopefully our son will recognize how to make adjustments to be able to help himself without the use of medication.
My oldest daughter is currently struggling with what is called body dysmorphic disorder and possibly some mild depression and anxiety. She currently is seeing a counselor who has been very beneficial for her. However, we are open to putting my daughter on medication if we feel her situation worsens, becomes very detrimental, or life threatening. Again this is a situation in which the positive results of each treatment option must be weighed against the negatives.
I experienced what I know to be my first bout of depression within a year after I had my fourth child. My treatment during that time began with counseling. Soon after I gained a focus and understanding of adrenal fatigue, which can also be a cause of depression. As part of my treatment in addition to counseling, I added some vitamins specifically formulated for adrenal fatigue as well as a prescription for progesterone (a hormone). which I took maybe a couple of times.
With my most recent bout of depression, I had to approach treatment in a different way. I was struggling so severely with depression and anxiety that it became life threatening for me. This happened within what seemed to be a fairly short amount of time. I needed to take immediate action to help myself get through this darkness. I remember sitting in the doctors office and my mind was so clouded and I was so severely affected as a result of the depression and anxiety that it was difficult for me to even answer the doctors questions and make decisions. I again began counseling with a professional counselor and I started on an antidepressant medication as well as some medication for anxiety.
I think an important thing to keep in mind with antidepressant medication is that sometimes the first medication that you try, may not be effective for you. There is still a lot to learn about depression and each antidepressant works a little bit differently on how they affect the chemical balance within your brain. It took me a couple different tries with my family doctor and a visit to a psychiatrist to finally find a good medication fit for me. This has been a blessing in my life. Not everyone feels comfortable taking medication. However for my situation, it was more beneficial for me to take the medication, than to not. A reminder once again, that the benefit of pursuing a particular treatment has to outweigh the cost of not pursuing the treatment.
I've mentioned this before in previous posts that another crucial part of my treatment has been through professional counseling. I feel very fortunate that I was able to find a wonderful counselor from the start. To me this was a blessing from God. My counselor has literally been an angel for me, who happened to come in the form of an LCSW.
Finding a knowledgeable, kind, and trustworthy counselor can play a major role in helping to overcome or at least find some relief from depression. Don't ever be concerned about switching to another counselor if you are not benefiting from your current one. It may take some time, but the effort in finding the right counselor is well worth it, especially when it can potentially be such a major source of restoring light and hope to your life.
I am also aware of additional options available, which others have found beneficial for treating depression. Below is a list of resources that I know of, which can help in the battle against depression.
Another resource that I have found very beneficial is the book "Feeling Good The New Mood Therapy," by David Burns. This book can be used as an excellent companion to cognitive behavioral therapy. In fact many who have used just the book alone, have found excellent results in depression treatment.
I hope that this information may be helpful as you strive to find proper treatment for your individual situation. Please remember to keep in mind the potential serious affects of depression and seek treatment that will be most beneficial for you in preventing the possible devastating results of this mental disorder.
In my last post I mentioned the idea of not giving up on seeking out treatment for depression. Having said that, I felt like I needed to follow up with my knowledge and understanding as to what's available for treatment. I don't want to give the perception that I have all of the answers, because I don't - not even close. However, I do hope to share what limited experience and understanding I have, in hopes of benefiting another. Some may have a different perspective than I do, but the important part in all of this is to find a treatment that is beneficial for you in your own personal battle.
I come from a family with medical roots. I have a brother who is nearing the end of his residency in gastroenterology. I have another brother who recently graduated and will soon begin his residency in neurology at the Mayo Clinic. I have a brother in law who will soon be graduating and will be doing his residency in pediatrics. I also have a brother in law who is a practicing chiropractor. If you've ever dealt with doctors and chiropractors, you will understand that they have a different approach in how they handle treatment for various ailments or injuries. I find merit in both of these strategies depending on the needs and circumstances of the individual person.
In the LDS (Mormon) church we are taught to abide by what is known as the "Word of Wisdom." These teachings are essentially guidelines which are put into place in order to help us maintain a healthy lifestyle. We are taught to refrain from coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco. We are also given guidelines, comparable to what many know as the food pyramid, which enlightens our understanding of a proper and healthy balance of food intake.
As members of the LDS church we believe that our bodies are sacred and that they are a blessing from God. Therefore, we should care for our bodies as if they are a gift from God, and strive to do our part in maintaining a healthy balance. To me, that summarizes what the purpose of the Word of Wisdom is - to help us maintain healthy bodies.
There are many approaches to treating depression and/or anxiety, but the most important part in it all is finding what works for your personal situation. If I can, I would like to share with you my approach in treating different illnesses and disorders.
I have what is called hypothyroidism, which is an under active thyroid. Hypothyroidism can create many different health problems, including depression. To keep my thyroid regulated and prevent additional health concerns I take medication.
I also have a chronic kidney disease known as IGA nephropathy. In addition to this, I have high blood pressure. Kidney disease and high blood pressure play off of one another. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure and high blood pressure can cause, and also worsen kidney disease. Therefore it's important to maintain normal levels of blood pressure - to do this I take medication. Other than regulating blood pressure, there is not much that can be done medically speaking at this stage of my kidney disease. However, there have been studies done that have shown fish oil intake to be beneficial in helping to slow down the progression of this particular kidney disease, therefore fish oil has been included as well to my treatment regime.
My oldest son has ADHD, which brings with it another decision process in regards to treatment. My husband and I have studied quite a bit of information on ADHD and methods of treating it and dealing with it. My son has seen a professional counselor, he's taken natural remedies and most recently has been taking medication for it. Our decision to put him on medication did not come easily, but it came as a result of recognizing that his symptoms of ADHD were beginning to affect his self esteem, which in turn can have a great impact on a child's actions and decisions, having a lasting affect on their lives. When we weighed the pros and cons of each treatment option, we determined for the time being the most beneficial decision for our son was to put him on medication. This is something that we hopefully avoid having to do long term. Our hope is that through the use of medication our son will gain a better understanding of how it feels to function without ADHD symptoms. With that understanding and additional guidance from us as his parents, hopefully our son will recognize how to make adjustments to be able to help himself without the use of medication.
My oldest daughter is currently struggling with what is called body dysmorphic disorder and possibly some mild depression and anxiety. She currently is seeing a counselor who has been very beneficial for her. However, we are open to putting my daughter on medication if we feel her situation worsens, becomes very detrimental, or life threatening. Again this is a situation in which the positive results of each treatment option must be weighed against the negatives.
I experienced what I know to be my first bout of depression within a year after I had my fourth child. My treatment during that time began with counseling. Soon after I gained a focus and understanding of adrenal fatigue, which can also be a cause of depression. As part of my treatment in addition to counseling, I added some vitamins specifically formulated for adrenal fatigue as well as a prescription for progesterone (a hormone). which I took maybe a couple of times.
With my most recent bout of depression, I had to approach treatment in a different way. I was struggling so severely with depression and anxiety that it became life threatening for me. This happened within what seemed to be a fairly short amount of time. I needed to take immediate action to help myself get through this darkness. I remember sitting in the doctors office and my mind was so clouded and I was so severely affected as a result of the depression and anxiety that it was difficult for me to even answer the doctors questions and make decisions. I again began counseling with a professional counselor and I started on an antidepressant medication as well as some medication for anxiety.
I think an important thing to keep in mind with antidepressant medication is that sometimes the first medication that you try, may not be effective for you. There is still a lot to learn about depression and each antidepressant works a little bit differently on how they affect the chemical balance within your brain. It took me a couple different tries with my family doctor and a visit to a psychiatrist to finally find a good medication fit for me. This has been a blessing in my life. Not everyone feels comfortable taking medication. However for my situation, it was more beneficial for me to take the medication, than to not. A reminder once again, that the benefit of pursuing a particular treatment has to outweigh the cost of not pursuing the treatment.
I've mentioned this before in previous posts that another crucial part of my treatment has been through professional counseling. I feel very fortunate that I was able to find a wonderful counselor from the start. To me this was a blessing from God. My counselor has literally been an angel for me, who happened to come in the form of an LCSW.
Finding a knowledgeable, kind, and trustworthy counselor can play a major role in helping to overcome or at least find some relief from depression. Don't ever be concerned about switching to another counselor if you are not benefiting from your current one. It may take some time, but the effort in finding the right counselor is well worth it, especially when it can potentially be such a major source of restoring light and hope to your life.
I am also aware of additional options available, which others have found beneficial for treating depression. Below is a list of resources that I know of, which can help in the battle against depression.
-Professional Counseling (Physcotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Electroconvulsive Therapy)
-Medication
-Fish Oil
-Vitamins (especially vitamin D)
-5-HTP
-St. John's Wart
-Essential Oils
-Exercise
-Spirituality
-Acupuncture
-Yoga
-Meditation
-Guided Imagery
-Massage Therapy
Another resource that I have found very beneficial is the book "Feeling Good The New Mood Therapy," by David Burns. This book can be used as an excellent companion to cognitive behavioral therapy. In fact many who have used just the book alone, have found excellent results in depression treatment.
I hope that this information may be helpful as you strive to find proper treatment for your individual situation. Please remember to keep in mind the potential serious affects of depression and seek treatment that will be most beneficial for you in preventing the possible devastating results of this mental disorder.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Depressed Moms and Their Children
I came across this article today on WebMD. I took particular interest in it because of my circumstances. As a mom of four children I have had to gain additional insight into the possible affects that depression can have on families, particularly children. As I have worked on my own treatment in overcoming depression and anxiety, I also have had to work on understanding how to incorporate some of the knowledge and skills I've gained in order to benefit my children. As I have worked on my personal battle to overcome these mental adversities, it has also become apparent that my children too are portraying symptoms of similar struggles. I don't have the answer as to whether or not these are traits that have been passed on environmentally or biologically, but I do know that as a mom to my kids, I have the obligation to help them learn how to cope with these struggles.
As I read this article, I was reminded of the standard introduction that accompanies all commercial airlines before take off. The flight attendants go through all of the safety instructions, including how to use the air mask. As part of the general guidelines for the air masks, we are told to secure our own air mask before we help someone else. I think that general rule can apply in our personal and family lives as well. It's important to recognize that our own well being can have an impact not only on ourselves, but on those around us as well. It's vital that we remember to care for ourselves.
If you're still searching for effective treatment, don't give up. The majority of people dealing with depression can find healing, or at least some relief from this disabling illness.
The link to the article is listed below:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20110315/treating-depressed-moms-helps-kids-depression
As I read this article, I was reminded of the standard introduction that accompanies all commercial airlines before take off. The flight attendants go through all of the safety instructions, including how to use the air mask. As part of the general guidelines for the air masks, we are told to secure our own air mask before we help someone else. I think that general rule can apply in our personal and family lives as well. It's important to recognize that our own well being can have an impact not only on ourselves, but on those around us as well. It's vital that we remember to care for ourselves.
If you're still searching for effective treatment, don't give up. The majority of people dealing with depression can find healing, or at least some relief from this disabling illness.
The link to the article is listed below:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20110315/treating-depressed-moms-helps-kids-depression
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
"A Significant Work to Perform"
Over the past couple of weeks my family could have really benefited from an extra large roll of bubble wrap - like the kind you find wrapped around fragile items in order to give them protection. It started off with my eight year old daughter hitting her head on her window seat, resulting in a large goose egg on the back of her head.
The next injury occurred when my four year old son was waiting for his bedtime story, which obviously did not come soon enough. In frustration, he threw his book from the top of the stairs, thinking that his actions might get him his story sooner. In the meantime my ten year old son happened to be right in the line of target as the bedtime story came to an abrupt stop when it collided with my sons face. I never knew books could actually have the power to produce a cut worthy of an emergency visit to the doctor. I discovered that night how powerful books can be; in more ways than one.
Our next incident came when our eleven year old (soon to be 12) daughter decided to have a hair flipping contest at school with her friends. Sounds innocent enough. If you lived in the 80's you'll likely remember back to the unforgettable fashion in girls hairstyles. The previous evening my daughter had seen "Footloose" performed by the junior high school kids in our area. The girls in this school production had the classic 80's hair do with their long curly hair and big puffy bangs. To go along with the fabulous hair do they also did the dramatic hair flipping that was popular during that time for dancers, pop stars, and bands. Flipping your hair down and quickly spinning your head in a 360 degree motion, will create this popular hair flipping move (for lack of a better term). This actually can be quite entertaining to watch. However, in my daughter's quest to win this hair flipping contest, she ended up giving herself a mild case of whiplash. But please take note, that our daughter did win the hair flipping contest. Oh, the sacrifice for the important things in life.
Our ten year old son within a couple days of his first injury became the victim once again. In the midst of a little sibling squabble, my son stepped back onto a lamp cord, which sent the lamp falling from the top of his chest of drawers onto the back of his head, leaving him with yet another cut. While I examined his cut, my four year old son slipped down the stairs, scratching his back, while my eight year old daughter stepped on a toothpick, causing the end of it to get lodged into the bottom of her foot. My husband worked on consoling the boys while I worked on getting the toothpick out of the bottom of my daughter's foot. We finally ended that evening of injuries having my son's head sealed with a stitch.
To add to our other previous injuries, my eight year daughter was playing on a slide with her friend, when the two of them collided. We again ended up in the doctor's office to have x-rays done of her foot. They sent her home with a splint, and she has had her share of time on crutches and hobbling along the best she could for the past week and a half. But just to add to the excitement of it all, my four year old son has had a terrible cough causing him to actually vomit on a couple of occasions.
As I've thought about the physical injuries and ailments that have created so much commotion for our family recently, I have also reflected many times on the help that we all have to offer to one another. My brother who is a doctor, and his sweet fiance, were able to come to our rescue on many occasions over the past couple of weeks. During this same time I was throwing a wedding shower for my soon to be sister in law. She thanked me for still being willing to do the shower for her, after the many family injuries that had occurred. But the only response that I could think to tell her was that she and my brother were there to help us through a good portion of our string of injuries, so I turn was just giving back what they had already given to me. We were both there to help one another. This experience got me pondering upon how each and everyone of us are here to help and to benefit from one another.
I recalled many experience's that I have had in which another individual or family along with my own family and me, have both been able to benefit from each others love, compassion, and service. I thought about the opportunity I had to visit with a friend who had recently lost her husband to cancer and how I gleaned from my visit with her, a deeper gratitude for the gift of life and for the knowledge that I have of eternal families.
I thought about a friend who has shown compassion and understanding to me as I have faced my struggles in overcoming depression. I also thought about this same friend who's husband is currently unemployed and about the opportunity that my family had to purchase groceries for her family in their time of need.
I reflected on the recent times when I've been able to give back in a small way to my mom as she has been recovering from knee surgery. And of course, I thought about the many times I've been ill and my mom has willingly done house work, laundry, child care, taxi driving, etc, in order to help me - not to mention the numberless acts of service she provided for me as a child.
I thought about the opportunity I had the other night to give a good friend a ride home and how she in turn blessed me by listening and caring as only a good friend can.
I recalled the recent opportunity I had to care for my sisters children while she was able to go on a weekend get away with her husband. At the same time I was reminded of the many times she has helped with my children and willingly listened to me cry, laugh, and vent.
I thought about two young ladies, both from an inner city who knocked on my door the other night. Both girls were working on improving social skills and job skills by selling magazine subscriptions. I took the opportunity to help these kind girls by ordering a childrens magazine subscription for my kids. These girls in turn opened up an opportunity for me to share with them a "Book of Mormon," (a religious book that serves as a companion to the Bible). This book is very dear to my heart and this young lady at my front door who had traveled from Arizona, had been yearning for a copy of the Book of Mormon so she could read it for herself. The desire of these two girls to learn, allowed me the privlege of sharing what I consider to be one of my personal treasures.
I thought about the blessing of being able to serve in the Young Women's presidency in my ward where I get to work very closely with the 14-15 year old girls. I love these girls and feel very blessed to be able to glean from their energy and spiritual strength. A couple of weeks ago I was able to teach them a lesson on having a personal purpose here on Earth. As I completed the lesson, I left for home feeling like I didn't do justice to a topic that I feel so strongly about. Not long after that, I received a text message from one of my young women that I taught. She simply said "Thank you for the lesson. I've been wondering about that a lot lately." Once again an example to me of how we all are here to help and benefit one another.
I think what encapsulates the message that I've tried to portray is a statement that the radiologist made to my eight year old daughter as I was giving her a piggy back after her foot injury. She said, "you sure have a nice mom, to be giving you a piggy back....but I guess one day you'll probably be doing the same thing for her." How true that is.
In dealing with depression, sometimes I've felt as if I have nothing to offer. We may wonder what our personal purpose is, or if we even have one. In times of such questioning it helps me to remember the experiences that I have had which have allowed me to recognize that each and everyone of us has a purpose, a mission, and a reason that we are here on this earthly journey. Bishop H. Burke Peterson summarized this idea perfectly. He said:
The next injury occurred when my four year old son was waiting for his bedtime story, which obviously did not come soon enough. In frustration, he threw his book from the top of the stairs, thinking that his actions might get him his story sooner. In the meantime my ten year old son happened to be right in the line of target as the bedtime story came to an abrupt stop when it collided with my sons face. I never knew books could actually have the power to produce a cut worthy of an emergency visit to the doctor. I discovered that night how powerful books can be; in more ways than one.
Our next incident came when our eleven year old (soon to be 12) daughter decided to have a hair flipping contest at school with her friends. Sounds innocent enough. If you lived in the 80's you'll likely remember back to the unforgettable fashion in girls hairstyles. The previous evening my daughter had seen "Footloose" performed by the junior high school kids in our area. The girls in this school production had the classic 80's hair do with their long curly hair and big puffy bangs. To go along with the fabulous hair do they also did the dramatic hair flipping that was popular during that time for dancers, pop stars, and bands. Flipping your hair down and quickly spinning your head in a 360 degree motion, will create this popular hair flipping move (for lack of a better term). This actually can be quite entertaining to watch. However, in my daughter's quest to win this hair flipping contest, she ended up giving herself a mild case of whiplash. But please take note, that our daughter did win the hair flipping contest. Oh, the sacrifice for the important things in life.
Our ten year old son within a couple days of his first injury became the victim once again. In the midst of a little sibling squabble, my son stepped back onto a lamp cord, which sent the lamp falling from the top of his chest of drawers onto the back of his head, leaving him with yet another cut. While I examined his cut, my four year old son slipped down the stairs, scratching his back, while my eight year old daughter stepped on a toothpick, causing the end of it to get lodged into the bottom of her foot. My husband worked on consoling the boys while I worked on getting the toothpick out of the bottom of my daughter's foot. We finally ended that evening of injuries having my son's head sealed with a stitch.
To add to our other previous injuries, my eight year daughter was playing on a slide with her friend, when the two of them collided. We again ended up in the doctor's office to have x-rays done of her foot. They sent her home with a splint, and she has had her share of time on crutches and hobbling along the best she could for the past week and a half. But just to add to the excitement of it all, my four year old son has had a terrible cough causing him to actually vomit on a couple of occasions.
As I've thought about the physical injuries and ailments that have created so much commotion for our family recently, I have also reflected many times on the help that we all have to offer to one another. My brother who is a doctor, and his sweet fiance, were able to come to our rescue on many occasions over the past couple of weeks. During this same time I was throwing a wedding shower for my soon to be sister in law. She thanked me for still being willing to do the shower for her, after the many family injuries that had occurred. But the only response that I could think to tell her was that she and my brother were there to help us through a good portion of our string of injuries, so I turn was just giving back what they had already given to me. We were both there to help one another. This experience got me pondering upon how each and everyone of us are here to help and to benefit from one another.
I recalled many experience's that I have had in which another individual or family along with my own family and me, have both been able to benefit from each others love, compassion, and service. I thought about the opportunity I had to visit with a friend who had recently lost her husband to cancer and how I gleaned from my visit with her, a deeper gratitude for the gift of life and for the knowledge that I have of eternal families.
I thought about a friend who has shown compassion and understanding to me as I have faced my struggles in overcoming depression. I also thought about this same friend who's husband is currently unemployed and about the opportunity that my family had to purchase groceries for her family in their time of need.
I reflected on the recent times when I've been able to give back in a small way to my mom as she has been recovering from knee surgery. And of course, I thought about the many times I've been ill and my mom has willingly done house work, laundry, child care, taxi driving, etc, in order to help me - not to mention the numberless acts of service she provided for me as a child.
I thought about the opportunity I had the other night to give a good friend a ride home and how she in turn blessed me by listening and caring as only a good friend can.
I recalled the recent opportunity I had to care for my sisters children while she was able to go on a weekend get away with her husband. At the same time I was reminded of the many times she has helped with my children and willingly listened to me cry, laugh, and vent.
I thought about two young ladies, both from an inner city who knocked on my door the other night. Both girls were working on improving social skills and job skills by selling magazine subscriptions. I took the opportunity to help these kind girls by ordering a childrens magazine subscription for my kids. These girls in turn opened up an opportunity for me to share with them a "Book of Mormon," (a religious book that serves as a companion to the Bible). This book is very dear to my heart and this young lady at my front door who had traveled from Arizona, had been yearning for a copy of the Book of Mormon so she could read it for herself. The desire of these two girls to learn, allowed me the privlege of sharing what I consider to be one of my personal treasures.
I thought about the blessing of being able to serve in the Young Women's presidency in my ward where I get to work very closely with the 14-15 year old girls. I love these girls and feel very blessed to be able to glean from their energy and spiritual strength. A couple of weeks ago I was able to teach them a lesson on having a personal purpose here on Earth. As I completed the lesson, I left for home feeling like I didn't do justice to a topic that I feel so strongly about. Not long after that, I received a text message from one of my young women that I taught. She simply said "Thank you for the lesson. I've been wondering about that a lot lately." Once again an example to me of how we all are here to help and benefit one another.
I think what encapsulates the message that I've tried to portray is a statement that the radiologist made to my eight year old daughter as I was giving her a piggy back after her foot injury. She said, "you sure have a nice mom, to be giving you a piggy back....but I guess one day you'll probably be doing the same thing for her." How true that is.
In dealing with depression, sometimes I've felt as if I have nothing to offer. We may wonder what our personal purpose is, or if we even have one. In times of such questioning it helps me to remember the experiences that I have had which have allowed me to recognize that each and everyone of us has a purpose, a mission, and a reason that we are here on this earthly journey. Bishop H. Burke Peterson summarized this idea perfectly. He said:
"Do you think for a moment that Heavenly Father would have sent one of His children to this earth by accident, without the possibility of a significant work to perform?...
"My dear friends, you are a royal generation. You were preserved to come to the earth in this time for a special purpose. Not just a few of you, but all of you. There are things for each of you to do that no one else can do as well as you...If you will let Him, I testify that our Father in Heaven will walk with you through the journey of life and inspire you to know your special purpose here" ("Your Life Has a Purpose," New Era, May 1979, pp. 4-5; italics added).Do we have a purpose? We do. All of us do. I may have the adversity of depression that may cause me to think otherwise at times, but as I recognize the role that we all play in the lives of those around us, I am reassured that you and I, and all of us have a very special and very personal purpose here on this journey.
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