Depression, WLS, and the Holidays

You know that I'm manic-depressive and not shy about talking about it.  I've been treated for Depression or manic-depression since 1980.  Please be aware that treatment is available for these conditions including talk therapy and medication.  I only use medication now but many people can get by with talk therapy for depression.

If you find yourself depressed during this "jolly" season, know that there are several outlets available to you.  First of all, I'd have the Men just post here to unburden your feelings.  We're here to support each other and not just with problems about food.  However, for many of us, all problems seem to involve food.  Second, seek out treatment if you think it is necessary.  If you feel a bit "off" and have an understanding spouse or other relative, ask them if they see any recent changes in you.  Oftentiems, a person having a mental problem is the last to be aware of it.  Third, if you are supposed to be on meds, take them.  Fourth, in a similar vein, if you are supposed to use a C-PAP or B-PAP machine do not suddenly stop using it.  Contact your prescribing physician and think about ending the use either after the holiday or when there is more daylight.  Fifth, since many people have seasonal affected depression due to lack of sunshine, try to have more exposure to sunlight.  This might come by sitting in sunlight by a window without drapes or curtains (yeah, try to get that one by most wives this time of the year),  If you are going to sit in sunlight indoors, be aware that you may still need skin protection.  And sixth, along the same sine, you may want to purchase a desk lamp specifically designed to provide the wide spectrum of light you normally get in sunlight.  I just saw one in brookstone.com for $89.95.  My brother has that problem and has one at work and another one at home.  Since they are desktop lamps, you may decide to bring them to and from the office on weekends.  My brother is lucky enough to have a south facing window next to his desk at work but he's only there part of his day.
 
If you just need to be with someone, you may want to go to an OA meeting.  I'm not saying that you have to stay there but it may come in handy.  Also, I don't have anything against 12 step programs even though they don' work for me.  Along those lines, I'd stay away from emotions anonymous because many of the people there should really be in therapy.

I hope that I have helped some of you.  By the way, in 1980, David D. Burns, M.D. wrote a book called Feeling Good--The New Mood Therapy which discusses several exercise using talk therapy.  On the original paperback, you can take the Beck Depression Inventory on p 20.  You can probably find it in your local library.  This self-test may wen be on the internet--I haven't looked for it.  I consists of 21 statements with weighted responses which can fairly accurately determine whether or not you are depressed and to what extent you are depressed.  It helped me a lot in my early days of treatment.  But, my shrink says that taking it repeatedly over the years decreases it's diagnostic powers.  Bob

 Great post Bob!  Thanks for sharing.  I hope you and yours have a great holiday season.  Mike