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Nanu Nanu – Good Bye for Now

   Written by on August 21, 2014 at 2:07 pm

Like many of you, the death of Robin Williams caused me to ask – why?  How could a man, who seemed to have it all, take his life.

logo - gowinDepression is the answer.  Depression is a very common illness; according to the National Institute of Mental Health roughly 10% or about 18.8 million American adults suffer from depression.  Occasionally, everyone has a “blue” day.  Alternatively, depression is a feeling of extreme emptiness and apathy.  Anxiety can also accompany depression adding a sense of persistent tension.  The severity of depression can range from mild to a severe level where you feel that you are at the lowest point possible.  At this level, a person can conclude life is not worth living.

People have suffered from depression from Biblical to modern times.

Job, after going through a series of trials, asked God to take his life.  Job describes his grief as heavier than the sand of the sea.  (Job 6:1-3, 8-10).

Moses also asked God to take his life.  Moses led the people of Israel out of slavery but the people continued to complain to Moses.  Moses was unable to deal with all the complaining, which he described as too heavy for me.  (Numbers. 11:11-15).

Elijah performed great feats and yet he was so overwhelmed that he wanted to die.  (I Kings 19:1-4).

Jonah, when events didn’t go the way he wanted them to, thought it was better to die.  (Jonah 4:1-3).

Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain, called his depression the black dog.  He described depression as feeling powerless to such an extent he could not get out of bed.

To show you the extent of major depressive disorder, here is a small list of successful people, from all walks of life, who have this disorder: John Adams, 2nd U.S. President, Alan Alda, actor, Buzz Aldrin, second man to walk on the moon, Woody Allen, film director, Claus von Amsbert, German diplomat and husband of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Hans Christian Andersen, Danish writer, Isaac Asimov, author, Amanda Beard, Olympic Gold Medalist, David Bohm, quantum physicist, Terry Bradshaw, football player and sports anchor, Robert Burton, author of The Anatomy of Melancholy, Alastair Campbell, journalist, Billy Corgan, member of The Smashing Pumpkins, Charles Darwin, naturalist, Johnny Depp, actor,  Emily Dickinson, poet, Greame Dott, professional snooker player, Gaston Gaudio, 2004 French Open champion, Paul Getty, philanthropist, Ken Griffey, Jr., MLB player, Friedrich August Hayek, Austrian economist,  Robert Oppenheimer, physicist, and T. Boone Pickens, oil tycoon.

Misconceptions about depression include: it is just mental weakness, it is triggered by a specific situation, just take a pill and it will be ok.

Depression is not a sign of mental weakness.  As you can see, there are many great people who have suffered from depression.  If you had cancer or heart disease, you would seek help.  Depression is an illness and the consequences of not treating it are real and tragic.  An illness that affects the chemistry of your brain and nervous system is no less an illness than one that affects other parts of your body.

Depression can be triggered by a situation like the loss of a loved one or divorce.  However, depression does not need any particular event to surface.  You can have the feelings of depression, extreme hopelessness, emptiness, and lethargy, with no apparent cause.  You can have these feelings even when life events are going well.

Depression’s symptoms are varied.  Symptoms you may normally associate with depression include dark emotions, tension, and feeling overwhelmed.  The symptoms can also include indigestion, reduced appetite, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, or fatigue.

Depression treatment differs for each person.  Yes, a form of treatment may include using an antidepressant.  Although this may not be the right answer for you, nearly 40% of people who try antidepressants experience no benefits.  Generally, the most effective treatment for depression includes a combination of medication and therapy.

The bottom line: depression is a treatable illness.  When left untreated, its effects can be devastating.  Many times, it takes family and friends to take action to get help.  If you think depression may be your problem, please find help today.

About Cheryl & Dennis Gowin

Cheryl Gowin, Counselor and Dennis Gowin, Director of Discovery Counseling Center. Contact us with your feedback, comments, issues or questions at 434-808-2426 or dgowin@discoverycounseling.org.

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