An Attitude of Gratitude & Depression

MissAdventure And others
On stopping antidepressants.
You'll always hear "see your Doctor first". This is because it is not safe to stop taking anti depressants (and some other drugs) abruptly.
Anti depressants need to be tapered down so that their effect on you is slowly reduced. This is because the drugs start by building up in the brain to put more serotonin in the synapse in your brain cells. It takes about three weeks for them to get into their full effect at the start.

On stopping, to suddenly not have them can cause an effect called "rebound". This is a dangerous loss of the serotonin in the synapse (we think) but the effect on the person is unequivocal - they become so depressed many get suicidal and most are unable to control the terrible way they feel.

So never abruptly stop taking antidepressants. Having said this, you are sure to meet someone who has done so and who says they were fine. They were lucky, some people seem ok, most people get terribly depressed, a lot get suicidal. Why risk it when you only need to gradually cut down your dose, slowly. Ask your Doctor the best way to do this.
Stopping suddenly and being ill does not mean you are "addicted".

The definition of addiction is quite clear. I like the Psychology definition: Addiction is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance or in a behavior for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeatedly pursue the behavior despite detrimental consequences. Addiction may involve the use of substances such as alcohol, inhalants, opioids, cocaine, nicotine, and others, or behaviors such as gambling.

Are you a professional please? You see to know what you are talking about.

D'ye know what...I'm heartily sick of almost every thread being hijacked somewhere, somehow, by the mention of illness or some link to what a professor in an unheard of medical facility wrote in an article years ago.
Numerous lists of medications or books written about depression and what was espoused as treatment on radio 2/3/4/gaga. Phew!
It truly is Amazing that so many people in one place, so to speak, have so many ailments and expert knowledge about those ailments.

Tillybelle probably has an 'ology' degree.

the title is depression?

How very rude you are....what is an ology degree? What is your degree?

Cut and paste from the internet. If you want medical advice, see a real doctor.

oldbatty
Gratitude and depression but the bias here seems to be on the latter.

and your degree is?

My DH has PTSD and will awways need to be on a strong dose of antidepressants. On good days he can feel grateful for what he has but not on bad days. He was put on statins because his cholesterol level was 5.5 but two weeks of taking them he was feeling so ill that he felt life wasn't worth living. The doctor reduced the dose of statins and put him in an anti anxiety drug. No improvement. But he decided himself to stop the statins last week and it was lovely to gear that he now feels alive again.
Nobody should feel ashamed to be on anti depressants. They wouldnt be ashamed to be on insulin for type 1 duabetes.
I was brought up to feel grateful for what I had because many people were far worse off than me. But it certainly would be helpful for a person suffering from deoression.

I was discussing the likelihood of Tillybelle having a degree, an 'ology, as in psychology, physiology, biology or even a doctorate. Who knows. She certainly seems to know a lot about depression and addiction et al.
I was not talking about myself.

Are some degrees worth more than others? What is an ology?
If she knows a lot and is prepared to share it, good for her.

Are you a professional please? You see to know what you are talking about.

What is the point of this interrigation question?

Just use "good internet judgement" and consider all anonymous forum posts to be opinion, and take the discussion in that spirit.

I could say "yes. Im a doctor" on here. It wouldnt be true. And shouldnt cause you to reduce the pinch of salt you should be applying to all anon online chats.

OK, have a nice evening.

Is your nose out of joint because you weren’t in on the thread at the beginning, Gabriella?
If you’d read all the thread you would have seen that plenty of people have posted about feeling grateful and how it has helped them.
Why shouldn’t anyone talk about having depression, especially when it is mentioned in both the thread title and the OP? Are we supposed to pretend that depression doesn’t exist, or isn’t really an illness?
Why shouldn’t people mention articles they have read, especially if they are referenced so that others can follow them up if they wish?
Who do you think you are, telling us all what we can and can’t post about?

jane43, I'm wishing you everything your wishing for yourself in your fight and recovery from Breast cancer. I do hope you have lots of love around you. . Take good care..

Of course gratitude cannot cure serious depression which is clinical and needs to be treated.

However, gratitude and an attitude of thankfulness make for a positive outlook on life. Those who focus on misfortune, vulnerability, inequality and unfairness are often full of resentment, jealousy, anger and bitterness, often on the behalf of others. They find it difficult to understand what a free, privileged and happy society we are in the UK compared to other countries and they focus on the negative almost wholly.

Such a mindset is most unattractive and can be seen to poison the life, manners and outlook of the carping individual. In fact, there is whole political spectrum of toxic envy and ingratitude which is hurting public life.

I am about to have a cup of cafetière coffee and two Digestives and watch the birds in the garden. Sheer bliss. I am grateful for every morning I wake up still breathing.

Lilyflower
A very refreshing comment.

janeainsworth
Had I wanted to comment earlier in the thread I could have done so. I read everything. To say more, would give your criticism more credence than is warranted IMO..
Whatever your view, it ain't mine.
Too many moaners and sheep on here and not nearly enough positivity.

So, we're all agreed.
Gratitude is an excellent quality to have, and its worth always finding things to be grateful about.
However, it can't cure depression.

Reading some of the comments it feels like they are intended to shame anyone who can't cure themselves by being positive and thankful. I just don't see the connection when it comes to genuine clinical depression. Would you fat shame people? Clearly most who are obese can do something about it but can those who are clinically depressed just decide to be happy? No, they can't.

I suppose we should all be glad for those who think there is such an easy solution, they clearly have never been clinically depressed or had a close relationship with anyone who has. Lucky them but many of us are not so fortunate.

oldbatty

I’m out and proud about my antidepressants. I know a lot of other people in my social circles who are, too. There has been a movement of sorts for people to talk about their mental health and their treatment in order to destigmatise mental illness compared with physical illness.

The lifetime risk for a person in the UK of depression alone is 1 in 3. The lifetime risk for all mental illnessness is even higher. You are more likely to have an episode of mental ill health than to get cancer. The stigma needs to go because mental illness isn’t happening to rare and unfortunate cases. It’s happening to us, to family, to friends, to colleagues.

Speaking about my own long term ill health, and the long period of good health I am currently enjoying, is really important to me personally because I feel it is so important to be an example of recovery. It is so important, when you are in the darkest days, to see and remember that recovery is possible. I did not ever think I would be this well. I want other people to know that it is possible (heartbreakingly not for everyone, but with luck and patience, for most) to get well and stay well. And even if not fully well, to get better, to get relief from the suffering.

I also speak very openly about it because the thing in my life I am most bone deep, shatteringly grateful for, is that I have a drug that works. From the earliest I can remember I remember long waves of pain and speels of darkness, a spiral that got worse and worse the oldest I got. An internal infernal monologue of self hatred and urges to hurt myself. I take one small pill a day, and inside my head it’s now quiet and calm and peaceful. The chorus has shut up, and for the first time it became quiet enough in there to actually think. To appreciate my own good qualities, to plan for a future that I always dismissed because well, I might just up and kill myself at any time.

The effect of my medication is miraculous. I have a life I never thought I could have, one I had never been able to experience.

I was very sick. I was dying - truly, I was so sick it was certain to kill me. This medication saved me. I will never lose my gratitude for that. I will also never be ashamed for this. Why should I be? Are other people whose lives have been saved by modern medicine ashamed that they needed medicine to live? I don’t think so, and I don’t think I should be either.

I got better. I don’t have the words to explain how truly amazing that is to me, or what an incredible gift it is. I got better when I believed that would never be possible. I will be the best advocate for seeking treatment (of whatever type helps) I can be, because other people struggling and suffering in silence need to know there is no shame in getting better.

Amazing post muffin.

Hooray for you, Muffin. I really admire your courage and deep down amazingness, and your wonderful post.

gabriella
Whatever your view, it ain't mine.
That's alright, then ?