What really cures depression?
I've just read an interesting article that started examining the physical affects of anxiety and depression on the mind. It cited the shrinking of the hippo campus and the relative ineffectiveness and lack of evidence of medicinal remedies.
I was fascinated until it reached it's conclusion, that the cure, is
All of the things that, anyone will tell you, never happen whilst your suffering.
From my own perspective, (a severe bout case of anxiety, with mild to moderate depression) I knew all of these 'secrets' would help. But when the motivation is missing, and you feel like you've nothing left to live for, sufferers simply cannot do them. My eating became lazy, accompanied with thoughts that if I got lucky, I might just have a heart attack and die anyway. I didn't want to wake up in the morning, why would I bother cooking myself a nutritious lunch?
Exercise, yes, I knew that would make a difference, but I barely had the energy to piss, let alone walk any distance. If the remote for the TV was on the other sofa, I'd just sleep until it got closer.
A change of mind! If only it were that simple. This is what my therapist kept telling me, that was what started to make the difference, but it came from the companionship of someone I thought cared, giving me personal tools to use when I thought specific negative thoughts, not my own self determination to 'think positive'.
It's much deeper than this, but there are a multitude of reasons why these 'solutions' just don't help.
With one of my first therapy sessions came one of the suggestions that I think would have made the most difference. A program called kick-start. I was told I would be invited to a number of appointments and given a personal trainer who would help me get fit again. (It was obvious I wasn't). The program would give me free access to the equipment, then, as a sufferer, a cheaper rate to continue going. It may have been cancelled because money problems were a contributing factor to my illness. But whatever the reason it never happened.
The useful aspect of the illness was the anxiety. Although it caused a great deal of distress, it didn't make me a bad person. If I'd had an appointment to keep with a therapist or someone who's job it was to help me, I'd have gone. I'd probably have arrived 15 minutes early! (and again, I know I'm only talking here about my specific problem here). But this 'engagement' is where the healing starts. Although exercise will help, it won't happen without a willing partner. And this is where the REAL cures for depression start to materialise.
Not all partnerships are equal. A network of willing and somewhat selfless individuals is required to help one person. One can become a eating partner (my wife ensured at least the meals I had when I wasn't alone were nutritious) another may become an exercise partner (two or three would be better) with a schedule (or at least a pattern) of regular mobility and subsequent social interaction. Another may become a mentor, a positive guiding influence to slowly remind the individual that life can be ok , and that the shit that they've been through, would affect most people the same way. A torch guiding the way back to productivity and self healing.
Lastly an appreciation that this recovering, takes time. A lot of time and it can't be rushed. So although the article was right, it's of no use to anyone suffering. Whats really needed is companionship and ongoing support.
And time, lots of time to ensure that while the crap that caused the suffering is still happening (if there is a cause) that the patient is rightly supported throughout. It can't stop, depression never really goes away, it's exhausting for those who support someone like me (I get that) but it's not half as exhausting as depression itself.
I've been really lucky, I have a network of people who 'get' this who have helped me get back on my own two feet, but I fear (like the kick-start program that never materialised) that the NHS is incapable of delivering this although I know many many people who work in the NHS would want it to.
I was fascinated until it reached it's conclusion, that the cure, is
- healthy eating,
- exercise and
- a change of mind.
All of the things that, anyone will tell you, never happen whilst your suffering.
From my own perspective, (a severe bout case of anxiety, with mild to moderate depression) I knew all of these 'secrets' would help. But when the motivation is missing, and you feel like you've nothing left to live for, sufferers simply cannot do them. My eating became lazy, accompanied with thoughts that if I got lucky, I might just have a heart attack and die anyway. I didn't want to wake up in the morning, why would I bother cooking myself a nutritious lunch?
Exercise, yes, I knew that would make a difference, but I barely had the energy to piss, let alone walk any distance. If the remote for the TV was on the other sofa, I'd just sleep until it got closer.
A change of mind! If only it were that simple. This is what my therapist kept telling me, that was what started to make the difference, but it came from the companionship of someone I thought cared, giving me personal tools to use when I thought specific negative thoughts, not my own self determination to 'think positive'.
It's much deeper than this, but there are a multitude of reasons why these 'solutions' just don't help.
With one of my first therapy sessions came one of the suggestions that I think would have made the most difference. A program called kick-start. I was told I would be invited to a number of appointments and given a personal trainer who would help me get fit again. (It was obvious I wasn't). The program would give me free access to the equipment, then, as a sufferer, a cheaper rate to continue going. It may have been cancelled because money problems were a contributing factor to my illness. But whatever the reason it never happened.
The useful aspect of the illness was the anxiety. Although it caused a great deal of distress, it didn't make me a bad person. If I'd had an appointment to keep with a therapist or someone who's job it was to help me, I'd have gone. I'd probably have arrived 15 minutes early! (and again, I know I'm only talking here about my specific problem here). But this 'engagement' is where the healing starts. Although exercise will help, it won't happen without a willing partner. And this is where the REAL cures for depression start to materialise.
Not all partnerships are equal. A network of willing and somewhat selfless individuals is required to help one person. One can become a eating partner (my wife ensured at least the meals I had when I wasn't alone were nutritious) another may become an exercise partner (two or three would be better) with a schedule (or at least a pattern) of regular mobility and subsequent social interaction. Another may become a mentor, a positive guiding influence to slowly remind the individual that life can be ok , and that the shit that they've been through, would affect most people the same way. A torch guiding the way back to productivity and self healing.
Lastly an appreciation that this recovering, takes time. A lot of time and it can't be rushed. So although the article was right, it's of no use to anyone suffering. Whats really needed is companionship and ongoing support.
- A partner to ensure exercise is part of the patients routine.
- A partner to eat (and perhaps prepare) nutritious food with the sufferer.
- A crowd of like minded individuals, to talk sense, to philosophise and encourage re-integration and nurture positive thoughts and rationalise small steps of progression.
And time, lots of time to ensure that while the crap that caused the suffering is still happening (if there is a cause) that the patient is rightly supported throughout. It can't stop, depression never really goes away, it's exhausting for those who support someone like me (I get that) but it's not half as exhausting as depression itself.
I've been really lucky, I have a network of people who 'get' this who have helped me get back on my own two feet, but I fear (like the kick-start program that never materialised) that the NHS is incapable of delivering this although I know many many people who work in the NHS would want it to.
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