5 ms·

The OP actually has an extraordinary amount of what psychiatrists call "insight" concerning his condition. That is to say, he is not only depressed, but knows

by sramsay 12y ago

The OP actually has an extraordinary amount of what psychiatrists call "insight" concerning his condition. That is to say, he is not only depressed, but knows he is. It might sound utterly implausible that someone could be clinically depressed and not know it, but I think that's the more common circumstance. People experiencing depression very often can't see that depression is the problem. They think the reason they feel worthless is because they're worthless; the reason they're listless is because they're lazy; the reason they don't want to be around people (when they normally would) is because people don't like them. So to be able to put a name to this -- to say, "Wait. This isn't right. None of this is normal" is huge step forward. Same goes for mania (which can make you feel euphoric or angry and irritable). Some never get to the point of realizing that there's something wrong and it's not their fault (any more than having asthma would be their fault). And some of those people die from this potentially deadly illness.

jamesdelaneyie 12y ago
How can you help people who don't realize this and would refuse any suggestion to seek advice? I fear my mother might be struggling with this since she was laid off last year but actively refuses to have conversations about how she might feel. 1/4 of my blame lies in Irish culture however :/
- sramsay 12y ago
  It's tough! (And I can relate to you on the Irish cultural issues as well, since my mother is from Ireland and I grew up mainly around Irish people). Mostly, it's a matter of getting them through the psychiatrist's door. Hearing, "I think you might be depressed" or "Why don't you go see someone" -- however you frame it -- is going to be tough to hear from a son. A therapist, though, knows how to ask the right questions, and since they're a neutral third party, they're much more likely to get a person to admit that there's a problem, and that the lost job may have been merely the catalyst for what is now a medical problem. Depression is less and less stigmatized in the US (I don't know about the situation in Ireland). But in a sense, that doesn't matter. It's the person's own self-stigmatization that is the problem. They don't think they have a medical problem; they think they're worthless, sad, listless, and perhaps "crazy." Going to a psychiatrist will automatically mean that they are crazy. I am not a mental health professional, but in my view, it's worth trying any trick you can think of to get them through the door. Maybe that means a group/family intervention (and maybe that means she's angry at the entire family for some period of time). Maybe it means cutting deals ("If you just make this one appointment, I'll never mention it again."). Maybe it means an emotional appeal ("Please, please do this for me."). Whatever the case, extreme measures sometimes are necessary. Because -- and I don't mean to frighten you -- this is a deadly illness. People commit suicide every year because they see absolutely no reason to go on. A heartbreaking number of those people were suffering from a treatable condition.

by sramsay 12y ago

jamesdelaneyie 12y ago

How can you help people who don't realize this and would refuse any suggestion to seek advice? I fear my mother might be struggling with this since she was laid off last year but actively refuses to have conversations about how she might feel. 1/4 of my blame lies in Irish culture however :/

sramsay 12y ago
It's tough! (And I can relate to you on the Irish cultural issues as well, since my mother is from Ireland and I grew up mainly around Irish people). Mostly, it's a matter of getting them through the psychiatrist's door. Hearing, "I think you might be depressed" or "Why don't you go see someone" -- however you frame it -- is going to be tough to hear from a son. A therapist, though, knows how to ask the right questions, and since they're a neutral third party, they're much more likely to get a person to admit that there's a problem, and that the lost job may have been merely the catalyst for what is now a medical problem. Depression is less and less stigmatized in the US (I don't know about the situation in Ireland). But in a sense, that doesn't matter. It's the person's own self-stigmatization that is the problem. They don't think they have a medical problem; they think they're worthless, sad, listless, and perhaps "crazy." Going to a psychiatrist will automatically mean that they are crazy. I am not a mental health professional, but in my view, it's worth trying any trick you can think of to get them through the door. Maybe that means a group/family intervention (and maybe that means she's angry at the entire family for some period of time). Maybe it means cutting deals ("If you just make this one appointment, I'll never mention it again."). Maybe it means an emotional appeal ("Please, please do this for me."). Whatever the case, extreme measures sometimes are necessary. Because -- and I don't mean to frighten you -- this is a deadly illness. People commit suicide every year because they see absolutely no reason to go on. A heartbreaking number of those people were suffering from a treatable condition.