Quote from Forum Archives on June 28, 2001, 7:11 am

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

Dear Hope Chest friends,

This is a follow up to the message on depression which I sent a few days
ago. There is more about depression at the bottom of this message.

I am typing very fast here, since Naomi and I are leaving in an hour to
fly to Maryland so she can meet my family! Before leaving, I wanted to
respond to each of you who has written to me, but that's going to have to
wait a few days. Naomi has been wiggling in my arms and making it
impossible to type. She is settled in her crib for the moment,
thankfully. I also wanted to finish sending out the tapes people have
requested, but only got a few out, so please be patient with me. I will
send them on Monday when I get back.

If you wrote me about reprints, you can use the article in any way that
would bless other people. This includes forwarding it to other people
and reprinting it in newsletters. Please do include the following
contact information:
~~
Article reprinted with permission from Virginia Knowles. The Hope Chest
Home School News is a free bi-monthly e-mail newsletter. To subscribe,
send any message to [email protected] or visit
www.hopechest.homestead.com/welcome.html
Virginia's address is: 1925 Blossom Lane, Maitland, FL 32751
~~

If you asked me about the tape, I am sending it out for free right now.
You just need to send me your address. If you WANT to send a $3 donation
to help cover costs, that's appreciated, but not necessary. The tape is
called "Nurturing Naomi: How to Help Yourself or Someone Else Overcome
Discouragement" and is based on the life of Naomi as told in the book of
Ruth. It is particularly geared for home school moms who are feeling
overwhelmed with life and its transitions. For those who are interested,
there are other resources -- books and tapes -- listed at my web site.

I wanted to share just two of the many many responses I received.
Apparently this particular message on depression hit its target!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lisa Easterling
[email protected]
www.ladybug.5u.com

Depression Isn't All In the Head
by Lisa Easterling
August 8, 2000

Two years ago I experienced a period of illness, with symptoms that would
be
diagnosed as clinical depression by most in the medical profession. Being
the curious sort that I am, I started gathering books and reading like a
fiend on the subject. I found that for various reasons (poor diet,
stress,
physical problems, etc.), and usually after a stressful trigger, the
nervous
system basically shuts down. From what I have found, it appears to be
termed
Nerve Exhaustion by some professionals. I liken it unto a computer
running
in "Safe Mode". It can function, but only in a limited capacity, during
the
period of time it is down for repairs.

In this condition it feels like a fog is covering everything in your
whole
life and you can't articulate why. It is extremely frightening and almost
impossible to explain to someone who has never experienced it. The memory
is
poor, judgment is altered, and there is extreme fatigue. An invisible
cloud
covers everything. There may be moments when you feel like a million
bucks
and shortly thereafter you feel like someone ran over you with a
phosphate
train.

My appetite disappeared, to the point where I had to force-feed myself.
It
was a battle to get a 2-inch baby carrot down my throat, and there were
days
when that was all I could choke down the entire day. I lost 12 pounds in
a
little less than 2 weeks. Some individuals react with a dramatic increase
in
appetite with subsequent weight gain.

There is an overwhelming sense of being out of control and a sense of
hopelessness, thinking it will never get any better. I remember so
clearly
the fear that I would feel that way for the rest of my life.

This illness affects people in different ways. In my case it was
primarily
fear. I feared I was dying. I feared I had every disease known to man. I
feared being alone. I feared leaving my children without a mother. I
feared
losing my sanity. I had panic attacks and nearly fainted several times,
which is unusual for me. At times these episodes felt almost like a heart
attack.

I couldn't listen to music, one of my deepest passions. It was eerie,
like
everything I had ever enjoyed doing was no longer important to me. It was
as
though someone took the volume knob to my emotional, physical, and
spiritual
being and cranked it beyond the maximum setting.

One critical issue in ministering to someone in depression is support. My
husband took over homeschooling our five children, supervising our home,
cleaning the house (with their help), cooking, and just about everything
else. I don't know what I'd have done without him. The person in
depression
already deals with a sense of worthlessness, and a strong support network
is
vital. Love and understanding from family and close friends can make all
the
difference. Support can come in the form of taking over chores or other
duties, or simply offering a hug and a listening ear.

Uncontrolled tears are one of the most common symptoms, and perhaps one
of
the hardest to manage, both for the sufferer and his or her loved ones.
The
important thing to understand is that uncontrollable crying,
irritability,
panic, and general emotional rollercoaster behavior are due to an
imbalance
in serotonin levels in the brain, rather than a conscious ploy to gain
attention. Indeed, every person I've spoken with who has suffered from
depression says they would have given anything to be able to stop the
erratic mood changes.

Treatment for clinical depression/nerve exhaustion is of course a
personal
choice. I began a vitamin and mineral regimen to replace lost and
deficient
nutrients in my body. I also went for acupuncture treatments, which I
never
would have believed to be such a wonderful experience. In my case I also
surrounded myself with loving Christian brothers and sisters, because
that
is what ministered to me most.

It is important to approach depression from all angles: physical, mental,
emotional, and spiritual. Neglecting any one of these areas is like
bailing
water while ignoring a gaping hole in the bottom of the boat.

What I have learned through this (FOR MYSELF) is:
1. It was temporary. This was very important for me to realize.
2. I had choices regarding my treatment. I preferred the natural, rather
than the medication route. I simply gave my body what it needed anyway,
and
it responded positively.
3. I needed to find those things that ministered to me and DO THEM.
~Sometimes it was calling a good friend.
~Sometimes it was ministering to someone else's needs.
~Sometimes it was extra sleep (I didn't neglect giving myself this,
thinking
people would think badly of me for being depressed and sleepng too much).
~Sometimes it was a long soak in a warm tub.
~Sometimes it was burning scented candles and losing myself in a favorite
book.
~Sometimes it was journaling or other writing, and as I recovered I began
to
add music back to the list.
~Sometimes it was communicating with e-pals.
Interestingly, many of these things were difficult or even impossible at
first. I couldn't pray, write, read, cry, or listen to music for the
first
few weeks. Which brings me to
4. I needed to listen to myself and be patient with myself.
5. My preconceived notions of what "depression" was like were totally
wrong.
People by and large DO NOT understand what it's like unless they've been
there. I was offered advice that ranged from, "Lisa, just get over it.
You
just have to just make up your mind!" to "Lisa, if you don't start eating
you're going to end up in a mental hospital! You don't want THAT, do
you???
Now eat that potato!"
6. One of the best treatments was education. There was something freeing
and
comforting about reading (from good sources, which for me were good,
natural-oriented sources) and gaining knowledge about what I was going
through. One of the best books I read was Mood Foods. The title doesn't
capture the wealth of information this book contains. I found it at the
library.
7. God was still there, even though I felt at the time like He was a
million
miles away. As I recovered I remember praying that if I had to go through
this, that He would use this to help someone else.

I recovered in about 4 months and haven't had symptoms since then. I
still
have a slight fear that I might face it again at some point. But I know
this: If I ever do, I won't be caught unarmed and off-guard like I was
two
years ago. I am a stronger and wiser person for having gone through it. I
believe others can emerge victorious as well.

The days do grow brighter! Don't forget that.

NOTE: This article is intended as a personally shared experience and is
not
intended as medical diagnosis or professional treatment advice.

********************************************************************

The following is from a friend who prefers to remain anonymous right now.

Virginia, - I appreciated your article and compassion for those who
suffer from depression. I have been through much of it myself, once as
PPD, other times, who knows why? I am a meloncholy by temperment and I
had been a victim of sexual abuse as a young child, as well as raised by
a depressed, alcoholic mom. So, I guess that's enough reason, huh? Now
I have a thyroid imbalance that doesn't help. Nonetheless, God, by His
mercy, got me through some very dark times. I think all of your
suggestions were great. I would also like to add to those suggestions,
the extreme importance of read and clinging to God's Word as the major
cure for depression. I literally had to "take up the sword of the
Spirit" moment by moment at times to challenge the lies of the evil one.
He is, as we know, the accuser of the brethren and I believe we sometimes
overlook the spiritual component of depression. Some of us have learned
to believe his lies from early childhood about ourselves, life and other
things in general, so it takes a lot of "taking every thought captive to
the obedience of Christ" to change those negative patterns. If we feel
like we're helpless to change anything, it worsens our depression. I
think it's good to know that we also have some options of helping
ourselves by "being transformed by the renewing of our minds". We need
to substitute the lies we've believed with the "truth that sets us free."
It's hard, agonizing work, but there is victory if we hang in there. I
have nothing against medication as I think women should do whatever it
takes to at least get them started on the way to healing. Although I
don't think it should end with that either. Counseling helped me too,
but mostly I think it helped because there was someone experienced with
depression who would listen. An understanding, committed Christian
friend would be as good, if not better. Unfortunately, we are so busy
with our own lives, most of us can't be as committed to a depressed
person as they need us to be. Therefore, a counselor is better than no
one, especially because they deal with depression all the time. I just
wanted to add my two cents, having been personally afflicted many times
by this. The Houston situation has greatly upset me as well, because I
think it makes many of us fear that, being human ourselves, we could get
to the point of doing something like that. These fears too, must be
counter attacked with the truth of who we are in Christ. We don't know
that woman's pesonal relationship with God and I don't find anywhere in
Scripture that says we aren't accountable for our actions, no matter what
our mental state. I think we can take comfort in knowing that because I
think feeling out of control is one of the worst components of depression
and despair. When we feel there's no hope and we can't change anything,
or that we could do something without really wanting to, it increases
fear and depression. The Houston woman made a choice to give in to the
thoughts she continually had. We all have to work hard at "tearing down
the strongholds" of the evil one and I don't deny that it can end in
defeat if a person doesn't steep themselves in the truth and fellowship.
God saw me through those awful times mostly in spite of myself, but I
still had to cling to His promises and reach out to others in order to
cope. I hope these thoughts might help someone if you care to share
them. Thanks for your caring words and concern for this most devastating
type of tribulation.

~~~~

Thanks for sticking with me here!

I'll "see" you in a few days!

Virginia