In case you were wondering, the name of this blog is a reference to Dr. James Gordon's book, Unstuck. Dr. Gordon views depression as a point along ones life journey where we are stuck. But, it is also a point where we have the choice to reflect, change, and grow- thus becoming unstuck.
There are varying degrees of being "stuck." Stuck can be as simple as the blues, or as serious as a severe clinical depression. All of us get "stuck" at some point in our lives. We get tired of our jobs, our relationships, our daily life in general.
Recognizing the things that led us to become stuck is an important step in making sure that it doesn't happen again. But, we must not dwell on those things- the key to recovery is not to focus how we got stuck, but how to get unstuck.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Building Your Support System
The road to recovery from depression can be rough. For most people, it's more complicated than taking a pill and magically feeling better. There are highs and lows along the way. Until you find your personal solution, you will need the support of those around you.
Take the time to come up with a list of people to call when you hit low points in your treatment. That list of people is your support system. At he top of the list are people you turn to first, when you have minor problems coping. The bottom of the list consists of people/entities you contact if the situation is dire. Everyone's support system is different, but hopefully you can find a reliable combination of friends, family, and medical professionals to help you in your times of need.
Your support system should look something like this:
And this is the most important thing. Say it to your family and friends. It needs to be known, and we need to speak about it...
If you ever have thoughts of hurting yourself or others, call 911 immediately.
Follow the instructions the dispatcher gives you. Once you are at the hospital, tell them you need to see the psychiatrist on call.
Don't worry about what anyone will think of you. If you are ever thinking about ending your life, that is an emergency, and you need to seek help immediately. It is literally a decision between life and death.
Do not be afraid to go to the hospital to seek treatment. Know that every person in your support system cares about you (even the people at the hospital), and genuinely wants you to get better.
Take the time to come up with a list of people to call when you hit low points in your treatment. That list of people is your support system. At he top of the list are people you turn to first, when you have minor problems coping. The bottom of the list consists of people/entities you contact if the situation is dire. Everyone's support system is different, but hopefully you can find a reliable combination of friends, family, and medical professionals to help you in your times of need.
Your support system should look something like this:
- Friends
- Spouse/Significant Other/Parent/Family Member
- Counselor/Therapist/Doctor/Medical Professional
- Hospital Emergency Room
And this is the most important thing. Say it to your family and friends. It needs to be known, and we need to speak about it...
If you ever have thoughts of hurting yourself or others, call 911 immediately.
Follow the instructions the dispatcher gives you. Once you are at the hospital, tell them you need to see the psychiatrist on call.
Don't worry about what anyone will think of you. If you are ever thinking about ending your life, that is an emergency, and you need to seek help immediately. It is literally a decision between life and death.
Do not be afraid to go to the hospital to seek treatment. Know that every person in your support system cares about you (even the people at the hospital), and genuinely wants you to get better.
Getting Past the Stigma
As a society, we need to start changing the way we think of mental illness. Think of all the things we seek medical attention for: high blood pressure; diabetes; injuries; allergies. When we have problems with our bodies, we go to the doctor. But, when we have concerns about our mood and our mind, why do we shy away from medical treatment? Because we are unsure of how others will perceive us.
In my journey, I've heard many things that were hurtful and uncaring. I doubt that the people who said those things had any idea that what they were saying was more harmful than helpful.
"Are you going to do anything today?"
"You're just depressed. Kick yourself in the butt and get out of it."
"Somebody's crabby today."
Comments like that- although meant to be lighthearted and motivating- can be detrimental to someone who is already wondering why they feel bad. The decision to get help for depression can be a difficult one. We worry what the effects may be on our jobs; our insurance; our friendships. We may think that depression is something that we can get past on our own. But, true, clinical depression is far beyond that.
We need to get better at recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression. Take a look at the list below. (From MayoClinic.com)
We take medicine for our allergies; for hypertension; for our cholesterol. We do it to make ourselves healthier. We don't hide it from our families. Why should depression be any different?
And that's how we need to approach it. Depression is a treatable illness. To be healthy, we have to take care of our bodies, as well as our minds. No one should be ashamed of that.
We need to encourage our family, friends, and co-workers who are experiencing depression to seek help. And we need to be supportive of their journey. Don't criticize and nit-pick. Don't offer your two cents. Let them discover their own path to wellness. Ask them how you can help. If you see that they are struggling with everyday tasks, do something. Cook a meal for them. Run errands. If children are involved, offer to babysit while they seek counseling. It may seem small, but it will make a big difference in the life of someone who is affected by depression.
In my journey, I've heard many things that were hurtful and uncaring. I doubt that the people who said those things had any idea that what they were saying was more harmful than helpful.
"Are you going to do anything today?"
"You're just depressed. Kick yourself in the butt and get out of it."
"Somebody's crabby today."
Comments like that- although meant to be lighthearted and motivating- can be detrimental to someone who is already wondering why they feel bad. The decision to get help for depression can be a difficult one. We worry what the effects may be on our jobs; our insurance; our friendships. We may think that depression is something that we can get past on our own. But, true, clinical depression is far beyond that.
We need to get better at recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression. Take a look at the list below. (From MayoClinic.com)
- Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
- Reduced sex drive
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Changes in appetite
- Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
- Crying spells for no apparent reason
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
We take medicine for our allergies; for hypertension; for our cholesterol. We do it to make ourselves healthier. We don't hide it from our families. Why should depression be any different?
And that's how we need to approach it. Depression is a treatable illness. To be healthy, we have to take care of our bodies, as well as our minds. No one should be ashamed of that.
We need to encourage our family, friends, and co-workers who are experiencing depression to seek help. And we need to be supportive of their journey. Don't criticize and nit-pick. Don't offer your two cents. Let them discover their own path to wellness. Ask them how you can help. If you see that they are struggling with everyday tasks, do something. Cook a meal for them. Run errands. If children are involved, offer to babysit while they seek counseling. It may seem small, but it will make a big difference in the life of someone who is affected by depression.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The 800lb. Gorilla
There is an 800lb. gorilla in the room.
The thing no one wants to talk about, yet everyone knows is there, and no one wants to do anything about it. I want to take the time to get to the heart of what this blog is about: getting rid of the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
In early 2004, I was diagnosed with severe depression. It was an all-consuming dark place. I stopped showering. If I got up during the day, it was to move from the bed to the couch. I couldn't work. And I couldn't figure out how to get out of it.
I had been going to my doctor, and a therapist, and a psychiatrist. Nothing really seemed to be working. Every doctor visit was a prescription for another damn pill. A damn pill that didn't do anything.
I hit bottom. I was emotionally numb. I couldn't feel anything. I didn't care. So, one day, I gathered up all the antidepressants I had been prescribed. I lined up their bottles on the counter. I thought, If I take ALL of these, SOMETHING has to happen, right? They have to do SOMETHING. And something was better than the nothing that I felt.
That was a real turning point for me.
I did have a series of bad things happen to me before my 2004 diagnosis. Those events alone would have been enough to send anyone into a clinical depression. But, as I started making progress in my therapy, I realized that I had been depressed long before that.
I don't know when it started exactly, but I remember being in a major depression when I was about 10 years old. No one would have called it that back then. But, I was always anxious. And I was extremely bored at school- not uninterested- I had near perfect scores in all my classes. I didn't really fit in with my classmates. I missed 60 days of school that year because of anxiety. Any other student would have been reprimanded or reported as truant. But, I still did all my work, and did it very well.
And, looking back, I see many other times in my life when I was affected by depression. If it is obvious to me now, it must have been obvious to someone else back then. I wish someone would have asked how I felt, or guided me toward getting help.
Now, I am well-versed the signs and symptoms of depression. I know that I am prone to cyclical depression. Especially since I have a child now, I need to be proactive about it. I need to be here, in the now, and be a good mommy to him.
So, that is what this blog it about. Talking about depression and mental illness. Reaching out. Encouraging those affected by depression to seek help.
This is why I walk for AFSP. By raising awareness about depression, we can help reduce the stigma associated with it. No one should have to go through depression alone.
The thing no one wants to talk about, yet everyone knows is there, and no one wants to do anything about it. I want to take the time to get to the heart of what this blog is about: getting rid of the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
In early 2004, I was diagnosed with severe depression. It was an all-consuming dark place. I stopped showering. If I got up during the day, it was to move from the bed to the couch. I couldn't work. And I couldn't figure out how to get out of it.
I had been going to my doctor, and a therapist, and a psychiatrist. Nothing really seemed to be working. Every doctor visit was a prescription for another damn pill. A damn pill that didn't do anything.
I hit bottom. I was emotionally numb. I couldn't feel anything. I didn't care. So, one day, I gathered up all the antidepressants I had been prescribed. I lined up their bottles on the counter. I thought, If I take ALL of these, SOMETHING has to happen, right? They have to do SOMETHING. And something was better than the nothing that I felt.
That was a real turning point for me.
I did have a series of bad things happen to me before my 2004 diagnosis. Those events alone would have been enough to send anyone into a clinical depression. But, as I started making progress in my therapy, I realized that I had been depressed long before that.
I don't know when it started exactly, but I remember being in a major depression when I was about 10 years old. No one would have called it that back then. But, I was always anxious. And I was extremely bored at school- not uninterested- I had near perfect scores in all my classes. I didn't really fit in with my classmates. I missed 60 days of school that year because of anxiety. Any other student would have been reprimanded or reported as truant. But, I still did all my work, and did it very well.
And, looking back, I see many other times in my life when I was affected by depression. If it is obvious to me now, it must have been obvious to someone else back then. I wish someone would have asked how I felt, or guided me toward getting help.
Now, I am well-versed the signs and symptoms of depression. I know that I am prone to cyclical depression. Especially since I have a child now, I need to be proactive about it. I need to be here, in the now, and be a good mommy to him.
So, that is what this blog it about. Talking about depression and mental illness. Reaching out. Encouraging those affected by depression to seek help.
This is why I walk for AFSP. By raising awareness about depression, we can help reduce the stigma associated with it. No one should have to go through depression alone.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
An Interesting Morning
I had an interesting morning today. I was running a few errands before taking my son to school. We had just finished up at the post office. I pulled out of my parking space and got onto the street. I stopped at an intersection, and was waiting for a pedestrian to finish crossing the street I wanted to turn onto. The man had started crossing the intersection, stopped, and returned to the curb a few times. It was odd, and I guessed he was either drunk or had some kind of mental illness.
So, I waited until he had completely crossed the street to turn. When he saw me turning, he ran back into the road, and blocked my car from passing through the intersection. He started waving his hands and yelling that I almost hit him. Really angry yelling. Neck veins and eyes bulging.
This was kinda scary. Not to mention that I had my preschool-aged child in the car, and now, my car was in the middle of the intersection. Cars were waiting to pass, and the man was still screaming and blocking my path.
What to do?
Honk? That may make the situation worse. Inch forward until he moves? Again, that would probably make the situation worse. Dial 9-1-1? Another minute and I would have.
Honestly, I was very surprised that there weren't any police officers around. We were right across from the police department. When I run errands downtown in the morning, I usually see several patrol vehicles. Not today, and not at that moment. Fortunately, simply ignoring the man seemed to work. It was like a switch flipped. He stopped yelling, did his curb-street-curb-thing, crossed the street and walked away.
I slowly drove away. I admit, I did look for police officers on the side streets. A person like that is clearly a danger to himself and others, and should not be on the streets. I considered stopping at the police station to report it. But, with my son in the car, I thought that would be a little much to explain. Plus, we would have been late to school.
What would you have done?
So, I waited until he had completely crossed the street to turn. When he saw me turning, he ran back into the road, and blocked my car from passing through the intersection. He started waving his hands and yelling that I almost hit him. Really angry yelling. Neck veins and eyes bulging.
This was kinda scary. Not to mention that I had my preschool-aged child in the car, and now, my car was in the middle of the intersection. Cars were waiting to pass, and the man was still screaming and blocking my path.
What to do?
Honk? That may make the situation worse. Inch forward until he moves? Again, that would probably make the situation worse. Dial 9-1-1? Another minute and I would have.
Honestly, I was very surprised that there weren't any police officers around. We were right across from the police department. When I run errands downtown in the morning, I usually see several patrol vehicles. Not today, and not at that moment. Fortunately, simply ignoring the man seemed to work. It was like a switch flipped. He stopped yelling, did his curb-street-curb-thing, crossed the street and walked away.
I slowly drove away. I admit, I did look for police officers on the side streets. A person like that is clearly a danger to himself and others, and should not be on the streets. I considered stopping at the police station to report it. But, with my son in the car, I thought that would be a little much to explain. Plus, we would have been late to school.
What would you have done?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
WalkOut of the Darkness
Dear Friends,
As many of you already know, suicide prevention is a cause near and dear to my heart. Last year, I raised money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through The Overnight Walk. This year, I will be walking in AFSP's Chicago WalkOut of the Darkness Community Walk at the Chicago Botanic Gardens on September 25th, 2010.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 33,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.
• For every $50 raised, AFSP can provide educational materials to 25 people, emphasizing the importance of early identification and treatment for those suffering from depression and other disorders that put them at risk. If just one person seeks help for depression, a life could be saved for less than the cost of dinner and a movie.
• For every $100 raised, AFSP can educate a mental health professional or primary care physician about the warning signs of suicide; they, in turn, will reach hundreds - maybe thousands – of people.
• For every $500 raised, a new Survivor of Suicide support group facilitator can be trained, and the members of the group will be given a chance to be with other survivors who understand, and will know that they are not alone.
• For every $1,000 raised, together with 20 additional walkers, we can fund a year of research into the genetic, biological or behavioral factors that contribute to suicide. The number of lives potentially saved by this research is incalculable.
Please consider supporting my participation in this event, or joining me in the walk. Any contribution will help the work of AFSP, and all donations are 100% tax deductible.
Peace,
~Stacey
As many of you already know, suicide prevention is a cause near and dear to my heart. Last year, I raised money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through The Overnight Walk. This year, I will be walking in AFSP's Chicago WalkOut of the Darkness Community Walk at the Chicago Botanic Gardens on September 25th, 2010.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 33,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.
• For every $50 raised, AFSP can provide educational materials to 25 people, emphasizing the importance of early identification and treatment for those suffering from depression and other disorders that put them at risk. If just one person seeks help for depression, a life could be saved for less than the cost of dinner and a movie.
• For every $100 raised, AFSP can educate a mental health professional or primary care physician about the warning signs of suicide; they, in turn, will reach hundreds - maybe thousands – of people.
• For every $500 raised, a new Survivor of Suicide support group facilitator can be trained, and the members of the group will be given a chance to be with other survivors who understand, and will know that they are not alone.
• For every $1,000 raised, together with 20 additional walkers, we can fund a year of research into the genetic, biological or behavioral factors that contribute to suicide. The number of lives potentially saved by this research is incalculable.
Please consider supporting my participation in this event, or joining me in the walk. Any contribution will help the work of AFSP, and all donations are 100% tax deductible.
Peace,
~Stacey
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