Month: June 2019

In the past few months I have heard and read about some possible link between hormonal contraceptives (a type of birth control) and depression.  Today I would like to explore that in a little more detail. 

I did a quick internet search on the topic, and there are a variety of articles out there that suggest that there is a link between hormonal contraceptives and depression.  However, I can not necessarily vouch for the quality of the information that is being presented, because I am not sure how much of this comes from reputable sources.   That being said, there may be some valid evidence of this link, but we can also think about it from a more theoretical viewpoint.

What are hormonal contraceptives, after all?  Well, they contain some combination of estrogen and/or progesterone hormones.  We also know that hormonal changes may be a cause of depression.  So, from a basic standpoint, it makes sense that taking hormones could lead to hormonal changes.  In turn, these hormonal changes could factor into a depression.  Besides the basic idea of hormonal changes, hormonal contraceptives may also affect the body in other ways that might lead to a depression.  So, regardless of any clinical data, it makes sense to me to at least consider the fact that taking hormonal contraceptives could lead to a depression.  Taking it even further, hormonal contraceptives may also interact with other vitamins, medicines, etc., and that could cause issues as well.  The different possible scenarios really start to add up.

What do you think?  Do you believe there could be a link between hormonal contraceptives and depression?  Do you need to see more hard clinical evidence?  Have you ever experienced someone who seemed to have depression after being on hormonal contraceptives?  Overall, I think it is important to research this topic in more depth.

As I write this post, I have finished my first week at a new job.  This job is unique for me in that I have joined a company that is literally starting from scratch.  As you can imagine, this provides for some challenges and some exciting opportunities as we start to build and grow. 

Even though this new job has come with the luxury of gradually easing into it so far, starting something new can be overwhelming and exhausting.  For me, it signifies a whole new routine, and that has taken a lot for my brain to process.  Honestly, figuring out what to take for lunch and what to pack have required a lot of energy.  It sounds like these should be relatively simple tasks, but it has shown me how much effort can go into changing routines. 

For someone touched by depression in some way, it is no doubt an overwhelming experience when it happens.  Habits and routines are changed, and it can definitely be exhausting.  And, for the most part, the changes are not welcome.  Change can be tough even if it is a positive change, so the changes that depression brings can be devastating.

I think it is important to realize that like a diagnosis of heart disease or cancer, a diagnosis of depression can be overwhelming to all affected.  This likely can lead to anxiety and exhaustion as everyone tries to figure out their “new normal”.  Overall, no matter what the diagnosis, we need to be empathetic to all people facing these changes.  And, in general, we should be kind to everyone, because we usually do not know the struggles or changes that everyone is facing in their lives.

How about you?  What changes have you experienced as the result of a personal diagnosis or diagnosis of someone you know?  Was it overwhelming at first?  Did it get easier over time?  My hope is that we can always try to be more understanding of how change affects people.

Currently in my church we have been talking about the “wilderness” in our lives.   Each week, a story from the Bible is used to illustrate a different wilderness that people faced and how they went through it.  Today I want to touch on both the wilderness in my life and how depression could be considered a wilderness.

Depending on who you ask, wilderness can mean many things to many people.  Basically, I have thought about wilderness mostly as something that happens outdoors.  But, there is a deeper meaning, one that can involve a range of emotions and experiences.  Wilderness can be a time of great uncertainty and anxiety.  It can also be a time of confusion.  On the other hand, wilderness can represent a time of great opportunity and positive change.  It can also be a time of growth.  Overall, what sticks out to me is how uncertain the wilderness can be – it’s getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, and I think for most of us that is a big challenge.

In my own life, wilderness is definitely happening.  I have some uncertainty about my career, my finances, and my health, and that is only the first three that I thought of while writing this.  And, I wonder – has there ever been a time in my life that was completely certain?  Is wilderness always present in our lives?

I also think that depression must be a particular type of wilderness.  I can only imagine how uncertain and anxious a depression must be, and it almost has to be uncomfortable.  I think that the wilderness of depression has to be tougher than the wilderness that many of us face, and it comes with even more challenges that I would not know how to describe here.

Have you ever thought about the “wilderness” in your life?  What uncertainties are you currently facing?  Have you always had times of uncertainty in your life?