Author: Dawn_2ol6

Unified

In my last entry, I mentioned a book I had just finished that talked about using psychedelics for depression.  While there were many great ideas and theories brought out in the book, I want to touch on one in particular: the idea of a unified theory of mental illness.

In a nutshell, a unified theory of mental illness basically states that all mental illness is connected.  Each diagnosis does not stand alone, but is rather part of a spectrum or continuum of illness.  Of course, there are likely several ideas out there to help explain why people think all mental illness is connected, but the overall idea is worth pondering.  Are all mental illnesses truly connected?

If I look back on my dad’s experience, this idea makes a lot of sense to me.  As I have noted before, my dad had a clinical diagnosis of depression.  However, I know for sure there was a lot of anxiety that came with the depression.  Also, my dad described times where he heard voices and would share what they were saying, so it seems that there may have been some psychosis and/or schizophrenic symptoms occurring.  Looking back on it, I think I have subconsciously known for a long time that all of this was connected.

What do you think about a unified theory of mental illness?  Do you think it is all connected?  If this is a new concept for you, how does it make you feel?  Does it help to possibly explain what you might be experiencing?  For me, I am looking forward to seeing what else comes from this theory.  Will it help to finally explain the causes of mental illness with more certainty?  Will it help lead to better and more effective treatment options?  I am very excited to see where an idea like this will go.

Psychedelics

Today, I want to tell you about a book I just finished.  Typically, I like to actually read books, but lately I have been getting into audiobooks because I can finish books faster through this method.  Not that fast is good, but I can’t get enough of reading and always want more, so this allows me to cover more territory.

The book that I listened to is called “How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence”, and it was written by Michael Pollan.  The depression part of the title caught my attention at first, but overall all it ended up being a broad look at the history, neuroscience, and hope that psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin may bring to mental illnesses such as depression.

Even as a pharmacist, I was vaguely aware of these drugs, and I have always assumed they were “bad” and illegal.  However, after hearing this book, I understand that there is a lot more to the story of psychedelics.  In fact, there is research going on today that suggests these drugs might be helpful for some of the topics mentioned in the title.  There is still a long way to go, but psychedelics have shown some promise, and may be another treatment option for depression in the future.

What do you think about this information?  Is it possible these drugs may be helpful?  Does it seem too “out there” in terms of a treatment option?  Would you consider using psychedelics such as LSD if you have depression and research indicates that it may help?  To me, this was an eye opening book, and I encourage people to at least consider taking a look at it.  It may seem ahead of its time right now, but it also might end up being an important tool for treating depression.

Disabling Depression

In my last entry, I did a general review of the Mental Health First Aid class that I took that day.  Today, I want to discuss the one item I learned that I think will profoundly stay with me as I continue to learn more about and discuss depression.

In the class, we talked about how mental illness can be disabling.  Here, disabling was defined as something that impairs your ability to work, carry out activities of daily living, or have satisfying relationships.  Working from that definition, you can start to see how mental illnesses can be just as disabling as physical ailments.  In fact, the statement that got to me was that severe depression is just as disabling as quadriplegia (quadriplegia is when all of your limbs are paralyzed).

Wow.

Severe depression is just as disabling as quadriplegia?

But it didn’t take long to realize just how true that statement is, and it blew me away.  It made me think back to my dad, who would literally lie in bed all day and hardly move at all – it was as if he were paralyzed from the neck down.  Then, once I started thinking about it, I felt awful thinking that is what my dad went through.  Of course, this has happened and is happening to others too.  Regardless of whether someone has either quadriplegia or depression, they can both cause a paralysis that is incredibly devastating and disabling.

What do you think?  Do you agree with the statement that severe depression is just as disabling as quadriplegia?  If so, does that help you to better understand depression, whether it affects you personally or as someone who cares for someone with depression?  Indeed, I think it will stick with me, and it is helpful for anyone to understand how tough depression can be.

Taking a Class

Several entries ago I discussed setting up and taking a class called Mental Health First Aid.  Today, I got to take the class, and it was a good learning experience.  The training was about 8 hours long and really targeted what you can say or do when someone is starting to become mentally ill or if there is a mental health crisis situation.  As you can imagine, there was a lot to cover.

As part of the class, there is a 100 plus page booklet that you get to keep, and I am excited to have it as a reference.  On the flip side, that amount of information plus 8 hours of class can be overwhelming, but I am glad to have the information available if and when I would need it.  Also, there is a basic approach presented, so overall just having the simple framework will help you in a lot of situations.  And ultimately, if you are facing a mental health situation, it is good to have an easy, simple framework to help you guide your actions and words.

On the whole, I am always impressed at how I can learn so much from all of these classes.  Sometimes I think I know a lot about mental illness, especially depression, and that one more class won’t add a lot to my knowledge base.  But, I am proven wrong every time.  I should know better by now, and I love to learn anyway.  However, today was another example that the more you learn about mental illness and depression the more you can empower yourself to help others.  That in turn can create a domino effect that helps to reduce stigma, spread understanding, and help us all take care of each other.  Education is indeed a powerful thing, and that is no different when it comes to depression and mental illness.

Bring the Heat

As I write this entry, we have been experiencing a considerable heat wave, especially since it is not even summer yet.  While certain precautions have to be made (such as sunscreen and drinking lots of water), I enjoy the hotter temperatures.  Of course, I really enjoy air conditioning too, so there is a balance for me.  However, if I had to choose between hotter temperatures or colder ones I would choose the hotter temps.

If you are like me and really enjoy warmth, you should consider ways to get that warmth if and when the weather outside does not align with your desired temperatures.  Adding layers of clothing and blankets can work, and there are also heating pads and blankets available.  However, there are also both dry heat and steam saunas available, and those can be very helpful.  Hot tubs are also a potential option.  For the most part I have seen dry heat saunas, steam saunas, and hot tubs at gyms, but I imagine other clinics or wellness centers have them.  If you are dealing with depression, you know that it can physically hurt too.  Heat therapy might be a way to help with physical issues but may also give you general sense of feeling better.

Of course, heat therapy is not for everyone, and there are restrictions on who can participate.  Most of the heat therapies also come with time restrictions to prevent dehydration and any serious events from occurring.  Like most other things, heat therapy has risks and benefits.  Check with a health care provider first before using saunas or hot tubs, and if you have questions about using a heating pad be sure to ask.

In my opinion, heat therapy should be a fairly straightforward option to consider.  I hope you will think about how heat therapy might be a way to help treat at least one aspect of depression.

Medium Revisited

I wanted to update everyone on how my visit to the medium went.  Overall, I can honestly say that it was a great experience.  We covered so much more than I would have ever imagined, and I am still trying to digest all of what I experienced.  I did record the session, because I knew there was no way I would remember all of the details that were discussed.  I have listened to the recording once and have taken notes, but I like the idea I can listen to it any time if I want to.

Some interesting parts of the session that are more relevant to my blog is that there was a lot of discussion about depression and mental health.  The session also had an angle on whole health and wellness, which I found to be a nice touch.  I really liked that even though it was meant to be more spiritual in nature, the session touched on other parts of my health and well-being, and there was a big emphasis on mental health, especially since that is related to my dad and his death.

Of course, it may depend on who you have a session with, but this person was great.  Not only did I feel like I learned a lot, but I ended up feeling like there was some spiritual, mental, social, and physical healing going on for me.  That might seem obvious to many people, but I was not expecting the amount of healing and peace that I ended up feeling.

Can something like this be helpful for depression?  I definitely think that is an individual choice.  However, I would recommend at least considering it.  Again, it probably depends on who you see, but a medium might end up being a helpful piece of your recovery from depression.

Medium

As I write this entry, I am about ready to go visit a medium.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I am going to visit a lady who has had experience with connecting with loved ones who have passed on.  Does that sound strange to you?  Until my dad passed way I wouldn’t have actively sought out anything like this either.

I actually did a reading with another person a little over three years ago, and I went with my mom.  We wanted to reach out to my dad, and overall, I think we thought it was a meaningful session.  Even though it has been awhile, lately I have been getting the urge to try it again, and try it with someone new.  So, we will see what happens.

Although one of the main rules is to keep an open mind (because others may show up or other things might be revealed), my main reason for doing this is to try to connect with my dad.  I also decided to get some questions ready.  Last time, the medium asked if we had questions and I was not totally prepared for that.  So, here is what I would ask, assuming my dad shows up and there is time:

Are you in heaven?

Are you happy/in a good and safe place?

What do you do all day?

How can I know if you are around me?

How can I reach out to you?

What can I do for you here on Earth?

My dad suffering from depression and becoming a victim of suicide has changed so many things in my life.  Some are obvious, but I think this one may be less so.  After losing him I have had a longing to become more spiritual and seek out the world we don’t physically see.  I am convinced that he (and all others who have died) are still with us in some way.  Maybe it is a continued form of grieving.  Honestly, I can’t explain much of it, but the important piece is that it gives me some comfort, and at the end of the day that might be a big chunk of what really matters.

Our Beautiful Minds

Awhile ago, I had the privilege of attending an event with our state NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) organization.  The event is called “Beautiful Minds”, and this is the second year that it has been held.  I won’t go into all of the details of the evening, but one of the overall themes is that we celebrate the fact that many well-known people (actors, authors, singers, etc.) experience or have experienced mental illness.  In the event, several actors portray well-known people we have had mental illness.  Some examples include Mark Twain, Lady Gaga, Rosanne Barr, Judy Garland, Jimmy Stewart, and Doris Day.  And, as we all know, mental illness can strike anywhere, and famous people are no exception.

Although I am sure there are multiple reasons why this event is so important, I know that having an event like this helps to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.  If well-known people can have mental illness and still be successful, it doesn’t have to define someone or hold them back.  People with mental illness can do amazing things, and Beautiful Minds helps to showcase that.  In fact, although mental illness (and depression, as I typically like to highlight) is not something anyone would choose, an event like Beautiful Minds highlights that wonderful things can still happen despite it.

Of course, most of us are not famous.  However, for anyone suffering from a mental illness, it is important to know that it does not have to hold you back.  You can still work to do the things that you want, and there is much respect for trying to take a mental illness and find a way to either recover from it and/or make it a part of your life somehow.

I think no matter what, we all have beautiful minds.  How about you?  I hope we can all appreciate how great our minds are.

Sharing Your Story

We all have a story to tell.  Our lives are full of ups and downs and twists and turns.  Among all of that, there is much to learn along the way.  If you have or have had depression, have you considered sharing your story with others?  I know that can be asking for a lot, and it is ok if you choose not to share your experience.  However, if you feel so inclined, I think sharing your depression story can be very helpful to others.

Today I shared my story of depression with some co-workers as part of a presentation on mental health.  I talked about how my dad struggled with depression and how it affected him, me, and our relationship.  It never seems to get any easier when I tell people that my dad was a victim of suicide.  But, after I share my story I feel better knowing that by sharing I might have helped another person understand they are not alone.  Or, by speaking out I have helped another find the courage to ask for help.  To me, sharing your story also helps people understand depression better and how it affects others.  The more people understand, the less they fear, and this can help reduce the stigma that is associated with depression and mental illness.

One organization that is really bringing this concept to light is called This Is My Brave, and they can be found online here: thisismybrave.org  This is definitely a very public way to share, but I encourage you to check out the website and also look to see what others have already shared.  I am sure there are many other ways to share out there, but my hope is that you understand the power and inspiration that your story can convey.  If now is not the right time to share, maybe another time will be.  And, the audience can range from one to millions, but the power of sharing is there no matter what form it may take.

Employee Assistance

As we can assume, depression can have a huge effect on those who work for a living.  There are statistics out there that can talk about lost productivity in the workplace, but there are not necessarily numbers on the emotional toll that accumulates when someone has depression.  Some people will end up not being able to work at all, which was the case for my dad.  Some people might be able to work part time, if that is even an option.  Still, others might be able to work but may have issues, including feeling like they have to work even if they don’t feel like it.

Since I have not personally experienced depression I cannot comment on how it feels to live through a depression while working.  My assumption is that it is very, very hard.  It may be hard to concentrate, and performance may suffer.  It may also be hard to interact with others.  Is there anything that can be done at work to help the situation?  Here are some potential ideas I have that may help.

Have you told your boss and/or co-workers about your depression?  This may be hard to do, but may be an option.  If people understand that you have an illness, that may help with your day to day working experience.  Also, many employers have employee assistance programs (some may use a different term), to help employees with a wide variety of concerns.  It may be worth checking to see if your company has such a program.  You could start by contacting your boss and/or human resources department, if you have one.

Overall, you may be surprised by the resources that are available to you as an employee with depression.  I encourage you to at least research what some options might be to help make your working experience a little more manageable.