ProNihil

I have been wondering what all you atheistic, infidelic, unholy masses out there think on the issue of depression. Is it caused by errant brain chemicals gone awry, or is it that the chemicals have gone arwy because of circumstances?

Spew forth!

Enai

Well, I'm not sure is SL&S is the right forum, since you seem to want a debate, but here goes my laywoman's opinion:

I think that it can be both. I remember reading that abused and/or neglected children are more likely to develop (clinical) depression in adult life, so evidently the circumstances do play a role, and of course the symptom depression can be caused by a lot of factors like not enough light, vitamin or mineral deprivation or somesuch. But I understand that clinical depression is a specific illness that is treatable by certain neurochemical drugs, IOW, Seasonal Affection(?) Disorder isn't really clinical depression.

I could be wrong, though.

Oh, and I think that HelenM is very knowledgeable in that area, so you might want to ask her.

HelenM

I saw my name - thanks Enai, although I'm not really an expert. I just have a lot of opinions!

(I also would guess that this thread will be moved out of SL&S although I'm not sure where it belongs)

I'm a theist but I don't think these are 'theistic' opinions per se.

My opinion is that when someone is depressed, their brain chemicals are awry - this seems clear since medications which affect brain chemicals often are effective in helping depressed people feel better - as best we can tell.

What caused them to be awry? Probably a combination of external circumstances and genetic predisposition/'congenital mental illness', in my opinion.

I think that changes in diet and lifestyle (getting regular sleep, including what you enjoy in your life, not getting too stressed, not getting stuck in a pattern where you increasingly isolate yourself, working on having healthy rather than disfunctional relationships, etc), which counseling may facilitate can be as effective in helping with depression as medication. I think that it's best to try everything that might help, if you do suffer from depression. It may be that someone who takes medication for a while then is able to stay off it permanently. Others may find that it's best to stay on it long-term because whenever they try not taking it they get depressed again.

In general mental illness, including depression, is not that well understood, even by professionals. But since it can lead to suicide it should be taken seriously. I hope that anyone who gets to the point of being suicidal will get themselves to a hospital where they will be kept safe from their own desire to hurt themselves, until they feel better.

Helen

beth

I believe that extreme stress can cause a chemical imbalance in the brain, thus causing depression. I can say that medication can work wonders. I've had depression for eight years, it began as a severe case of post-partum depression. I have even been suicidal. I was not able to get treatment(meds) due to my family's religious beliefs about depression. I've tried counseling, yoga, diet modification, emersed myself into hobbies, and even fell deeper into religion. None of that helped. It would become milder or even go away for a while, but it would always come back when a stressful even occured. I've been on meds now for just a little while and they are already helping me tremendously. It's upsetting to me that many religious people have to suffer with this illness because they are told that their depression is a sign of weakness. They are told or manipulated by others to forgo medication in order to trust in God for help.

HelenM

It's been a problem in general that depression is not taken seriously and people are told to 'snap out of it', 'get over it', 'stop being so self-centered' etc. That has happened outside religious circles. It may be that this was more of a problem in the past, than it is today.

My impression is that depressed people have a 'compromised ability to think rationally' due to their illness and so it's unlikely that they can be 'reasoned' into making changes in their lifestyle, even if it seems evident to those around them that those changes could be very beneficial.

I agree that the approach some Christians take regarding depression leaves much to be desired

Helen

Clarice

My impression is that depression is caused by a combination of factors, and the causes may be different in different people. Some people may have a predisposition, so when they are in stressful circumstances, they become depressed. Others may have depression regardless of their circumstances. IIRC, researchers have found significant differences in the brain scans of people with depression.

The thing with depression is that it becomes a vicious cycle - once your brain gets off-kilter, you develop thought patterns that lead you further and further into depression. And as Helen said, these thought patterns are irrational, and certainly not susceptible to the command, "Snap out of it!" So a chemical imbalance can lead to poor choices, which creates a bad environment, which adds to the chemical imbalance, and so on.

Another indication that depression is a blend of the biological and situational is that either medication or therapy can cause measurable physical changes in brain function. I believe current medical opinion is that a combination of both approaches works best.

beth

My depression stemmed from hormonal changes during and after pregnancy. Family situations greatened it. It was a struggle to keep my sanity. What made it worse for me was the fact that everyone around me was telling me that if I trusted God I would be healed. I was even told that I was possessed by the spirit of depression. I did try to make changes. I did everything I could to get better. I even went to the doctor, but my pills were thrown out when they were discovered. My mother told my family that I was a drug addict and my pastor even told me that the problem was based in self-pity and selfishness. It has been a struggle to keep rational thought during my depression. I've even caved a few times, but somehow I've always been able to claw my way back up. It is true that there is a stigma of mental illness in society as a whole, but it is especially wrong when people try to use religion to manipulate and control a person into nearly going mad. I do realize that many sects of Christianity have a more level and sane approach to dealing with mental illness. Some forms of religion even help uplift the mind enough to combat depression. But the way I was treated with depression is typical of Charasmatic sects.

But you are right, if I had been able to think on a more rational level, I would not have allowed myself to be controlled and manipulated.

HelenM

bg, I'm sorry you were treated that way when you were suffering from depression .

At the church I go to (which is a non-Charismatic Bible-believing church), the people I have most interaction with know of my diagnosis. If they had concerns about my mental health at a particular time, they'd probably ask me if I was taking my meds and seeing my (professional) counselor regularly.

Not all of my close relatives are Christians. Some are Charismatic Christians but even so they dol believe that taking meds for mental illness is wise, when appropriate.

Helen

beth

Helen, I'm very glad that you have that kind of support. It's very important to have the support in order to get better. My husband and in-laws now support me in my treatment. My husband saw that I no longer believed in God to get me through this, so he supported me on my decision to get on meds.

If I might ask, what type of church do you attend?
Thanks,
Beth

HelenM

I'll PM you if that's ok, so as not to take this thread off the topic of depression...

Helen