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Hi all. I come from a family of depressives . I did not know the meaning until my 30’s. My feeling is that I can handle being depressed by being active ( hard making that first move) and reading/ critter time, In my late 50’s, I realized I needed to do something . My mom was on meds for migraines / depression and my dad for Anginia, pain, etc. Both had their own nmedience cabinet full of meds. I did not want to go meds. I have been in research studies doing them and they helped me make the decision. And I am better for it. I still have bad days because life is hard with medical issues but I am better for it because of meds..
Replies to "Hi all. I come from a family of depressives . I did not know the meaning..."
Your story is one that many of us share, @bookysue, and I appreciate you speaking out on this topic. Many people simply need meds to deal with depression and/or anxiety. It is true, as @jakedduck1, indicated that positive thinking, being involved with helping others can lift your mood. However, it is not often enough when there is a history of depression in your family.
While I'm not a mental health professional I have observed that if we grow up with depression we probably learn a lot of depressive behaviors. Many of these behaviors and thinking patterns can be unlearned and replaced with more healthy thinking (like with Cognitive Behavior Therapy) However, some of them may be rooted in a chemical imbalance in our brain and this is where we see the value of mental health meds.
Congratulations on finding the right meds that have helped you live a more productive happy life!
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@bookysue
I’m just curious about your thoughts of depression being a learned trait in families with depressed parents siblings etc.
Jake