ernest_t_bass wrote: In honor of the "autism" thread, what is your take on depression?

I personally don't "believe" in depression, and I feel that it is mis/over-diagnosed. I feel that it is caused by the ongoing codling of our society.

Anyone?

Footwedge wrote: Clinical depression is very real. Clinical depression is far different that one experiencing the common ups and downs of living a life.

There are chemicals in the neurological system that are supposed to regulate mood swings. One of these is serotonin. When the production of these neurotransmitters go out of wack, clinical depression can set in.

Obviously clinical depression can occur through the loss of a loved one, a pet, a broken relationship, loss of job, or contracting a life threatening illness.

Websurfinbird wrote:

Footwedge wrote: Clinical depression is very real. Clinical depression is far different that one experiencing the common ups and downs of living a life.

There are chemicals in the neurological system that are supposed to regulate mood swings. One of these is serotonin. When the production of these neurotransmitters go out of wack, clinical depression can set in.

Obviously clinical depression can occur through the loss of a loved one, a pet, a broken relationship, loss of job, or contracting a life threatening illness.

Not sure how this relates at all but, I swear before I started taking birth control pills,it would take a lot to make my cry. Now I'm tearing up at the kleenex commercial. I definitely think there's something to the whole chemical thing ...

unique_67 wrote:You stated in the first thread that you personally do not believe in depression, and if that is based on the personal experience that you had, then I will tell you that you did not have clinical depression. You are free to have your opinion, but that does mean your opinion is correct, and this type of mindset is often what keeps people that truly do have clinical depression from seeking treatment.

fan_from_texas wrote: I was hoping this thread was a joke. Of course depression is real.

ernest_t_bass wrote:

fan_from_texas wrote: I was hoping this thread was a joke. Of course depression is real.

Yes, depression is real, like stated by many above... clinical depression. What I don't like, is when someone is sad, many in today's society will say... depression.

ernest_t_bass wrote: I have been through times in my life where I felt depressed. I drank a lot, stayed in doors, stayed away from friends, stayed up late at night, slept on the couch, stayed away from family, etc.

I'm not discounting clinical depression, but the "day to day" depression, that is OVER-diagnosed, is what I hate. All I had to do was look in the mirror, tell myself to snap out of it, and put my faith in God.

I'm fine now, and didn't need medicine.

dwccrew wrote:

ernest_t_bass wrote: I have been through times in my life where I felt depressed. I drank a lot, stayed in doors, stayed away from friends, stayed up late at night, slept on the couch, stayed away from family, etc.

I'm not discounting clinical depression, but the "day to day" depression, that is OVER-diagnosed, is what I hate. All I had to do was look in the mirror, tell myself to snap out of it, and put my faith in God.

I'm fine now, and didn't need medicine.

My prayer go out.

God Bless

Victory in Jesus......and the Buddha

Faking sick usually means avoiding public places. These days that includes the Internet.

A Quebec woman on long-term sick leave lost her benefits after she posted Facebook photos of herself frolicking on a beach.

CBC reports that a year and a half ago Nathalie Blanchard was diagnosed with depression and granted leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Que.

The Manulife insurance company had been sending her monthly sick-leave benefits, but ceased payment when they found Blanchard’s photos on the social networking site.

Manulife reportedly said the pictures Blanchard posted to her private Facebook account prove she is no longer depressed. One showed her having fun at a Chippendales show, another at her birthday party and a third on a beach holiday.

Blanchard says she had told Manulife about the trip and that the pictures do not prove that her overall mood has improved.

"In the moment I'm happy, but before and after I have the same problems," she explains, adding that her doctors had advised her to have fun in order to forget her worries.

Blanchard's lawyer, Tom Lavin, requested a new psychiatric evaluation of his client, but thinks Manulife's investigation was inappropriate.

"I don't think for judging a mental state that Facebook is a very good tool," he said.

Manulife confirmed to CBC that it uses Facebook to investigate clients, but said they would not withdraw benefits simply based on that site.

"We would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook," they said.

Blanchard estimates that the Facebook debacle has cost her thousands of dollars in benefits.

OneBuckeye wrote: I heard a news story recently that some lady was collecting insurance for her clinical depression. They went on her facebook page and found a picture of her smiling on a beach. No more insurance because she obviously wasn't depressed anymore! I will try and find a link. Just sayin...