Mental Depression

[BlueReign]

Do you know anyone who has been severely depressed? A lot of people go through this around this time of the year. I ask because even though I am a little down I know one of my girlfriends may be feeling even worse. I haven't heard from her like I usually have and I am almost close to knocking on her door without calling first just to see. So if you know of someone who is not acting their usual self, go knock on their door.

[prettypoodle6]

I dont know of anyone who's seriously depressed, but its always nice to catch up with the ones you love around the holidays!!!

------------------
Rhoyal Blue and Gold...I LOVE my SGRho!

[This message has been edited by prettypoodle6 (edited February 05, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by prettypoodle6 (edited February 05, 2001).]

[Rhoyal Blue_22]

I am depressed!!! And let me tell you how I would love forsomeone to knock on my door or give me call-it would really make a difference...It just seems likei am doing all that I can to be a "good" person. I'm there for everyone, but no one seems to be there for me. Well enough of my drama-I just want to tell people to knock on a door...

[BlueReign]

I hear you Soror. This is very serious. I have a good friend that I usually talk to 3-4 times a week and a couple of months ago I didn't hear from her in almost 2 weeks. I thought she was just busy working and stuff but when she finally called me I found out she hadn't been working. She has no answering service on her phone so I couldn't leave a message to let her know I had called. I was really shocked when I finally heard from her and to hear that she was "going through something" and didn't want to answer her phone nor had she gone to work. I just thought that the next time I don't hear from her I am just going to go over there!!!

[Chi_ZETABBW]

BlueReign by all means please go by and check on her, don't walk, but run. Forget about calling first. Good friends are not hung up on formailty. Depression is very serious, unfortunately in our community it's frowned upon. As black women we are suppose to be so strong, and depression is viewed as weak, but don't buy into that.
Rhoyale, one sista to another, you can talk to me, you may email me privately if you like. You are a good person....never doubt that. I can go on and on.

Help a sista out: http://www.directcertificates.com/cg...=vote&ID=13222

[soror6]

Hey, sisterfriends! I hope you don't mind me chiming in on your post, but I have been on both sides of the depression issue, and it is SERIOUS BUSINESS! If it was not for my pledge daughter, I don't know what I would have done! Depreesed people have a tendency to internalize, particularly women of color. We were not really raised to show weakness, and unfortunately many minority cases of clinical depression go undiagnosed, because the sufferer thinks it's just being weak. If the person you are concerned about lives in a cold climate, they are more likely to be more depressed than a counterpart in a warm area. It has to do with sunlight. If it is depression, let them know that it is not something they will 'snap out of', and unfortunately one of the people I knew and wanted to get help for in school thought they would...They jumped off an interstate overpass a few weeks later, and died of internal injuries after an extended hospital stay. If anyone wants to talk, let me know, I can be a good ear, or refer you to a couple of orgs. that can help! Remember sisters, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and If you think all else fails, God never does!

PS - If anyone has a subscription to Honey Magazine, there is a great article in the February Issue (Eve is on the front), so check it out....In the meantime, here are a few links that may help out in the meantime!

*The National Mental Health Assoc.
-800.969.6642, or www.nmha.org
*Online Therapy at www.here2listen.com
*Nat'l women's health info center - 800.994.WOMAN, or www.4woman.org
*And here is a book-haven't read it, but heard it's good! "Can I Get a Witness?: Black Women and Depression" by Julia A. Boyd

Sorry for the long post, but I love all my SF's, and want you to be well! That depression is a bad thing...I know from personal experience! Good luck with yourselves, and your friends! e-mail me if you need more links!

Love Y'all!
soror6
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Spr'91

[This message has been edited by soror6 (edited February 06, 2001).]

[Ideal08]

Hello Ladies of SGRho!!

I, too, suffer from depression. It's funny, because I was just talking about this with one of my sorors yesterday. Many times, we as Black women don't want to talk about our issues because not only does it make us look weak, but we also don't want to appear needy. At least, that's my take on it. It is something that I battle with daily, and so I don't really want to bombard people with it on the regular. I am one of those people who internalizes almost everything. Now, I have learned to talk to people when I can see things going where I don't want them to go (staying in bed, not going to work, not answering my phone, insomnia, inexplicable crying spells, etc.). After you've suffered from depression for as long as I have (almost 8 years), you can tell when it's about to take a turn for the worst, and that's when it's important to know that you are loved. I used to be really embarrassed about my depression, and only recently have I been able to talk about it openly.

You have no idea how good it will make your friends feel if you drop them a note in the mail (even if they're in the same city) just to say you are thinking of them or that you love them. And a phone call is good, too. Let the people close to you know that they make a difference in your life, many times people who suffer from depression feel like they aren't loved, and that if there were gone, they wouldn't be missed. It helps a lot to know that you are wanted, needed, and loved by other people. It really does.

[This message has been edited by Ideal08 (edited February 06, 2001).]

[Lady_Tenor]

Ladies,

At this time of year (particularily in the northern areas) depression runs rampant. Apparently that is linked to bad weather and the end of the holidays. Please know that if you are depressed, you are not alone! Many people are also depressed, and many have gotten help! Please, seek out your sorors, your family, your friends, professionals, and God! Don't underestimate the power of prayer!

I also don't want to scare anyone, but depression left unchecked can lead to SUICIDE.

BlueReign, you are right on the mark. Your friend is lucky to have someone like you looking out for her.

Rhoyal Blue_22, my prayers are with you.

Ideal08, you are stronger than you think. To even admit you are suffering from depression is the first step towards combating it and it takes a strong person to admit anything.

I will be praying for all of you...

Please take care of yourselves and God bless.
-Lady_Tenor

[SoloRHO]

Sorors, Sisterfriends, and friends
It hurts my heart to hear how many of us have been struck with depression at one time or another. I know how the story goes from personal experience. And Im glad to hear that so many are sympathetic and understanding of the issue. But what kills me most is those who can't or don't understand. For example, many of you have echoed the sentiment in the African American Community that women are expected to be strong and "hold it together". But that sentiment is so strong and widespread that there are so many people who just DON'T understand. They chalk the odd behavior and attitude up to people just being "lazy" or "in a funk" and dismiss them accordingly. While its true that many people "snap" out of depression, for some its a long hard road. I know that for me, God Definately was the key...
Here's a prayer I used to say everyday and still do quite often:
Lord sometimes
...You allow breakages, so You can rebuild
...You allow wounds, so You can heal
...You allow me to walk in darkness, so that I see Your light
...You allow me to be confused, so I seek Your truth
...You allow me to be empty, so You can fill me
...You allow me to be lonely, so I can see what a friend You are
...You allow me to learn things hard, so I can be a gentle teacher
...You allow me to be void of feelings, so i learn to walk by faith
...You take away my future plans, to teach me to live one day at a time
...You allow me to see the futility of life so I will see that everything is loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Your son, Jesus Christ, my Lord

SoloRHO

------------------
PEACE: Proper Education Always Corrects Error

[PrettySqueaky]

One thing a lot of you are forgetting is the medical term depression. A lot of people get the blues every now and then, there's nothing wrong with that and it's perfectly natural. But when you are seriously depressed (clinically depressed) you are not aware of your depression until someone brings it to your attention or it's too late.(In most situation.) A lot of people use terms interchangeably. For example, someone can say "I was having an anxiety attack" when they were just nervous.

I have never been depressed, yet I have been sad and realized that before it was too late. I find it easier to talk to my best friend because no matter what he doesn't sugar coat anything and say everything is going to be alright. But finds a mean for everything to be alright. I love you meanass if you're reading this.

But I hope everything works out okay. I wish I could remember this quote. It was by Anne Frank stating how whenever she got sad and blue she would take a walk in nature, look at all the things right in the world...and when she wasn't able to take that walk she had the memories to reminisce about. (Now talking about someone that should have been depressed in her situation, and wasn't.)

I just look at my problems in comparison to others and say "Shyt Squeaks...it isn't as nearly as bad as you make it seem to be."

Oh yeah and please don't go to your local GNC store and try to medicate yourself with generic prozac and sam-e...Or any other type medication/herbs/supplements.

[BlueReign]

Thanks Soror6. That was very good information! The reason why I posted this topic is because I have been "down" for some time lately but not clinically depressed. I feel myself snapping out of it now that the days are a little longer but I do know what it is like to be there. I was severely depressed for 2 years in the mid 80's while I was an undergrad. Like you Ideal08, it really makes a difference when people just let you know that they are thinking about you. Your sorors of Lambda Zeta Chapter (84-86)at that time didn't know what I was going through. But their friendly hellos, etc. would make my day sometime when I thought no one cared. No one knew what I was going through except my parents, my pastor, and God. I tried to take my life. I was able to get help but there are many who refuse to reach out to others for the reasons SoloRho stated above. And some people are just plain mean and not very understanding of this illness. It really is an illness.

[MIDWESTDIVA]

Originally posted by soror6:
Sorry for the long post, but I love all my SF's, and want you to be well! That depression is a bad thing...I know from personal experience! Good luck with yourselves, and your friends! e-mail me if you need more links!

Love Y'all!
soror6
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Spr'91
________________________________________
Hey SF's....log on and support! www.greekuniversity.com

[This message has been edited by soror6 (edited February 06, 2001).]

Originally posted by Chi_ZETABBW:
Rhoyale, one sista to another, you can talk to me, you may email me privately if you like. You are a good person....never doubt that. I can go on and on.

I don't have anything to add about depression. The topic has been covered well.

I just wanted to say I am so impressed by Soror6 and Chi_ZetaBBW. That was just beautiful. I think this is the first time I have seen any real love demonstrated between organizations here in Greekchat. That's exactly what I was talking about when I asked "Why don't you all post things in each others' forums?"

Ideal08,

I hope you don't mind my asking. What steps did you take to control your depression?

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited February 07, 2001).]

[Rhoyal Blue_22]

I just wanted to say, by reading everyone's posts and the prayer, it sure is nice to know I am not alone. THANKS EVERYONE!