Posted by SLS on November 9, 2001, at 9:50:03
In reply to Re: Atypical Depression Actually Very Typical, posted by noa on November 7, 2001, at 18:52:48
Hi Noa.
> The way I've understood "mood reactivity" is consistent with what your doctors were observing--do you laugh at a joke, brighten at all to something someone says, even if just for a moment, as opposed to inability to laugh, smile respond at all, etc. It can be an extremely temporary reaction.
I guess I qualify, then. It must be difficult for doctors who have never experienced one kind of depression or another to express in words how it should feel. I can definitely laugh and become animated at times, except on my worst days. I even tell stupid jokes, which should be obvious to all. However, the overall "feeling" of depression remains unchanged. This would include things like perceived mental and physical energy, anhedonia, impaired concentration and memory, slow-thinking, etc. I think if my doctors at that time had done better than just ask if I feel less depressed at times, I would not have been confused by this. Since I can't know what someone else experiences when they say that their mood is reactive to positive experiences, I could only assume that they meant that they experienced an improvement of their depression in the same way that I do when I respond momentarily to drug treatment.Words.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:83164
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011104/msgs/83654.html