Posted by okydoky on June 26, 2008, at 11:25:06
In reply to Re: If your medication(s) worked... » IAMtheWalrus, posted by cactus on June 22, 2008, at 13:53:43
As interesting observation. As an analogy, people who think they have it all until someone else comes along with something better.
I think it is in many ways very subjective.
These answers are so subjective in many ways. Culture and family and social status all make a difference.I have a friend who has depression (as I do) He takes medication and very slowly has been able to function in the world. He works full time I never tell him this but he is so miserable. He once told me he does not know and thinks his meds probably do nothing. I do not know because I never experienced him off his meds. But if I were him I would be looking to change meds and not be content where he is now. He has made a decision to be content. He seems quite aware he is not happy. I rarely see him smile or laugh. I am his only friend. If I only had one friend and not even others just to do things with I do not think I would consider myself happy or content. Having met and experienced a lot of his family I begin to understand. They are easy going and able to derive contentment from the simple things in life, highly educated but not upwardly mobile as that is not their goal. His expectation is not much more than he already lives. I know several people, not necessarily depressed who are content in their lives in places I never could be. I am not advocating we should be content to live in depressed states but if I for example could lower my expectations of what it would take for me to be satisfied with my life I think at least at times my depression was not so bad I might find myself smiling a lot more. I think I just have a difficult time understanding while he is aware of his unhappiness he is content to continue in that vein. Perhaps he believes he cannot get better. I would never ask because I am afraid his contentment is very fragile. It is not for me to break what he has.
But your experience with the meds "I thought I'd actually found that with.." speaks a lot about the subjective nature of an indiviguals experience. If we are unaware and have not had the experience to evaluate than as you were we can be content with or at a certain place. My favorite movie is "As Good as it Gets" It has storey lines that deal with mental health issues and physical health issues and life style ( or gay) issues and all the charactors learn to be content with life "as good as it gets"
As usual I am rambling.
oky
poster:okydoky
thread:835924
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080626/msgs/836552.html