Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Recovery from depression is not linear.

Posted by SLS on February 17, 2009, at 7:34:27

Recovery from depression is rarely linear. It does not occur as a smooth ascending line. There are peaks, valleys, plateaus, blips, and dips. The graph would look more like an irregular saw-tooth. However, if one charts their mood thoughout the weeks and months, hopefully, the trend towards recovery will be very apparent. It is important to understand this if one is to avoid an emotional roller-coaster or rush to the medicine cabinet to self-medicate.

A dip feels like the beginning of a relapse. A valley seems like a full relapse. It is very scary. But if your mood chart demostrates that you are still better than when you started treatment, perhaps you can relax and accept the depression as a temporary retreat or even some sort of biological reset, as one of my doctors liked to call it.

It is difficult not to look at one's condition with a microscope. We get to know every nuance of our mood and cognitive performance. We rate ourselves on a moment by moment basis. However, these things will fluctuate during the recovery process. Every now and then, it is good to just let it be and live in the moment, interacting with your external environment rather than focusing incessantly on your internal environment.

Easier said than done? Yes.

Guarantees of full remission? No.

Even if your current treatment does not lead to remission, it is just one of multiple treatment trials that you might have to perform to hit the right one. Try to live your life in the meantime. I hope I am strong enought to take my own advice. My world seems small to me, but it grows a little bigger when I push to move outside my comfort zone.


- Scott

 

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:SLS thread:880658
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090213/msgs/880658.html