Posted by Snell on January 22, 2014, at 7:11:05
In reply to Re: Desperation -- even with (whoo) Parnate » bleauberry, posted by vbs on January 11, 2014, at 10:04:08
Yes:
> Thank you for your thoughtful post. :-)When I was in my twenties, I was a Zen Buddhist, as much as you can "be" a Zen Buddhist. I went to the temple twice a week to do meditation three hours at a time. I found that Zen Buddhism (ZB) offered the same answers to the questions that other religions did, yet was more in keeping with my beliefs.
It helped, somewhat. My depression wasn't as bad then, but the basic ideas of tolerance, even welcome, of suffering did end up reducing that suffering.
When I was in graduate school in California, where the weather is wonderful, I used to run. I was extremely anxious then--anxiety was my first psychiatric symptom, as I think is the case with many people. I ran and ran; it made me feel a little better. But not much, and not for long. I was running about eight miles every other day and was amazingly fit but I was still extraordinarily anxious.
I think of these two things when people suggest religion or exercise. The only things that have *really* treated my depression have been medicine and psychotherapy. I think the emotional support animal--the dog--will help me feel less lonely and isolated and more connected.
I very much appreciate your writing
poster:Snell
thread:1058262
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140104/msgs/1059236.html