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Say What? Glenn Close Speaks Up About Sister's Mental Illness

TresSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0700

"We didn't know that it wasn't Jess just being wild, there was something going on there. . . We come from the tradition that you hardly ever went to a psychiatrist - it just wasn't done. You certainly don't talk about depression, or alcoholism, or any mental illness. It's just not done, and I think a lot of people still feel that."

- Glenn Close went on Good Morning America today to discuss her family's struggle to understand her sister Jessie's mental illness. Jessie was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 47-years-old. The actress and her sister have filmed a public service announcement with hopes of challenging the stigma attached to mental illness.

Clash of Cultures Puts Latina Teens in Danger of Suicide

TresSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:50:13 -0700

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, one out of seven Latina teenagers attempts suicide.

Psychologist Dr. Luis Zayas of Washington University, who has spent the last 25 years studying Latina teens, believes that this rate is so high because of the teens' troubled relationships with their mothers. Usually the child of poor immigrant parents, the troubled teen is caught between her parents' values and the ones she sees growing up in the US.

American teens, says Dr. Zayas, have "very different models about what girls should do, can do and are permitted to do." For Francisca Abreu, now 15, clashing with her Dominican mother led to depression, a suicide attempt, and pregnancy at 14. Her mother Isabel wanted Francisca to stay home, clean the house, and learn to cook. Not surprisingly, Francisca wanted to go out with her friends.

"Teenagers have certain freedoms; they don't need to consult with their parents to make certain decisions," Dr. Zayas says. "That's the culture that's here, and inserted in that is the Latino family that says the family is much more important than the individual."

After giving birth to her daughter Destiny at 14 and lots of therapy, Francisca says she finally understands what her mother went though. "All she did was be a good mother, sacrifice her life for us," Francisca says. "That's all she did."

Did you grow up in an immigrant family and deal with the clash of cultures as a teen?

Celebrities Open Up About Their Depression

colleenb — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Yesterday was National Depression Screening Day, so it's a good time to remember you're not alone if life's ups and downs have ever sunk too low, for too long. The following celebrities have actually spoken out about their experience with depression - read on to see what they've said.

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Today Is National Depression Screening Day

TresSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:10:39 -0700

Some of us say, "I'm so depressed" and refer to situational depression - something happened that bummed us out. But for some people, undiagnosed clinical depression can affect quality of life and lead, in extreme cases, to suicide if untreated.

Today is National Depression Screening Day, so if you're worried you may have more than a passing case of the blues, go to this website to find out where in your area you can get free and confidential screening for depression. The screening doesn't diagnose depression but helps lead you to qualified professionals who can provide a full assessment. You can also take their online assessment questionnaire.

Ask Someone Dealing With Depression: Should I Be Mad at My Friend For Telling People I'm Depressed?

TresSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. This week, someone who deals with depression gives advice to a woman who is mad at her friend for telling people in her circle that she is depressed. If you have a question, you can submit them here.

This week's question:

I shared my struggles with depression with my closest female friend and told her that I did not want anyone else to know about it. She decided that because I wasn't answering her calls she would call the wife of a leader in our church and ask her for my husband's cell phone number so she could call him, asking about me. My "best friend" told the woman that I was going through something serious and when the woman said, "At least she's not seeking outside help" my friend said, "Well, I don't know for sure if she is or isn't."

Why else would she call her and say those things unless her intentions were to let her know about my situation and to inform her I "might" be seeking outside help for my depression? I found out about this conversation from the leader's wife and she only admitted to it after she knew that I knew about it. She insists that she only had my good in mind.

The thing is, it was a really huge deal to me that these people not be in on it because I know that they would attack me for being depressed in the first place, and also if I sought help outside of the church. The last thing I needed at that time was some church discipline. I was really suffering! I am so mad at my best friend for saying anything; should I forgive her?

Signed,

Angry and Depressed

To hear what someone dealing with depression has to say, read more.

Dear Angry and Depressed,

There seem to be three related but separate issues here: one is your anger at your friend, the second is the question of how your church is handling this, and the third is how to actually manage your struggle with depression.

As someone who has been through a lot with both depression and anxiety, I empathize with your situation. Depression hurts. As for your friend, I think you need to assess who this friend is to you, and whether she reached out to others because she was simply worried and didn't know how to handle it. While the outcome might have been a problem, if she did it out of legitimate concern I think she may be a real friend who just handled things badly because she cares and was confused about what to do.

My major concern with what you have said is that your church community thinks there is something wrong with getting outside help. Admittedly, I am not religious and have never belonged to a church, but I strongly feel that a community of any kind that is truly concerned with one of their members' well-being will support them in what they need, and not be judgmental about what that support might be. I think it would be worth explaining to your friend that what she might have considered finding you support actually feels like discipline, and that she needs to be more sensitive to what you need.

Finally there is the question of your depression itself. I do not want to assume you are in a situation where professional help from a therapist or doctor would be appropriate, but severe depression is something you need to talk to a professional about. If you feel like you are not getting help from your friends, family, or church, you're taking care of yourself by asking for outside help. Doctors are legally required to respect your privacy, and you could ask if they would refer you to a therapist.

Far more people struggle with depression than we can imagine when we are sitting alone with our thoughts, and there is support out there for you. You may just have been going through a rough patch and not need anything further, but depression is too serious a condition not to explore your options. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't seem like you can't find the right person to help you right away, but there are also lots of great people out there who can help. As for your friend, tell her how her action made you feel, give her the benefit of the doubt, and seek some relief for your pain from professionals. Good luck!

Depressed? Ecotherapists Say, "Go Take a Hike!"

TresSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Although some depressed people think they should see a psychotherapist or get meds prescribed (or both), psychologists from the burgeoning field of eco-therapy have a simpler prescription: go outside and mingle with nature.

We humans, they argue, evolved to interact with nature and the outdoors, but beginning with the Industrial Revolution two centuries ago, we've largely become alienated from that world. Now that more than half of the world's population lives in cities, and those lives are increasingly taken over by computers and BlackBerrys (or iPhones), some people don't go outside at all except to travel from their homes to their offices. In fact, eco-therapists say that when their patients' begin writing in a nature journal to record how much time they spent outside, their records are pretty pathetic: most people spent less than 15 to 30 minutes walking to and from their cars!

I went on a long weekend in Yosemite recently, and although I'm not the type who loves not bathing for four days - it was wonderful not to get one email or phone call. Instead, I slept soundly from hiking so much and woke up looking at mountains, trees, and woodland creatures. We don't all need to go camping to cure the blues, though. Researchers have found that simply taking a walk outside every day could have the same effect as an antidepressant in treating moderate depression. I believe it.

What Makes You Nervous These Days?

TresSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:45:00 -0700

Americans are smiling less and worrying more than they were a year ago. Depression, cigarette sales, and sleepless nights are on the rise. But you probably didn't need this new survey from Gallup to tell you that.

According to today's New York Times, it's not debt or a lack of money that's making people more miserable. Rather Americans feel worse when something bad might occur, than when they know something bad will occur. For example: if you know you're going to lose your job, you can start moving on. But if you might lose your job, you will continue to worry about it. Ironically, the option where you get laid off could end up making you happier!

Are there any uncertainties that make you nervous?

Source

Recession Depression: Men Have It Worse Than Women

TresSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:00:00 -0700

According to a new survey conducted by a British nonprofit, traditional gender roles may cause men to suffer recession blues more than women. Men, for example, are told they need to be both solvent and stoic: they're traditionally the bread winners, and if they're blue, they'd better not seek mental health help - it's a sign of weakness. To make matters worse, in general, psychologists say that men feel more shame when they lose a job or a home.

The survey found that 40 percent of British men feel bad about their job security or money situation. In addition, men are less likely than women to talk about their problems with friends or to seek professional help and are thus less likely to be diagnosed and treated for mental health problems. The study suggested that the government introduce more "male friendly" treatment strategies, like prescribing exercise.

All things being equal, do you think men are more susceptible than women to being depressed about their financial situation?

Source

Daddy Issues: Depressed Fathers Affect Kids Too

TresSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Blame the mother? Not so fast. Turns out, depression in dads can be just as bad for kids as having a mother with mental health issues. According to experts from the University of Oxford, doctors have been focusing far too much on the mothers' problems. Kids, especially boys raised by alcoholic or depressed dads, are far more influenced by troubled fathers than previously thought. But until recently, no one was paying much attention:

The Oxford team said it was not surprising much of researchers' emphasis had focused on mothers as, in most societies, it is mothers who provide the majority of childcare - particularly when children are very young. But they said the role of men had been "underemphasised" . . . In addition, the peak age for men to be affected by psychiatric disorders is the same as the peak age for becoming a father - between 18 and 35.

As a result, young kids can develop behavioral problems, while teens are at a higher risk of depression and other mental-health issues. Do you think daughters are more affected by their mothers' mental health, while boys are more impacted by dads?

Source

Do Tell: How Do You Beat the Blues?

TresSugar — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

A brisk walk is my surefire way to beat a bad mood. The small dose of exercise, fresh air, and freedom from distraction always does the trick.

Looking for its own cure, BBC rounded up tips from mental health professionals on how to best beat the blues.

Some of my favorites include:

Garden: it forces you to focus on the task at hand.
Exercise: physical activity releases endorphins.
Cook a meal from scratch: cooking gets your mind off what's bothering you, and a tasty meal will reward you for your work.
Volunteer: finding time to do even something small for someone else will boost your spirits.

You can check out the whole list here. I'm curious: what do you do to beat the blues?

Source