102. Self-Destruction

I don´t know whether it is that simple. As I´ve said above, some kind of psychotherapy or psychoanalysis would be very helpful and antidepressants should be prescribed when necessary. Of course, when possible, leaving home, going out, being around healthy and happy people must help to improve the humor of the depressed one.

What I endure is referred to as dysthymia which is chronic depression that lasts more than two years. But in my case it's been nearly 40. Google it. It fits me to a tee. I disagree with the previous post. I know a couple of happy atheists who have never suffered from depression. I am also friends with a Lutheran pastor who suffers from depression and anxiety and has carried out multiple suicide attempts.

Depression comes when there is an absence of GOD's presence around us. being in temple and in the company of joyful others will help to restore the hapiness we all need.

To categorize depression as simply, "Feeling down" is, in my opinion, disrespectful and arrogant. There are different types of depression and not all are caused by a chemical imbalances and all of them are accompanied by pain that's more than just "Feeling down". People with depression suffer. They suffer every day of their lives. Yes, medications are overprescribed for many, but medications, thank G-d, also save many lives. I also think it's naive to simply say one should run from depression. If a person could run from depression they wouldn't be depressed in the first place. No one seeks out depression.

I was saying 'Amen' to Rabbi Freeman's response to 'Chemical Imbalance', and not to the original posting.

Indeed, we live in a world now that likes to think it can fix everything wrong with us with pills, and where, consequently, the medication can be more detrimental then what ails us.

Amen, Rabbi Freeman.

Of course, you won't read this until after Shabbos (Amen to that, too.).

Those are all very sweet, kind words of hope but I'm not blessed with that perspective. I don't know how old you are Kameo but when one becomes middle-aged after years and years of darkness, those words are reduced to just empty happy talk for me. I'm glad you can see and feel a silver lining but it eludes me and always has.

Amen!

personally i admire more the focus on health and happiness
than the focus on suffering,
I think a religion should always focus on how to get away from suffering.
The world is terrible suffering we have to find a way out!
Luckely i believe in a God of light who is not agreeing with the suffering down here below, but for one reason or the other can not interfere.
When there are clouds and rain, you know that actually the sun is shining,
for me it is the same with God, going through despair i know that God is behind it,
not agreeing with it. I can bear despair and suffering only when i know that the joy and the light are not away, they are there. In trusting the light and the joy, the darkness will fade away.

It is rare, but there are growing reports from people who have suffered permeant sexual dysfunction after taking an anti-depressant, that continues even after the medication is stopped. Along with this people speak of permanently altered personalities and not being able to return to their true selves.
The condition is called PSSD and you can look it up and see for yourself.

Be aware nobody should ever taper off a drug without doctor supervision and never ever quit cold-turkey - this is theorized to increase the risk of any lasting problems.

To my message above I want to add that I am not a Christian, or a Jew for Jesus or anything like that. I just know that there is a particular focus on suffering and breaking out of it in Christianity whereas fewer Jewish teachers seem to focus that way.

I have seen people destroyed by anti-depressants, also to some extent by psychotherapy but not nearly as bad.

that being said - I hate to say this but christianity seems generally better to me at tackling darkness head on. in judaism the starting point seems to be health and happiness. There is a 'safety zone' in judaism.... but christianity focuses more on people in dire straights as the starting point. I mean, the pure christians, the ones who really follow the teachings of jesus without the distortion.

I wish judaism would do more to directly help people out of the dark side, spiritually. I love Tsvi Freeman's pieces a lot of the time but there seems to be a sort of glibness about true suffering.